Chapter 42: Chapter 42

DANIEL

The beautiful blonde who was Draya’s roommate opened the front door for Daniel. “Sorry it’s so late,” he apologized with a smile.

Daniel noticed he’d been smiling more and more lately. It was a weird but also normal habit he’d picked up since meeting his…~girlfriend~.

Girlfriend. A word he’d never used to address anyone before her.

Daniel keeps waiting for his old self to return. The man who was an ass. The man who cared for no one but himself and liked his life just the way it was.

But he’s gone. Disappeared to nothing but a pale memory. It feels like a lifetime ago that he acted that way, and the man he was today would feel ~less than~ if he stepped into those waters again.

Reece smiled back at Daniel and ushered him in, locking the door behind him and pointing for him to sit on the couch. Daniel does, resting the duffel he’s carrying rests on his thighs and placing his elbows on top of it.

“It’s cool. I don’t mind,” Reece said. “I’m sorry I called her away from you. It was…urgent.”

Daniel noticed the apartment had sample colors and designer shoes all over the place. He remembered Draya saying something about a store opening, and he doesn’t know why he’s tempted to say “~I want in.” ~

He can’t remember ever investing in a new store. Big businesses who’ve been established for years, yes. But a startup? No. He’s never done that.

“I heard your store opening is coming up,” Daniel told Reece with more enthusiasm than he thought he could muster.

She grinned proudly and nodded her head.

“Yeah. I have an investor who feels just as passionate about it as I do. He likes the idea of an exclusive shoes store for only luxury shoppers. It’ll be the Bergdorf Goodman of South Beach but for shoes.”

Daniel had to admit it sounded like a good idea. South Beach was known for its luxury shopping; celebrities and millionaires who owned homes in the area would have the store sold out in a matter of hours if she advertised properly.

“You have room for another investor?” he asked, even though he had enough projects as it was.

Reece smiled politely but shook her head. “I have a contract with Chris Lannister Jr. You used to have a thing with his sister, so I know that you know he doesn’t like to share. Business, family, or otherwise.”

Daniel doesn’t know which part annoys him more: the fact that she was working with Chris or the fact that she knew about his past with his sister. He’d written off their run-in with Chris and Reece at Monty’s, but it all made sense now. Plus, the scandal was all over the news, and he was dating her roommate.

“I do know them. Chris especially. He rarely does business with women, which leads me to believe he wants more than just profits from the store.” Daniel doesn’t know why he mentioned that, but what was done was done.

Reece saved Draya’s life and practically raised her. Protected her from harm all the way into adulthood. For that alone, this woman would always have his respect and protection too.

~How can I steer her into the company of someone who wouldn’t take advantage of her?~

Reece stared at Daniel as if he spoke a different language. “You think he likes me?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

~Jesus. What’s an appropriate answer here?~

Daniel had known Chris since childhood, and as far as he knew, he’d only ever shown real interest in his ex. For years, it was only her.

~How could I possibly tell her that I don’t think he would be interested for real?~

All he could come up with was, “Word of advice, Reece. Don’t mix business with pleasure. I learned many lessons doing that.”

She chuckled for a beat, bright eyes staring straight back at him. “Oh, I know all about your office entanglements. Lucky for me, I’m on birth control, and I don’t plan on falling for anyone. I can just fuck him and move on. I like the challenge. If you said it would be easy, I wouldn’t be interested.”

It was like Daniel was listening to himself. His previous self. It was eerie.

Daniel didn’t know what it was about Reece, but whenever he stared at her, he felt like he knew her. Or should know her. Not in the way a lover knows another lover…absolutely not. But a friend or maybe…~family?~

~Nah.~

~What am I thinking?~

~She’s not my family. She’s my girlfriend’s best friend.~

With that clarification reluctantly sinking in, Daniel grabbed his duffel and stood. “I guess she’s asleep?” he inquired about his ~girlfriend~.

It was weird that it wasn’t weird saying that word over and over again. Even in Daniel’s head, it sounded perfectly normal. He enjoyed claiming her and sharing his feelings for her with just about everyone.

“She’s in her room. I think she fell asleep hours ago. I’ll put my earplugs in so I won’t have to listen to you guys doing it. You’re hot and everything, but for some reason the thought of hearing you two having sex kind of grosses me out. It’s like listening to my siblings or something.”

Daniel almost laughed at the discomfort on Reece’s face. He felt the same way imagining her doing anything sexual with Chris.

“You keep your stuff with Chris away from my ears and eyes, and I’ll do the same for you with Dray.”

Relief seemed to wash over her immediately.

She extended her hand to him, grinning widely. “Deal.”

***

Daniel’s little bundle of hair and legs was curled up in a ball under the covers. He could barely see her face because of the mass of hair falling around her.

He liked watching her sleep soundly. He didn’t have the heart to wake her up, so he showered and returned to her side, carefully climbing into bed next to her. He always packed clean boxers and a T-shirt since he was never sure where he’d crash or when.

Lying on his back, Daniel stared up at the ceiling. ~Maybe I should look for an apartment… or a house.~

~God, hell just froze over.~ Daniel Jackson was interested in owning a home. A home to spend time with his girlfriend. The news reporters would eat that right up. The shock alone would destroy so many people…people from his past, mostly.

Josh, of course, would have a conniption. He’d been trying to get Daniel to buy property for years.

Truth be told, he could afford it, but he never saw the point of being a homeowner. He was always working until the wee hours of the night, and when he was awake, it was time to work again. Why spend millions of dollars on a place he’d only take showers and sleep in? It always seemed ludicrous.

Until now.

Until Draya.

Daniel wanted to come home to her. Shower with her. Eat with her and from her. He wanted to see her in the mornings and at night.

~It’s official… I’m obsessed with this woman.~

With that thought turning around in his head, Daniel pulled Draya’s sleeping body closer. On instinct, she curled her limbs around him like a cat. Never opening her eyes, just sleeping with a smile on her face.

Daniel kissed her forehead and inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. He dozed off thinking of a house with a backyard, a pool, and a beautiful fox curled up in his bed.