Page 14 of Landing Her Eagle
Daphne must be able to read the thoughts on my face because she declares, “Pizza. It’ll be good for breakfast too.” Ah, a woman after my own heart.
We walk hand in hand to her car. We decide I’ll pick up pizza from our favorite shop and meet at home. I get in my car and follow her out of the parking lot, and we head toward the heart of Cape May so we can go through town and get on the Parkway to drive north toward home. I use voice control to call Daphne.
“Hello?”
“I’d like to speak to my girlfriend, please.”
She giggles. “I’m your girlfriend?”
“Considering you spent an hour making out with me on that bench and now you’re luring me back to your lair to, hopefully, take advantage of my virtue, you damn well better be my girlfriend. What kind of man do you take me for?”
More giggles. “You’re such a goober.”
“I’myourgoober.”
She sighs. “I still can’t believe you’re here. I’m afraid my alarm is going to go off and I’ll wake up and realize this was all just a dream. If that’s what this is, it’s going to break my heart because it feels so real.”
My heart clenches at hearing her vulnerability.
“Daphne, if this is a dream, it’s a dream we’re both having. It’s real. When your alarm goes off, I’ll be there.” There’s silence on the line. I peek at my dash to make sure the call’s still connected. “Daph?”
“I’m here. Do you have E-ZPass for the toll?”
We’re approaching a toll booth. The miles are passing quickly, thank goodness.
“I do. Go through the express lane.” I don’t know what brought about that change of subject. Another mile or two passes.
“Logan, we’re getting close to home. Did you want to call and order the pizza now so it’s ready to pick up?”
Okay, wearechanging the subject. “Sure. Did you want anything other than pizza?”
“Soda, if you want something other than Diet Pepsi. I don’t have any wine or beer.” I hear her take a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll let you go so you can order. See you at home. Drive safely.”
“Daphne?”
“Yeah?”
“See you soon.” Those weren’t the three words I wanted to say, but I don’t know if she’s ready to hear “I love you” from me.
I disconnect and then call in our order at the pizza place. I order a plain cheese pizza for Daphne and a pepperoni and sausage for myself. Not that either of us is eating a whole pizza tonight, but I don’t want to leave the house for a couple of days. We need to keep our strength up. I thought about garlic knots, but considering how much kissing I plan on doing, maybe that isn’t the best choice. I add a chicken Caesar salad for lunch tomorrow. After placing our order, I contemplate what’s bugging Daphne. She seemed to get quiet suddenly. We reach our exit and take the off-ramp. She turns right to head to the house, and I make a left to get dinner.
13
DAPHNE
I rush aroundthe house with no idea what to do with myself. It’s times like this I wish I had one of those long, low, fancy couches made for swooning. I need to swoon. Or faint. Okay, I’ve settled on hyperventilating.
Oh my goodness. Logan is back in New Jersey, and he wants me to be his. What does that even mean? He’ll be here in ten minutes, and staying here, and we’re a couple, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve never done this.
Do we eat dinner and then go to bed?
Crap, I didn’t shave my legs this morning.
Five minutes. Do I have time to shave everything? Do I change into lingerie? Wait, I don’t have lingerie.
Shoot, I’m so not ready for this.
“Hi, honey, I’m home!” Logan walks in with the pizza boxes and a bag hanging off his wrist.
