Page 23 of Call Out
“What do you mean?” Oh man, she’s beautiful.
She pauses as though she’s unsure how to answer. “The whole…” She nods to my dick. “That thing. You’ve got moves like Jagger, and I brought little expertise to the dance party.”
Jeez, this woman makes me laugh. “Moves?” I smirk. She’s effortlessly brightened my morning. I want this to work so much. Guilt chars the edges of a happily ever after with this woman. “Viv, you’ve got the ultimate moves at the party.”
“Really?” She props up onto an elbow.
“Really.” I assure her. “It’ll be one helluva blowout when we hook up. I’ve got big party plans for you.”
She eyes me. “Oh yeah? And what are those plans, Danny?”
“Be here when I get home from my run, and I’ll tell you.” Viv’s face lights up, and she falls back to the pillow. “Now, stop distracting me.” I swat her ass, swaddled in a cotton sheet.
I’m sure she’s crossing her fingers. I’m almost certain she’s crossing her legs too. If I wasn’t starting work soon, I’d slide back under the sheets just to hear those sexy little noises she makes.
I notice the buzz of my phone vibrating from the next room, where I left it last night. “I’ll be right back.”
By the time I reach it, the damn thing stops. Checking the missed number, my arousal sinks. My blood spits fire at another anonymous caller.Was it too much to ask for a normal life?
I storm into the bathroom, throttling my goddamn phone. Tossing it on the counter, I run the water and grip the edge of the faucet.
Every time I find my reflection, I see the man I really am behind this face. The sinner. The phony. The murderer. Viv won’t want my baggage weighing her down, and I’m not worthy of a woman as pure as she is.
Lowering my lashes, I inhale hope and exhale loneliness to the count of five. I pray she’ll accept my biggest flaw, even if it’s unforgivable. If we’re going to have a fighting chance together, I have to tell her now. Today. This very second. My chest thrums with anxiety. What if she freaks out and tells the whole neighborhood? I was going to drop the bomb last night, until she joked about being a criminal. Then I decided to earn her trust first.
But the more I dwell on it and suffer in silence, I know I should come clean. She’ll either run away or stick around for the whole story. Just as I pivot back to the doorway to offload my burden, my phone buzzes again. Only this time I recognize the number. “Hey,” I answer.
“Danny, we have an emergency. There’s a huge fire on the outskirts of Sunnyville. We need all EMT and firefighters right away.”
“I’m on my way.”
I’m standing outside Danny’s front door with a bulging shoulder bag nestled to my hip. Inside my innocent looking purse are essentials. The nuts and bolts for safe sex.
I’ve tiptoed over every paving stone Nonna laid out for me and decided that the path to ruin has a crossroads. I choose the fearless path, the one where Danny and I step up to the next level and it works out for the best.
We’ve spent an entire week side by side, only separated when we were working. Together we developed a new pizza combination with healthy vegetables, and he found out how far he can push me before I almost give in. I’ve been close to it. Practically spearing myself on him during a heated make-out session on the couch. The only thing stopping me was trust. Mistrust is branded on my brain from years of important life lessons and tales of pregnant, heartbroken women who gave in to lust. Nonna’s good intentions have taken the shine off a spontaneous, sexy time.
I’ve decided if I don't learn to trust him now, then I may as well walk away. And that prospect isn't worth considering. He means too much to me already. This won’t be frivolous, mindless, slutty activity. It will be meaningful and important.
Hovering a hand at the door handle, my toes touch the border of no return. I’m teetering over my virginity with a big grin on my face. Ready and willing to take part. Prepared to be sexually unprepared with Danny Rocco.
I haven’t told him tonight’s the big night. Hopefully, he gets the hint when I hand over the condoms. Fifty should be enough. I know that’s over eager, but I thought he could double them up to make it extra watertight.
He usually leaves the door unlocked, so I can go straight inside without waiting. It’s always worked out well until this very second.
“What the fuck do you want?” He prowls the hallway with his back to the door. “Fuck off, or I’ll hunt you down and shove this phone down your fucking throat.”
I trip backwards, shocked by the feral hoarseness breathing fire down the phone line. He spins around, brow creased, teeth bared. The instant he finds me, his arm falls, and he jams the phone into his pocket.
“Viv.” The cruelness to his voice softens. His nostrils flare, and his chest rises in bursts.
“Who was that?” I demand, clenching the shoulder strap.
He clears his throat and takes a step closer. “An anonymous caller.” Then he scrubs his eyes and scrapes his prickled jaw.
“Again?” My brows snap together. “You seem to get a lot of those calls.”
“Not that many.” His muscles contract, and he twists his neck from side to side. “It’s annoying when they don’t answer. I lost my temper. I’m sorry you had to hear it.”
