Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

The waitress appeared, and Danny ordered each of them a glass of red wine and the filet mignon with bearnaise sauce. He waited until the waitress hurried off. "If you're a good girl and eat all your vegetables, I'm going to order you your favorite dessert, Death by Chocolate."

"You're so bad," Annie said.

"I know all your weaknesses, Anniekins."

Sometimes she wished he wouldn't be so nice, and she wondered if maybe Theenie was right, that Danny wanted more out of the relationship. She looked up and found him watching her intently, his eyes telling her things he had never said out loud. Annie averted her gaze and reached for her wineglass. She raised it to her lips, and it slipped through her fingers, splashing wine across her blouse, and shattered on the table. "Oh no!" she cried, reaching for her linen napkin to blot the mess she'd made. "I'm so clumsy!"

"Watch out for the glass," Danny warned, using his own napkin in an attempt to help. The waitress arrived with a damp cloth.

"I need to run to the ladies' room and see if I can get the wine off my blouse before it stains," Annie said, and hurried away. Inside the restroom she wet a paper towel and pressed it against her forehead. Jeez, what was wrong with her? She was losing it, that's what. She was making a fool out of herself over a man. She tried to scrub the stain from her blouse, but it was no use.

She looked up, spied her reflection in the mirror, and saw the pain and disappointment in her eyes. "Boy, you really know how to pick them," she muttered to her reflection, her mind filled with the image of Wes and the blonde.

Annie had almost forgotten how bad she could hurt, and she hadn't even known Wes long. She thought of Nick and Billie Kaharchek. Love at first sight. Annie sighed. That sort of thing only happened to other people.

She arrived back at the table to find the waitress had cleared the glass from the table and delivered their food. "The stain didn't come out, huh?" Danny said.

"I'll try to treat it with something at home," Annie said.

"You'd better eat before the food gets cold."

Annie picked up her steak knife and considered falling on it. What did it matter? Her blouse was already ruined. Instead, she grabbed her fork and began the process of eating.

"How's your steak?" Danny asked.

"Great," she said, giving him an appreciative smile. She suddenly spied the wide-screen TV and saw her own reflection. The local news station was enjoying a real heyday thanks to her problems. Her smile faded.

Danny followed her gaze. "Oh, hell," he muttered. "Let's get out of here."

Annie waited until they were in his car to say anything. "It's okay, Danny," she said. "I'm getting accustomed to my new-found notoriety. Look on the bright side. I could be discovered and end up on Star Search. And you can tell everybody you knew me when."

He shook his head. "Only you could crack jokes at a time like this."

"The least you can do is look amused. I'm using my best material."

"Do you realize there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you?"

"Of course I do. You've already proven it time after time."

"I'm not talking about sanding floors or making household repairs. I'm telling you that there are no limits, no line I wouldn't cross, to protect you."

Annie felt herself frown. "Please tell me you're not planning on doing anything dumb like Erdle did."

"We should get away," Danny said. "Spend a few days in the mountains. Theenie and Lovelle wouldn't mind. It would give us time to think. And talk," he added.

Annie looked out her side window and wondered when things had changed between them, wondered why she hadn't seen it coming despite Theenie's warnings. She had counted on Danny's friendship for so long, what would become of them now?

"Annie?"

She couldn't look at him. "You know I can't."

He gave a sigh. "I thought things would be different with Charles out of the picture. I kept hoping. But I guess deep down I knew it wasn't going to happen." He looked thoughtful. "And now there's Wes."

"I'm sorry." She finally looked at Danny.

His face was weighted with disappointment, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he reached for the key and started the car. "What do you say we skip the movie tonight?"

* * * * *

Annie walked into the kitchen and skidded to a halt when she found Wes sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. And she thought things couldn't get worse. "What are you doing here?"

"Last time I checked, I had a room here."

"You're home early. Why are you home early? What time did you get here? And where did you get that newspaper?" She had to pause to catch her breath.

"I've been here a couple of hours, and I found the newspaper in the bushes. Have you been drinking a lot of caffeine? Is that a wine stain on your blouse?"

"Why are you interrogating me? I haven't done anything wrong."

Wes studied her for a moment, a perplexed look on his face. "Could we start over?"

"I want you out of here, Wes. I'm evicting you as of this moment. I'll give you all your money back."

"I don't want money. Besides, I like it here."

"This is my house, and if I say you're out, you're out." She turned and marched up the stairs.

Wes just sat there, shaking his head in confusion. Finally, he stood and started up the stairs. He found Annie in his room stuffing his clothes in his backpack.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm throwing you out. I should never have rented to you in the first place. You'd think I would have learned my lesson by now where men are concerned."

He shoved his face in hers. "Lady, what is your problem?"

"I saw you tonight. With the blonde. Really, Wes, isn't she a little young for you?"

He looked surprised. "She's not as young as she looks. Her brother is a plastic surgeon."

Annie grabbed his pack and lugged it from the room and down the stairs.

Wes followed.

Annie opened the door, dumped the backpack on the piazza, and crossed her arms. "See ya."

"Red, we need to talk." He closed his arms around her waist and locked his fingers together.

"Take your hands off of me!" she shouted.

"Not until you calm down and listen to what I have to say."

"What is going on here?" Theenie demanded from the doorway.

Annie turned and found Theenie and Lovelle standing there, each holding her purse. "Wes was just leaving."

Destiny walked through the back door. She paused, glanced at Wes and Annie, and then made her way to the refrigerator. She nodded at Theenie and Lovelle. "Does anybody want a sandwich?"

"How was the funny farm?" Wes said.

"It sucked; how do you think it was?"

Wes looked at Annie. "You weren't kidding."

Annie picked up his backpack, stepped out on the piazza, and raised it high over her head.

Wes hurried after her and reached for it. "Hey, don't throw that," he yelled. "My camera is in there."

They struggled.

The women huddled at the door and watched.

Erdle staggered up the back steps. "Who's doing all the yelling?" he asked. His eyes were redrimmed, his words badly slurred. He took one look at Annie's face and staggered back. "Uh-oh, she's at it again."

"Let me go!" Annie shouted, trying to wrestle the bag from Wes.

"Miss Annie, please stop!" Erdle pleaded. "You can't keep acting like this. You're only going to end up killing someone else."

All eyes turned to Erdle. Wes and Annie stopped struggling.

Annie realized her mouth was hanging. "Erdle, what the hell are you talking about?" she demanded.

He covered his mouth as though only just realizing what had come out of it. "Uh, I need to lie down." He stumbled toward the door.