"Daphne, I know I keep apologizing but I need you to know how sorry I am. I never-."
She swallowed hard, trying desperately to keep from breaking down. To cry in front of him again-well, it would only make him feel worse. It wasn't his fault-not really. It was
her cowardly action of running away that had put him in this predicament. Why couldn't she have just stood up to Sherry the way she had stood up to Frasier-and even to
Niles time and time again? The fact that she'd let Sherry make her feel worthless bothered her to no end.
"Daphne I beg of you, please forgive me." Niles said. "I'll do anything. I completely understand if you don't feel comfortable staying here. I'll do anything I'll pay for you to
stay in a hotel of your choice-five star or otherwise. I honestly don't feel comfortable with you being alone tonight, but-."
Instinctively her fingers went to his lips, bringing him to silence. She wasn't at all prepared for how soft his lips felt against her skin.
"Hush…" She whispered. She stared at his mouth as another flash went through her. They were kissing deeply, passionately. His hand was curled gently around her neck, his
breath was warm and-
Forcefully she willed the ridiculous-whatever it was-away. And once again she could not look at him. What was wrong with her? There was no possible way that he could know
that she'd been thinking about kissing him, but even so she couldn't believe she was thinking about such things.
When she returned her gaze to his face, she realized that her fingers were still covering his lips and she gently pulled her hand away. She had to make an effort to think of
him the way she should be thinking about him-as a friend. It was the only right thing to do. After all, he was her friend and nothing more.
"Daphne-."
Her heart fluttered at the sight of his blue eyes. Once again she pressed her fingers to his lips for no other reason than to bring back the feeling of touching them once more.
"Hush…" She said again. "Please don't say anything. Let's just go back to your apartment, all right?"
He nodded, prompting her to slip her hand into his, intertwining their fingers. He took her bag and put it over his shoulder and then wordlessly led her to the elevator. They
glanced at each other briefly while they waited for the door to open. They rode to his floor in silence, but Daphne made no effort to let go of his hand. It was as soft as silk
and his touch made her feel safe. Alone in the elevator it was difficult to keep her ridiculous thoughts of him away. The only thing she could do was to stare at the overhead
lights or at her reflection in the mirror.
They were still holding hands when they arrived at his apartment and neither of them let go until they were standing in his foyer. Niles put her overnight bag on his coffee
table and smiled at her.
"Thank you for your trouble."
"No trouble at all." Niles said. Make yourself at home."
She sat down on his fainting couch and smiled.
"Can I get you anything? Anything at all?"
She swallowed hard. "Do you have any champagne?" The question surprised her. What was she thinking, asking for such a thing? Niles might have been wealthy but he was
certainly not made of money.
"Of course. Would you like anything else? Are you hungry?"
"Well, I-." She realized that after the fight with Sherry, she'd been in such a hurry to leave that she'd neglected to eat breakfast-and lunch for that matter. That was several
hours ago and her stomach didn't hesitate to remind her. "Actually yes, I am hungry. Very hungry in fact. But Dr. Crane, you really don't have to-."
But he had already moved past her heading toward the kitchen. She rose from the fainting couch to join him, but when she reached the kitchen door, he smiled.
"Daphne, please, just make yourself at home. I'll just be a minute."
"But I want to help you. It's the least I can do."
"No."
She froze at his directness and her anger resurfaced, if only in the slightest. He was just like his brother; stubborn and set in his ways. Couldn't he see that she wanted to
repay him in some small way for his kindness? But he would never change and she knew that. Silently she nodded. "All right."
"I'm sorry Daphne. It's just that-you're my guest. I want to make sure that you're comfortable and that includes preparing a meal for you. I hope that's all right."
"Dr. Crane-."
"Please, let me do this for you."
Impulsively she hugged him, breathing in his clean, masculine scent. "Thank you so much for letting me stay here. You have no idea how much your friendship means to me.
I won't be an imposition, I promise."
He drew back and smiled, keeping his hands on her bare forearms. "You could never be an imposition, Daphne. And I meant it when I say that you're welcome in my home
anytime."
She blinked back tears, touched by his kindness. Oh how she loved him.