Dad’s Little Secret

CHAPTER FOUR

" Lisa! Hold up!"

She heard someone shout and she knew that voice.

“Manny” she muttered under her breathe.

He’d followed her! She picked up the pace a little trying to get away but he caught up with her just in time. He grabbed her arm and she almost as quickly shook him off.

"Look I've only met you like a few hours ago okay? And you're already getting all these ideas. Just get away from me." She practically yelled it.

He stood there looking down at her. But then his face softened.

"You look kinda cute when you’re upset" he said and he smiled. And for the first time it looked real. Not like that smirk he usually had.

“Listen, I just want to see Bob. I don’t know how my dad got here. I don’t know what’s going on between you two. All I care about is what I came here for. Where is Bob?" The anger was gone from her voice. She was just…tired.

“Bob had to go take care of something urgent. He left you with me. Come on let me get you a warm bath, get you something to eat. You look like you're about to drop dead.”

He grabbed her hand and started leading her back the way they came.

She wanted to pull away, yell at him, make him take her to Bob. But there was something about the way he was holding her, the way he was leading her that made her lost all her energy to fight. She really needed that bath, that food. She followed him like a lost puppy. It felt…safe somehow. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she thought.

"I'm going to the kitchen to make you something to eat" he said as soon as they got inside.

He handed her a towel and some flip-flops. They flip flops were oversized but she wore it afterall.

“If you need anything, you know where I am." He hesitated a bit before finally turning away.

She undressed and stepped into the shower. As the water hit her she felt the heavy weight lift off her shoulders. It was calming. She promised herself she was just going to relax, see where things went. She wanted to get out of that little town so bad. And here she was, in an adventure.

She changed into one of her nighties. Waited for a few minutes to see if Manny would come back. Then she figured she'd go see what he was up to maybe even help out.

The kitchen was dim,but it smelled amazing with all the spices. Manny was standing at the stove stirring something, his big shoulders all relaxed. He turned when he heard her coming, his eyes going all over her.

"You should be resting" he said, his voice softer than before.

"I wanted to see if you needed help" she said, leaning against the counter.

Manny smirked. "Almost done. Just sit."

She didn't want to but she ended up sitting down at the little table.

His stride was confident, like someone who knew what he was doing.

A few minutes later he put this steaming bowl of soup in front of her.

"Eat."

She took a spoonful. She immediately felt like her body relax even more. It was comforting. And so delicious.

You cook?" she asked.

"Yeah. My mom used to say a man who can't feed himself is just waiting to be somebody’s burden."

Lisa smiled. "Smart woman."

They sat there in the quiet. It was comfortable. As she ate Manny watched her. Not like the smirky way he did before. This was more…thoughtful.

When she was done she pushed the bowl away. "That was good."

Manny nodded. "Come on, you need sleep."

She followed him back to the room. The house was quiet. Heavy. When they got to her door she turned around.

"Thank you" she said, her voice softer than she meant.

Manny didn't say anything for a second. His eyes rummaged her face. He looked at her lips, then back to her eyes. It was a moment. Thick with all the things they weren't saying.

Lisa didn't know who moved first but suddenly she was in his arms. His hands went to her waist hers against his chest feeling his heartbeat. And they kissed. Slow at first and then harder like they needed it.

She had melted against him. Her body was all awake under his hands. He was pulling her closer, she could feel him against her. She felt all hot and dizzy.

Then he pulled back all of a sudden. He was breathing hard. He looked at her for a long time and she couldn't figure out what he was thinking. His eyes longed for her, but his body reacted differently.

Then he stepped away and ran a hand through his hair.

"Lisa" he said, his voice hoarse. "We shouldn't."

She was confused. She reached for him but he shook his head.

"I have to go" he said, backing away.

She stood there stunned watching him walk towards the door. She wanted to call him back but there was something about the way his shoulders hung this time around. He wasn't just walking away from her. He was walking away from something inside of him.

And then