Chapter Nine #2
“I’ve never thought too hard about it. Lucy’s always been around since, well, forever. She has a much older brother, so it was always just the two of us. Why do you ask?”
“No real reason.” His eyes fix to the wall, “It’s just I can’t imagine life without Joe.”
“Of course you can’t. Why would you? He’s always been there. It’s the same thing when you think about it.”
He smiles, “I suppose.”
I sit up and lay my hand against his chest to balance. “I’m grateful you have a brother. You want to know why?”
“Go on,” he chuckles while gently tugging strands of my hair with his fingers.
“It could have been you on business last week, meaning you wouldn’t be home for the weekend, and I wouldn’t be here with you now.”
“Yeah, dad did me a favour sending him to Melbourne.” He shifts up against the headboard, “Thank God I wasn’t the right person for the job. I’m no good at kissing arse. I leave that to the big boys.”
I can’t resist. “Believe me, you have nothing to worry about in the big boy department. ”
Daniel laughs, scrunching up his nose. “Cheesy… very cheesy.”
“So, what’s our plan today, Mr Grant?”
He shuffles himself to sit up further, his mischievous smirk in place. “Well, the first thing I will do is smack your arse for the whole Mr Grant thing.”
I like the idea of some arse smacking, again another first for me, but I think I could let him do whatever he wants and enjoy it.
“Then I think we should get some breakfast. Are you hungry?” I’m not really, but I won’t tell him my stomach performs three hundred and sixty-degree somersaults every time I look at him.
I’m sick with excitement, which is the same old story for me and the reason I have to keep my enthusiasm in check. “A little.”
Daniel throws back the duvet and gets out of bed, but as he does, there’s a scratch to my ankle as something catches it.
I lean over and throw back the end of the duvet.
Light flashes from the direction of the window and bounces back from my beautiful silver heels, which have tangled amongst the ruffled bottom sheet. I forgot about those.
After a refreshing shower and a large amount of self-control, our rumbling stomachs get the better of us. Daniel strides over to his small, but well-stocked kitchen which I note has every gadget known to man.
“What would you like? I can make you an English breakfast if it doesn’t make you too homesick?”
I force a smile as I pull up a stool to the bar and sit. “Just some toast for me please, lots of butter.”
He stops for a second, his muscular arms spread wide across the counter as he grips the edges and looks towards me sideways. “Are you sure? That’s not much. I can cook, just in case you’re worried.”
I’m sure there isn’t a lot he can’t do, but I’m just not hungry. “Honestly, toast is good for me. ”
“Tea or coffee?”
“Tea please.”
He sets to work on my tea and toast and his healthy poached egg and orange juice. When he’s done, he sits next to me and pulls my chair closer to his. His hand kneads my thigh, but I’m mesmerised by the hazel eyes which shine into mine. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he says meaning every word.
“Me too.”
When I woke up this morning, I knew I felt different.
My time with this man is already full of surprises.
This could be wonderful, and I have to give us every chance.
I’ve already experienced one of the best nights of my life, and we didn’t have actual sex.
It may sound slutty, but it’s a first for me.
After breakfast, we spend our time learning about the other while we huddle together on the sofa.
We talk about trivial things, but it’s easy and comfortable.
He likes the theatre, loves music, especially Kings of Leon.
Live bands are his passion, but he doesn’t get to see as many as he’d like to.
I don’t ask why and put it down to work or the ‘Pap’ thing.
“So, tell me what else interests you, Mr Grant,” I ask as I haul my legs to rest on his.
“Well, there’s the ‘smacking my girls’ arse whenever she calls me by my dad’s name. I’m always interested in that and it looks as though I’ll be getting a lot of practice with my technique.”
“Ooh, you’re just enticing me now?”
He shakes his head emphatically and although he doesn’t smack my arse; he smooths his palm over it, which isn’t a disappointment. Then from nowhere he says, “Horses.”
“Pardon?”
“I can spend entire days trekking. I love the solitude and time to think. There’s no one to bother you with anything. It’s the peace and freedom you get.”
“I don’t get it. They scare the bejesus out of me! ”
“Yeah, I saw that.”
“Well, at least, we won’t forget how we first met.” I realise what I’ve said, but can’t presume this is long-term. We’ve agreed to take it slow and so I gloss over my comment with, “What else?”
“Don’t think I’m mad, but I love to get up early and run. It sets me up for the day. What about you?”
“I am not into fitness, but I love hiking and discovering new places. That keeps me pretty fit.”
The buzz from Daniel’s mobile interrupts our conversation. He picks it up with a playful shake of the head. “Hi, Mum. Yes, we’re both here. Okay, all right.” He says with a slow sigh. “See you soon.”
He leans over my legs and holds them slightly while placing his phone on the table.
“We’ve been summoned. Apparently, I’m not allowed to hold you here any longer, mum wants us to go over for coffee.”
Diana is such a lovely lady and obviously adores her son.
“I don’t mind. I like your mum. She makes me feel… comfortable.”
“Good,” he smoulders, “I want you to be as comfortable as possible.” His palm cups my jaw and he brings me closer for a soft, slow, lingering kiss.
Daniel has thought of everything. My bags were ready and waiting at his cottage when we returned last night. He’d evidently decided that I wouldn’t stay in the spare room before I arrived, despite claiming the opposite. Now who’s moving it too fast?
A lonely figure catches my eye as we stroll hand in hand towards the house. Freya heads towards us with a sad smile focused firmly on Daniel. She’s a tad overdressed for the farm, but I have to admit, she looks stunning in her high heels and a cream fitted dress which clings to her curvaceous body.
“Where did you take her last night? Where were you?” She appears almost distraught.
What a switch from the confident woman I met yesterday.
Daniel’s body straightens, but his strides increase.
“None of your bloody business,” he spits almost knocking her off her feet when he barges past, and I find his apologetic glance at my open mouth and bulging eyes confusing.
How can he speak to her like that? I hear his deep sigh before he stops and looks back towards her.
With a guilty, but agitated tone, he adds, “Dinner. We went to dinner. I told you last night, remember?”
“I must have forgotten.” She directs her frail voice only at Daniel, as if I’m not here at all.
“Yeah right,” he mumbles, “get over it, Freya, for Christ’s sake.” The atmosphere is so uncomfortable, as we continue towards the house. I don’t have a chance to check back on Freya and have no idea if she’s still there, but I can’t help feeling sorry for her.
Once we reach the entrance, he comes to a halt, tugging me back. “I’m sorry about that.”
“You were pretty rude.” The atmosphere between us has shifted to awkward.
“Maybe I was sharp, but—” he sighs heavily, “I don’t even know where to begin. There’s too much to explain right now, but please, Han, trust me, okay?”
Now I sigh, “Okay.”
He brings his hands to my shoulders and shakes them slightly. Our eyes lock together. “Hey, come on. This isn’t spoiling our weekend, is it?”
I’m unable to resist his beautiful husky voice and the apology within it. “No.”
“Come on. Mum and dad will be chomping at the bit by now. When we get some time, I’ll explain, okay? ”
I nod, “Okay.”
Holding my face in his hands, he runs his thumbs along my cheek, then kisses me gently. When his eyes slowly open to meet mine, his smile rises all the way to them. “Come on,” he whispers.
We enter the large lounge, and Diana looks up from her book as Peter folds his newspaper. They both stand and hold out their arms to greet us with huge smiles in place. Peter takes me by surprise when he kisses me on both cheeks. “How are you, Hannah? It’s so good to see you again.”
“It’s lovely to see you too.”
He embraces his son and slaps him on the back several times, while Diana kisses me as Peter did, on both cheeks. “We’re so pleased you’re here, Hannah,” She then looks at Daniel, “and my boy, come here and give your mother a hug.”
He seems resigned to the fact Diana will make a fuss and with rolling eyes; he gives in to her embrace. While we sit and Diana serves our coffee, she says, “I’m sorry we weren’t here last night, but I’m sure Daniel took good care of you.”
“We went out for dinner, Mum, to The Victors,” he tells her.
“Lovely darling. It’s one of my favourite places. What did you think, Hannah? Fabulous, isn’t it?”
“Very much so. The restaurant is beautiful, and the food was fantastic.”
“Excellent choice, son,” Peter pipes up from his high-backed chair.
He pauses, then shifts in his seat to face me.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I told Richard that Daniel would take care of you.
” There’s a split-second where I have a mouthful of coffee and it nearly chokes me.
What did he say? I swallow the hot liquid and manage not to cough. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?”
He laughs, “There I go again. I should have said, I spoke to Richard earlier.” Peter smirks a little, and I can see where Daniel gets that particular look from. “He seemed surprised you were here this weekend.”
I’m sure I can talk freely and honestly to Peter. He may be the chairman, but he’s not that imposing. “To be honest, I didn’t mention it because I didn’t think he would approve.”
Peter’s kind face releases a laugh. I wonder how he ever became such a shrewd businessman. I just can’t see him as the tough guy.
“I understand. Richard would never tell me what he really thinks about your friendship with my son because he doesn’t want to cause offence, but when I mentioned you were here, he sounded shocked.”
“Oh.” Is all I say.
“And maybe a little put out he hadn’t heard it from you.”
“I feel awful. I would never want to offend Richard intentionally, but I wanted to save myself from a lecture.”
Smiling kindly, he nods in agreement. “I know. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. Richard seems to have a problem with you being friends with Daniel,” he says leaning over. “However, we do not.”
Diana smiles knowingly as realisation dawns on me.
They are giving me their blessing. Peter directs his beaming smile right at Diana when he says, “Some of the best partnerships are formed in the workplace.” She smiles back fondly then rests a contemplative finger over her tightly shut lips and hums, “Can I let you into a secret?” I nod enthusiastically while Peter sits back in his seat.
I’m unable to look at Daniel, but I can sense his eyes on me while his mother talks.
“You know, I once worked for Grant’s, for Peter’s father in fact.”
I shake my head in surprise, “No, I didn’t know.” I can’t imagine Diana working anywhere, let alone an office.
“Oh yes. I was the admin girl. It was a very long time ago. I was around twenty-one, twenty-two?” Diana’s eyes glaze, as if she is really enjoying her trip down memory lane.
“The company was small back then, and there were very few women in the office. It was easy to get noticed.” She gives her husband a knowing smile.
“Peter was working on the sites when I first met him,” Ahh, I see where she’s going with this now, “but still the boss’s son.
There was no way of knowing how things would go and I thought we would get into terrible trouble.
As it turned out, Mr Grant Senior was perfectly reasonable about the whole thing. ”
Peter laughs, “My father always had a soft spot for his favourite office girl.”
Diana rolls her eyes while Peter chuckles to himself.
“We’re just trying to tell you that although Richard has a problem with relationships in the workplace, we don’t.
” There’s a comfortable silence between us as I chance a peep at Daniel.
It’s refreshing to meet the head of an organisation that approves of inter-office relationships, but then Peter Grant is not your run-of-the-mill chairman.
Joe strides into the room, kissing his mum then hugging his dad and brother with warm, manly back slaps before turning to me. I’m more than a little flustered when he leans over and kisses my cheek. What is it with the cheek kissing?
“Did you two have fun last night?” He says, wiggling his eyebrows at me.”
“We did, thank you,” I smirk, “I loved the restaurant.” Maybe my subtle smile to Daniel isn’t so subtle and I realise there’s silence until Peter clears his throat. I quickly add, “Did you enjoy your evening, Joe?”
“Oh yeah, it was a bundle of laughs as always,” his tone is thick with sarcasm.
Then, just to continue the conversation and fill an awkward silence, I add, “Is Freya okay? We just bumped into her and she looked a little upset.” Perhaps I shouldn’t say anything, but Daniel was so harsh, someone should at least check she is all right.
The atmosphere in the room changes and there’s a brief silence that’s broken by Diana. “Don’t worry about Freya, love.”
I note Joe rolling his eyes to the heavens. He throws a tight-lipped stare at Daniel, who shoots off the sofa and offers me his hand. I wonder if I’ve annoyed him because suddenly, Daniel is in a rush to leave.
“If you’ve finished your coffee, I wanted to take you out for a drive. Sound good?”
My hand wraps around his and I nod in agreement. I’m ready to go as the atmosphere has plummeted since mentioning his sister-in-law. I glance over to his parents. “Thanks so much for the coffee.”
“It was our pleasure, love,” Peter says while standing from his seat to see us out.
Diana is quick to add, “Please say you’re joining us for dinner tonight, won’t you? We’d love to spend more time with you, Hannah.”
Daniel drops my hand and steps in. “We’ll be here, Mum.
Try stopping us.” His arm is firmly around her shoulders, giving a reassuring squeeze.
I can’t decide if our parting smiles are false or awkward, but Daniel’s crooked, almost apologetic smile coupled with Joe’s sympathetic head tilt, both in my direction I might add, makes it apparent that they know something I don’t.