HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

“So my sister called this morning.. She and her son Chip will be coming to visit me”. Emma said to Karen as she prepared for work.

“Oh cool,” said Karen. “how long is she going to stay”

“Just the weekend… Chip has to go to school. I haven’t seen them for a while so she decided to come over”. Emma said as she put the eggs she had been stirring into the frying pan. “although I have a feeling mom sent her. To check up on me.”

“Uh uh” said Karen

“So I might not be around when she gets here so I’m gonna leave my key at Frank’s place. Just in case you are not around to let them in with yours”

“Uh uh” Karen said again.

“Is everything okay?” Emma asked her. “You seem distracted ”

“Oh I’m not distracted.. I’m not distracted at all” Karen said. “I was just wondering, isn’t there something you wanna tell me?”

“something… Like what?”

“What do you mean like what… When were you going to tell me about you and Daniel?… Look I know it’s not supposed to be my business.. But you are my best friend and so that makes it my business… What the hell, Emma.. I tell you everything”

Emma sighed

“Best friends tell each other stuff. Isn’t this one of the things you should tell me about?… come on”

“Hey chill” Emma said. “There is nothing to tell”

“what?”

“really.. Nothing is happening between Daniel and I?”

Karen stared at her in disbelief. “You know I’ve got eyes right?” she asked. “and I know that if I hadn’t come in when I did that evening, I’m sure you guys would have been doing it like rabbits right in the middle of your kitchen floor… Or maybe on the table… Who knows.”

“Still.. Nothing would have happened. Nothing is happening… He’s been flirting with me.. That’s all. And he’s kinda my boss.. So even if I wanted to, I can’t… It’s not right.”

“yeah yeah..” Karen said smiling. “You didn’t look like you could tell right from wrong when I walked in”

Emma simply rolled her eyes.

“Anyways,” Karen continued. “I think he’s good for you”

“You do?”

“hell yes… It’s been a while since I saw you like this.. and in the kitchen for that matter.. Wow”. She said laughing

“Could you just drop this?”

“You know me.. I won’t”

“Okay… I’m going to work” Emma said, unable to take Karen’s teasing any longer. She stood up, carrying her plate to the sink and rinsing them. “I have got a long day ahead of me and I don’t have time for this. And I also promised Monica I would help her today so I plan to rush whatever I have to do at work. Are you going anywhere? ”

” Yes I am actually. Frank is taking me out this evening. It’s our anniversary you know and I think he planned something special. He has been acting all weird about it ”

” Oh happy anniversary sweetheart “Emma said, giving her a hug from behind.” you both are perfect for each other ”

” Thanks girl ” Karen said.”Have a nice day”

“You too,” Emma replied.

When Emma got into her car she checked her phone. The blinking light indicated she had a text message. She opened it. It was from Daniel.

“Don’t be late– ” the message said simply

Emma slipped the phone into her bag. Deciding not to reply to the text. The man had to realize he couldn’t just order her around just because he could. And she honestly hadn’t gotten over the last time they were together. She hated how he had just appeared from nowhere and into her life. She hated that she couldn’t stop thinking about him. And seeing him didn’t make things any better.

—————————————-

Emma grimaced at the vibration of her cell phone in her back pocket as she served up an order of green papaya salad and tom yum to another hungry customer standing outside Monica’s food truck.

Her friend’s delicious Thai cuisine made hers one of the more popular trucks stationed at the park during the lunch hour.

Monica was a wonderful chef, and when she’d proposed starting a food truck business, Emma had encouraged her. The love of food and cooking were just a couple things the two of them bonded over.

And because they were such good friends, when Monica had called this morning, frantic because she’d been down a person, Emma had been more than willing to jump in and help. It hadn’t been the first time she’d volunteered, and if Monica needed her, it wouldn’t be the last.

Another insistent buzz of her cell, and she sighed. She knew who was calling her.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Daniel.

He’d left a message about joining him about a half hour ago.

She’d shot a text off to him, letting him know a meeting wouldn’t be possible. But had he accepted that? Hell no. Well, that fell under the category of his problem.

Yes, she’d agreed to go over the accounts with him, but she’d also meant it when she told him he didn’t own her. She had a life and refused to hand it over to him.

“You’re mine”.

Those two words had played over and over in her head like a rabid hamster in a wheel. She hadn’t been able to erase the declaration from her mind. Or deny the spark of desire that had erupted into a conflagration inside her. Her thighs had clenched at the dark, sensual note so dominant in his voice.

And in that moment, she swore she could feel the heavy, thrilling possession of his body on hers.

God, it wasn’t fair. Not the words he uttered to her. Not the out-of-control reaction of her body to his. Which was why she reacted so strongly-and unwisely-to the “honey” he’d so carelessly tossed at her. God only knew how many women he’d said it to.

She wasn’t special. And damn, that had hurt. More than it should’ve.

Another buzz, and she gritted her teeth. Probably a threatening message this time. The tenacity that had made him so successful as a businessman was working the hell out of her nerves.

“Here you go, babe.” Monica handed her an order of pad thai, disrupting her thoughts of emancipation. “That’s number 66.”

“Thanks.” Emma accepted it, bagged it and carried it to the window. “Here you go.” She passed the food to the customer with a smile and turned to the next person in line.

“Hi, how can I-” Oh hell. Daniel.

Her eyes widened as she stared at his cold, harsh expression. “What are you doing here?” she asked, and in spite of the “you don’t own me” speech she’d just delivered to herself, apprehension quivered through her at the anger glittering in his gaze.

“Wasting my time hunting you down, apparently,” he ground out. “I told you not to be late “.

“Hey, man, order and move on. Some of us have to get back to work,” someone yelled from behind Daniel.

And when several more grumbles of agreement followed, Daniel whipped his head around. Immediately, the mumbling ceased.

Good Lord. That was some superpower. He returned his attention to her and in spite of his glare, she hiked her chin up. “I’m helping a friend out. She needed me today.”

His gaze narrowed further, and he growled, “Open the door.”

Before she could reply, he stalked off and disappeared. But seconds later, a hard rap at the side door echoed in the truck.

From the grill, Monica tossed her a “what the hell?” look, and, bemused, Emma shrugged and unlocked it. The door jerked open, and Daniel strode through it. His big body and intense presence seemed to shrink the interior to that of a toy truck.

Monica stared at him, open mouthed and struck silent. Which wasn’t an easy feat. With sharp movements, he jerked off his coat and suit jacket and hung them on a wall hook. Then he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and pinned both her and Monica with that dark glare.

“Well?” he snapped. “Where do you need me?”

Need him? What was happening?

Monica recovered first. “Can you cook?”

At his abrupt nod, she handed him a knife. “You get an order of cashew chicken going, and I’ll get the green curry.”

Without a word, he crossed to the sink, washed his hands, then accepted the utensil and started chopping fresh vegetables and chicken like a pro.

Monica again shot her a look, but Emma shrugged, still stunned and confused.

“You have customers waiting,” Daniel reminded her, without turning around.

Now the man had eyes on the back of his head as well as cooking skills? Again…what the hell? Shaking her head, she returned to the window and the ever-growing line outside.

For the next couple hours, the three of them worked like a well-oiled machine. Emma still couldn’t quite grasp that Daniel Rohan was there in the cramped quarters of a food truck, cooking Thai entrées like a professional.

Not many men would have bothered getting their hands dirty. But then again, two hours ago she wouldn’t have been able to picture Daniel getting his hands dirty, either. And especially not for her.

As Monica closed the serving window and hung the Closed sign, questions crowded into Emma’s head.

But before she could ask them, he turned, tugging down his sleeves and rebuttoning the cuffs. “I’ll be by to pick you up at seven tomorrow night for a dinner party. This time, be there and ready,” Daniel ordered, thrusting his arms into his jacket, then his coat, his tone warning her not to argue. “And don’t keep me waiting.”

With a brisk nod at Monica, he stalked out the door, leaving a weighty silence behind.

Monica was the first to break it. “What in the hell just happened?” she yelled, voicing the same question that had been plaguing Emma since Daniel’s sudden appearance.

And her answer was the same. Damned if she knew.