Only You

Chapter 4

Danielle pov

Well, I’m officially stupid. The sexiest man on earth asks me out and I say no. Did I have any other choice? No this was the only way. He deserves to date a model like the Kate he was talking with at the park. Everyone will laugh at him if I go on a date with him. I believe he was sincere when he said that he liked me. But I’m not for him, he is a s*x god and I’m not. I go to my room and I undress for a shower. After that, I texted Alexis if she wanted to make dinner. She texts me that she will go out with Laura and if I want I can go with them. Ryan and Adam will be there. I say no. Maybe Ryan changed his mind and asked Alexis out. She is a much better choice than me. She is a perfect choice. I make a chicken salad for myself, my favorite. I eat and I return to my bedroom to watch my tv show.

“Daniii...” I hear Alex yell from downstairs

“In my room” I yell back. After a while, I see her in my room

“What the hell are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” She seems angry

“You have one sexy guy interested in you and you said no. Really?”

“Oh that”

“Yes, that. What the f**k are you thinking? I met Ryan today but I trust Laura on this.”

“Ok, what did she say to you?”

“Ryan liked you from the day he returned home. He passed by the salon and he saw you. Then the next night saw you run away from your date crying and he beat Alan after you left”

“What?”

“I’m not finished. He arranged a haircut appointment to see you again and he asked you out. This guy is a catch and he wants you. And you say no. Really?”

“Alex this guy is way out of my league. Have you seen him? We go for one coffee and I see how people are watching us ok? He should date someone like you or a Victoria Super Model. And I’m not” She sits on the bed

“He doesn’t want a supermodel. He wants you for God's sake. It’s the first time I hear a man talking about a woman like that. You are so f*****g lucky and you throw away the chance.”

“What do you want from me, Alex?”

“Talk to Ryan. Give him a chance. One date to see how it feels. It is the only thing he asks.” She gives me a small piece of paper from her pocket

“This is his phone number. He hopes you call him. You have to come out of your shell. If you start seeing yourself as we do you will understand” she says kissing me and she leaves my room. I stay looking at the paper. What am I going to do? Is he worth getting hurt over? At least I have to give him a chance to talk to me, right? Alexis looked mad that I didn’t give him a chance. I will call him tomorrow, now it is late.

The next morning we eat breakfast and leave for work. Alexis keeps telling me to call Ryan to the salon. Around ten in the morning, a delivery man came with a bouquet, of red roses. Alexis looks at me and smiles. I read the note

“Let me show you what I can do, what I can offer you. I want to be your support, your friend, your love. I want to be everything to you. I ask a lot, I know. But there aren't enough roses in the world to express my attraction" He wrote love? What is that man doing to me? Who would have thought this big, muscular man, inside was a softy? I look at the time, I have ten minutes until my next client. I go to the back room and I dial the number. With the second ring, he answers

“Hello?” f**k even his voice is sexy. It's not fair

“Ryan?”

“Danielle”

“How do you know is me?”

“I know your voice,” I think I start blushing. Even though the phone he makes me blush.

“Thank you for the flowers”

“You like them”

“Yes. Roses are my favorite”

“I know. I asked Alexis. Last night I was frustrating her by asking about you” I sit on the chair. My knees are shaking

“Really! What’s my favorite color?”

“Mint” correct

“My favorite actor?”

“Jennifer Anniston. There are more. Do you want me to tell you in person?” Silence

“Tonight?”

“I have a question first.”

“Ask”

“Why do you want to go out with me?”

“I like you”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? I don’t know. I saw you and something changed. Can we please talk in person?” I sigh

“Sure tonight?”

“Yes. What time do you finish?”

“Around six pm”

“Ok. Wait outside I will pick you up”

“You don’t...”

“See you at six,” he says and hangs up. All the rest of the hour passes as a blur. It’s my first date I’m so excited.

“It’s six ten go out,” Alexis says and pushes me through the door

“Can I take my stuff?” I ask

“Quickly,” she says and I run to the back room. I take my bag I say bye to Alexis and I leave the salon. Ryan already is waiting. He is leading to the car behind him. When he sees me walk closer he gives me a red rose. I smile accepting the Rose

“Thank you,” I say and I start sweating. I’m not good at this. He will understand soon or later that I’m a boring person. Like no one he knows.

“Don’t be nervous okay?” I nod and he kisses me on my red cheek.

“I like it when you're blushing. You are one of the most trusted people I ever met” he says and he opens the car door. I go in and he goes around the car and he enters the car too.

“I’m taking us to the movies and then dinner.”

“You have talked for sure to Alexis. You know my ideal date”

“I told you I want to know more things about you”

“Why? I mean...”

“I have said to you that I like you. What more do you need?” He sounds a little annoying

“What I want to say is. You are in the army. Maybe you leave in two months again. Why do you want to start a relationship?”

“Oh, that. I already told you that I’m thinking of retiring. You give me one more reason to do it” he says and I smile looking outside the window. We arrived at the cinema

“What do you want to watch?” He asks

“Well, I want to see the new action movie. If you are fine with that? I’m sure you have seen a lot of action in your life” he giggles

“No is fine. Let's go” he pays for the tickets, we take a medium popcorn and we go to the screening hall. During the movie, he was holding my hand and kissing it. I’m feeling sparks all over my body. I can't believe that a man like him wants to spend time with me. How did I get so lucky suddenly?

After the movie, we got to the car and he drove.

“I have to warn you. That restaurant we are going to belongs to one of my friends. He is the chef. Maybe he will say some embarrassing things about me. But I can’t take you somewhere else. I made the mistake of mentioning our date and he insisted we go there” How cute

“It’s fine. I would love to meet your friend” I say and he is smiling.

“Good. His name is Brandon, he is a friend from primary school. All my friends are from school” That’s great. My only friend since I was a kid is Alexis.

“That’s good. That means your friendship is strong. You care and love each other”

“We do. So you will meet Brandon, you know Adam already. There is James and Joshua. We are five. You?”

“Me?”

“You have other friends except for Alexis?” Here we go

“No. Since kindergarten, it’s been me and Alexis. When we moved here I met Laura and her friends. But if you say who is closer to me. It’s Alexis. She is family, my only family. She is much closer to me than my sister”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes. Amanda. She is an actor. This year is in a theatre play in New York”

“That’s good. You will go see her?”

“Yes. She has sent me two tickets to go with Alexis to the premiere”

“I’m not asking is pretty. If she is like you she will be beautiful”

“She's a lot better than me. Blonde was slim, and tall if she didn’t want to be an actor. She would have been a model. She looks like my mom. I’m more of my dad.“he doesn’t want to see his fat daughter. I look outside and try not to cry. I don’t want to ruin my first and maybe the only date with Ryan. He takes my hand is him and squeezes it.

“You fit more with Amanda” he kisses my hand

“I want you. And you fit more than anyone”

“You haven’t seen her yet. That’s why you say that”

“I don’t think so. You have to stop putting all men in the same position” I look at him saying in a serious tone.

“We are here.” He says and he comes to open my door. The restaurant is not so fancy so I guess my black trousers and my mustard blouse are ok. Thank God I wear flat ballerinas, no sneakers. We go in and a tall blond man comes to us.

“Ryan”

“Brandon” oh his friend. Relax Danielle if he is like Ryan he will like you.

“You must be Danielle. Finally, he can’t stop talking about you and I see why” Brandon says and he hugs me. Wait for what? He talking about me

“I’m Brandon,” he says and smiles

“You already know me,” I say and we laugh

“I have kept that table in the corner. so you can have some privacy” he says and he walks us there. It's beautiful a restaurant. I ate here once with Alexis.

“I like your place. I have been here once. On my birthday last year with my friend”

“I’m glad you like it. But I doubt your taste a little. You date Ryan” he says and he laughs and I laugh too.

“Haha, Brandon. Very funny” Ryan says

“I told you that he would start saying these things,” Ryan says to me and I keep laughing.

“He is not that bad,” I say and we sit down

“I like her. Make sure you keep her” Brandon says

“That does not depend on me, “ Ryan says and looks at me seriously

“You don’t like our boy? Man, I told you not to show your true self from the first date” Brandon says and we laugh.

“Aren't you busy Brandon?” Ryan asks

“Ok. I get it. You want to stay alone. I recommend the steak”

“Ok. I will take that.” I say and Ryan orders the same with salad and good wine.

“He is funny”

“Yes, he is the goofy of the group. His wife chose him for that” Ryan says and we start talking. About his friends and his family and how he missed them every time he left. After food, we wait for dessert he asks

“How about your parents? Don’t you miss them?” I stay still. My parents have one daughter that they are proud of. Me, I’m the black sheep in the family. Well as my dad said one time I’m the fat sheep of the family.

“Danielle if you want we can talk about something else. Alexis also said that your family is a sensitive subject for you” he says and he looks at me with sweet, caring eyes. I sigh

“I love my parents. I do. Whatever they had said or done to me I care for them. They have a problem with me”

“What problem?” The dessert came and I looked at him still waiting for an answer.

“They have a problem with my weight. I have some health issues that don’t let me lose weight. And they always have problems with that. I was eight when the doctors told us that my parents had just given up on me because they were ashamed of me. That’s why after college returning to my hometown wasn’t an option”

“That’s not fair. They should support you. You’re a child.” He says and I smile

“In the house they only see Amanda. I was the fat girl who just slept in their house. Alexis was my only friend and she still is my rock”

“I don’t get it. You a beautiful woman and... and” he sighed

“They should be there for you. Is that the reason that you didn’t go out with me? You think you are not good for me?”

“I don’t think so. I know so” I say and I believe is true. Anyone who had to see us tonight thinks the same.

“You're wrong” I frown. Why is he making it so hard

“Ryan...”

“No, you will listen to me. I’m trying to hold it in because I thought it too soon but you leave me no other choice” What is he talking about?

“I have been in the army for fifteen years. I never made a relationship, serious relationship because I didn’t want to leave anyone behind. And the other reason is that any woman before made me feel like I wanted someone waiting for me behind. Before I saw you the first day I was thinking of leaving the army. Thinking I wasn’t sure. When I saw you that morning talking to an old lady outside the salon I saw a reason to stay behind and start a new life.” I think I’m going to cry

“I have flirted, gone out, talked, and admired other women, but no one made me feel like you do without even trying. You make me forget everything and think only about the moment I will see you. And you will not get a bigger compliment than that.

You create these butterflies that stay in my stomach, you become a firework in my boring daily life. When you look at me, I think there is nothing else around me at that moment. You are clothed with insecurities, problems, anxiety, and a thousand and two more. I want to know your every hidden desire, to alleviate your every pain, to banish your every anxiety, to fill every gap in your free time. Let me do this” I play with my fingers on my lap all this time. He looks and waits for an answer. I take a deep breath

“Okay”

“Okay? You mean that?” I nod

“Yes, I mean that. I don’t want to think that we don’t work out. But I know if we don’t fit you will be gentle enough so you’ll not hurt me”

“I will not do that.” And he reaches and holds my hand. We finish the dessert, pay, and leave not before saying goodnight to Brandon. He drives me to my house, parks outside, and turns off the car. He touches my hand squeezes it and turns his head to look at me. He leans in and he comes inches away from my face. His thumb caresses my cheek and I hold my breath. f**k he is so f*****g handsome. He is rough and wild but I guess it’s because of the years he has spent in war zones. But those gorgeous emerald green eyes make me melt. I can't believe that I’m inches away from the most handsome and sexy man on this planet. He looks at my lips and I his. Then I lift my head a little and he hits, his soft perfect lips to mine. The kiss is soft and gentle at first but when my palms touch his cheeks he grabs me by the back of my neck and deepens the kiss. His other hand passes around my waist. I’m surprised and I open my mouth. This invited his tongue inside my mouth. The kiss became heated and passionate. My God what he does to me. I want him so badly. He cuts the kiss and we both take a breath but he does not stop kissing me. He kisses my cheeks and then he attacks my neck. I’m sure I will have a mark tomorrow. He returns to my lips.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t control myself” I smile

“Don’t apologize. I liked it” he smiles and gives me one last kiss.

“I should stop. I don’t think I can hold back anymore” he says and he returns to his seat. But he takes my hand and kisses it.

“We have time,” he says

“Text me when you get home,” I say and I open the door

“I will. Goodnight ginger” he says and I giggle

“You will be calling me like that now?”

“What? I like it”

“Ok maybe I find one for you too”

“Something good I hope”

“Always,” I say and I get out. I lower myself

“Goodnight,” I say and I walk inside. Alexis waits inside and when she sees me she jumps

“So? How did it go? You're late so I guess you had fun” Oh boy, we not sleeping tonight. I say and I walk to sit on the couch...