Page 8 of Call Out
Danny collects the bunch of pretty poppies wrapped in green foliage from the bottom of the bed and passes them over. “That’s a bit of a mouthful.” A ghost of a smirk dances over his beautiful lips.
It’s never been a tongue twister before. I’ve been able to say that silly word since I was twelve. Add one well-mannered manly man and I’m goosed. “These are beautiful. Would you like a cup of tea?” I offer him a tenacious smile.
“She has trust issues,” Wini whispers behind her hand like that comment is meant for his ears only.
“No, I don’t.” I scowl. “I didn’t expect you to have a male visitor, Wini. Or any visitor really.”
Danny shifts his hefty boots, prompting my heart to flutter. “Ladies, would you like me to leave the room for a few minutes?” He smirks.
That subtle curve of his mouth does terribly bad things to my insides. I swear the girls must have cranked the radiators up to the winter setting, and the rush of endorphins swimming in my veins makes my muscles buzz.
“Nooooo.” I make a blustery sound from my lips. “Stay. Have tea and tell me why you’re here to see Wini.”
“He thought you were my granddaughter.” Wini announces as I walk over to the vase and unwrap the flowers.
“You guys talked about me?” I look up at him.
Sunlight greets rich amber. The explosion of vivid golden speckles takes my breath away. I’ve never seen such a visible contrast of color in a man’s eyes before or anyone else’s. “Incredible,” I mutter.
“Incredible that you came up in conversation?” he asks.
“Eh—yeah.” We stare at each other as the room falls silent.
“Earl Grey?” I change the subject and coast into my comfort zone of things I understand.
Danny frowns and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Earl who?”
“It’s a type of tea.”
“I’m more of a coffee guy,” he admits. “But I’ll give it a go.”
“Viv, I’m feeling tired. Perhaps you could escort Danny to the kitchen and make him a fresh pot of coffee?”
Danny immediately rotates away from me. “Ma’am, is something wrong?”
“I’m just a little tired.” He reaches over and presses a palm to her forehead. “It was wonderful to see you again, Danny. Please, stay a while. Viv is on a break now. I’m sure she’d love the company of someone younger.”
I peer around the brawny man blocking me from Wini the conspirator and mouth her name with wide-eyed animation.
“Sure. I’ll hang around,” he says, looking back over his shoulder at me just as Wini winks. I sigh audibly, so she can hear me, but then Danny smiles, and my heart ricochets off my ribcage like a pinball. “I’m interested in trying your tea.”
“If you’d rather have a coffee, I can make you one instead?” Viv leads me into a kitchen no bigger than a horse stall. I know it's wrong to stare at her slender shins beneath sexy stockings or let my gaze dawdle to her cinched waist, but I do. I take in the view and appreciate every inch.
It’s been a helluva long time since a woman fully caught my eye. Recently, my life has consisted of training, lectures, assessments and late nights studying alone. Something tells me this won’t be smooth sailing but worth every heated second.
“How do you make meals for everyone in here?” I ask. There’s a wall mounted cabinet, counter top fridge, water cooler, faucet and a square table with two plastic chairs.
“This is the staff lounge,” she replies with her back to me. “We have a commercial kitchen at the other end of the building.” Viv flicks on a kettle and lifts to the balls of her feet so she can select a cup from the cupboard.
“Need a hand?” I offer, coming up behind her.
Her head angles into the light. Big chestnut eyes find my mouth. “No thanks. I’ve got it.” Then she inhales and rotates her gaze to the porcelain lining the shelf.
I back up to the window, allowing her space to work. It gives me time to collect my thoughts and pull myself together. I’m used to random one-night stands; however, this woman has relationship woven into the fibers of her soul.
“So… whyareyou here?” she finally asks, as if the question has been burning a hole through her tongue.
I drag my mind back into the room when she turns to face me with a teacup filled to the brim. It’s not the usual color I was expecting, this is hot murky water that resembles a dehydrated patient's urine.
