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“Another?” I joke as I dip my head into the library. Seeing another empty room, I stroll toward the balcony. “Don’t tell me you have more family that need to stay.”
His laugh is forced and I pause. Something is wrong and I can feel it in my gut.
“What is it?” I ask, softening my tone. “You know I’d do anything to help you.”
“Daria…She can’t know,” William picks back up after a few seconds, “but they burned everything. Our home is gone. I don’t want her to go from one shock to another. Not after such little time has passed.”
Frowning, I step outside and find the area empty. I’m a bit thankful for that. Daria isn’t around to hear me sigh or watch me rub at my face.
Not because I’ll have to keep her in my home for longer. I ache at the thought of her suffering. Even though I feel a spike of happiness at the thought, I immediately crush it down with her future sadness.
“I told you, I’ll take care of her for as long as you need, William. If it takes years for you to collect the funds to start somewhere new, then I’ll keep her safe.” Understatement of the year. Every day I spend with her, I’m left believing William is going to have to pry his daughter out of my grip.
I lean over the rail and spot Daria roaming the garden. She’s wearing a dress, one she was reluctant to accept when I had it ordered. From where I’m standing, she’s looking more and more like a goddess. The wind catches the fabric as she explores, snagging her loose strands of hair as well.
“You’re a good friend, Idris. Really, I mean that. I’ll return the favor and pay you back in some way.”
A good friend shouldn’t have the sorts of thoughts I do. I don’t admit my secrets, just in case William decides to get in contact with someone who can try to move Daria. I keep my feelings all to myself, tucked away in my heart where even his daughter can’t know.
Pulling my eyes away from Daria’s walking form, I abandon the library altogether and head down to the gardens to get the woman’s attention.
“I don’t know how much time will pass before I can call again, but please keep her distracted.” Hearing him scratch his cheek, I jokingly tell him to shave. No wonder where his daughter gets all of her stress from.
“She’s a quick learner,” I muse as I leave my home. “Sometimes, I catch her practicing Arabic. You must’ve passed down your genes because she’s going to start talking fluently here in a month or two.”
He chuckles at that. Before he can say more, I’m already waving over Daria.
All I have to do is show her my phone and the beauty’s face lights up like the sun. When she runs in my direction, I take in her flushed cheeks and watch the way her hair whips back. It takes all the strength in my body not to meet her halfway and throw my arms around her.
By now, my chest has gotten used to taking each blow this woman gives whenever she knocks me right off my feet. Even now, when her smile reaches her eyes, I keep my grin in place and hand off the device.
What I’d do to be able to pull her down into the grass and have her sit on my lap as we enjoy the lovely weather. With my arms wrapped around her frame, I’d hug her as she spoke to her father.
It’s the thoughts like that which make my chest ache. The reminder that I can’t have what I want is the real torture here. Still, I put up with it every day she is here. I’m happy to keep experiencing the longing up until the day she leaves.
Turning away, I try to give her some space without leaving entirely. The moment she reaches out with a shaky hand and a worried look, my feet might as well be cemented into the ground.
Even if her fatherisalive, she’s still very much worried. Right.
I test my luck by reaching out and giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. The way her smile returns, I’m left in more pain than before.
As I’m stuck in place listening to her batter my friend with questions, I get an idea that leaves my heart beating twice as hard.
What if Daria doesn’t want to leave my home? What if I convince her to stay? With all the time we’ll be together, what if I can get the woman to feel even a hint of what’s going on in my head?
Watching her carefully, I bring her hand to my mouth and place the lightest kiss against her skin. Watching her widening eyes meet mine as she stutters on her wording, my heart skips. Instead of yanking away, her cheeks grow pink.
I’d call that a success. A risky one, but not one I regret. Not wanting to make my action obvious to William, I draw her hand away from my mouth and continue holding it as she works on keeping her conversation coherent.
Without a home to return to, mine will come off as more welcoming and I can only hope that will help my case in convincing her to stay. She doesn’t have to worry about being tugged around the world again or for her safety.
I’d be lucky as hell to get a woman like her to catch an interest in a man like myself. Someone who is about twice her age. Hell, there’s a whole list of why she shouldn’t want me.
If my past family had enough luck to win at life, then maybe I stand a chance to win at love. Otherwise, I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to survive another few weeks, let alone a few months without making her mine.
* * *
Daria’s been in a great mood ever since her phone call ended with William. I’ve caught her humming songs I don’t recognize, and taking in all my artwork for the hundredth time. Her eyes are glazed over, she’s thinking about other things.
