Misunderstood: In Love with the Nerd (The Miss Series Book 2) (18 page)

“You’re just in time,” Maura said as she gestured toward two empty chairs.  “We’re watching the sunset.”

Sonya turned to look out at the lake and felt a sense of sadness.  It really had been a beautiful day.  Just not weather wise.  She glanced at Daniel and sighed with sorrow.  It was a shame it all had to come to an end.

Daniel turned and looked out toward the water.  The sky was a mix of purple, orange and blue with the glowing ball of the sinking sun as it made its leisure way beneath the lake’s surface.  He inhaled the fresh crisp air of the evening and closed his eyes.  The day had been wonderful and he didn’t want it to end.  He and Sonya had gotten along splendidly.  When he made that pack with her at lunch he didn’t think it would really hold.  She always had an agenda and it never included him.

He opened his eyes and looked her way, thinking she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  The soft rays of the setting sun made her face glow with such loveliness, it took his breath away.  An evening breeze blew her long tendrils of hair along her temples and down her back.  He had an overwhelming urge to touch her.  As he had done for so long, he stilled the urge and turned away, oppressing the impulse.

Then he remembered the reason he was there that weekend.  Using his audience as an excuse, he boldly reached over and cupped the back of her head with one hand.  Before she could decipher his move, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the nape of her neck.  She smelled of freshness and blossoms and a cool sea breeze.  Her skin was as soft as cotton and her long silky hair felt like clouds caressing his cheek as it blew in the breeze.

When he felt a tiny shiver ripple across her skin he pulled away.  “Are you cold?”

She shook her head then turned to look at him.  “What was that for?”

His eyes studied her face before he whispered, “To thank you for a nice day.  I enjoyed myself.”

Sonya smiled and curiously looked a bit relieved.  “Me too.”

Did she think he was trying to make a pass at her?  Was her look of relief because she lacked interest in pursuing that type of relationship with him?  It was true that they had discovered a part of each other that neither had known before.  Maybe it was Daniel’s own wishful thinking, but he had hoped it was the beginning of a new relationship between them.  One of lasting and meaningful profoundness.

The amicable friendship continued all night long and even later in the bedroom where they sat and talked into the wee hours of the morning.  They discovered things about each other they hadn’t known and a surprising compatible sense of humor.  Sonya laughed out right at things Daniel said and was amazed at stories he recounted from his childhood.  Whereas he too listened with glued ears to stories she shared from her own past.

Behind all this lay an undercurrent of sexuality, but it represented a line he knew Sonya wasn’t ready to cross.  He was forced to keep his distance even burying his hunger and desire for this woman in order to make her happy.  He sensed that somewhere along her life, someone had come in and stolen her beliefs in love and happily-ever-afters.  He wanted to reassure her that they did exist and deeply within him, but for now he was experiencing a Sonya he had never seen before.  Not believing it possible, he loved her even more.

* * *

The weekend was winding down and like every other year, Sonya groaned at the prospect.  This one had, however, an even more bittersweet closure.

As they strolled through an outdoor flea market, Sonya looked across at Daniel and smiled.  She would never have imagined the weekend could have turned out so wonderful.  Within a few hours it would be all over and things would be back to the way they were.

He stopped to browse a display table lined with used compact discs, and Sonya halted beside him.  Maura and Patrick strolled beside them arm-in-arm with Maura’s head resting against Patrick’s shoulder.  The sight caused a warm stirring inside Sonya and had her slipping her own arm through Daniel’s.  He glanced at her and smiled.  Sonya smiled in return.

She dragged her attention away from his face and focused on the CD in his hand, not wanting to put too much thought into their exchanged smiles.

“Tchaikovsky?”  She was startled at his choice of music.

He made a grimace and said, “I know, pretty boring, but I enjoy listening to classical music.”

She leaned over and flipped the CD over.  “This is actually a very good rendition.  The scores performed on this one are in D major.”

Daniel glanced at her, brows high, not bothering to disguise his surprise

“I have it at home.”  She shrugged.

“You listen to Tchaikovsky?”

“All the classics,” she confirmed with a grin.  “But I think he’s my favorite.”

He shook his head slowly and eyed her for the longest time.  “You’re beginning to scare me.”

She laughed out right.  “Why is that?”

Still shaking his head he told her, “This isn’t the Sonya I know.”

Unable to resist, she cocked her head to one side and said, “I thought I laid my life out like an open book?  You know, self-centered and all that.”

His smirk was swift.  “You are, you conceited wench!”  Then holding up the CD, he asked, “I take it you have a copy?”

She nodded and tightened her hold on his arm.  “I’ll be happy to loan it to you.”

They continued weaving their way through the vendors under the hot rays of the afternoon’s sun.  The market was crowded and the aisles between tables were jammed.  Once they even had to go in a single line to pass people.  However, even if none of her friends were within view, she never once released her hold on his arm.

Chapter 10

The week was progressing slowly.  Far too slow for Sonya’s satisfaction.  There was still three more days before she was able to play the part of Daniel’s girlfriend once more.  Fact was, it was the closest she would ever get.  Women like her, didn’t end up with men like Daniel.  And men like Daniel were never stuck with women like her.

A part of her cringed at the prospect of going.  No longer in fear of being bored, but in fear of embarrassing Daniel.  What if people discovered who she was?  Here Daniel was a great genius with a university education and his own engineering company.  Then there was Sonya.  A waitress at a pickup bar.

So distracted with her thoughts that she forgot someone’s order and had to go back and get it.  The bartender gave her a quizzical look, but she turned an indifferent shoulder to him.  She surveyed the establishment and the few clientele scarred throughout tables.  It hit her so hard she didn’t see it coming.  She hated this job.

This wasn’t what she wanted for herself, never had been.  Her dreams were to perform singing on stage in front of a live audience.  The job provided her with such an opportunity, but she felt suddenly unfulfilled.  She didn’t know what it was and she didn’t like the feeling.  Women like her never got what they deserved.

She would break her date with Daniel.  That was all there was to it.  How could she do this to him?  He deserved so much better.  Lord, he was one of the great masterminds of his generation and here she was a struggling singer living off nothing but dreams.  Yes, the best thing she could do for him, was to not go.

Even better, maybe it was best to end their relationship altogether.  What had this weekend done to her?  Believe that she could get a man as terrific as Daniel?  Christ, the man shows a little kindness and she’s like Jell-O at his feet.  No, she was best to end it now before she used trickery and manipulation to get her way.  Sonya always got her way.  No matter what the cost.  This was a cost she would not allow.  She had to let him go.

Her day dragged and until at last it was time to go home.  She knew she should head straight to Daniel’s and tell him she didn’t want to see him anymore.  But she couldn’t bring herself to it.  So instead she hid away in her apartment with her headphones on as she listened to the chords of Tchaikovsky playing on her iPod.  He knocked on her door shortly after she arrived, but she ignored it hoping he would think she wasn’t home.

Every day after that she grew more and more depressed and every day after work she locked herself in her apartment and refused to see him.  She knew she had to tell him about Friday, but found herself incapable of doing so.  It would hurt him.  Not gravelly, but enough that she would feel horrible inside.

On Thursday night, he banged on her door yet again.  If not harder.  “Sonya, open up.  I know you’re in there.  I saw you come home.”

She contemplated ignoring him again, but knew she couldn’t put it off any longer.  As she straightened her spine and took a deep breath, her mind worked fast trying to conjure an excuse to help lessen Daniel’s pain.  Not able to put it off any longer, she unlocked the bolts and opened the door, taking a step back to allow him entrance.

He frowned heavily at her but stepped inside.  “Have you been sick?”

She shook her head.  “No.”

Then both her voice and expression became grave.  She was not looking forward to the conversation she was about to embark on.  “Daniel, we need to talk.”

He froze.  “What about?”

“Us,” she said solemnly, not able to meet his eyes.  She walked past him and led the way into her sitting room.

“Us?”  He watched her with trepidation.

“Yes.”  She sat down prim and straight on the sofa and gathered her composure before meeting his gaze once again.  “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

There was a long silent pause in the room and Sonya feared looking him in the eye. She knew any relationship with him would never last.  Perhaps she had foolishly believed otherwise after the weekend they shared.  Daniel too, perhaps.  They had gotten along so well.  But men like Daniel did not end up with women like Sonya.

He gritted his teeth and said, “I didn’t realize we were seeing each other.”

His words smarted more than he could have ever imagined.  They reinforced what she already knew.  Then trying to appear unhurt, she nonchalantly explained, “I meant see in the actual meaning.  I think we should end any relationship we have, even neighborly.”

Daniel still looked angry but she held her ground.  “And why do you think that?”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and wondered how far she would have to go to hurt Daniel so that he would transfer his hurt to anger and place it squarely on her.  “We’re just not good together.  We’re too different.”  She swallowed a painful lump that suddenly appeared before she continued. “You don’t belong in my world.”

His eyes burned of outrage and Sonya felt a piercing ache in her chest.  “We seemed to be getting along fine on the weekend.  Or was that all a sham?”

“A sham,” she confirmed.  “But you already knew that.  That was why I asked you to come.”

“Right.”  He clenched his jaw and thrust his hands into his pockets.  “Same reason why I asked you to come tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “I can’t go tomorrow.”

His face grew irate as he exploded, “Oh yes you are.  We had a deal.  I stuck to my end of the bargain and you’ll stick to yours."

“Daniel, I don’t think that’s a good—”

“I don’t give a damn what you think,” he bellowed.  “Be ready at seven o’clock.  If you’re not, I’ll come and dress you myself.”

She flinched at his anger and blinked in astonishment at his threat, but before she was given a chance to respond he stormed out of her apartment and slammed the door behind him.

Sonya gave a huge and weary sigh then collapsed back against the sofa.  That did not go as planned.  She knew it would be bad, but she didn’t realize just how bad.  To top matters, she didn’t get herself out of tomorrow night’s banquet.  Before even having done the bad deed, Sonya already felt she had betrayed him.

After work the following evening she went home and prepared for her evening with Daniel.  She refused to refer to it as a date.  She and Daniel did not date.  That was impossible.  They could be neighbors, yes, possibly friends, but never anything more.

Selecting her outfit with care, she didn’t want to upset Daniel over her choice of attire and follow through with his threat to drag her back to the bedroom and redress her.  A shiver of delight sneaked its way into her conscious, which Sonya quickly stomped out.  Thoughts like that were dangerous and belonged nowhere tonight.

She donned the little blue dress then set about styling her hair and applying her makeup.  Tchaikovsky played from the portable from the other room hoping to relax her nerves and sooth her disposition.  The last thing she wanted was another fight with Daniel, yet it was the precise thing she needed.  It would be best if she was in control of her emotions and the situation she’d fear wouldn’t get out of hand.

At precisely seven Daniel banged on her door.  Simply from his knock, she knew his mood had not improved.  She opened the door and stilled.  On the opposite side of her threshold he looked spectacular in a black tux and crisp shirt and Sonya was surprised at the sudden lack of oxygen in her lungs.  He smelled wonderfully of musk and after-shave and she felt herself swaying unconsciously toward him.

His face, however, was unsmiling as he looked down at her.  “Are you ready?”

She nodded, then turned and slipped her feet into the sandals on the shoe rack before snatching up her purse and following him out of the apartment.  He didn’t even look her way, and she had the disturbing thought that he wasn’t pleased with her.  But she already saw that coming.  Tried to prevent it, but he demanded she keep her end of their deal.

They didn’t say a word as they loaded the elevator and rode it down to the ground floor.  In the lobby they would have sailed through it but were stopped by Mrs. Sterling who was also passing through in the opposite direction.

“Good evening, Daniel.”  She glanced behind him and sneered openly at Sonya without acknowledging her.

Feeling spiteful and wanting to vent, Sonya sneered back.  At the least, it lifted her spirits some.

“Good evening, Mrs. Sterling.” Daniel continued to say something and caught Sonya’s attention. “I’m sorry to hear about Fufu.”

“Thank you Daniel, I appreciate that.”  The older woman’s face looked downcast as she raised a hand to her face as if to prevent a burst of tears.

“What happened?”  Sonya couldn’t resist asking.

Mrs. Sterling glared at her.  “He passed away the other night.”

Sonya was struck by an unexpected sense of sorrow.  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

But the woman didn’t give her an inch.  “I know what kind of girl you are Sonya Elliott and you don’t give a rat’s ass about my Fufu.”

Taken aback, she looked at the older woman and realized she was right.  She didn’t.  For a split second, she felt compassion but in one sentence Mrs. Sterling had snatched it away.  “As a matter-of-fact I do feel sorry at the loss of your dog, but not at his loss.  Anything would be better than living with an old cranky pent up coot—”

“How dare you?”  The old woman cried, clutching a hand to her chest as if on the verge of a heart attack.  Then turning to Daniel for his reaction, she demanded, “How can you associate with such riffraff, Daniel, you are better than that.  This girl is rude and insensitive and—”

“Yes, yes, I know.  However, she was trying to offer her condolences, which you snubbed without hesitation.”  He nodded in understanding and took the older woman’s arm and led her to the elevator.  “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re on a date.”

“Daniel!”  Mrs. Sterling cried with disgust then threw them an indignant shrug before boarding the elevator and disappearing.

He released a weary breath and ran his hand through his neatly combed hair.  The movement caused some strands to stand up where they didn’t belong.  Sonya had an overwhelming urge to reach up and fix it.  She clenched her fists and kept them firmly at her side.

“Let’s go.”  He grabbed her arm and propelled her towards the exit.

She wrenched her arm free, not appreciating being manhandled.  “I can manage, thank you.”

“Just don’t think you can try and lose me.”  His grey eyes were dark as he looked down at her.  “After tonight, you may have your wish and never see me again.”

Something lashed across the inside of her chest and Sonya literally lifted her hand as if to calm it.  She was seeing another part of Daniel she hadn’t seen before.  At least not in this extreme.  He was angry.  Irate, to be exact and he was far from happy with her.  He probably wanted the night to end as quickly as possible so that he never had to deal with her again.

Her jaw quivered as she slid into the passenger seat and waited for him to fill the driver’s side.  Considering his anger, he drove with care and deliberation not exceeding the speed limit once.  At the banquet hall, butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach.  They reminded her of the jitters she received before going on stage for the first time.  This was just another performance.

For Daniel’s sake, she needed to pull it off.  The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him in front of his peers.  As they walked up the flight of stairs toward the entrance, she tugged on the hem of her dress and wished she owned one that hung a little lower than her thighs.  For the first time, she felt like a tart and had a sudden fear that the high society in the hall they were about to enter, would her with Daniel and think the only date he could get was a whore.

She halted in her steps causing Daniel to stop a few steps ahead.  Frowning, he looked aback at her.  “Come on.”

Sonya shook her head with a sincere trace of fear in her voice.  He paused, then looked at her with surprise and slight confusion.  “What’s wrong?”

“Daniel, I can’t do this.”  She pleaded with him to understand.  “I don’t belong in a place like this.”

He frowned and looked back at the building not seeing what she saw.  “I don’t understand.”

Exasperated, she gestured toward her dress.  “Look at me.”

His eyes were forced to travel down the length of her body, then back up.  They remained blank.  “You look fine.”

She wanted to cry in despair.  Fine.  Pretty.  Those were the kind of words he used to describe her.  With a start, she realized she wanted him to tell her she looked beautiful and that he was very proud to have her with him at his side tonight, but instead she watched as he turned his back and started toward the hall once again.

Dispirited, she followed with reluctance.  When they reached the top he stopped and waited for her to catch up then held the door for her to proceed.  Her footsteps faltered, trying to prolong her entrance.  Once inside, she froze as the lobby was cluttered with a few distinguished gentlemen in tuxedos deep in conversation.  Men like Daniel, Sonya thought.

He took her elbow in his hand and propelled her in the direction of the doors where the majority of noise was coming from.  As she neared closer and closer she felt an overwhelming urge to run.  She could hear their voices.  They would be full of scorn and ridicule.  Like Mrs. Sterling.  The old woman was right.  Sonya wasn’t the decent type of woman one took to an important event like this.