Page 29 of Making the Call
Luke
Waking up Sunday morning,I instinctually reach for Dani, but I find nothing but cool sheets in my grasp. The auction and dinner went later than I thought last night and as soon as I got home, I made the mistake of checking my email. Shit. I was supposed to text her when I got home. It hasn’t even been one day, and I’m already fucking things up.Way to go, Leighton.
I reach to my bedside table and pick up my phone. Without thinking about the time, I shoot off a quick text to Dani.
Me: Good Morning. Hope you had fun with your brothers. Any plans for today?
Shit. It’s not even six. Hopefully, she’ll sleep through it or at least have her notifications turned off. Within seconds, I see three dots jumping.
Dani: The guys and I plan to go kayaking when it warms up.
Me: Did I wake you?
Dani: No. Couldn’t sleep. Been writing for about an hour. Why are you up at this ungodly hour?
I can just imagine her eyeroll at my audacity. In my short time with her, I learned she’s more of a night owl, or will often get up in the middle of the night to work if she can’t sleep, then she’ll happily sleep in until at least nine or ten.
Me: I always get up at this time. In fact, this is late for me. Usually I’m running by now.
Dani: Overachiever!
Me: Not really. Just have to find a way to get it all in. I prefer the open road, but sometimes I run on the treadmill and watch game footage.
Dani: Once again, if I’m running… look to see what’s chasing me. Give me a bike or spin class any day.
Before I have a chance to reply, my phone rings.
“Hey, Luke.” Her sexy morning voice slithers quietly through the line.
“Good morning, Danika.” God, it’s good to hear her voice.
As if she feels the same, a low sigh of relief can be heard. “Do you have to work today?”
“Yeah. With the start of the season, I’m back to working nearly 24/7 for the next few months. Where are you going kayaking?”
“Amsterdam Bay. We won’t head out until the weather gets a bit warmer. Since Puget Sound never gets above fifty-three degrees, we’ll wait until this afternoon.”
“What are you doing this morning?” I ask with curiosity.
“Well…” She takes in a deep breath. “Since the guys are on break, I’ll bet they won’t show their faces until at least ten. They have always been notorious for sleeping in.” Her light laugh makes me miss her more.How does she do that?
“What will you do while they’re sleeping?” Her quiet sigh makes me wish I was with her.
“Oh, I plan to get my daily word count in and to edit some, if I can. Who knows how much time I’ll actually get to write with the guys here this week. If I can get ahead, it’d be a relief.”
Something in the way she says this makes me wonder if I was too much of a distraction. “Did I cause you to get behind this week?”
“Oh, no. I got plenty done. I just need to complete some edits and get a book to my editor by the end of the month. I’m on track for finishing it, but I always feel the pressure as the date looms closer.”
“Ah… So, you work best under pressure,” I tease.
She releases the sexiest laugh. “Busted.”
My phone buzzes as my alarm goes off, reminding me I need to get moving if I’m going to meet Mike and Tony. We would’ve met yesterday but with the auction being scheduled, we rescheduled for this morning instead.
Dani must hear this because she asks, “Gotta go?”
I sigh defeatedly. “Yeah, but I’d rather stay and chat with you,” I admit honestly.
