TIMELESS/CH 10

Betty took a deep breath, as Daniel's driver rushed them to his loft. She had been there many times to drop off or pick up items of clothing, paperwork, whatever he needed as his assistant. But this...heading

to his apartment to...to what, exactly? What on earth was she thinking, blurting that out? Of course he was going to think she wanted to sleep with him!

He had one arm around her shoulders and squeezed her hand, leaning to whisper to her, "You look scared. Are you having second thoughts about what you just said to me? I promise I'll be gentle." he teased.

She blushed, "I was afraid you might think I meant…"

"That you wanted us to sleep together? You mean you didn't? Just kidding, sweetie! No, I get it. You just want some tips on how to act more confident, right? That doesn't mean I expect us to have sex, like...tonight, Betty. Don't panic. I was sort of...messing with you when I told Dave to rush home. Sorry! You were too easy. I had to see how you reacted. You're so cute when you blush like this!

Trust me, I'm not going to 'ravish you' or anything. I mean...I could. If you at some point decided you actually WANTED me to...do that,but... okay, now I think I'M the one blushing! How the hell do you do that to me?"

"Do what?"

He shook his head, raising one eyebrow, "Uh uh. Don't play innocent with me, girl! You do realize that fantasy you told me about our...future and stuff has me really freaking out! And those kisses you laid on me...have thrown me totally off my game!

I've never met a girl like you, Betty. And that's a compliment. You stand out. In a very good way. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Did you have any more 'visions' or whatever about us...in the future?"

"No. Why?"

"Oh, no reason. I was just wondering."

"Daniel, you are really good at a lot of things. But you're a TERRIBLE LIAR!"

"What? Who me? I am?"

"YES!"

He chuckled, "Yeah, I know. You're right. I really am. Hey, so are you, Miss Suarez!"

"Something else we have in common. So?"

"So what?"

"DANIEL! Stop being like this!"

"Like what? I'm not being anything. I'm being totally normal."

"Nuh uh! You're being really weird!"

"No, I'm NOT! You are!"

She put one hand on her hip, pointing a finger at him, "What did you do?"

He laughed, grabbing her finger, and taking it into his mouth, "Cut it out, judgy girl! What makes you think I DID anything?"

"Something happened that you're not telling me."

"You really think you know me that well?"

"I do!"

"Fine. Okay, maybe SOMETHING, you know, kind of strange happened when I tried to get some sleep after I got home, but you've got to promise not to freak out about it."

"Since when do I freak out?"

He laughed, "You're kidding; right? You freaked out when I told you I was giving you tickets to a concert, you freaked out when I bought you lunch, when we finished our pitch early, when I took you out to a fancy restaurant, when I bought you escargot and you stuck them in your pockets because you said snails were gross, when you heard Natalie Whitman was going to be on the cover of Mode.

Let's see, oh yeah...and when you saw my mom naked…and you know

...what else just happened earlier; need I go on?

You freak out about EVERYTHING, Betty Suarez! I know you pretty well, too, Missy! Even better since seeing you naked...in mud! And you definitely freaked out when I saw you that way!" he teased, winking.

She rolled her eyes, "You're SO not funny! I thought we weren't talking about THAT!"

"I NEVER agreed to that!"

"Whatever. Stop trying to change the subject and stalling and spit it out, Daniel. I PROMISE not to freak out whatever it is."

He winced, knowing that no matter what she promised she WAS going to freak out when he shared with her about his dream. He stared at his lap, trying to find the right words, "Well, okay, I maybe had a little dream of my own about you...about us this morning when I got home and fell asleep, that's all. You know, the power of suggestion I guess…"

"Dream about me? What was it about?"

"You know, uh...kind of the same as the stuff YOU dreamed about. Us … together."

"That you and I were married, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"And had a baby?"

"Right."

Her eyes widened, as she shoved his chest, "Whoa! Shut up! Seriously?"

He grabbed her hand, and looked down almost bashfully, "Yeah. Like I said, that totally freaked me out, too! I mean...no offense to you, Betty, but I just don't see myself married yet, you know? Not to…anybody! No matter how sweet and cute and nice they are. Or how amazing her...I mean YOUR kisses are! I'm just not ready to settle down!"

"Well, don't look at me! Neither am I! I'm only twenty-two for goodness sakes! What makes you think I want to get married? Just because you made me tell you about some crazy dream I had with my concussion! It definitely doesn't mean I'm ready to give up on my career!

I have no intention of being like my mom or my sister. They are both great and I really love my nephew, Justin like he was my own, but I have wanted to own my own magazine ever since I can remember!"

He smiled, nodding, "I know, Betty. You told me. I think that's great! You really are ambitious. I know my old man was impressed with you at your interview. That's clearly why he hired you."

She put her hands on her hips, "Daniel, I don't know what your father told you but the truth is; I never even HAD an actual interview! The guy at personnel told me all the positions had already been filled!

So I was really surprised when someone from HR called me later and told me I had been hired as your assistant. I think we both know your father mainly hired me so you wouldn't be tempted to sleep with me like you did all your other assistants."

His grin spread as he teased, "Shows how little HE knows, huh? I mean I may or may not be willing to admit that you wouldn't really have a problem "tempting me" into bed whatsoever! And he clearly didn't know YOU, either!

Look at you, girl! Here you are, teasing me and coming onto me...tempting me with those intense, amazing, soft lips of yours and kissing me, now you want me to be some kind of 'sex mentor' to teach you how to be more sexy, right?"

She blushed, "Forget I said that! I don't know what I was thinking."

"Oh no you don't! You don't get to pretend like you didn't say it! You asked for my help. And after all this time of you helping me do my job, Betty, I'm more than willing and happy to offer my 'expertise' in the one area where I know what I'm doing!

So...first, I think I need to know how far do you feel comfortable with us going? I got it; we're not actually having sex. At least, not now. I'm okay with that. I'm your boss. You're worried about being just another one of "Daniel's girls".

Her eyes widened, "I um...I really don't know how to respond. I think I was just thinking out loud. I don't really expect you to...um...help me! You ARE my boss, and I think we need to just stay friends."

He backed her up against the door, putting one arm next to "trap" her, "Friends, huh? Too late! Trying to keep me in the friend zone, Suarez? I think we already went way past that when you grabbed me and laid one on me your first day!

And telling me you fantasized about us being Ozzie and Harriet? Yes, of course we'll always be friends, best friends, Betty. But I want more. And I think if you're honest with yourself, you do, too." He stroked her cheek with his finger.

"Maybe." her breath hitched as he leaned in closer for a kiss that practically curled her toes. The man knew how to kiss!

As he stepped away, she gulped, "Do I...get to come inside?"

He laughed, "Of course. Do you...want to come inside? I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

She bit her lower lip, "Too late! But, like you said, I am the one who kissed you!"

He held up two fingers, smiling and nodding, "Twice! You Wanton woman, you!"

She sighed and nodded, "Fine. I'll own up to that. And my dream...that is apparently contagious!"

He grinned, as he opened the door and gestured for her to come inside. When she stood for a moment, not moving, he grabbed her hand and pulled her in behind him, "Apparently! You have my mom's seal of approval, that's for sure! Especially the minute she heard the magic word-grandkids! Even imaginary ones! Come on in."

The man could charm a snake, she thought, somewhat warily as she followed him inside and sat next to him. She raised an eyebrow, as he started to put one arm around her, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Let's just say...I don't completely trust you."

"Probably wise not to, I suppose. If I were you, I wouldn't trust me, either. After all, I am a well-known 'manwhore'!"

She shook her head, grabbing his hand in hers, "Daniel, that's who you WERE, not who you really are, deep down! I see you. You're a good man, with a huge heart. I see you working hard to do your job. You help your mom and support her sobriety. You're a really good son. You loved your brother and I know you miss him. You visit his grave every Sunday! And even though your father has often not been fair to you, I know you still try to please him, too."

He took both her hands in his and looked into her eyes, "Thanks, Betty. That means a lot to me. You do really SEE me. Not just as some...rich guy or…"

"Sex god?" she teased.

He laughed, "Yeah! Right. Well...you know. I hate to brag, but...I AM pretty good! I guess you'll just have to take my word for it, though. Or you know, the word of all those 'very satisfied' girls!"

She shoved his shoulder lightly, rolling her eyes, "Whatever!"

His lopsided grin disarmed (and charmed) her, as he ran his index finger lightly down her bare arm, then kissed her shoulder, "Hey, I seem to remember being literally the 'man of your dreams', lady! So don't tell me you're not interested!"

"So? You said you dreamed about me, too!"

"True. Okay, so maybe we are each other's...dream person. That's a really good start. Anyway, the first 'lesson' I would give you is just to be as confident about yourself personally as you are about your opinions at work.

You don't let anybody tell you what to do at Mode. You seem very willing to put yourself out there, offering advice and input at the office, even when we all give you a hard time about some of your rather questionable fashion choices. Which is great! Your smart and quick on your feet and can talk anybody into doing whatever you want by just being so sweet. I'd be completely lost without you, Betty.

So, try and channel some of that self-confidence you have in your brain and your career into how you feel about yourself physically. I noticed when it comes to your look, you're either hiding your body behind clothes that totally cover you up or lately, it's better, but it's still not really YOU. Christina and Justin and your sister are helping you find clothes and do your makeup and hair, right?"

She looked down at her wrap around dress and heels. They were very flattering, but sort of boring to her way of thinking. She missed being colorful.

He grinned, "Don't misunderstand me, you look great. It's very flattering. But...you DO have your own style. It's bold and bright. It's okay to find your own signature look, Betty. Just...no ponchos! Or bows. I'll be glad to help you find something that works for you, but still is more in your lane when it comes to color. Trust me to dress you?"

"I think so."

He grabbed her calf, and she gasped as he pulled off her shoe and held it up, "You have tiny feet, and since you're so short, we can go crazy with the shoes. That's a great place to really show your Betty-ness!"

"Betty-ness?" she rolled her eyes, "I'm afraid to ask! Is this some mean thing about me? That I'm clumsy, that I like color, that I'm curvy and short?"

He shook his head, looking at her tenderly, "Wow, those guys at work have really been giving you a rough time, haven't they, honey? No! I love you ...your color and your brightness and how happy you make me. You may be a little clumsy, but on you it's adorable! And I've got no complaints about your curves, believe me!"

"Thank you, Daniel. I was thinking earlier, you and Christina are pretty much the only two people at Mode who are really nice to me! Thank you for taking so much time to help me."

He ran his finger up the outline of her hips along both sides, resting his hands on her rear, telling himself he had to be careful not to fall in love with this girl, "Great! We'll work on that tomorrow. I'll pull out some outfits in The Closet and you can try them on for me. I can definitely help with undressing, too. That will be lesson two." He pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He was in so much trouble!