Dangerous to Know & Love (52 page)

She decided to channel her inner Kirsty and resurrect the denim miniskirt that had led to some very steamy car sex with Daniel. Well, to be fair, all the sex she’d had with Daniel was steamy. That boy just exuded heat. No wonder all the girls at college wanted him. She sighed. He’d written in his letter that he loved her but he’d never said it to her face – he’d never even come
close
to saying it.

The precious letter was kept between the pages of her favorite violin score, Jules Massenet’s
Meditation
. She unfolded it thoughtfully and read it again. Yes, there it was in black and white –
I love you
. So why couldn’t he say it out loud?

She sighed, tucking the letter away carefully. When she was old and grey and wrinkled and sagging, she’d pull it out and say to herself, ‘I, too, was once adored’ – because it sure looked like she wasn’t going to hear it anytime soon.

She ransacked her makeup bag, glad that the contents had increased in both quality and quantity under Kirsty’s vocal encouragement, but when she looked at the overall effect five minutes later, she suspected she might have overdone it – just a little.

Although she felt a slight sense of unease, she also felt irritated and rebellious. So she found her tightest t-shirt and pulled on the same pumps that she’d worn to her cousin’s wedding, and Sonia Brandt’s eventful party, even though she knew they were little short of foot coffins.

Daniel’s backpack had been removed to the guest room, and when Lisanne came downstairs, the only change he’d made was to throw a plaid shirt over his t-shirt – unbuttoned, of course.

His eyes widened with surprise when he saw her but he was also smart enough not to say anything. Her mom, on the other hand, saw no need to hold back.

“You’re not going out dressed like that!”

“What’s wrong with it, mom?” snapped Lisanne, her eyes blazing.

“You look… you look…”

“What do I look like?” she spat out, her hands on her hips.

“I think you should put something over that t-shirt,” said her mom, backtracking several long steps. “You’ll catch your death.”

“It’s fifty nine degrees outside!”

“At least take a jacket – so you can cover up.”

“Don’t tell me what to wear! I’m nearly 19, mom!”

Ernie slid further down in his chair as Monica sucked in a deep breath, and opened her mouth as a preliminary to blasting her daughter.

But Daniel’s reaction was faster. He wrapped his arm around Lisanne’s shoulders, and steered her out of the room. “Come on, baby doll. You can have my shirt if you get cold,” and he gently walked her away.

As soon as they were out of the living room, she shrugged off his arm and stamped out of the house.

Daniel watched her thoughtfully before climbing into Monica’s car without speaking, and Lisanne started the engine. But then Daniel switched on the inside light, and she turned to look at him.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she snarled.

“Lis, for fuck’s sake! What is it?!”

“Why wouldn’t you touch me after Thanksgiving?”

He frowned, wishing he knew what the hell had turned her into a rabid ball crusher during the last sixty minutes, although he could make an educated guess.

“Well?”

“It didn’t feel right.”

“What does that mean?”

“Because I hadn’t told you about this.” He gestured toward his head.

“What difference does that make?” she yelled.

He didn’t understand her anger, but then the meaning of her words sank in. She didn’t care
. She really didn’t care that he was deaf.
Daniel couldn’t help but grin at her – which drove Lisanne into a complete rage.

“Why are you smiling!” she shrieked.

He leaned over and pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. She resisted for a fraction of a second, then scrambled onto his lap and began to grind against his jeans.

They were both lost in the moment when Lisanne heard her phone beep with yet another message. It brought her to her senses, and she remembered that they were still sitting in her mom’s car, with the interior light showcasing their every move – on her parent’s drive.

She clambered inelegantly from Daniel’s knee, too intent on pulling her phone out of her purse to see that he had to adjust himself.

“Rodney wants to meet at a coffee shop instead,” she said, shortly.

She was rather relieved. She knew that Reverend Dubois and his wife would be shocked by Daniel – his tattoos, his pierced eyebrow, and certainly by his swearing, which he almost never managed to curb entirely, no matter how hard he tried.

“Don’t want to be late for Rodney,” Daniel said, snidely.

“You don’t have to come,” she snapped.

Daniel stared at her in disbelief.

Consequently, the drive to the coffee shop continued in stony silence although, to be fair, Daniel couldn’t have seen anything Lisanne said anyway, firstly, because it was dark inside the car, and secondly, because with only seeing her profile it was virtually impossible to read what she was saying. He didn’t have to worry – Lisanne was berating herself for agreeing to meet Rodney and therefore getting them all into what she was sure to be a highly uncomfortable confrontation.

She parked outside the coffee shop and hoped to speak to Daniel before they entered. But he was already holding open the café door by the time she’d picked up her purse and climbed out of the car. All she had time to say was, “Be nice!”

He raised his eyebrows and suppressed a smirk. Almost.

Rodney was sitting at a table near the back, staring moodily into a cup of foaming cappuccino. He was nice looking in a blond, preppy sort of way – he looked safe. It was the opposite of how people looked at Daniel.

Rodney started to smile when he saw Lisanne and then his eyes bugged out as he swept his gaze up and down her, taking in the micro mini, heels, and heavy makeup. When he saw Daniel, his mouth dropped open in a silent pop.

Lisanne hugged him tightly – because Rodney was her friend, her one true friend from high school – and also because she hoped it would make Daniel insanely jealous. She couldn’t help questioning the wisdom of making her highly volatile boyfriend even more incendiary, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself either.

“Look at you! College must agree with you, hot stuff!” said Rodney, kissing her cheek.

Lisanne fully expected to see Daniel scowling when she turned around to introduce him, so she was bewildered to find a broad smile on his face.

“Um, Rodney, this is my boyfriend Daniel Colton. Daniel, this is my friend from high school, Rodney Dubois.”

The two men shook hands, and then Daniel headed to the counter to order a latte for Lisanne and his usual black coffee.

“So,” said Rodney slowly, “
that’s
your boyfriend.”

“Yes,” said Lisanne kindly, but firmly.

“He’s different.”

Rodney’s voice was amused but without judgment.

Lisanne smiled. He was so right.

“And
you
look different, too. My mom would have a heart attack if she saw you now.”

Rodney’s voice took on a wistful tone that made Lisanne regret dressing so skimpily. She hoped it didn’t look like she was rubbing his face in the fact that she now had a boyfriend – and it wasn’t him.

Daniel returned and slouched down in his chair, angling it so he could face both of them at the same time.

Rodney turned his gaze to Daniel.

“Are you studying music, too?”

Lisanne winced but Daniel kept his gaze neutral.

“No, economics with business, and math as a minor.”

“Oh,” said Rodney, clearly surprised. “I thought…” he glanced to Lisanne for help.

“What about you?” said Daniel, steering the conversation away from himself. “Lisanne hasn’t said… You were in the school orchestra together?”

“Yeah, I played the cello – but nothing like Lisanne.” He smiled at her fondly, “She was out of everyone’s league.”

They both stared at her and she felt her face heat up.

“I’ve been going to theological college to train to be a pastor, like my father.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Can’t be easy for you.”

Lisanne frowned. It wasn’t like Daniel to make assumptions like that, but when she looked at him, she saw something like sympathy in his eyes. She was puzzled.

Rodney sighed. “I used to think it was…”

Lisanne stared. “But you’ve wanted this like forever!”

“Things change,” he said.

“Yeah,” said Daniel, nodding slowly in agreement. “They do.”

Some sort of unspoken communication passed between them, and Lisanne felt very much on the outside.

They were interrupted by a girl who asked them for the time – presumably as a pretext, because she made no attempt to restrain her open ogling of Daniel. Lisanne sighed. She was getting used to it, although it still pissed her the hell off. She rested her hand on Daniel’s thigh in a clear, territorial display.

Daniel smiled down at her and Rodney looked amused.

They chatted amiably and Lisanne was surprised – and if she was honest with herself, slightly annoyed – that the guys seemed to be getting along so well. She just wouldn’t have figured it. Wasn’t Rodney supposed to be pining for her? Wasn’t Daniel usually jealous of any guy who talked to her? It was very confusing.

She was even more surprised when Rodney suggested they go on to a club where the bouncers were a little lax on IDs. And even more surprised when Daniel said it was fine by him.

“Um, I don’t think mom and dad would…”

“Come on, Lis,” said Daniel, nuzzling her hair. “No disrespect to your folks, but I don’t think I can handle the rest of the evening watching Bruce Willis films with your dad, while he tries not to leap out of his chair every time I touch you.”

Rodney chuckled knowingly and Lisanne threw him a dirty look.

“Come on, baby doll,” whispered Daniel persuasively, using the sexy smile that he knew she couldn’t resist.

Lisanne tried once more. “Do you think you should, after… you know?”

Daniel frowned and pulled away from her, his eyes flicking up to Rodney, who looked puzzled.

Lisanne capitulated. “Okay, fine. But please don’t drink. I hate being the only sober person, and I have to drive.”

Daniel still looked irritated and agreed curtly. Rodney just shrugged and nodded.

“I’m driving, too,” he said.

As they walked out onto the street, Lisanne shivered slightly. Daniel looked down at her and without speaking, pulled off his shirt and handed it to her.

She couldn’t help smiling to herself as she slipped it on and tied it in a knot at the front.

Rodney was staring at the tattoos he could see winding their way down Daniel’s arms.

“Nice ink,” he said.

Daniel hadn’t seen him speak so he didn’t answer. Rodney frowned but chose not to comment.

The club was one that Lisanne hadn’t heard of before – although clubbing had never really been her thing – and was surprised that Rodney seemed to know about it. The two bouncers were well muscled men, clean cut, and identically dressed in white t-shirts and tight jeans.

Rodney turned to Daniel.

“I should have said but I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

Daniel smirked. “I don’t give a shit.”

Rodney blinked then gave a small smile. “No, you don’t, do you.”

“Just so long as the only hands I feel on my ass belong to baby doll.”

Lisanne was puzzled, her eyes toggling between the two of them. What on earth were they talking about? She didn’t know what was going on. It must be a guy thing. How irritating was that?

Stopping at an ATM so Daniel could withdraw some money, then paid the club’s cover charge, and Lisanne walked in with Daniel’s arm draped casually across her shoulders. It was almost darker inside than on the nighttime street. Lisanne peered into the gloom, wondering if there would be anyone she recognized.

She could feel the music vibrating through the soles of her shoes and relaxed slightly, knowing Daniel could feel it, too. She understood now why he felt comfortable in clubs – if they didn’t have live bands – he wasn’t at a disadvantage.

Rodney pointed his chin toward the bar and they all followed – it was the only part of the club where there was a chance of speaking and being heard. The irony was not lost on Lisanne.

She asked for a bottle of water and both of the guys had beers. She frowned but didn’t say anything. Daniel took a long drink and then leaned down to speak into her ear. She felt his cool lips and warm breath on her skin, causing a tremor to run through her.

“Want to dance, baby doll?”

She nodded and he pulled her out onto the dance floor. Rodney watched from the bar, his face holding a slight smile, although his eyes were filled with longing.

Lisanne felt bad for leaving him by himself, but it had been his idea to go to the club after all. Then she felt Daniel pull her into his chest and she stopped thinking about anybody else.

She loved how at ease he was with his body, feeling the rhythm, perhaps hearing the music in his mind. It was hard to say – he so rarely talked about things like that – personal things. The only time he’d truly opened up had been in his letter. It was frustrating.

She felt his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. So she let her fingers drift up his chest, brushing over his nipple rings, and tightened her hands firmly behind his neck. He grinned down then suddenly dipped her low to the floor, making her squeal. She caught a flash of Rodney’s grinning face at the bar as Daniel stood her upright, and kissed the bare skin beneath her throat.

They seemed to be getting quite a bit of attention with people staring at them. Lisanne felt herself moving to Icona Pop’s pumping vibe,
I Love It.
At first, she felt rather self-conscious but Daniel didn’t seem to notice or, if he did, it didn’t concern him. Plus, everyone around her seemed to be heading to the dance floor to let loose for that tune, and the DJ pumped up the bass.

Twenty minutes later, and Lisanne was out of breath. She tapped on Daniel’s shoulder and signaled a timeout with her hands. As they walked back toward the bar, a man stopped them and said something to Daniel. She couldn’t hear what it was, but Daniel shook his head and hooked a finger into the pocket of her denim skirt. The man held up his hands and backed away. It occurred to Lisanne that there were very few women in the club. Looking around the room, she glimpsed two men kissing openly, and she nudged Daniel. He glanced over then smiled at her, totally unfazed.