smiled and strode slowly towards me. When he stood in front of me, my eyes drank him in. His hair was damp, probably from a recent shower, his t-shirt clung to and emphasized his thick arms and wide shoulders. His jeans clinging just right to his muscular thighs, I hadn’t seen the backside yet but I knew his ass would be as mouthwatering as the rest of him.
He reached up and pulled my bottom lip out of my mouth, which I didn’t even know I was chewing on. Then he leaned close allowing me to smell the minty manliness that was Daniel Kaehe.
“Breathe Kathryn. One of these days you are going to pass out.” He grinned at me wickedly then went to greet Cora.
“Right Missus!! I was sent to gather you and the imps up then bring you round to the park.” Cora turned and put her hands on her hips trying for a stern expression but the twinkle in her grey eyes said it was a lie.
“What Joey doesn’t trust we can make it there on our own?”
Daniel sighed tragically and shook his head sadly. “Apparently not. See someone has a history of getting caught up in her work and forgetting her wonderful husband and children and leaving them all alone to fend for themselves.”
Cora grabbed a pincushion from the table she was standing at and chucked it at Daniel’s head. He laughed as he ducked, then grabbed her around the waist, throwing the small woman over his shoulder and turning back towards the elevator.
“Daniel Michael Kaehe you had better put me down damn it!!” Cora shrieked, pounding on Daniel’s back. He rewarded her by reaching up and tickling her side. She giggled and struggled to get down. Daniel turned to the rest of us who were watching wide eyed as he marched to the elevator.
“Don’t just stand there, or I will come back for each one of you and haul you away in the same way.” He laughed as we all scurried quickly to the elevator.
By the time we got to the first floor Cora was resigned to her fate. She had placed her elbows on his back, supporting her head so she could have a conversation with us. It was extremely comical and we were all laughing hysterically by the time we hit the street and the black SUV waiting at the curb. He finally sat Cora down so she could climb in, suffering a punch to the arm before she did. He helped Lily inside, waited for Tyler to climb in, before grabbing my hand to help me up. I looked up into his eyes when I felt a spark light against my fingers and flow down my arm. His eyes had darkened making me believe he felt it too but he didn’t say a word so I climbed into the car, and waited for him to take his place beside me.
Cora, Lily, and Tyler where in the back seat talking excitedly about the park and the new projects so I looked out the window at the Paris streets. Daniel was sitting so close I could feel the warmth from his thighs against my own and smell him. His presence was wrapping itself around me, making it nearly impossible for me to even think straight.
My husband had been the only other man I had ever reacted to like this. Before my husband there was no one, after my husband there has been no one, until this man beside me. I had always thought I was a one-man woman and that I had already had my one and only love. I was content with the friendships I had, and taking care of my children. I hadn’t even had the desire for anything else. For six years, it had never entered my mind to want someone as much as I was beginning to want the man beside me. Like he would want you. Look at you. A 42 year old mother of two. Flawed and broken. Seriously? For once my inner voice was right. I was the very last person anyone like the man beside me would want. I was the mother of two kids that his friends were involved with professionally. Nothing more.
(Daniel)
I watched her profile as she watched the streets flow by wondering where she went when she got that faraway look in her eyes. When I had stepped out of the elevator and caught site of her standing there in her simple