One morning, Joanne tiredly got ready for class. The night had been filled with horrible, old memories and strange new feelings. She hoped she wouldn't get any more nightmares. They had to run out some time. It had been a solid month. The nightmares weren't exactly the most disturbing dreams. She'd been dreaming of Daniel. Sometimes, it was just them talking in the office. Other times, they'd be walking down the street. Other times, she pushed him against the wall and ran her body all over his. He would moan deliciously in her ear as she tasted his neck. She had even started to think of what his body felt like under her hands. Then, she would wake up in a sweat. She'd been so excited one time, she'd had to change her underwear in the middle of the night. Daniel had never done anything forward. He had held her hand a few times, with her permission. But he never pressed the issue. He'd just let her talk to him into the early morning hours. He still walked her to her car with the same words coming out of his mouth as he closed the door.
"I'll be here every night."
She got to her office to find it spotless for a change. It was the end of the term, so there were no more observations needed for the semester. She wasn't quite sure why she was in the office, but it had become a habit. There was a note on her part of the desk. She recognized Daniel's handwriting immediately. She was beginning to think that he didn't remember that exams were coming. He said something about inviting her over to unwind the week before.
"Meet me at the shop, right now. Hurry up already! D"
She rushed down the street and across the field that was behind the coffee shop. She walked around the side of the building and tapped lightly on the glass door. A tall man in his early fifties opened the door and inquired, "May I help you?"
She hesitated for a moment and then said, "I got a message to meet Daniel here."
"Oh, you must be Joanne. Come in. Welcome to Langier's. He'll be back down in a minute." The man waved her in and locked the door behind her. She noticed an accent, but it was very subtle. She sat down at the nearest booth and tossed her jacket down next to her.
The man shook his head and smiled at her. "Oh no, kid. He wants you to sit there."
There was one of the tables draped in a long red tablecloth in the center of the room. There were two plates per setting and a full compliment of cups and silverware. There were even name cards set at the two places that were positioned right next to each other. She sat down in front of her name. A little card sat on top of her napkin. She opened it.
"Curious yet? Maybe, a wee bit nervous? Don't be. I'm just about ready for you."
"You're the reason, Danny's been cutting out about two, right?" The man smiled down at her. "I figured there was a good reason that he'd been putting a dent in the chocolate. I'm Daniel's pop, David Langier."
She shook the offered hand and smiled back, "Joanne Croix."
"A pleasure to finally meet you," he said with a wink and headed to the back room. She heard a muffled conversation and then the door opened again. Daniel strolled in with a little tray. He'd shaved again, and his hair had been slicked back as though he'd just stepped out of the shower. He wore a sharply pressed white shirt and a brown pair of pants. She tugged at her tattered jeans self-consciously. He dropped down to one knee so that she would be eye level with him as he set the tray on top of the other plates. There were two little cups with a green ball in each.
"I figured, we could try some desserts, tonight. I hope you're not allergic to anything," he purred in that odd way that he had.
"No, I'm not allergic to anything." She tugged at the end of her ponytail.
"I didn't think you would be. We start off with a pistachio ice cream."
Jo picked up her spoon and Daniel pulled it out of her hand. He shook his head and put it back in place. He picked up the spoon from his setting and quickly offered a small bit of the smooth cold treat. She found her eyes closing as the liquid slid down her throat. Some how any food associated with him was erotic.
He whispered, "Wow!" She opened her eyes and offered him some ice cream from her cup. He slowing accepted it. She hadn't noticed how full his lips were until he engulfed the spoon. His breath on her fingers made her grasp a little unsteady. She'd never been so interested in how his lips would taste until then. She tried not to lick her lips. She knew he was watching every change of expression she made. He was ready with more of the rich, sweet greenness the moment she set down the spoon. A subtle rise came to the corner of his mouth, as she accepted the next taste.
"Good?"
"Mmhmm," she rolled the last bit of it along the roof of her mouth.
"A little too good, I'm afraid. I think you should handle your own dessert. I'll try not to watch too closely," Daniel smirked as he watched her dip the spoon carefully into the water dish he had placed for just that reason. This girl was definitely schooled. That had been another surprise he'd picked up from her without her knowledge. He'd brought in a late night snack with a full silverware set, and she'd selected the two forks they were to use. It hadn't really been a test. He'd wanted to impress her with the selected cheeses, fruit and salad greens. It turned out that a simple meal was more her style.
'It was getting to him, too,' she thought as she crossed her legs under the table. Her thighs had started this strange tingling. She finished what was left in her cup off quickly. A reddish orange sherbet came next. Daniel had called it blood orange sorbet. It was extremely delicious, though Daniel didn't eat much. He didn't speak, either. He was busy trying to hide his erection. He'd always had a thing for a girl's lips. Joanne's were the perfect balance of fullness and size. Every little movement of them sent a quiver through his thighs. He was just about to see about a kiss when David came out with the cheesecake. His father gave a frown and paused before setting down the plates.
"Boy? You doing okay?"
"Sure, sure. I'm great."
"Then, you won't mind if I talk to the young lady for a minute." His father's voice was pleasant though there was an obvious uneasiness in the way that he looked at Jo.
"Father," Daniel let out a small protest as David reached to take Jo's hand. She stood up without touching him. Daniel sat back as she followed his father into the kitchen. She hadn't noticed that he was sitting on the edge of the chair until she was a few paces away.
As soon as the swinging door shut behind them, David's face changed. "You seem like a good girl. You're a very pretty girl. You're more grounded than his last girl friend."
"Uh, thank you. I think."
"My boy has a tender heart. I don't want him to be hurt," the firm words matched his stern gaze.
"I don't want that, either," she responded to his silent question.
He looked down at her with the same dark blue eyes as his son, but there was none of the familiar warmth to put her at ease. "I can see that. I'm thinking of other people, here. He's a very passive boy. It won't be easy for the two of you."
"There isn't a two of us," she tried to soften his concern with a laugh.
"There is for him, which is a mistake. If he wasn't willing to fight for..."
"Pop," Daniel said from the doorway. "stop harassing Joanne. She knows exactly how I feel about her, and I know how she feels about me. Tonight was for her to come over here and get to know the shop. She's been cooped up in that office for so long that I figured it would be fun. I wanted to actually see her before she goes away for fall break."
His father let out a sigh and said, "Danny, how about you clear this up for me. I saw the way that you looked at her just now."
"What about it?" Daniel seemed slightly irritated.
David put a hand to his son's face and caressed, "I've seen it before. Remember, right before you left town? The girl came in asking for ..."
