She heard the elevator door open then footsteps coming down the hallway, the heavy footsteps of a man. They stopped right in front of her door. She pasted a practiced smile on her face and opened up.
The face that greeted Dani was not the one she’d expected. Instead of a smiling, relaxed Storm she saw a man who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. His lips were drawn tight and he was almost scowling.
“Are you alright?” She stared up at him, momentarily taken aback, and then she stepped aside so he could come in.
“Uh, sorry,” he said then just like that he seemed to snap out of his trance. It was as if he just realized where he was. The creases on his brow disappeared and his lips relaxed into a smile. “Forgive me. It’s been a long day.”
She nodded and smiled, accepting the apology, then reached up to take up his jacket. He shrugged out of it and as she went to hang it in the closet he looked around the apartment.
“Neat, “ he said as his eyes roamed the living room then the dining room and the kitchen. He could take it all in with one sweep of the eyes.
She came back to stand beside him. “Neat as in organized or neat as in cool?” she asked in a teasing tone, trying to hide her nervousness.
“Both,” he said. Typical man. He was playing it safe.
“Nobody says neat to mean cool anymore so I’ll take it you mean organized.”
“Okay,” he said with a drawl then he gave her a quizzical look. “So where’s the quilting stuff?”
“My, aren’t we eager?” She laughed then directed him to have a seat in the living room. “I’ll go get the basket with the supplies.”
When she returned to the living room he was lounging in the sofa but as soon as he saw her he sat up and dug into his pocket. He came out with something small and shiny. “I brought my thimble,” he said and held it up proudly for her to see.
Dani had to laugh at that. She set the basket on the coffee table and plucked the thimble off his palm. “Now where did you get that?” She could not imagine a man like Storm having something as domestic as a thimble lying around his house.
“The housekeeper,” he said and now he, too, was laughing. "I told her I was going to learn to sew and she said to make sure to use a thimble. Then she gave me this one from her sewing kit. I didn’t even know she had a sewing kit. Do people still use those things?”
“Yes, Storm, they do.” Dani rolled her eyes at him then she smiled and shook her head. What did billionaires know about such things? She started pulling pieces of fabric from her collection and laid out each colorful section in front of him. "I pre-washed the fabric so they’re ready to go.”
He picked up a pink polka dot piece. “Why would you do that?’
“It prevents color runs and shrinking once we’ve completed the quilt. Just some preventative measures.”
“Oh,” he said then stifled a yawn.
Dani leaned over and gave him a playful punch. “Hey, you could at least pretend to be interested. You didn’t see me falling asleep when I was on the back of your motorcycle.” She picked up a few of the pieces. “Let's move this over to the dining table. We’re going to need a lot of space for this project.”
It took a while for them to get organized but soon they were busy following the simple pattern Dani had downloaded from the Internet. She was surprised at how quickly Storm caught on, following her instructions step by step, and even when he had to redo a crooked section she heard no complaint. He was plugging away, so deep in concentration, that after an hour and a half it was Dani who had to call for a break.
“You must be tired,” she said. “Let me get you a drink.”
“No, I’m good,” he said, not looking up from his work. “Let's just keep going till we’re all done.”
“Let's not,” she said and put her hand on her hip. “I’m exhausted. Are you trying to work me into the ground?’
“Hey, I’m enjoying this,” he said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance to work with my hands.”
“You? Work with your hands?” she asked in disbelief. “When?”
“My dad and I used to tinker around motorcycles when I was growing up. That’s why I like the machines so much.”
“Your dad? The Edgar Hunter? Getting his hands dirty with mechanic work? I find that hard to believe.”
He grinned at her. “Billionaires are people, too. Don’t think I didn’t get my fair share of scolding for not tidying up my room.”
“Seriously?” Somehow she’d thought rich kids didn’t have to lift a finger. They had maids to do that kind of thing, didn’t they?
“My parents didn’t play around with us kids,” Storm continued. “Sure, we had staff at the house to do the heavy stuff but we had our chores, too.” He chuckled. “My mom even taught me how to cook and she’s a stickler for perfection in the kitchen. Brrr.” Storm gave a shudder.
That made Dani burst out laughing. "Anyway, mama’s boy, you deserve a break so drop that quilt."
“Mama’s boy?” Storm gasped in mock horror. “You just called me mama’s boy? I’m going to get you for that.”
Before Dani could move he’d come around the table and was reaching for her. She gave a shriek and dashed around to the other side. She glanced over her shoulder, thinking that he’d given up the silly chase, but he was still coming. With a yell she was off again.
She made it as far as the living room and that was where he caught her, his arms snaking round her waist to pull her back against him. With her back pressed against his torso and his arms a steel band around her she had little chance of breaking loose but still she struggled, her flight instinct kicking in, telling her she had to get away.
He was laughing at her futile efforts as he held her easily but then she turned round in his arms, catching him off guard, and shoved him in the chest. Storm stumbled back, collapsing unceremoniously onto the sofa, but he did not let go of her and she came tumbling down right on top of him.
He immediately seized the advantage. Quick as a cat he rolled over into the softness of the sofa, shifting her so she was pinned underneath him. Then, propping himself on his elbows, he gave her a crooked smile. “Now I’ve got you exactly where I want you,” he whispered wickedly. “You are in my power.”