As we’re scrambling to get dressed, Paul suddenly yells out more loudly, “Really? You two again? For real? Best of luck getting dressed, Danny, because your shirt’s in the kitchen, and—what in the shit happened to the banister? I don’t want to know! And I also don’t want to know why there’s a bra hanging from the railing! But, what did I tell you about canoodling? I’m feeding your obviously neglected dog, and then I’ll be outside.”
I smile. “Guess the multiple condom purchases didn’t hit his radar.”
“The day is still young,” he points out with a sigh.
For the first time since I’ve been back to Wake, Danny looks worried.
“Hey, you okay? Paul’s going to get over it.” I slip on my shorts and round the bed to where he is buttoning his jeans.
“I guess.” He takes me in his arms and kisses the top of my head. “Paul probably thinks of you like a daughter, and now, I’m the guy who, you know—”
“Chilled me?”
At least he laughs lightly. “Yeah.”
“And he thinks of me like a daughter? Really?”
“He does.”
While I’m surprised to hear this, I’m very moved. “That’s really sweet.”
“So, he’s probably feeling protective,” Danny suggests.
“Well, no matter what, we’re both adults. We canchillwhomever we want.”
He hugs me tightly. “That might be true, but it’s also true that Paul is gonna work my ass off today.”
“Then, you’ll need a breakfast and some coffee.”
“Any chance you’ll share that icy orange juice of yours?”
I lift up and kiss him. “Only with you.”
“You truly are a goddess.” He kisses me back. “AndIam truly excited to get started on prepping the house to be painted. You still want to keep it white?”
“I do. But you’ll be pleased to know that I wanted to do the front door a shade of orange.”
“Yeah?” he asks with surprise.
“And then I realized how Halloween-ish it would be with the black roof.”
“You have a point,” he says with a laugh. “So, what do you want to go with?”
“A blue. You pick. But notyourblue.”
“But notourblue, you mean,” he corrects me. Then, he thinks as he kisses me deeply, and when he pulls away against my protest, he whispers. “Dusk.”
“I’m down with that.” I sigh. “And if Paul hadn’t shown up, I was about to be down with something else.”
“And I was not going to object.” He smiles and looks more relaxed than he did a few minutes ago. “I don’t have any plans tonight. You know, if you’re still interested.”
“Oh, I’m definitely still interested.”
Danny clears his throat and adjusts his jeans. “Okay, we have to stop talking, or I’m never going to be able to walk downstairs and face Paul.”
“Understood. Come on. Let’s go get your shirt and say good morning to your neglected dog and your overreacting boss.”
Not that I’m aching for him to put a shirt on, but I don’t want to antagonize Paul any further.
