Lauren had become a second mother to both of them over the last few years. Not that Danny had ever had a first mother. Both her parents had been killed in a botched robbery when she was only a few months old. She had no recollection of them, not even a photograph. She didn’t even know what ethnic group she belonged to. Her hazel eyes, long, dark brown hair and caramel skin could fall into a number of racial categories. At twenty-five years old, she was still trying to figure out her heritage.
She had spent years looking at pictures in magazines, trying to find some resemblance to anyone, hoping maybe the person smiling back at her was some distant relative who could help her find some closure.
She had been sent from foster home to foster home, but finally when she was eleven, she was thrown into the arms of the most caring man, Jake Peterson. It was then that she finally made peace with her broken past. The first time he hugged her, all the questions melted away and it was the first time she felt like she belonged.
He had raised her with more love than most normal families had. He gave her everything a girl could want and the only thing he ever asked for in return was that she get good grades so she could earn a scholarship to college.
She had done just that. Everything she had, everything she accomplished was all thanks to good ol’ Pappa Jake.
Life was perfect until the phone call she received late February last year. Jake had had a heart attack, pronounced dead before she had even climbed into her car to drive to the hospital. Just like that her life had fallen to pieces. Just like that the world had become a dull and morbid place. Were it not for Max, she would probably still be living in that world and were it not for Lauren, she would still be feeling like she had no real family.
“Can I offer you something to eat or drink?” Danny asked.
“Oh, no thank you, Danielle. I cannot possibly eat another bite. I completely stuffed myself over breakfast this morning.”
And by that she meant that she had an entire bowl of bran flakes and a yogurt.
“I thought I would just pop by and see how you two were doing,” Lauren continued. “I come back from my vacation and find out that the offices have moved earlier than expected and you have moved. It’s like the whole world has gone topsy turvy.”
Danny could only smile. Lauren had a way of sugar-coating everything. Where a normal person would say, “Who the hell do those assholes think they are? Moving offices without informing me first?” Lauren would simply smile pleasantly and take it in her stride. It was not in her nature to be vulgar or rude. She did everything in a lady-like manner. She spoke eloquently, pronouncing each word separately. Another habit she had was always addressing people by their full names. She never took shortcuts in the English language, which explained why she was the senior editor of the biggest publishing house in California.
Lauren moved to the living room, sat down, and tucked one ankle neatly behind the other. “I see a lot has changed since you moved in, Danielle. The curtains are lovely.”
Danny cast Max a look of sheer arrogance before turning back to Lauren. “It is, isn’t it?”
She sat down on the sofa adjacent to Lauren while Max stood a few feet away, leaning against the wall.
“So you two are living together now. How delightful. It must be such fun.”
Max laughed. “I give her three more weeks before she’s completely bored of me.”
Danny looked up at him and smiled. “Max, I could never get bored of you.” Their eyes locked for a long time and it was only when Lauren spoke again that she remembered she was actually in the middle of a conversation.
“Tell me, Danielle. How is Richard? Is he back in town?”
“Fuck!” Max snorted under his breath and walked back to the kitchen, looking highly irritated.
“Oh, Richard is fine,” Danny responded after Max left the room. “He’s still in Miami doing a photo shoot. He should be back in a week or two. Fashion models have pretty demanding jobs.”
And Richard deserved every single cent that gorgeous face earned him, Danny thought. He had the most perfect features, hand-sculpted by the Gods themselves. Immaculate bone structure. Jet-black hair. Seductive green eyes. Killer smile. The man just exuded sexiness. And his body… Someone get a mop and wipe the drool off the floor!
Strong arms, broad shoulders, and a chest that was made to pillow a woman’s head.
Let’s assess. Absolutely, positively, fall over yourself trying to get a better look gorgeous. Check. Super-duper sexy. Check. Rich. Check. Caring and sensitive. Check. That should actually count two points. Double check.
Oh, what do you know? Richard was the perfect man. And she had been lucky enough to nab him before any of those cheap, gold digging, please sign my G-string sluts managed to get their grubby paws on him. In eight days, they would be dating for exactly nine months and what a blissful nine months it had been. Love was definitely blossoming. Scratch that. Love had already bloomed. Happily ever after. Check.
“How do you do it, dear?” Lauren asked. “It must be so difficult maintaining a relationship when you hardly ever see him.”
“It is difficult, Lauren. I get really lonely sometimes and long distance phone calls aren’t always practical, but I know Richard loves me.”
A look came over Lauren’s face. It was a face that Danny had grown to hate, a face that meant that Lauren was going to try for the umpteenth time to convince her to break-up with Richard. “Of course he does, but do you not ever wish for a normal relationship with someone who is always there for you when you need him?”
“I love Richard, Lauren. I take the good with the bad. He’s perfect for me. I could never find another man like him.”
“Maybe you are just not looking in the right places, dear.” Lauren cast a quick look to the kitchen. “Your Mister Right could be right under your nose.”
Oh, for goodness sakes! Had this been a one-sided conversation? There’s no need to look, Lauren, Danny shouted in her head. Mister Right has already been found.
She was about to give her a piece of her mind when the sound of a vibrating cell phone stopped her.
Lauren dug in her purse, pulled out her phone, and sighed. “I must be going, Danielle.” She stood up and headed towards the door. “My butler is not too sure that my husband will be able to put up with my grandchildren for much longer, but I will see you on Monday morning, bright and early.” She turned to Danny before she stepped out. “Think about what I said.”
Danny rolled her eyes and shook her head. There was no talking to this woman. “I’ll think about it.”
She shut the door, went back to the sofa and plopped down. What was wrong with Lauren? Any woman would jump at the chance to date Richard and here she was trying to push her into the arms of another man. Max also had an extreme dislike towards Richard and had tried on several occasions to persuade her to end their relationship. And then there was her friend, Amber, who seemed to be under the impression that Richard was only after one thing.
Danny sighed. Everyone just needed to back off. This was her life and Richard was going to be apart of it whether they liked it or not.
* * *
Danny met Amber on the sidewalk outside Madame Fouche’s Day Spa.
“Hey, you,” Amber greeted, her auburn hair shimmering in the sunlight.
Amber was Danny’s closest friend, second to Max. She was an average height, about the same as Danny, and brought to life the expression dynamite comes in small packages. They had gone their separate ways after college, but when Amber moved back to Los Angeles a year ago, it was like they had never been apart. They met for lunch as often as they could but no matter what, at least once a month they accompanied Lauren and Jennifer to the Day Spa.
They walked to the reception area where Jennifer and Lauren were already waiting. They were led up the stairs to the quiet rooms, where they each received a hot stone massage and an intense back rub. The scented candles and the soft music playing in the background allowed Danny to feel the relaxation she had not felt in weeks. She closed her eyes as Alicia’s hands worked their expert magic down her spine.
After the massage, they pulled on their white robes and walked to the shady area near the pool. They stretched out on the long pool loungers, waiting for the next session that would start in half an hour. Danny had just begun to relax when Jennifer started complaining, as usual, that her masseuse had not used enough pressure to work out the knot on her shoulder.
Jen was Lauren’s youngest daughter and although both Amber and Danny were not too fond of her incessant complaining, they tolerated her for the pleasure of Lauren’s company. Jennifer had inherited her good looks from her mother, her sandy hair and brown eyes, but by no means had she inherited Lauren’s good nature. Unlike Lauren, she was neither well-mannered nor reserved and she could definitely run her mouth off when she was unhappy about something.
Jen unclipped her bra and rolled over onto her tummy so her back could get an even tan. “So now that you’re living with Max, I think it’s time you set me up on a date with him like you promised.”
Danny coughed out a laugh. “I promised no such thing.”
She lifted herself onto her elbows and glowered at Danny. “This is the sixth time I’ve asked you and you keep making excuses. If you don’t do it, I’ll…I’ll…I’ll get my mom to fire you.”