"You put every woman on the face of this earth to shame, Miss Cross."
Danny giggles. "I want to jump your bones too, Mr. Burnham."
I bust out laughing and pull her in for a hug, rocking us back and forth while our chuckles wind down.
Kissing her fingertips, I lace mine through hers and we walk in. I take her up first to my room so I can show that to her. I took a few minutes to clean it up, which basically meant I had to throw all of Mike's dirty clothes into the closet. The guy is a complete slob.
Danny walks around the small room, looking at all of the hockey photos and memorabilia I have. She asks if I have a pictures of my family and much to my chagrin, I don't. My parents aren't the casual-photo type of people.
Before we walk out, Danny sits on the edge of my bed and bounces up and down a few times. I look at her quizzically and she gives me a saucy wink. "Just seeing how loud it squeaks."
"You're rotten, you know that?" I ask.
"I know it."
Back downstairs, I get us each a beer and we make our way over to Mike. He and Cameron are talking to Carter.
As we approach, I put my arm around Danny's waist to make it clear to anyone and everyone that she is with me. I told Mike I was bringing her tonight, and he in turn told Cameron to be on her best behavior. But Carter is definitely surprised.
I make formal introductions and we all make small talk. I had told Mike that Danny was a music major which gives him something to talk about with her as his mother is an executive in the music business with Sony. I sit back and just enjoy watching Danny's naturally effervescent personality win Mike and Carter over. When Carter steps away to get another beer, he punches me in the shoulder and snarls in my ear, "You're a bastard for getting her before me."
I grin at him. He doesn't need to tell me how lucky I am.
Cameron is being polite and actually engages Danny in some small talk about Julliard. Then to my surprise, she asks Danny about her piercings because she was thinking of getting her belly button done. That leads to a fifteen minute discussion about piercings that actually leaves me a bit nauseous about the whole thing. I'll admit I’m a wuss.
The evening was going better than I had expected. All of my friends and teammates are being very nice to Danny, which isn't too hard once they get to know her. Again, she could win anyone over.
At one point, I get called away by Carter who wants me to help him get one of our drunk fraternity brothers up to bed. He apparently vomited his guts up and was passed out in the downstairs bathroom. Danny assures me she is fine hanging on her own.
When I return, my stomach churns because I see Reece Malone talking to her. And he is all up in Danny’s personal space. I can tell by her posture that she doesn't like how close he is and unfortunately, I can tell he is drunk. I know I will have to handle him with kid gloves so he doesn’t make a scene.
Coach had an “intervention” with me and Reece the other day, and basically demanded that we kiss and make-up. Under Coach’s glaring eye, we had to shake and grumble apologies to each other. It did nothing to cool the animosity between us but at least we were putting on good appearances.
I walk up to where they stand and I notice from my peripheral vision that Mike is walking over to join us. I decide to play casual so as not to incite Reece. Walking up beside him, I clap him on the back and say, "Hey, man. How's it going?" I even manage to plaster a smile on my face that I hope doesn't come across as fake as it feels.
Reece looks at me skeptically but then sticks his hand out to shake. I grasp it and give it a quick pump, then immediately step over to Danny. While I am all for being nice to Malone to avoid a confrontation, I still want to make it clear that Danny is mine. Looking down at her I see relief in her eyes and my blood instantly boils because I know he must have said something to make her uncomfortable. I place a quick kiss on her temple then turn back to Malone. His eyes narrow at me.
"So, you ready for the opening game next week?" God it’s painful trying to make conversation with this guy.
He doesn’t respond but turns his gaze back to Danny. I can see understanding dawn on his face. "Hey, you're the girl that works at the diner, right?"
I feel Danny stiffen beside me and before I can launch myself at him before he says something hurtful, Mike is there pulling Reece away. I hear Mike say, "Hey, Malone. I need you to come over here and settle a bet between Carter and me over who the leading goal scorer was in the NHL last year."
I take a deep breath in and let it out. My blood pressure starts coming down and I turn to look at Danny, ready to apologize.
"That guy is a f**king, ass**le," she says before I can say a word. Then her face instantly colors red and she has a sheepish grin on her face. "Oops. Sorry. I normally don't use that word."
“Did he say something to upset you?”
She shakes her head. “He was just drunk. No worries.”
I start shaking my head back and forth with a smile on my face. Danny isn't stupid. She knows Malone is the guy that had called her a whore and yet she’s standing strong. I'm not sure if this girl ever lets anything get her down.
I lean down to kiss her. "You're incredible...you know that?"
She gives a little moan of appreciation against my lips. "Mmmmm...you're my... boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend."
"Yup. Still a turn on." And I kiss her more deeply.
She laughs against my mouth and I have an overwhelming and sudden urge to yell out to the world that Danny Cross is my girl. All I need now is a caveman club and I will be complete.