Bewitched Hearts

13. Boxer or Gangster

Though it had been only a few days since Danny started to stay with Damien and his family, she felt extremely welcome and close to everyone. She felt as if she knew the family for long. She felt so warm and safe that she hadn't felt in her whole life. There was never a dull moment in the Arnault household.

Over the course of a few days, Danny became exceptionally thick with Samantha. It was like the best friend she never had. She even introduced some of her friends to Danny. Samantha did her best to keep Danny entertained and welcomed.

Danny also bonded quite nicely with the younger siblings and Damien's mom. She would often help her in the kitchen or would do gardening with her. Timothy was the youngest and the life of the house. He was so over-enthusiastic all the time, unlike his brother who had a frown plastered on his face most of the time.

Though she didn't see a whole lot of Damien with his family, she knew that he cared for them dearly. There were times when Damien would play with Timmy to make him happy even though he was busy or he would take Suzy out for shopping to get her whatever she wanted.

She didn't understand as to why he always hid his pleasant personality under a stoic and gloomy one.

As Danny played with Timmy on one side of the pool, she couldn't help but wonder what she would do once she had to leave this house. Obviously, she had nowhere to go and she was becoming incredibly attached to all the people in the family.

"Damien!" She heard Timothy holler ecstatically as he waved his hands frantically. She looked over her shoulder and saw Damien watching her with a piercing gaze from the huge glass window of his room.

Danny felt everything around her fade away as she looked into his eyes. She felt his gaze burning through her soul as her cheeks started to heat up and heart beating like crazy. She had a sensation like she was a teenager again.

Calm down, Danny.

                        * * * * *

Damien woke up from his deep sleep as the sun glared at him through the window. He had a day off and he planned to rest all day long. The late-night shifts and the extra cases along with a murder case on his hands made his body feel worn and depleted. He also wasn't home much which he thought was a good thing but his body felt otherwise.

He could hear all the voices and sounds that came from outside his room. His family was overly awake for his liking.

He groggily rubbed his eyes and stretched his muscles and felt the exhaustion radiate through his veins. He got out from his bed to warn his siblings to keep it low and go back to sleep again. However, when he reached the window, the sight in front of him made him stop his actions and simply stare.

Danny was shielding her face with her hands as Tim and Suzy splashed water at her. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Danny laughing with her head back at Timothy's antics.
She shook her head, some free locks of her wavy caramel hair swaying in the process.

Her toffee brown hair was down and for the first time, he realised how beautiful Danica Evans really was.
Her cheeks had a natural flush in them and her lashes were thick.

He had a strange feeling seep into his brain. He never had anyone so close to his family.

He saw Danny as she became close to everyone in his family. He saw her laugh and do stupid things along with his siblings. He didn't know how she did that. It felt like his family knew her for ages.

But he had maintained his distance from her. He ignored her for most of the time and being in the Precinct for long hours really helped at that. He knew he couldn't let her affect him. She was just a temporary part of his living and she would be gone as fast as she came. But he couldn't help but feel curious about her. She was like a spitfire yet she looked innocent with her green eyes.