“Two ham-and-cheese paninis,” the barista said, interrupting them.
“Thanks.” Lorenzo accepted the bag. “Let’s go. You can tell more in the car,” he said to Danica as he picked up his coffee.
“Bring your drink.” Danica followed him out of the Starbucks, sticking close.
In the car Lorenzo downed his espresso, put the empty cup in the cup holder, and, removing half of his panini from its paper wrapper, took an enormous bite.
Its appetizing aroma filled the car.
“Hmm,” He murmured in exaggerated appreciation. As he chews, he threw Danica a sideways look. She stared at his mouth and licked her lips.
“Want so?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Here, help yourself.” He passed her the second panini, then started the car, a smirk on his face.
Danica allowed herself a cautious bite of the sandwich. A string of lted cheese stick to her lips. She used her fingers to scoop it into her mouth and licked her fingers. Realizing how ravenous she was, she took another bite. It’s delicious.
“Better?” Lorenzo asked, his voice low.
Danica grinned. “You are cunning like the wolf.”
“Cunning is my middle na,” he said, looking pleased with himself, and she can’t help but laugh.
Boy, that was a good sound.
******************
*LORENZO*
At the petrol station, I pulled up beside the high-octane pump. “This won’t take a minute. Eat.” I grinned and get out of the car. But Danica scrambled out after , clutching her panini, and ca to stand beside at the pump.
“Miss already?” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood. Her lips curled in the semblance of a smile, but her eyes scoured our surroundings. She was apprehensive, and this place was making her more anxious. I filled the tank.
“It is expensive!” She exclaid when she sees the cost.
“Yes, I suppose it is.” And I realized I had never paid attention to how much fuel costs. I’ve never had to. “Co on, let’s go pay.”
In the queue for the register, Danica stood beside , taking the occasional bite of her sandwich and gazing at the shelves in what looks like wonder.
“Do you want anything? Magazine? A snack? Sothing sweet?” I asked.
She shook her head. “There is so much to buy here.”
I looked around. Everything seed so commonplace to .
Then again, she must have barely left the orphanage throughout her eighteen years of birth.
At the register, I slid my credit card into the chip and PIN machine, conscious that she was watching my every move.
Back at the car, we climbed in, and I waited before pressing the ignition.
“What?” Danica asked.
“Seat belt.”
“I forgot.”
“Where are we going?” She asked, staring ahead into the dark night. “My family has a place in Bellbanks. It’s another three hours or so.”
“It is a long way.”
“Yeah.”
She took a sip of her hot chocolate.
“Do you want the other half of your panini?”
“No thank you.”
“Will you share it with ?”
Danica eyed for a mont. “Okay,” she said, and fishing it out of the bag, she offered it to .
“You take the first bite.”
She smiled and did exactly that, then handed it to .
“Thank you.” I flashed her a quick grin. I’m relieved that she seed happier. “More music?”
She nodded while chewing.
“Your choice. Just press that button and scroll through the tracks.”
Danica squinted at the screen and started exploring my playlists. She was diligently absorbed in the task. Illuminated by the screen, her face is serious and earnest.
“I do not know any of this music,” she murmured.
I handed her back the panini. “Choose one.”
Her finger tapped the display, and I smiled when I see what she had chosen. Bhangra. Why not?
A man starts singing a cappella. “What language is this?” Danica asked, and took another bite. A lted piece of mozzarella escapes out of the corner of her mouth.
With her index finger, she pushed it back into her mouth and sucked her finger clean.
My body ca to attention.
I gripped the steering wheel. “Punjabi. I think.”
The band kicked in on the track, and Danica passed the panini back to . She swayed in her seat to the rhythm. “I have not heard anything like this.”
“I sotis use this as part of a set when I’m DJing. More?” I asked, offering her what was left of the sandwich.
She shook her head. “No. Thank you.”
I popped the remainder into my mouth, pleased that I managed to get her to eat more.
“DJing?” she asked.
“You know, in a club. For people to dance to. I DJ a couple of nights a month when I was in college.”
I glanced at Danica, who was staring blankly at .
She had no idea what I was talking about.
“Okay, I’ll have to take you to a club.”
Her look was still blank, but she continued to tap her feet to the beat. I shook my head.
While she might have grown up without parents, I felt that she had turned out to be one resourceful young woman: ingenious, talented, courageous, and beautiful. My heart swelled with unexpected pride.
“You really are sothing, Danica,” I whispered, but she was lost in the music and didn’t hear .
It was after midnight when I pulled up the gravel drive and park outside the garage of the Hideout, one of the luxury holiday hos on the my family’s estate.
I didn’t want to overwhelm her with the Mansion, maybe that can happen later. The truth was, I wanted her to myself. There were too many staff in the great house, and I haven’t figured out what I’ll say about her or to her about the estate.
Right now she didn’t know who I was, what I had, and what my family entails. And I liked that...I liked that a lot.
She was asleep. She must be exhausted. I studied her face. Even in the harsh glare of the garage’s security light, her features were soft and delicate in repose.
Sleeping beauty.
I could look at her for hours. She grimaced briefly, and I wondered what she was dreaming about.
?
I considered carrying her into the house but dismiss the idea. The steps down to the front door were steep and could be slippery.
I could kiss her awake. She should be woken with a kiss, like a princess. I was being ridiculous, and I rembered that I had vowed not to touch her.
I didn’t want to be the jerk who asked for her body after helping her.
“Danica,” I whispered. “We’re here.”
Opening her eyes, she regarded sleepily. “Hey,” she said.
“Hey, beautiful. We’ve arrived.”
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