Page 80 of Anything To Be With You

Luke

You’ve reached Dani, leave a message.

I have been trying to reach Dani for hours. After four calls went through, the rest went straight to voicemail. I don't like the fact that I can't get ahold of her while she's dealing with Josh. I don't know much about the man, but I do know the Whitlock's reputation. If you won't give them what they want willingly, they'll take it from you and leave you penniless with a mess to clean up. I try calling a few more times but give up and head to bed.

Sleep doesn’t come easy. I try for hours but give up once the sun starts shining through the windows. I hop in the shower, making it a quick one and throw on a pair of sweatpants. I head into the kitchen, turning on the coffee maker and grabbing a mug from the cupboard. My thoughts go back to Dani and last night.

Her lips, her moans, how sweet she tasted—fuck! I nearly blew my load from the taste of her alone. Her body is a road map of scars and burns. I don’t know what happened or what she went through to receive those marks, but she survived, and it proves just how strong Dani truly is.

Mug in hand, I walk to my office to finish my proposal in preparation for Joni Dobson's case. I sit at my desk and turn on the computer.

I don’t remember falling asleep, but the ringing of my phone wakes me. The sun’s shining through the windows, I have a piece of paper stuck to the side of my face and drool on my arm. I reach for my cell and my heart jackhammers against my ribs when I see the name.

"Daniella," I answer.

"You rang, Archer." She hums.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay."

A sigh comes from Dani, but it’s not one of annoyance. "I’m…I’m sort of okay."

"Feel like explaining?" I question.

She makes a groaning noise. "I got into it with Josh last night."

My temper hops into the drivers seat. "He didn't lay his hands on you, did he?" I growl.

"No."

I relax against the chair. I would've returned the favour if he did.

"Do you need some time off, Sweetheart?"

"I—I’m okay. Really."

Yeah, I smell bullshit on that. "Truly? I’m sure Carrie would not mind filling in for you for a few days."

A soft noise comes through the phone. "I can’t afford a few days off, Archer."

"But—"

"I’ll be in on Monday," Dani hangs up on me.

I finished most of the proposal by mid-afternoon. Hopefully with the evidence Joni gave me, it will be a quick case. It not only proves that Doug cheated while he was still married, but that a child has come from his infidelity.

I stand and stretch, grabbing my phone, and checking it. I don’t know what I expected to find. I spoke to Dani a little over four hours ago, why I have my hopes up that she will call again is beyond me. I hit send on what I have finished, emailing everything to myself, so it'll be waiting for me when I get in Monday. The shrill ringing of my office phone scares the hell out of me.

"Lucas Archer."

"Holy shit! You’re alive." Carrie says in way of greeting.

"Of course, I’m alive. You saw me yesterday."

She raspberries into the phone. "Sure, but I figured by the way you and Dani were going at it when I left, I thought she would have killed you by now."

I let a chuckle loose. "If I’m being honest, I could have sworn she wanted to stab me with a pen."

Carrie lets out a squeal and starts laughing. "She wouldn’t be the first."

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