Chapter 35
A new level of satisfaction and intimacy is achieved with the Nine of Cups.
CAL
Early the next morning, before daylight, his phone rang. We both stir. He looks at it, then turns it off.
I feel a knee nudged between my legs. A minute later, my legs seem to be located somewhere over my head but having been up half the night wallowing in hedonistic pleasures and not yet having had coffee, I can’t be sure.
My body responds to his touch like a taut violin string humming with desire. Then, the unexpected happens. Something I had never experienced. We came at the same time.
My heart is bursting with love and longing. Twin Souls, indeed.
I am done for. “I need coffee, but I can’t move.”
He pushes back the covers and gets out of bed, then tucks the sheet and quilt around my shoulders. “Stay here and stay warm. I’ll be back in a minute with coffee.” He stops me before I can speak. “I know…two scoops per cup.”
Ten minutes later he puts a steaming mug in my hand and a chenille throw around my shoulders. I rake my fingers through my hair in an attempt to smooth it. He reaches over and brushes my unruly bedhead bangs out of my eyes. “You are so beautiful to me.” His kisses taste like sex and coffee.
“How very Joe Cocker of you. But you must not have your contacts in.”
Danny laughs. “You know, for a shrink I would think you’d have that whole ‘self-esteem thing’ mastered.
I take a sip of coffee. “Self-esteem has nothing to do with bedhead, morning breath, and crusty sleep eyes.”
“Haven’t you ever heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?”
“I think your ‘eye’ is just a mite clouded by all those orgasms you had last night and this morning.”
Danny takes my hand. “About last night….” His voice trails off.
I’m suddenly wary. Is this where he says, “Don’t call me, I’ll call you.”?
“I don’t even have the words to describe how amazing last night was. I wanted our first time together to be a romantic experience you’d never forget—something sweet and gentle. And it was…and then it was wild…and then it was…spiritual.” Danny cups my face in his hands.
“You are the most intriguing and mesmerizing and sexy woman I’ve ever met. Where have you been all my life?”
Is this guy for real? I make a mental note in case I ever write a romance novel instead of self-help books.
“I’ve been right here all along. We could have been at Serendipity at the same time hundreds of times over the years and just never noticed each other. Wouldn’t it be crazy if the Universe had to orchestrate my arrest for us to find each other?”
Danny shook his head. “I can think of a million better ways for us to have met. Listen, seriously, we have to talk about what comes next.”
Reality sets in. “I guess the trial comes next.”
“No, you can’t go to trial. It will be brutal.”
“I keep hoping Laura will figure something out or Eagle will find Juliet, or you’ll find a new clue. Something to prove my innocence. Do you know how hard this has been to have my reputation sullied, to be shunned by friends and some of my colleagues? My life has blown up.”
Danny takes me in his arms. “No, I don’t. I can only imagine what you are going through. You told me once that I am a complication in your life. If a relationship between us is too much for you with everything else you are facing, we can put this on hold.”
I playfully grabbed his hand. “Don’t go anywhere. You and Marci are my lifelines. I need your help to get through this.”
“I told Marci yesterday that Eagle is close to locating Juliet. When we find her, I have a plan to get a confession.
“In the meantime, though, Biz is still convinced you are guilty. I can’t budge her on the evidence.”
“She’s jealous.”
“She’s married. She’s not jealous.”
“You’re her best friend, right?” Danny nods. “How long have you been partners?”
“Almost fifteen years.”
“She just doesn’t want things to change between you. I’m a threat to a shift in her world.”
As if on cue, Danny’s phone vibrates on the nightstand. “Hold on, it’s Biz again.”
“Hey Biz, what’s up.” He listens for a moment. I can hear the yak yak yak of Danny’s partner on the other end of the phone. “Yeah, no, I’m not at home. I’m having breakfast. What? Pancakes and bacon. Why? No, no don’t meet me. I’ll be at the station in 30 minutes. No, really, I’m just leaving now.” I hear more yakking.
Danny ends the call. “We must be very careful. My pension is on the line if anyone finds out we are seeing each other.”
“I’ll swear Marci to secrecy.”
“Good. This is serious. You are still under indictment and awaiting trial. The arresting officer and the suspect…it will be a nightmare for both of us if anyone finds out.”
“What about Laura?” A thought occurs to me. “What about Laura—you and she were once married? I can’t picture you two together.”
“It was a long time ago. And a long story I will tell you some other time. I need to get going and meet Biz. I’ll drop you at your house on the way. Let’s keep Laura out of it for now.”
In the shower it was difficult to keep our hands off each other. We were still basking in the new-relationship-post-sex glow.
Danny dressed quickly and I threw on my sundress and sandals. “There is so much more we need to talk about. We can’t meet at your house or my condo. I think we’ll be safe meeting here. How about seven tonight?”
“I’ll check my calendar. My company is in great demand. So many meetings and social events, you know.”
Danny kissed me lightly. “I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor. It will be OK, Cal. I don’t yet know how, but it will be.”