Choose Me
Part 6
By Stacey
Danny sped quickly across town, to get to Hunan's take-out. He didn't want to spend anymore time away from Michelle then necessary. His mind taking him to their previous conversation, he couldn't help but wonder if he did the right thing by telling her about his family and his life-style. I of course had to tell her, I would have done anything at that point for her to see me, the real me, not Mick's version. Mick, damn him, he had no right to do what he did, he can't be trusted, and must be stopped. No telling what he will do next. Finally making it to Hunan's Danny picked up the order, then decided to make another stop along the way.
"Give me a dozen of your choice, for a beautiful lady." Danny said to the older gentleman whom he has know all of his life.
"Coming up Daniel son, must be someone special, and I know just the thing." the older gentleman replied, before disappearing to the rear of the store. Danny was his favorite, of his best friends sons. He and Danny's father grew up together and used to get into an enormous amount of trouble together, then Miguel met that woman, a woman who was nothing but trouble in his eyes, but seeing the look on his friends face when he begun a family was amazing. His family was everything to him, especially Danny, when he looked at him, his eyes lit up like bright little stars.
"All done, do you like?" he asked, emerging from the back with a vase full of white roses.
With the biggest smile on his face, glaring at the arrangement, he responded, "Perfect, just perfect, she will love them, thank you so much, for taking the time to do this for me today, I know it's Sunday and all."
"For you anything son, just go and knock her socks off." He said, patting Danny on the back.
Watching him walk out of the store, he only wanted the best for Danny, the very best, he deserved it.
Danny slid into his black leather seat, flowers in hand, then it dawned on him as to what he was going to do with these flowers, I can't let them get crushed or messed up, he thought to himself, then had the most brilliant idea. He put them down on the passenger seat, then gently pulled the seat belt around them. Happy with himself, he looked down at his watch, and decided he better be going or she would be wondering if he was coming back.
***********
Michelle danced around her apartment after taking a shower, her wet hair was flying around in circles and droplets of water were emerging in air, landing on the floor, counter, and whatever else was in range. Looking up at the clock she decided she better be getting dressed, even though she thought he might like the silk robe better. Clothes were flying through the air, until she decided on her favorite pair of denim jeans, that fit her well, in all the right places, and then her favorite ivory button-up the front waffle weave jacket-like cropped sweater. Deciding to let her hair air dry, she put a light coat of makeup on. Taking a final glance in the mirror, she then danced her way back out into the living room, clueless that the front door was slightly opened.
Danny stood there enjoying the view, watching her sway her hips back and forth, singing along with the music, she had a beautiful voice, everything about her is beautiful. So sexy, he was dazed and licking his lips at the very sight of her. Eyeing her from head to toe, taking in everything, the snug fitting jeans and the short sweater that exposed her middle every time she moved her arms upward. The song finally came to an end, and there he stood in the doorway, a big vase of flowers in one arm a brown bag full on Chinese take-out in the other, and the noticeable bulge below. Luckily Michelle was way too embarrassed at getting caught, that she didn't even notice.
"Oh, hi, Danny, I was just, um....." Michelle studdered, as her face was turning every shade of red imaginable.
"You were just dancing, nothing wrong with that, and might I add you do it very well", Danny stated, meaning every word of it.
Thrilled by the compliment, "You are way too sweet, um, are those for me?" she asked, looking like a kid in a candy store.
Deciding to have a little fun with her, Danny looks around "Is what for you, I don't see anything".
"Hardy har har, you funny man".
Walking up to her, extending his arm, "Some beautiful roses for a beautiful lady".
Now on the verge of tears Michelle closed her eyes and took a whiff "I love them, they are so gorgeous", thanking him by moving closer and giving him a hug.
"Your welcome, now can we eat, I am starving?"
Michelle went to the kitchen and retrieved some paper plates, that she previously took from her brothers after Danny had left, and grabbed some forks, before joining Danny on the floor by the coffee table. They shared each other's food, sampling different things together, making idle chit chat when Danny got up and went to the stereo and found his favorite oldies station that just begun playing When a Man Loves a Woman. "Perfect".
Walking up to her, he extended his hand, "Ms. Bauer, may I have this dance?"
With her most devilish grin she replied, "Why Mr. Santos, didn't your mother ever teach you not to dance on a full stomach?"
"Ah, actually no, she just told me not to go swimming on a full stomach, so I figured we would just get to that later."
He reached down and grabbed her hand then pulled her up to him in one swift move.
With not even an inch between their bodies, Danny started to hum the melodies in her ear. Michelle was breathless as his warm breath touched her ear and neck. Pulling away slightly, he searched her eyes, then lowered his gaze to her parted, waiting lips. Michelle leaned toward him, her eyes fluttering shut as she waited for his mouth to touch hers.
"Danny..."
With a low growl, he kissed her, his mouth dragged across hers in a need-filled assault. He couldn't hold back no longer, he was losing the battle to take things a bit slower, he was losing his heart and his head and fast losing his grip on sanity. Her innocence was his nemesis, haunting him. Is she too much of a good girl for me? Do I deserve this kind of love? These questions would not leave Danny's mind. Lifting his head from hers, he whispered, "I, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to....."
"Danny", she whispered back erotically, not giving him a chance to finish, "Danny, I.....I....." Pulling his head down, she pressed her mouth over his. His lips seared hers, his tongue dancing inside her mouth. Then he slid her down the length of his body, his hands reaching for the buttons to her sweater. "Michelle, I am falling so hard for you", he whispered in between kisses down her neck, unbuttoning the first button, " I want to be with you", working his way down to the second button, "I want this to be real".
Real. Her incoherent mind registered the word. But would it ever be real? How could it be? He'd make love to me tonight, but where would that leave us. He is in the mob. And that was the reality.
Danny felt her tense up, saw the doubt clouding over the desire in her eyes. Backing away to catch his breath, "Baby what's wrong, did I say something wrong, do something wrong, I am so sorry, tell me honey", he asked stroking her flushed cheek with the back of his hand.
Michelle looked into his gorgeous eyes, and couldn't find the right words to express how she was feeling, "Danny, I'm sorry, it's just, just......."
"Please tell me, I can fix it, I will do anything for you".
"Oh, Danny I know that, but like you said earlier, you can't help the family your born into, so there is really nothing you can fix, I know it's not your fault, but I just don't see how we can go forward together with that in the way, I am falling hard for you too, but I just can't give myself to you completely because I just can't shake the facts." wiping away the tears that were now falling from her eyes, "I am so sorry, I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to be hurt in the process, I don't know, I guess I'm selfish. I want it all, the perfect man, with the perfect job, you know, the normal life. I don't want to have to sit around and worry, worry that you won't make it home from work from day to day, leaving me heartbroken. I can't do that. So Danny, unless you can stand here and tell me that we can have a normal life and relationship without the mob staring at us in the face, then I just don't think we can go on, I'm so sorry, I care so much for you, but I have to look out for myself too." Closing her eyes, she heard the front door shut gently. She was safe. And alone, so alone.
******************
Mick pulled up to the curb checking out the scenery, "Well, this is it, little ms. high society's house, say goodbye to it all Abigail Bauer, in a few short days, this all will be nothing more than a memory." Mick said to himself, while looking at her picture.
Mick got all his little snacks laid out on the passenger seat and started munching on some chips and reading his magazine, while staking out the house, until something caught his eye. Danny was backing out of the driveway. Mick scrunched down and hoped like hell Danny wouldn't see him or notice his car. Lucky for him he didn't. "What the...... Why is Danny here at the Bauer's". "I am going to have to check this out further, and do some investigating". He got out of his car and sneaked over to the house, peaking in the windows, but saw nothing. Walking over to the garage he heard something coming from what looked like an garage apartment, so he continued to quietly walk towards the sound. It sounds like someone crying. Peeking in the window, it was, it was a girl crying, holding her face down in her hands, then he saw it, her face, it was none other than his Michelle. Michelle? Oh no, trying to remember the conversation he had with Roy, he remembered that Abigail had a sister in law named Michelle. Dammit, she is a Bauer, the Bauer whom which Roy also wanted taken out, but luckily not enough funds for. "Man, Mick, why do you always get yourself in these predicaments, How can I possibly do away with a member of her family, the girl I am falling in love with." Wonder why she is crying and further more why is it my brother was here with her. I better be getting to the bottom of this, little brother, your not getting her. Taking one final look at her and blowing a kiss her way before leaving.