The Storm

Chapter 8

Daisy

"Get out of there, Bug!" I tell Archer, shooing him away from my makeup case. I press the YouTube app on my phone and pull up a Paw Patrol episode for him to watch. He snuggles back against my pillows and is hypnotized. I finish flat ironing my hair and do my makeup. Nothing too outrageous. Ben told me he is taking me for dinner and dancing so I don't want to sweat my expensive mascara down my cheeks. I haven't been on a date since Lukas took me to a Maroon Five concert a few months ago. 

Ben Fulco is quite a looker by any woman's standard. With dark brown hair and these dreamy hazel eyes, I knew his type the moment he walked into Thomas' office. He reminded me a lot of my old boyfriend, Ryan Feeney. Devil-may-care look in his eye and a rather smooth talker. Ben wasted no time while helping me get Archer into his car seat to ask me out for a date. And to be completely honest with myself, I had no reason to turn him down. I'm convinced that Davis has no interest in me whatsoever. Our almost kiss happened nearly a month ago and he's made no moves towards me since then. I'm pretty convinced that I might have hallucinated the whole thing.

I decide on a cute rock-a-billy dress I got online. White with cherries on it, it is the perfect dress for dancing. I pin the side of my hair up with a red flower and slide on my cherry red heels. I toss my phone and wallet into a cute little cherry clutch bag, glancing at the clock. Ben will be here any moment and I don't want to keep him waiting. 

"C'mon Archer, let's go downstairs," I say to him. He whines until I pick him up and carrying him downstairs. I hear Davis coming in from the backyard, doing God knows what out there. He steps into the hallway and I can feel that pull of desire low in my belly at the sight of him. Wearing a loose white tank and blue basketball shorts with sneakers, I take it from his panting that he's been out running. I put Archer down and he toddles off into the living room. 

"You look..." Davis begins, tilting his head from side to side to take in my dress. I do a little twirl.

"Ravishing?" I supply for him. 

"That's a word," he murmurs. "Waiting for Ben?" he asks sharply. 

"I am. He's taking me to dinner then dancing," I remark politely. Why the hell is he getting all snarky? I highly doubt he is jealous. Davis seems beyond that emotion. 

"Be careful Daisy," he warns. 

"Oh don't worry, I have condoms," I say in an almost off-handed way. Davis looks at me, his mouth twisted into a weird smirk. 

"I'm sure Ben does too from what the office gossip says," he says rudely. I walk up two steps on the staircase and turn so I can look at him directly in the eye. The audacity of this giant is astounding. He has zero say in what or rather who I do on my own private time. 

"Are you trying to cock block, Ben?" I ask him tartly. 

"Don't be vulgar, Daisy. I'm just trying to tell you. He gets around," he says in an exasperated tone. 

"Perhaps that's a good thing. He knows what he's doing in bed," I say in a low voice, leaning over to him. "And some men like my dirty mouth." 

I can see the muscles of his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stares at me. I don't mean to goad him but I almost can't help myself. I kinda like egging him on. 

The doorbell rings. 

"Have fun," Davis says in a flat tone before turning around and heading into the living room. 

"I plan to," I say to his back. 

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