Page 47 of Spoil
I grumble unhappily as he lays me to the side so he can turn off the lights. When he does, the light from the attached bathroom bathes our room in a soft sort of ambiance. Daniel settles under the comforter next to me, pulling me against his side, tucking me under his arm. I go happily, resting my cheek on his pec, and my hand on his stomach.
And like that, I fall into the most peaceful sleep of my life.
Chapter twenty-three
Penelope
Aweek later, Daniel picks us up from our home again. I love how regularly he makes time to see us. I love these moments with him. I love watching him grow and build confidence as a father. Danny smiles and giggles more with him than I think I’ve ever seen before. I’ve always been serious and subdued, but he’s silly and goofy and high energy with her, and I love that.
Things with Daniel are easier than I expected, and he’s the definition of what you see is what you get. He has no tricks or deception up his sleeves. From the very beginning of this he told me what he wanted. He eagerly plans time we can be together, and the more we see him, the more confident I am that we can make something work - that he isn’t going to change his mind or flake on us.
Except today he’s being cagey about his plans for us. A part of me is worried because it’s out of my control, but a part of me trusts Daniel. He’s given me no reason not to.
So, I’m surprised when we pull into one of the nicer parts of DC and into the driveway of a gorgeous row house.
And instantly I know where we are.
“Is this your house?” I ask, even though I already know.
“Yep. I have a surprise for both of you,” he says, before rounding the front of the car and opening both my and Danny’s doors simultaneously.
Trepidation thrums through me, but I’m not exactly sure why. Yes, our class gap is a source of unease for me, but I trust Daniel and I trust his heart. He’s not motivated by money. He may have started his adulthood motivated by pretty revenge against his parents, but that only informed his career, not his morals or values. He’s generous. He’s generous with his money, with his time, and it’s only my past with money that is causing any issues between us.
His house is gorgeous, old-school DC. Not flashy or showy, but from a time when wealth meant quality and class. The details on the window casings and under the roof whisper at a craftmanship only the wealthy could afford back then — it doesn’t scream about it now.
Pushing my money issues to the side, I think I’m nervous because of the reaction Daniel’s hoping to get out of us. Does he simply want to show us where he sleeps? Is he proud of his house? Is he pushing for us to move in? It’s the unknowns that scare me.
But again, I trust Daniel, so I hold Danny’s hand gently and let Daniel lead us into his house.
There’s a small informal entryway with a built-in closet for jackets and umbrellas, but it immediately opens up into an opulent sitting room full of off-whites and creams. It looks staged, and way too expensive to be a family home.
I toe off my shoes and nod for Danny to do the same.
Daniel doesn’t wait though, before striding into the house and tossing his jacket onto the back of the couch.
“Alright. Who wants their present first?”
Skipping along behind him, Danny squeals, “Me! Me!”
“Sweet!” Daniel says, adopting Danny’s high pitch. “Your present is right up those stairs, first door on the right.”
Nerves gnaw at my stomach.
“Daniel,” I whisper, my voice deathly serious. “What did you do?”
He spins, takes three steps to close the distance before wrapping his arms around my lower back and dragging me to him for a kiss that doesn’t last nearly long enough. The grin he gives me when we part and he sees the effect he has on me should be illegal.
“You’ll see.”
He steps back but keeps a steadying hand on my hip. Danny’s little footsteps running up the stairs sound like a herd of elephants.
She squeals when she reaches the top of the stairs before disappearing into the room. Anxiously, I rush up the stairs and round the corner to see a child’s room. A little girl’s room, based on the ruffles and frills and stuffed animals on the bed. All in yellows and greens.
Emotion squeezes my throat painfully, and tears prick my eyes.
“Mommy?” a worried voice asks, where Danny’s jumping on the bed.
Emotions war in my chest. Gratitude for Daniel’s thoughtful gifts, shame at how much nicer this bedroom is than the one I’ve given her, fear that this could all get taken away from her in a moment, and something else I don’t know how to name.
