Chapter Twenty-One
Daniel’s grip on my hand tightens when we enter the ballroom.
We’re greeted with champagne cocktails which are quickly consumed by all five of us.
In our haste to get here and away from Joe’s marital problems, I’d forgotten how stressed Daniel felt and how much strength it must have taken him to reach this point.
He’s on edge and constantly scans the room.
In stark contrast, his relaxed and happy parents chat and laugh with friends, although I note Diana has at least one eye on her son at all times.
Joe and I head to the bar and drag Daniel behind us.
We need a proper drink; Daniel is not really a champagne man.
He’s gunning for a whisky and as I try to stop fidgeting and biting my lip, I think I might join him just to take the edge off.
The tension between the three of us is tangible.
Joe has so many pent-up feelings towards his failing marriage and his need to apologise for his wife’s behaviour is clear.
All Daniel wants to do is take his brother’s problems away and continuously slaps him on the back or grips his shoulder in silent support.
And then there’s me. Right in the middle of not knowing which one of them to distract for the best.
The surrounding air suddenly turns cold with the arrival of a leggy, busty blonde. Daniel’s body stiffens as he pulls me closer to his side.
“As I live and breathe, if it isn’t Daniel Grant. Very long time no see.”
He squeezes my waist, willing my support, and when he addresses her, it’s with as much contempt as I imagine she deserves. “Candy. How are you?”
Candy? What kind of name is that? It suits her, though. She has a sickly sweet smile.
She emphasises the word “Good,” but I get the impression she’s far from it. Then her attentions turn to Joe, “It’s good to see you, too,” she nods.
“I wish I could say the same,” he mumbles under his breath while a look of pure disdain forms across his face.
He turns his back to her, although Candy isn’t put off by his body language.
She doesn’t get the hint. The boys are not happy to see her.
Her lips pout when it’s obvious they will not offer her an introduction to me, so she takes the reins and holds out hand.
“Candy Wright. And you are?”
I open my mouth to speak, but it’s not my voice I hear.
“This is my girlfriend, Hannah May,” he says before I’ve drawn breath.
This is the first time he’s referred to me as his girlfriend, and I can’t deny I’m thrilled.
Not only does my stomach flip, but I swear my heart misses a beat at the same time.
It takes everything I have not to break out into a full-scale, comedic beam.
I squeeze my hand tightly around his hip.
Despite my moment of utter joy, we still have Miss sickly sweet to contend with.
“This is new, Daniel. Not only have you got this one off her back, but you’re also displaying her publicly.
” Her frame is poised for defence although I choose not to respond.
I’m too caught up at the sight of Daniel as his entire body stiffens.
I swear he’s added another few inches to his six-foot-four-inch frame and his chest expands before my very eyes.
His mouth looks ready to hurl abuse but before he utters a word, Joe stands between them.
“That’s enough, Candy.”
“How sweet you are to stick up for your little brother.”
She fills her words with pure venom. You just know this one is a prize bitch and is out to cause trouble. Thankfully, Joe’s intervention has defused the situation.
Daniel’s eyes lock with mine. “Shall we dance?”
I nod with enthusiasm, “Good idea,” and we leave Joe and Candy in a glare-off.
As soon as we reach the dance floor, I’m swept off my feet.
“She was lovely,” I say with a huge big sarcastic toothy grin. “Was she an ex-girlfriend by any chance?”
“Ex-rebound” he answers.
“Oh?” I guess she was one of the women he was with after Lou died.
“I’ve known Candy for years, but I wouldn’t exactly call us old friends. I’m not sure I’ve ever really liked her at all, but desperation wins and she was available. The rest is history. I’m not proud of how I behaved, but that was my life.”
“I got that, Daniel.”
He squeezes me tighter, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” although now I have all sorts of disturbing imagery in my head. “So, was it a one-night stand?”
“To me, yes, but she thought otherwise. I made my relationship status clear before anything happened. It was one night only, which she agreed to. Except it wasn’t. Her constant badgering drove me bloody mad. I did my level best to avoid her, but she appeared at every party and club I ever went to.”
I focus on the tick in his jaw as we move around the dance floor and I listen to him trust me with this insight into his past. I don’t want to stop his flow.
“She started calling the farm, talking to my mum, using her to get to me. Mum knew what was going on so she gave nothing away. Then, it was Joe’s turn, and she harassed him for information.
She called him at all hours trying to find out where I was.
It became a nightmare.” He stops mid-dance.
“I did something pretty unforgivable, Han.”
I reach up and touch his face with the palm of my hand as if to reassure him it’s okay. His brow wrinkles and I note his Adam's apple running an irritated path down his throat. What the hell is he going to say next?
“I set her up. I had to keep her away from my family and me. I asked her to meet me at a hotel in town. I arranged it so the reception held a key for her and she was told to come straight up to the room.” He pauses, biting his bottom lip.
“When Candy walked in, I made sure she got an eye-full of me fucking another woman.”
My stomach turns while the bile to my throat rises and threatens to exit. I glance away from him but continue to ask, “Who was the girl?”
Daniel takes a deep breath before answering, which tells me this story is about to get worse.
“I have no idea. She was a high-class hooker. One of my business associates gave me her number. I told her what would happen, and she didn’t care as long as she got paid.”
I can’t face him. I don’t want to believe he is capable of such a thing. “Han, please look at me. You need the full story.” I close my eyes tight and nod as my signal for him to continue. “I told Candy that when I was done, it would be her turn.”
“You did what!” I can’t contain my disgust anymore as I take a step away from his body.
“Jesus, Daniel, how the hell could you be so cruel? No woman should ever have to go through something like that.” My head shakes involuntarily, “Shit. I can’t believe—I mean, all right.
She was a pain in the arse, but she didn’t deserve that sort of treatment.
What the hell would you do if someone really crossed you?
” My mind spins and my throat dries. “No wonder she’s pissed off! She has been utterly humiliated!”
Daniel pulls me tight to his chest as if he’s assuring I don’t break away and run. “As I said, things were bad.”
“You can say that again!” It’s difficult to control the volume of my utter disgust.
“Listen, Han, she was a bloody stalker. I had to do something. I had to make her see I didn’t care about her.
I was a different person to the man I am now.
I’ve told you how I behaved with women at that time in my life.
That isn’t me anymore. With you, there are no secrets, no lies and no games, which is why I want you to know exactly what happened with Candy.
You need to know the whole truth. I’m not the heartless, inconsiderate bastard I used to be. I promise you.”
I keep my focus towards the floor. It’s obvious how upset I am. His palms circle each side of my face, lifting my head to meet his eyes. “I mean it, Han. I would never treat anyone like that again.”
My lungs try to inhale as much air as possible, but the sting at the back of my throat causes me to exhale just as quickly. I push away from his chest, still shaking and ready to throw up.
“Just when I think we’re getting somewhere, you drop another bombshell, and to be honest, this particular episode with Candy repulses me.”
He attempts to take me in his arms, but I can’t stand his touch right now.
I rest my palms against his chest, keeping him at bay, while the memories of London and finding Rob with another woman flood my brain.
How dare Daniel do the same thing to Candy.
I may not like her, but nobody deserves to be treated so badly.
I stare into his pleading hazel eyes while he waits for my reaction.
I realise how he needs me to see the real him, so as much as I could run away, I know in my heart of hearts, he is nothing like Rob.
“I’m choosing to believe you were going through an awful time, and you will never treat a woman like that again. Not any woman.”
He smiles, leaning in to kiss me, but I place my finger across his mouth to stop him in his tracks. “I haven’t finished,” I breathe, “If you are ever cruel to me, I won’t hang around. I will leave.”
Closing his eyes briefly, he nods his acceptance before removing my finger from his mouth, kissing my hand gently before pressing his lips to mine. I don’t close my eyes to accept him completely. I’m still disgusted by what he’s said and I need time to digest it.
Despite my horrified reaction, I think Daniel is relieved to share this secret. Surely there can’t be anymore he needs to expose.