“You certainly did,” I concur. C’mon Danny, get your handsome butt back here.
And just like that I see the door to the terrace swing open and he’s filling the door frame, a glass in each hand. “I wish you no ill, Connor, but I am not interested in being involved with you and that is not going to change. I deserve more. I deserve better. And I am not ever going to settle for anything less.”
Holding out a glass to me, it’s definitely not wine that Danny is handing me this time. “I thought it was time for a little after dinner drink, even though we haven’t eaten dinner yet.”
“What did you bring me?” I ask, smiling at him, as I bring the glass to my nose to capture the aroma.
“Amaretto.”
“Yum.”
He leans up on the wall next to me, his body possessively close. The now familiar clean scent of his soap is comforting, and I find myself leaning into him, perpetuating the charade.
“When are you heading back to California?” Connor asks us and I’m shocked he’s sticking around to make small talk.
“Monday…” I begin to say.
“Why don’t we fly back tonight?” Danny looks at me like he’s ready to go.
“Can you get a flight at this hour?” Connor seems surprised and I’m even more surprised.
“Don’t need a flight. I’ve got the plane.” He
sips his drink.
I can see that hit Connor like a sucker punch. How do you compete with that?
I wonder if Danny really has a plane or if he just said that to mess with my ex. Is it real or merely a testosterone power play? I don’t know him well enough to tell.
“Okay, well, then, have a good trip back, whenever you leave.” Focusing his eyes on me, it appears he’s about to say goodbye, and is distracted. “Is that the necklace you lost way back when?”
“It is.” My fingers immediate go to the dangling gold rose.
“I see you found it.”
“Actually, it found me.” I’m not surprised this time when Danny’s arm goes around my shoulders.
And with that visual cue, Connor bids us goodbye, making a hasty retreat across the slate flagstones.
Putting his drink down, Danny turns to me and lifts me up, seating me on the waist-high wall. Taking my knees, he pushes them apart, making space for himself to stand in-between.
“Before the last interruption, I had just admitted to you that I used to fantasize about you.”
“Do I need to be washing this?” I touch my necklace.
“I already did.” His smile tells me he’s teasing me.
“Well, I kinda used to fantasize about you, too.” I know my face is bright red. I can feel the heat. “But you always had a girlfriend,” I quickly add.
“So, will you see me out in LA?”
“Maybe I already have a boyfriend there,” my response is coy.
“Maybe I can make you forget him.” Tipping my chin back, he leans down for another kiss. When our lips break, he adds the surprising statement, “I want to make you breakfast.”
“Are you staying here at the hotel?”
He nods and I begin to laugh.