My Forbidden Love - The Henderson's Children - Book One - Excerpt

Chapter Three

Ella's POV

Well, today has turn't out better than I had planned. I have three more hours I never thought I would have because Mr Lettingdon called in sick.

I've finished up all my work and finished all my final exams. If I may, I think I excelled rather well, so it's basically getting those coursework pieces polished to perfection to get the highest grade possible.

Tilly isn't coming to Daniel's until much later, as in when it's time for us to start our night out at the restaurant mothers booked a table for us to eat.

"Don't drink on an empty stomach El. It might prove gruesome for you," she had told me when she enlightened Tilly and me that Daniel would be attending the evening with us. I can't say I'm unhappy at all that she roped Daniel into babysitting us again.

In fact, I'm ecstatic because I like Daniel.

Yeah, it might be slightly weird that he's one of my dad's brothers, but that doesn't bother me.

There's no blood tie between us, so there's no reason we can't date, in all honesty.

Daniel and I shared a kiss on the night of my sixteenth birthday. My first kiss, well, first two kisses, actually.

My only kisses...

And ever since that night, I've been waiting, saving myself for him.

I've had these feelings for a while now, maybe they started that night, or perhaps they started slightly earlier. Either way, I sit and pine for him when it feels like he doesn't see me.

He was my first crush. His hair, his eyes... Those muscles that seem to never end.

Yeah, I'm pretty smitten, but the problem is he doesn't seem to want me back.

Well, that's a lie. Sometimes he does.

He cuddles me, plays with my hair, and touches me inappropriately for a friend, at least. Right after, I won't see him for days, weeks, or months, like he's pulling away to prevent us from going any further.

It is confusing as hell, but mom tells me I need to wait it out. That he's a gentleman at heart and he will realise what he's been staring at his whole life, but I don't know.

How long has a girl got to wait?

I let myself into his apartment, which smells freshly cleaned, and nothing looks out of place. Sometimes his house is in disarray, but most times, it's like this. Where everything has a home, and those things are in their place without a spec of dust in sight.

I reckon he cleans it when he knows I'm coming over, but I can't be entirely sure because it's mostly always clean.

Daniel lives by himself in the penthouse suit of one of the high-rise buildings here in town.

The views are amazing, especially at night when the moon is out, and the city is lit like a Christmas tree.

Daniel shared that with me for the first time when I was fourteen. I was amazed beyond words and still have one of the photos I took blown up. It hangs above my bed at home to this day.

Since that day, I've hoped I was the only woman he's ever shared the view with. I mean, I have never seen him with a girl, ever.

So maybe my hope will be listened to.

I dive right into the kitchen that overlooks the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that show me the city.

Reaching into the top drawer, I find the windows control, opening them up so the breeze from the balcony can filter through the room. Then I go about finding the ingredients for my chilli con Carne. Dad, as in my dad Callum, taught me how to make this.