First Impressions
Parts 15-16
By Kellie
Michelle looked over at Danny; her mind made up about what she was going to do. "Danny, since it looks like I'm stuck hiding out here with you for a while, I want one thing."
"What would that be?" Danny asked as a sexy smirk spread across his face as he recalled the embrace they shared before his phone rang.
"I want to know exactly what I've ended up in the middle of between you, Frank, and your brother. I want all the details, not just a rehash of the hole filled version you served up in the barn."
"Michelle, it's safer if you're in the dark."
"For who! I think the reason you're keeping secrets is that you're afraid that the truth will scare me off!" she shouted as she put her free hand on her hip and clutched the soda in her hand.
Danny was momentarily stunned by Michelle's outburst. Deep down he knew that was his secret fear, but Danny wasn't sure he wanted to admit such to Michelle. Finally, he spoke in a near whisper, "Michelle, there may be a small bit of truth to what you said. It still remains that the more you know, the more danger you're in." He added as he reached out to stroke her right cheek, "I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you."
"Danny, I don't need to be protected. I've been taking care of myself for a lot longer than most people my age have. My father left to work in Africa when I was a kid. My brother did his best, but his hours at the hospital left me to look after myself most of the time. I can handle the truth and it won't scare me away," she answered firmly as she removed his hand from her face.
They stood in the kitchen in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Finally Michelle spoke, "Well, it seems that your secrets are more important than taking a chance on me." Michelle turned and headed towards the living room.
"Michelle, where are you going?"
"To bed. Good night!"
Danny followed her into the living room and listened as she bounded up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door. He walked over and sank onto the living room sofa, putting his head into his hands, running his fingers through the dark curls at the top of his head.
Michelle threw herself down onto the bed as tears began to form in her eyes. "Danny Santos, if you could just open up and be honest with me," she whispered as she clutched a pillow against her chest.
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Mick stood in the darkness beside his car outside of Company watching as Frank Cooper talked with his father at the bar. He threw a cigarette butt to the ground and reached in his coat pocket for another. Mick had followed Frank from the beach over to the Grant residence before they finally ended up here. Mick silently began to contemplate exactly what he was going to do to Danny when he found him. Lost in thought, he was oblivious to the two teenagers walking behind his car and heading towards the door of Company.
Frank stood at the bar discussing David's death. "Pop, telling Vivian Grant what happened to David was the hardest thing I think I've ever done."
"I know son. Eleni called a few minutes ago. Selena is going with her to take some food to the Grant's."
The phone behind the bar interrupted their conversation. Buzz walked over to answer it as Susan and Max came in the door. The pair waved at Buzz as they headed behind the bar to grab some aprons.
"Hi, kiddo," Frank greeted Susan. "Max, good to see you."
Max nodded at Frank as Susan spoke. "Hi, Frank!"
"How was school today?" he asked the pair.
Susan shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "Okay. There's a cute new guy who likes Marina."
"I don't want to know," Frank said as he rolled his eyes. He thought about how hard it was to admit his little girl was growing up.
Susan started wiping off the bar as Max headed out to bus some tables. Frank noticed her nervous glances towards the window and finally asked, "Susan, is something wrong?"
"It's probably nothing, but there was this strange guy in the parking lot when Max and I came in. He was standing by his car smoking, seem kind of lost in thought. There was something weird about him."
"Sweetheart, what does he look like?"
"Dark hair, a little chunky. You can see him from right here," Susan remarked as she turned her head slightly and glanced out the window. Frank walked around behind the bar. He picked up a glass and walked over to the shelves in front of the windows and reached up to put the glass away. He carefully glanced out and barely made out the outline of a dark figure in the dimly lit parking lot. "Pop, we've got to get more lights in that parking lot," he muttered to himself.
"Susan, Max, I'm heading out. Can I drop you both off on my way home?" Frank asked as he saw Buzz head into the kitchen.
"My dad's supposed to be here in thirty minutes to take us home. Thanks anyway."
"Tell Buzz I'll be by tomorrow," Frank said as he headed towards the door. He wished that he had the kids with him on the way out. Talking to them as they walked out would make his glance around to get a closer look at the man in the parking lot less obvious.
Frank carefully made his way out and headed cautiously towards his car. He could make out the shadow of the man inside a dark sedan on the far left of the parking lot. Frank climbed into the police cruiser and carefully watched his rearview mirror. The dark car followed him sans headlights. Frank decided to head towards the station. If that was Mick Santos behind him, he didn't want to be followed home. "I guess I'll sleep on the sofa in my office tonight. I hope Eleni will understand this time," he muttered.
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Michelle stretched out across the bed, still clutching a pillow to her chest. She turned her head from side to side as her eyes slowly fluttered open. "Where am I?" she said to herself as she noted the unfamiliar surroundings. She glanced at the nightstand saw a photo of Cassie with R.J. and Tammy next to the flashing clock. "It wasn't a dream," she muttered to herself.
Michelle sat up in the bed and looked around the room. As she looked at the window, she could tell it was dawn. Since the clock was flashing 12:00 thanks to the weeks the house had sat empty, Michelle got up and headed for the bathroom. "I think I left my watch on the sink," she mumbled as she opened the door.
A few minutes later, Michelle emerged with her hair up in a ponytail. She headed down the stairs. As she reached the landing at the bottom, she spotted Danny sprawled out on the sofa, his feet hanging over the armrest. Not ready to face him, she slipped quietly into the kitchen and began looking for something to fix for breakfast. The refrigerator was bare except for some canned diet sodas. After rummaging through the cabinets, Michelle sat down at the table and opened a box of cereal. Her mind flashed back to the kiss she had shared with Danny the night before. Lost in thought, she didn't notice as Danny entered the kitchen.
"Morning sexy," he said as he walked over to the table.
Michelle jumped at the sound of his voice and dropped the spoon she was holding. The clanking sound it made echoed throughout the house. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Danny ran his fingers through the curls on top of his head and sighed. "Michelle, all I did was walk into the room and speak. How can you call that sneaking up?"
"It just was," she replied haughtily as she bent over and picked up the spoon.
"So, what's for breakfast?" he asked.
"Dry Fruit Loops and diet soda was all I could find," Michelle answered as Danny took a seat across from her at the table. She looked up at his disheveled appearance and couldn't help thinking about how she would like to run her fingers through his chocolate curls. Michelle rose and walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a bowl. She pulled some clean spoons from a drawer and grabbed a soda from the fridge and sat them down on the table in front of Danny. "The first thing on that grocery list had better be coffee," she remarked.
"I'll agree with that," Danny replied as he reached for the box of cereal.
The pair ate breakfast in an uncomfortable silence. Neither one was sure what to say to the other. Danny finally broke the silence; "Frank probably will be calling soon. We need to add more than coffee to that grocery list."
"Do you have any idea how long we'll be here?"
"A couple of days," he answered.
Michelle reached to the back of the table and grabbed a notepad and pen she saw laying there. She got up and proceeded to look through the cabinets and jotting things down on the list. Danny stood and walked towards the kitchen door. "I'm going to grab a shower."
"While your up there, check and see if there's enough soap, shampoo, and toilet tissue. I need to know if I should add those to the list."
Danny nodded when Michelle glanced over at him. As soon as he left the room, she leaned up against the counter, imagining Danny's lean body in the steamy shower.
Danny turned the shower on before searching the medicine cabinet for a razor. All he could find was a pink Bic disposable razor, "I guess I'll have to make due," he reasoned to himself aloud as he glanced around hoping to find some type of shaving cream. Finally his eyes landed on a can sitting by the edge of the tub. As he reached down to retrieve it, he eyed the bathing suit Michelle had been wearing at the beach the day before lying in a heap beneath a damp towel. He picked the damp towel up and inhaled the fragrance. His mind flashed a picture of Michelle using the towel to dry herself off. The idea of her using this towel on her most intimate areas began to arouse him. Danny shook his head, "Get a hold of yourself, Michelle's too good for the likes of a Santos." He turned back to face the now steamy mirror. He took the towel and wiped a patch clean before beginning to shave.
Half an hour later, Danny emerged from the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist as he rubbed his wet head with another. Michelle was in the room making the bed when she heard him emerge. "Better than I'd imagined," she whispered to herself as she eyed Danny from head to toe.
Danny looked up to meet her gaze, "I didn't realize you were in here."
"I just came up to make the bed. Did you check on things for that grocery list?"
"Yeah, add all that stuff plus a razor, shaving cream, and toothpaste. I found some toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet. Do you think there's any clean clothes that I could wear around here?"
Michelle looked over at a photo of Hart on the bureau; "Cassie may have saved some of Hart's things. I look around and see what I can find," she replied as she headed out of the bedroom. As soon as she shut the door, Michelle leaned against it and sighed. Staying in this house with Danny and not giving in to her attraction towards him was going to be a lot harder than she thought.
Danny sank down onto the edge of the bed. He instinctively reached over and pulled the pillow up to his face and inhaled the scent left by Michelle when she slept the previous night. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his thoughts about Michelle. Danny walked back into the bathroom and retrieved the phone from the pocket of his shirt that was hanging on back of the door.
"Hello," he answered.
"Danny, I can't talk long. I'm calling from the station. I've picked up a tail. I'm going to send someone I can trust out to bring you guys supplies."
"Is Mick your tail?" Danny asked.
"Yeah. Listen, I'm going to send my sister out with the things you need. Michelle knows her."
"Frank, it's bad enough that I've drug you and now Michelle into this mess with my family. I don't want to get someone else tangled up in this."
"Danny, my sister, Harley, used to be a police officer. She's the one person I can count on to handle this and keep you guys safe. Besides, she's supposed to be checking up on the farm for Cassie anyway. Her coming and going from out there won't look suspicious."
"Well, we don't have much choice."
"I have her call you later. I have to go."
"Frank, be careful. I wouldn't put anything past Mick."
"I will."