Wanting to Remember,Trying to Forget(41)

September had flown by at a phenomenal speed. She had secured four other corporate events and her first wedding and her free time was diminishing with every passing day. She had not even gone to the spa with Lauren and Amber this month.

She loved it, though. It wasn’t just a way to pass the time. Planning events was daunting and challenging and it kept her on her toes. The wedding, however, was freaking her out more than she had anticipated. A wedding wasn’t like a themed dinner. It couldn’t merely look pretty. It required her to capture a feeling, an aura and she had spent hours on this particular design trying to do just that.

Max was equally busy. He had taken on a big client earlier this month and every time he came up with a decent design for their website, the board changed their mind about what they wanted. She understood his frustration. Her last client had been the same and there was nothing more aggravating than someone who didn’t know what they wanted.

She had barely seen him since he had taken it on. The project demanded late nights and early mornings, but he had left the office earlier today and she knew why.

She added white drapes to the ceiling of her electronic design and gasped when she saw the time. “Shit!”

Max would be home in less than twenty minutes. Okay. It could still be done. She had a surprise for him on this special day that could still maybe be pulled together in twenty measly minutes.

She raced to the bathroom, trying to brush her teeth and shave her legs at the same time, but the circular motion of the hand brushing her teeth was confusing the up motion of the hand shaving her legs. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, white foam all over her mouth and legs. One thing at a time, she resolved. She finished her teeth, then finished her legs then hopped into the shower.

Sliding out of the bathroom and into her bedroom, she grabbed the green and black plaid skirt and a tight white shirt, the same outfit she had worn for her flash-mob dance. She pulled it on over her bare body before pushing her feet into a pair of black heels. She left the shirt unbuttoned half-way, exposing the scar that she now flaunted proudly. Make-up was unnecessary for what she had planned, but she did accessorize with two of the butterfly clips he had given her for her birthday. There. Perfect!

Her pace slowed now and she walked calmly back to the front of the apartment and sat down on the dining table. The door opened a few minutes later.

“You have a good day, Sugarpie?”

The packet full of magazines dropped from his hands. So did the big bouquet of flowers. She watched as his eyes devoured every inch of her.

“Better now,” he replied in an awe-struck whisper.

“See what I found at the back of my closet,” she said, sliding her hands up her thighs to toy with the edges of the skirt.

“I’m seeing, alright. The gift that keeps on giving.”

He walked up to her so fast that she barely had time to brace herself for the overpowering kiss she had been expecting. He moved his hips between her legs and urged her down until her back was flat against the table. His eyes skimmed over her, a mixture of hunger and appreciation, before his fingers began exploring.

Starting at the scar and trailing down all the way to her ankles. He hooked her heels up on the edge of the table and nipped her inner thigh.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fantasized about you in this skirt.”

She smiled and bit her lower lip. “Let’s make it a reality.”


After he had taken her in every position known to man, Danny was pretty sure that they had fulfilled every one of his erotic fantasies of her in that skirt. She let out an exhausted sigh of satisfaction and got off the sofa, her legs feeling strangely numb. She couldn’t remember how they got there, but she knew it had something to do with rug-burn.

“That was so dirty,” she said with a smile, “I think I need another shower.”

All she got in return was a dismissive nod and a tired grin.

Fifteen minutes later, she returned and picked up the packet of magazines and the bouquet of flowers.

“Those were for you, by the way.”

“And to what do I owe this pleasure?” she teased as she sat down beside him at the table.

He shrugged. “It’s just flowers.”

“But why am I getting flowers? Is it perhaps because it’s September twenty-second? Is it perhaps that this is the day we met seven years ago?”

He rolled his eyes and walked to the kitchen.

“You’re so sentimental, Max.” She began unpacking the magazines from the plastic packet. “There’s pizza in there,” she called out.

“Good. I’m starving.” He returned a few minutes later. “A man needs sustenance with a woman like you.”

“Did you call Shane for his birthday?” she asked.

“Yeah. I called him at the office.”

She looked down at the cover of one magazine and noticed someone familiar, a face she recognized from the videos. “Hey, is this…isn’t this Jordan?” she asked as he sat down beside her with a hot plate of pizza.

“Yeah.”

“Who is she kissing?”

“Her boss!” he grumbled.

“Gee, talk about accountants gone wild.”

He groaned his disgust. “She’s my sister, Danny!” he said through a mouthful of salami and cheese. “I don’t wanna think about it, okay?”

She giggled and changed the topic, indulging in the playful banter that she had grown to miss in the last few weeks. As he chuckled and nudged her when she told a stupid joke, she felt like everything was falling into place, like the world was beginning to make sense again. The emptiness was filling with her sheer love of life. A great career, great friends and a great man sitting beside her. What more could a girl ask for?





October





How was it possible that she could never get ready on time? Then again, it was a Saturday and everyone slept in a little too long on a Saturday. Well, everyone except Max.

Danny raced out of the bathroom and pulled on a short tight-fitting beige skirt. She couldn’t be late. Not today. Her client was pedantic and would not tolerate tardiness.

“Max,” she called, “have you seen my—”

She stopped when she saw the straps of her brown sandals hanging off his finger.

“Thanks,” she said, taking it from his hand. “And do you know where I left my—”

Her butterfly hair clips were placed in her other hand. She smiled and hurried to the mirror to slide them on. Blouse on. Matching beige blazer on. Just breathe, she told herself.

She still had a few minutes to spare before she needed to leave, but in her rush she could not remember where she had left half her things. She tossed the pillows off her bed, looking for her cell phone and when she couldn’t find it, she ran back to the bedroom door. “Where’s—” Her cell phone was placed in her hand. “And—” followed by her car keys. “You’re a blessing!” she said, standing on her tip toes to give him a quick kiss.

She went back in and sat on the edge of the bed to strap on her sandals. She was exhausted. She had been up half the night trying to finalize the design for this client and all she wanted was a creamy cup of—

“Coffee?” Max said from the doorway, holding a mug.

God, she loved him! She took the mug from him and gulped down its creamy deliciousness in a matter of seconds. Max walked her to the door and handed over her laptop bag. As she opened the door, he slammed it shut and pushed her up against it, his mouth immediately closing over her Jerry Maguire spot. She groaned and her head rolled back.

“Max…”

“Just a quickie.”

“Please…just…please…”

“I don’t know what you’re begging me for, Danny.” His hand caught the back of her knee and he pulled her leg around his waist, her tight skirt riding up as he did so. “Is this what you’re begging me for?”

His other hand cupped her breast and she almost forgot about the meeting.

“Is this some sort of payback?” she asked breathlessly.

“Yes.”

She buried her hands in his hair and kissed him hard. “Later. I promise.”

Pushing him back to a safe distance, she opened the door.

“You’re just gonna leave me like this?” he said, pointing down at himself.

Looking at his soft lips, his bare chest, and his tousled morning hair, all she wanted to do was dive into his arms again but she stopped herself. She groaned her frustration. “Later,” she said again. “I really have to go.”

“Alright. Have a great day, Honeybun,” he teased.

“You really have to think of a better name.”

“You first.”

After another quick kiss goodbye, she hurried to the outdoor stairwell.

“I’m taking a walk to the park later,” Max shouted after her. “Meet me there after your meeting.”

“Sure,” she shouted back and continued running down the stairs.

* * *

Danny sighed a happy sigh as she parked her car, pulled off her beige suit jacket and climbed out. Another successful meeting. Another happy client. She had actually managed to secure a higher fee for this next project. As the money started coming in over the last few months, she had started buying groceries and contributing towards the rental of the apartment. She no longer felt like she was a financial burden to Max.