Page 66 of Kiss My Glass
I wonder what Nate offloaded on him last night. Much the same as Shelby offloaded on me, I’d imagine. With luck, they’ll start sharing with each other now. I know exactlywhat Danny means about having an emotional hangover.
“Tender as in both stepping very carefully around each other,” I say. “Hard to say if that’s an improvement or not.”
Danny gazes at me for a moment beyond my personal comfort.
“What?”
I sound abrupt but Danny doesn’t take offense.
“I wonder what would have happened if you and I had met under different circumstances?” he says.
“Such as?”
He shrugs. “I lost a bet and signed up for Lindy Hop lessons? You wanted to sell your car and needed the best broker in the country?”
“Uh huh.” I refuse to encourage him.
Danny grins. “I mean, what would it have been like if we had met with no family around us? If we’d been free to go out and have fun, get to know each other without all this extra pressure.”
“Maybe it’s good that we arebeing tested?” I suggest. “If we can survive this, we can survive anything?”
It happens again. That jolt. That sudden shifting of the ground beneath us.
Danny and I stare at each other, our expressions, I’m guessing, identical. A mixture of alarm and anticipation and hope, like we’re both clinging to a rope, preparing to swing for our lives across a raging crocodile-infested river.
“I want this so bad,” he says. “But I also don’t want to put any pressure on you.”
Don’t look down, Frankie. Don’t let those crocodile fears psych you out.
“I want it, too,” I tell him. “But … I need time to figure out some stuff.”
“We’ve got time,” he says. “So long as our families don’t implode.”
“If that happens, we could always go on a very longhike,” I say. “Hide out in a cabin somewhere. You know, until the National Guard sounds the all clear.”
“I like how you think.” Danny grins. “I likeyou. More than anyone ever.”
Damn it, he knows exactly how to win me over.
“I like you, too,” I say. “A lot. Now, let’s focus. We have shit to do.”
“Don’t suppose we can organize the crush another day?” he says.
“Sooner we get the plan done, sooner we’re free to?—”
“Don’t say it,” he warns. “If you say it, I’ll have no choice but to ravish you right here on this very small desk.”
“Ravish?” I raise an eyebrow. “My, my. Fancy.”
“Damn,” he says. “I’d hoped Lil Danny wouldn’t understand that word, but it seems he has.”
“Lil Danny would understand it if you spelled it out in semaphore.”
Danny makes what I assume he thinks is an endearing puppy face. “Quickie on the filing cabinet?”
“No!” I say. “Work now. Ravish later. Threaten Lil Danny with a stapler if you have to.”
“Ouch.” Danny winces.
