40 #4
Dani pushed open the emergency door leading out to the back of the restaurant, her body shaking violently as the door shut behind her.
She pulled off her wig and threw it on the small table that they kept out there for staff to have smoke.
Tears pooled in her eyes and she tried to contain them, but she just couldn’t.
Her face was burning and her ears buzzed.
She couldn’t go back in there again! She felt so humiliated.
It was icy cold outside but she didn’t seem to notice.
Eyeing the ashtray on the table she thought she’d give anything for a cigarette right now, then buried her face in her hands and let the tears flow freely down her hot cheeks.
The door opened again making Dani jump.
“Christ Dani, there you are.” Jerome stepped out through the emergency exit.
He jammed it with the table and strode towards her.
“He’s a fucking asshole! Jeez, wait here.
I’ll go get some tissues.” He speedily turned around and went back into the corridor.
Dani wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and tried to compose herself.
She hated anyone seeing her cry, seeing her vulnerable.
Jerome returned with a wad of serviettes and pulled out a couple, handing them to her, then he placed the rest next to her discarded wig on the table, he then released the table from the door and twisted the lock with his key, so they’d be able to open it from the outside.
The door re-closed and he turned to look at Dani
“He’s lucky we had a packed-out restaurant, otherwise I’d have decked him.
How are you?” he looked concerned as he spoke, his previous anger subsiding.
Dani shrugged wiping under her eyes and nose avoiding eye contact.
“You must be freezing.” He shrugged out of his jacket and stepped closer, reaching around her, he gently placed his jacket over her shoulders.
“Thanks,” she mumbled. It felt glorious and warm and it smelled of him, musky. Dani tightened it around her, still avoiding his eyes. She focused on his shirt and tried to control her shuddery breath. He was so close to her she could feel his body heat.
He gently lifted her chin up. “Hey, come on, don’t cry.
” His face had softened and his breath formed clouds from the cold when he spoke.
Dani smiled tightly, but tears threatened again as she looked at him.
Jerome frowned and instinctively pulled her to his chest and Dani let out a small sob burying her face into his rock-hard body.
“Shh. Let it all out. I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to put up with pricks like that. I swear I’ll kill that fucker,” he muttered almost to himself. He stroked her head until her sobs began to subside.
He felt glorious against her cheek, his heart pumping a steady rhythm, calming her.
Dani reluctantly pulled back, feeling even more embarrassed that she’d broken down again in front of him.
She was feeling raw tonight. New Year’s Eve was always going to be hard, but she really didn’t need the added humiliation.
Her emotions raged through her in a chaotic torrent.
Jerome smiled softly at her as he lifted her face up again, his fingers holding her chin.
“Better?” He asked quietly, his blue eyes glittered, locking on hers.
Dani wiped her eyes again and nodded. Unable to speak, for fear of giving anything away, she looked away.
Fuck, he was so damned handsome, she thought.
And the way he was looking at her made her feel unbelievably vulnerable.
He bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Dani tensed. Instinctively her eyes jerked up to his, her breath catching at the depth of his gaze.
Slowly he licked his lips and Dani’s eyes were involuntarily drawn to them, mesmerized.
Before she could start to think that all she wanted was those sculptured lips on hers, Jerome sealed her cold lips with his.
His hand slid around to cup the back of her head and his other arm circled her waist. His lips felt so soft and warm and he groaned into her ready mouth as she pressed herself up against him.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered his jacket falling off her shoulders as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Jerome kissed her harder and deeper, edging her up against the wall, his hands travelling down the length of her, hitching her closer to him.
He kissed her like his life depended on it, as if he had to, as if he couldn’t stop himself and Dani revelled in it.
She’d wanted nothing else since she’d set eyes on him over eight weeks ago.
Dani gripped on to him, desire exploding in her, when suddenly he pulled away, leaving Dani panting and bereft.
“Fuck!” he gasped pacing backward. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, visibly trying to calm down, then stooped to pick up his jacket.
For a moment, Dani flinched thinking it was her he was cursing at, until she heard Peter’s voice calling her name.
He’d come to find her. Jerome had obviously heard his voice.
Dani wrapped her arms around herself feeling suddenly very exposed.
What was that all about? Crap! Dani looked at the floor nervously purposely avoiding Jerome’s gaze.
“Out here Peter!” he called, his eyes fixed on Dani as she struggled to calm her breathing.
He stepped over to the table and picked up a serviette and roughly wiped the red lipstick off his mouth.
Within a few seconds Peter was opening the door and stepping through the doorway.
He looked over at Jerome, then quickly over to Dani.
“You okay?”
Dani looked up at Peter clenching her teeth, then nodded, closing her eyes momentarily. She was anything but okay. He turned back to Jerome who was stepping forward towards Dani with his jacket open for her to put on again.
“They left. I think their wives gave them a mouthful. They sloped out thoroughly embarrassed,” he huffed. “I told him he’d need to come back and apologize. Fucking asshole. Here.” Peter held out four fifty-pound notes. “These are for you. It’s your tip.”
Jerome snorted as he gently pulled Dani by the elbow away from the wall and draped his jacket around her. She shuffled forward allowing him to secure the jacket, his arm resting a moment on her shoulders.
“I don’t want it,” she whispered.
“Just take it, Dani. Here.” Peter stepped forward and took her hand squashing the notes into her palm.
“Has it calmed down in there? Is everyone back to normal?” Jerome asked in a clipped tone. He reached into his jacket pocket and Dani stiffened.
What was he doing? She thought, then she saw his hand pull out his cigarettes and a lighter. He pulled one out and lit it as he looked at Peter.
“Yes, the staff did a great job of distracting everyone. Most people are on dessert now. Gia’s doing her thing, you know, mingling,” Peter smirked.
“Good. Come on let’s get you inside.” Jerome guided Dani towards the door but she froze.
“I’d rather not go back in there… I…” she tightened the jacket around herself as she spoke. She really couldn’t face anyone. She was monumentally embarrassed and after what had just happened, her wits were shredded. The last thing she wanted was to face a restaurant full of people.
“Of course. We’ll get a taxi to get you home.” Peter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. He quickly arranged their taxi service to come for Dani.
Jerome stood close enough to her that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. She forced herself not to look at him and focused on Peter while he talked to the taxi service but she could feel Jerome’s eyes on her as he took another drag from his cigarette.
The distinct footsteps of Gia approaching alerted them to the door.
“Oh Daniella! How are you? That David is such an idiota! And his brother-in-law’s an ass.”
“I’m fine Gia, really. Just embarrassed,” muttered Dani.
“It’s okay, I’ll look after her. You two go back inside.” Gia’s eyes darted to both Peter and Jerome.
“I’ve ordered her a taxi. He’ll be here any minute, Gia.”
“Of course, she should go home.”
Peter moved towards the door and Dani began to remove Jerome’s jacket.
“Keep it, you’ll freeze.” His voice was raspy and he hovered a moment, then stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Ask Rosa to bring Daniella’s things. She doesn’t need to go back through there,” added Gia, effectively dismissing them.
“Sure, Mama.” And with a brief nod he left. Gia narrowed her eyes after him, noticing black smudged make up on his shirt, then turned her attention back to Dani.
“Everyone was horrified by his behaviour and had nothing but praise for you.” She wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “How you didn’t slap him, I don’t know,” she snorted. “You’re a real lady, Daniella.”
Dani sniffed. Maybe if Gia had been here ten minutes ago she might not have thought she was such a lady! Dani clenched her eyes shut as Gia guided her back into the corridor. Gia leant over and picked up Dani’s wig handing it to her.
“So, tell me. Do blondes have more fun?” Gia joked, trying to make Dani come around with humour. Dani’s eyes shot up to Gia’s and she smiled.
“I’d prefer to be a brunette any day, Gia.”
Gia laughed softly. “Me too, Daniella.”
DANI SLID INTO THE back of the taxi and rested her head on the headrest, closing her eyes. She felt exhausted. At least she wouldn’t be in for the lunchtime shift tomorrow. She’d managed to secure one of the half days off seeing as she hadn’t taken any off over the Christmas week.