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"I swear, you're the one I've been looking for all my life," she whispered, and he knew right there that she was the one.
"You're killin' me . . . I already need you so much."
"My bed feels so empty tonight, I wish you were here with me," she said softly, and he could hear it in her voice that she was smiling.
"I'd love to keep you warm, honey. I got a few extra pounds on me so I'm more than qualified," he chuckled, trying to bring a little levity to the conversation.
"You're gorgeous, Daniel, just how you are. I'm hoping to see more of you, in fact."
"Oh yeah?"
"Definitely. I'd like to see all of you."
She giggled then, and he felt goosebumps, imagining her lips on his skin.
"You're too much, Anna," he grinned. "That feels funny now, callin' you something different."
"Sorry."
"I like calling you honey best anyway."
"I love you calling me honey."
Daniel knew he wanted to proceed, even if he knew there was a chance of complications. Maybe it was irresponsible, but he felt he could keep everyone safe. He didn't want to be selfish, but now that he'd found Anna, he didn't want to let her go over some abusive asshole. Part of him couldn't help thinking of his own daughter. He hoped there would be a decent person there who'd stand by Tina's side if she ever needed someone like Anna did. The idea of a woman becoming a pariah just because she'd been abused wasn't right. He wanted a better world than that for Tina. Daniel wasn't a man who'd ever walk out on a woman who needed support, understanding, and love. He was a small-town single dad who made banana pancakes for his little girl every weekend, but he was also a good man who wasn't about to take any shit from anyone.
He needed to talk to Harry and then to Tina, and he hoped it would all pan out. Daniel never thought he'd find someone to love him like Candace, so he held onto that feeling for dear life.
CHAPTER8
"Dad?"
The sound was weak and fragile, immediately followed by vomiting from the bathroom. Daniel opened his eyes and jumped out of bed in only his boxers to see what was wrong with Tina; she sounded like death.
"Awww, baby," he sighed as he went in to check on her.
Daniel held Tina's hair out of the way as she tossed her cookies into the toilet and washed her face when she was done.
"I'm going to get you some anti-nausea medicine and some Gatorade, honey. Don't move."
She groaned, and he saw she was trying not to puke again. Daniel grabbed the medicine for her, and she took a sip of the Gatorade to wash it down.
"I feel like I'm going to die," she whined.
"Not on my watch, you aren’t. I'm going to call into work."
"Can't Ted just come over?" she asked as she wandered back to her room.
"Don't you want me to stay?" he asked.
"Of course, I do. I was just saying' if you wanted to go to work."
"I'll stay for the morning at least and then if you're feeling better by lunch, I'll call Ted."
"Deal."
She slithered back into bed, and he brought the garbage can in case she got sick again. He tucked her into bed and felt her forehead for fever; her skin felt clammy.
"Anything else I can do?" he asked.
