Redemption

Chapter Fourteen

With a groan, the alarm was turned off and they snuggled closed into each others' arms. The morning was cold and neither was looking forward to leaving the warmth of their bed. "Do we have to get up?" Danni whined as she leaned her head against Bobby's shoulder. She didn't mind the waking up part; it was the fact that she could think of so many better things they could do if they just stayed in bed. She was feeling one hundred percent better this morning, which meant that it was time to go back to work. As much as she loved her day of rest and her night of lying in her lovers arms, she did miss the office and the excitement of Metro.

"Unfortunately," Bobby muttered into her hair as he hugged her tighter. He placed a soft kiss atop her head and closed his eyes as he let out a tired sigh. "Of course, we could just stay in bed a little longer." There was more to that suggestion than he let on and she didn't miss it. After yesterday's events, you would think he wouldn't be in the mood to for anything intimate. Of course, he was Bobby Manning and he couldn't help but bring up the subject. Danni always seemed to bring it out in him and he loved that about her.

She rolled her eyes as she scrambled from his grasp. "If we did that, we'd never leave the bed." She didn't find that so offensive, but work was calling to them and if they dallied anymore, they would be very late. She climbed out of bed and walked over to his side. "I'm going to take a shower," she said, before she added when she moved to the door, "If you're good, maybe you can join me," which caused him to chase after her. She let out a loud squeal as he expertly caught her around the waist. She laughed as he pulled her to him and placed a kiss upon her neck. "You're incorrigible," she said as she freed herself from him and turned on the water.

"Only when it comes to you," he said sweetly as he rested his hands upon her waist. He looked down at her sparkling eyes and he could swear he was falling in love with her all over again. Of course, he always felt that way when she looked at him like that. He kissed her soft lips ever so gently which he knew would send a chill down her spine. He couldn't help but smile when he felt her shiver. "I love you," he said. He usually said it many times in one day, because he was still in awe of how much he could be in love with the woman before him. His heart beat feverishly when she was in his grasp, but when she was nowhere near him, it was like he had no heart at all.

"I love you too," she replied simply before she brought him closer and kissed him passionately. She squealed against him as he lifted her off of the floor and carried her into the shower, clothes and all.

Even with their little morning escapade, Bobby and Danni still seemed to be running on schedule. As they continued to dress and eat breakfast, they shared loving kisses and gentle caresses to show their affection. It was awe-inspiring to see how in love they actually were. The funny thing was that, for some reason, Danni wished her mother was there. They hadn't really talked in years and she felt like that was beginning to take a toll on her.

Growing up, other than Sue, her mother was her most-trusted confidante and she was beginning to miss it. She wanted to tell her how in love she was and all that she'd missed in her daughter's life. Yet, every time she got within ten feet of her mother, she could already hear the scrutinizing and see the look of disapproval upon her face. If only her mother would realize how much her little girl had grown, then she wouldn't treat her like she did when she was three-years-old anymore. She was a smart, strong, independent woman, yet her mother only saw the college student who'd been arrested for a crime that she didn't commit.

Mrs. Charlene Talbot was a woman who believed strongly in morality and how a woman should be proper/a lady. Her heart had broken into thousands of pieces when Danni was detained. It was that day that she figured herself to be a failure at being a mother. She'd tried her hardest to teach her daughter to be a respectable, smart woman and she ended up in jail. She never would have imagined Danni could screw her life up with one simple action.

She didn't know of the scenario that occurred before the girl was arrested, though. That had been kept tucked inside of Danni's heart for years until that wall finally crumbled when Jessup, a teammate of hers, turned out to be the man she hated most in the world. She figured that Charlene would be even more disappointed in her if she knew.

As she thought back to it, it could have been that very decision which kept mother and daughter together. Charlene would end up consoling her and their bond would have been stronger than ever. But, of course thing never work out the way you want them to. Danni was still proud of the life she had; good friends, a great job, and a boyfriend who just couldn't get enough of her. She had a good life, but it would be even better with her mother in it.

"Danni, I don't think the carton is going to move if you just stare at it," Bobby teased as he still saw her head inside of the refrigerator. She'd gone inside to fetch the orange juice, but she'd been in there for quite some time. He slung the dish towel over his shoulder after he dried the last dish from breakfast and leaned against the counter. His eyes focused intently on her as she snapped out of her reverie and finally removed herself from within.

"Sorry," she muttered as she walked over to the counter and poured more juice into her empty glass. She rested her elbows on the counter after she took the glass in hand and held it up to her mouth, yet she did not take a drink. She continued to get lost in her thoughts and Bobby found it troublesome. She was never usually this bothered by anything and if she was, she would talk about it with him.

"You okay?" The question seemed to go unnoticed as she stared into space in front of her. "Your hair's on fire." He'd said it to get her attention, but whatever she was thinking about was important. "I'm leaving you for Darcy." Still there was no answer. The funny thing was that he was getting a kick out of this. He was amused that he could say anything and not distract her. "Danni, will you marry me?"

"What?" she asked as she looked at him. Her eyes were furrowed in confusion and her jaw was slack.

He chuckled with hilarity as he shook his head. He tossed the towel onto the counter and walked over to her. "Nothing," he said simply as he placed a kiss upon her temple.

She hadn't even realized that she'd fallen back into her trance until she heard Bobby's faux proposal. She shook her head to clear it and looked consolingly at him. "Oh, Baby, I'm sorry. I was just thinking and I guess I got carried away."

He smirked down at her and placed a light kiss upon the tip of her nose. "No worries, Luv," he said before he checked his watch. "Ugh, look at the time. I've gotta go. Traffic's gonna be a bear." She smiled and nodded at him. They shared a quick "I love you" before he grabbed his things and exited the apartment. He was halfway down the stairs before he accidentally bumped into the arm of an older man who was heading up them. He apologized to him and his wife before he hurried to his car.