Chapter 9
302 Words
Chapter 9
Daniel escorted Alice along the underground corridor to where her car had been moved and parked beneath the Treasury Building. A valet had it rolled up to the door, heater already running against the December chill.
“Thank you, Daniel. It would have been just too weird walking through all of that security alone.” She glanced back through the glass doors at the last of three security desks they’d passed. Designed to keep people from getting in, it also made sure that she retained nothing important on her way out.
“Always glad to serve as your Dear Daniel Watson.”
Damn! She really hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, though of course he’d caught it. So, she did her best to smile in response.
He held her car door for her, shooing the valet off with a five-dollar bill. By the boy’s expression, Alice could see that tips weren’t really called for, but he was being so overeager and helpful Daniel properly assessed it was the only way he could have a final private moment with her.
Alice found herself not minding a private moment in the least.
“I have a meeting tonight, but do you have plans for tomorrow evening?”
She found herself shaking her head even before she could think as to whether or not she really did.
“Good. I’ll come get you at 7pm. Casual.”
Her first thought, as she tried to tug her cardigan more tightly around her, was there was no way she’d ever again risk wearing casual around Daniel Drake Darlington III. Her second thought was that she couldn’t wait.
He clicked the door closed behind her, the closed window cutting off any chance of a response.
It was only after she was driving away, and she spotted him still watching her departure, that she felt the warmth where his hand had brushed down her cheek before he’d closed her door.
- Writer
