Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 21

After Christina and the others left Betty's room, Daniel walked past her to the balcony and sat down outside, without saying a word.

She sighed, and followed, sitting next to him. She waited a few minutes. He looked out on the city, seemingly deep in thought.

Finally, she broke the silence, trying to get him to look at her, "So, Daniel. I'm really sorry you were so worried about me. I was perfectly fine, though. I was in a public place. I was never really in any danger."

He turned and stared at her, "Betty, don't start. Didn't you hear what everyone, including your sister just said to you? You WERE in danger! Look, I don't care if you believe me or not. Please just humor me, okay? You need to stay away from…"

She smiled and sat in his lap, cutting him off, as she took his face in her hands, "From Matt, yes, I got that, Daniel. I know. I will. I promise. And Victoria, of course. Trust me, I got the message from you all, loud and clear, okay? Don't worry."

He leaned his forehead against hers and put his arms around hers, "But I have to worry about you, Betty. I love you. You have no idea what you put me through, honey. I was so scared something had happened to you.

I thought I was never going to see you again. I was so relieved when I saw you, I feel like I don't ever want to let you out of my sight again. I just want you to be with me all the time, and safe."

She smiled, kissing him. As they parted, she told him, "For the record, I love you, too. And I do appreciate the rescue. You were very heroic. Pushing Matt down like you did and rushing me to the street and shoving me into the cab like that. You were very brave." She teased.

He rolled his eyes, "All right, all right, smarty pants. Hey, for all I knew, Victoria had some big goons around the corner with guns or something ready to kidnap you.

Granted, if I'd known for sure it was just Matt, I might not have been quite so freaked out. But then again, Betty, I still don't want you underestimating what the guy's capable of, okay? He has been stalking you."

She nodded, "Yeah, well, I guess I always have sort of had my doubts about Matt ever since I walked into that art show with all those crazy paintings of me like some monster or something."

He looked puzzled, "I know you told me about that before, Betty. But I forgot. He painted a bunch of pictures of you like you were a monster, right?"

She shrugged, "Well, yes, but in all fairness, he said they were supposed to be just for his own benefit, while we were broken up. You know, like when you had me burying the box of Henry's stuff? It was just to get out his demons or frustrations with me. He never meant anyone to see them."

Daniel looked unconvinced, "Demons is right! Just like both of his parents! I say, if they made him look nuts maybe it's because he is, you know? I mean, if he didn't feel that way anymore, why the hell wouldn't he just get rid of them? Why would he keep them all in a storage room?"

Betty shook her head, "I don't know, I guess he just didn't get around to doing that. Besides, I would imagine it would be sort of hard to destroy something you spent that much time on, you know? It becomes a part…"

He raised his eyebrow, "Exactly my point, Betty. It becomes a part of you. If Matt did enough of those crazy pictures of you, painting you as some monster, maybe some part of him still hasn't forgiven you. He's clearly obsessed with you."

"But that doesn't make any sense, Daniel. We were together and making things work when he decided to go to Africa. HE ended things, not me. If he were so obsessed with me, why would he do that?"

Daniel ran a finger down one of her bare arms, shaking his head, "I don't know, Betty. I can't really say how the guy's mind works because I'm not nuts like him! Maybe…he really was jealous of us. I mean, he did accuse us of sleeping together when we weren't.

He might have been insecure about your relationship and wanted to see if you'd wait for him or follow him or something. Like a test. And when you didn't…And especially, once he's found out you and I really are together now, it pushed him over the edge. It's like his worst fears are coming true."

"You mean, he accused us of being together before we really were, and now…it is true, so it was like a self-fulfilling prophecy or something?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I don't pretend to understand Matt Hartley's inner thoughts, Betty. Like I said, I don't really want to try and get into the mind of a nutjob!. And his mother….don't even get me started on that woman! She makes Wilhellmeannie look like a pussycat!"

"You think? I told you how much she used to intimidate me when I was dating Matt. And I remember you laughing at me at the time. See what I mean?"

"Yeah. I got a taste of her special brand of bitchy, that's for sure! I haven't really heard from the woman in over fifteen years or more; ever since she and Hartley got divorced and our folks went their separate ways. I forgot how cold and calculating she can be."

"When your parents were friends with the Hartley's, did you ever meet Matt?"

He shook his head, "Not that I remember. Alex and I were usually off at boarding school, or I guess Matt was, too. We never really crossed paths."

She looked at him, "Daniel, I was angry before, but I want you to know, I never intended to actually…do anything with Matt other than talk with him at that restaurant. You do know that, I hope! But honestly, at the time, he didn't seem to be acting weird. I just thought we were two friends, having lunch, catching up."

"While you were ignoring my calls? And your sisters, and Christina's? And Amanda's? Betty…I know you were mad at me then, but honey, you really shouldn't have done that. It was really childish. And as it turns out, dangerous in this case. Because it might have given him reason to believe he still had a shot with you. Please don't ever ignore my calls. I don't care how mad you are at me. Deal?"

She bit her lip, "Okay, Daniel. I'm sorry. I won't. I…."

"Sh…I get it, I was a jackass and you were mad at me. Let's forget all about this craziness now! Please just kiss me." He smiled, and pulled her close for a soft, gentle kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and as they continued to kiss, he stood up, with her still in his arms, and kicked the door aside as he carried her into the room and laid her on the bed.

He stood next to her bed and began taking off his jacket and unbuttoning his shirt. Betty scooted up to sit up against the headboard and watched him, smirking.

He laughed, "What's that face about?"

She looked him up and down as he took off his pants, and threw them onto a chair. "Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the show, that's all. Thinking about how lucky I am."

He nodded, as he crawled across the bed over her, looking down at her. "That's right. And don't you ever forget it. We both are. You're the most important person in the world to me."

She grinned, pulling him down for a kiss as his hands began to pull at her clothes. She whispered against his lips, "You just keep getting better and better, don't you?"

"I don't know. Let's see if we can test out that theory, shall we, Betty?"

A short while later, Betty pushed him away slightly. "Uh…something wrong?"

"I feel something."

"Me, too."

"No, not that. I mean…there's a buzzing under my butt."

"That's not what I expected to hear. I didn't know you were into that stuff, but hey, whatever you like, sweetie. Oh you mean…well, it's not me."

She hit his arm, blushing, "Daniel…where is your cell phone?"

He looked around, "I don't know. I wasn't all that worried about it this second. Why?"

She reached under some pillows on the bed and pulled out his phone, laughing as she held it up. He grabbed it, rolling his eyes, and snapped, still grinning at her, as she started to tease him by stroking him, "Who is it? Kinda busy right now!"

"I have no doubt. I know how quickly you got Betty out of there. I know how you operate, Manwhore!"

"Who the hell is this? Matt? How'd you get this number?"

"I've got Betty's phone, remember? She didn't have time to grab it when you grabbed her away from me! Now it's your turn to listen to me, smart guy. You may think you have Betty back all to yourself now, but you can't watch her every second of every day. I had her first. She's mine, not yours. You could have had her years ago and you were always far too occupied with all your bimbos. I am the one who saw her real beauty even when she had the braces and less than fashionable taste in clothes.

You don't deserve her, Daniel and you know it, deep down. You're always going to be afraid you're going to mess up and lose her. She was already ignoring your calls after one little fight. You have no idea what you're doing. You don't know how to be in a real relationship with a good woman like Betty.

Don't forget, I know her intimately, too. I can make her happy. Isn't that what she should have? You know deep down you are a player and you always will be. Doesn't Betty deserve someone who loves only her?"

Daniel didn't respond. He just hung up, and turned off his phone, then threw it across the room, breaking it into pieces. Betty stared at his expression, glancing at the remnants of his phone on the floor, then pulled him to her, "Daniel? Who was it?"

"Wrong number."

"Right! It was Matt, wasn't it? What did he say?"

"Nothing. He really is crazy!"

She sighed, "You won't tell me what he said? Daniel…nothing happened with him and me. You've got to know that. I would never do that to you."

He shook his head, smiling, "I know that, Betty. He didn't say that. I wouldn't believe him if he did. It was just…he said something about me being a player, and not knowing how to be in a real relationship. It sort of…hit home, I guess. That's all."

She furrowed her brows, and began kissing his chest, then up to his neck and finally his face, "Daniel, please, you were married. You were engaged before that. You've been in more real relationships than he has. And look who's talking? He was a 'player', too. It takes one to know one.

Don't listen to his crazy rants. Besides, you and I have been best friends for four years. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a real relationship!"

He smiled, taking her face in his hands, "You're really something, do you know that, Betty Suarez?"

She nodded, "Yes. But I still like hearing you tell me. Especially when you're naked. You're very cute when you're naked, Daniel Meade. Do you know that?"

He grinned, "Thanks. So are you."

Betty woke, to see Daniel watching her sleep. She jumped slightly, "Daniel! You scared me. Why are you staring at me?"

He shrugged, as he ran a finger down her arm, and kissed her hand, "I just woke up myself a few minutes ago. I wanted to take a shower, and order us some breakfast. But I didn't want to leave you alone."

"Alone? How do you figure I'm alone? You're right here, aren't you?"

"I know, but…still."

"Daniel, come on, honey. I know you're worried, but…"

"But what, Betty? I can't believe you're still skeptical about how much danger you're in. What's it going to take for you to realize that your ex is certifiable? I know his mom sure as hell is. Wait a second, didn't you tell me he was seeing a therapist when you first started dating him?"

"Yes, he was, Daniel."

"See? And that doesn't scare you? Don't you wonder what he had to see someone for?"

"No. Because I already know. She was treating him for his sex addiction."

"Fine, but maybe there's something deeper that caused that sex addiction."

"You had a sex addiction, too, Daniel. That doesn't make you crazy."

"I didn't say it did. I know this is hard to come to terms with. This is a guy you dated for some time. You're not used to thinking of him as someone scary.

But if he lied about wanting you to stay here and about why he came here and took over that foundation for his mother just so he could stay here, telling her he specifically wanted to keep you to himself, away from me…away from your job, from everyone you love, that sounds pretty scary to me."

"Daniel…aren't you kind of grasping at straws? Look, I'm not saying you aren't right about him stepping over the line with that whole business about stalking me. And I know for a fact how scary his mom can be.

I just don't think Matt's capable of really hurting me. Or anyone. He's too…wimpy. He's scared of his own shadow. I once had to kill a spider in his apartment for him."

Daniel laughed, "Really? You never told me he was that much of a wuss."

"Well, not a wuss, really."

"You just called him a wimp yourself. Will you please stop arguing with me and come here?"

"In the shower?"

"Sure. We can have fun there. Then, maybe we'll have some more fun later. As soon as I order breakfast. Do you feel like waffles? Or something with fruit? I could get us some crepes."

"That sounds great! The food here isn't always all that great. But the restaurant where…"

Daniel looked at her, "You can say it, where you were eating lunch with Matt? I still can't believe you ignored my calls."

"I only ignored one call from you when I was with Matt. I had cooled off by then."

"Yeah, but when you ignored me even that one time while you were with him, it evidently sent him totally the wrong signal, Betty. He saw that as you choosing him over me. It just fed into his whole little fantasy he's got going that you're going to ride off into the sunset with him."

She looked at him like he had two heads, "You got all that from one telephone conversation, Dr. Freud?"

"Betty…you can make fun of me if you want, but I'm still convinced the guy has it out for you. And yeah. I'm sorry if I'm crowding you, but I want to keep an eye on you at all times. Remember what Hilda said, superglue, Betty. Don't make me order handcuffs." He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bathroom with him.

"Handcuffs! You are definitely not going to handcuff me to…to what exactly did you have in mind anyway? You? The bed?"

He grinned, as he continued to walk backwards, pulling her behind him as he went. "All great ideas, I'd say. Just let me make a call. I'll get some up here right away if you're into it."

"Very funny, Daniel. And no, I'm not!"

"You think I'm kidding? You know me better than that, Betty. Sex is one thing I never joke about."

Victoria Hartley looked up to see her son entering the restaurant. He looked furious, as he walked purposefully towards her table. "Mother, you've gone too far this time! You have no right butting into my personal life like that.

Now you're threatening Daniel Meade that you intended to hurt Betty? She thinks I'm some kind of crazy person now, thanks to you! She's with him and I can't even get near her."

Victoria smiled at her dinner companion, "Geoffrey, excuse us, will you? My son seems agitated. Be a dear and go wait for me.

I'll meet you at the bar a little later. We were almost done here, anyway, right? I'll be sure and get you a doggy bag in case you want to snack later. Off you go, now, woof, woof!"

Matt made a face as the man got up and left, kissing her hand. Matt watched the man as he quietly did as he was told. "Who's THAT guy? Your latest tennis instructor? Or let me guess, the pool boy? Not very original, Mom."

She smiled at him like the Cheshire Cat, "I'm at least glad to hear I'm back to 'mom' now instead of mother. Matt darling, I'm just playing with Geoffrey. He's not my 'soul mate' or whatever it is you've imagined this Betty is to you.

I'd say if she's decided to end things and go off with Claire's son, that's the best news you could possibly give me. That Betty woman is a nightmare! She's short, she's fat, she's got hideous taste and she's as clumsy as an ox!

She's simply not the kind of woman you need as your wife. You need someone who can host parties for governors, senators, presidents. Not someone who looks as if she should be catering or cleaning up after those parties!"

"Mother, that statement is so racist…I can't believe you sometimes! How can you pretend to be so liberal and yet be such a snob?"

"I don't care what you say about me, Matthew. I am only looking out after your best interests. Betty Suarez is quite simply the last woman on earth I would ever pick out for you to marry."

"Well, I'm not exactly ready to pop the question right now. I never will be with you interfering with my plans, either. Look, I'm in love with Betty. I'm going to get her back.

She's the only woman I've ever really loved. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get her away from Daniel and yes, I'm going to marry her. So, you'd better get used to the idea, mommy, dear.

Betty's going to be the mother of my children, of your grandchildren. She almost was once before. She freaked out about it when she thought she was pregnant. But that was a long time ago.

Now, she's older and she sees that I'm a man she inspired to do good things. At least…she did, before you went ruining things for us!

Now I've got to do some serious damage control to convince her I had no idea what you were up to. I don't have a clue how to get her away from Daniel, either. You really screwed things up for me."

"Good. I'm glad I did. I did you an enormous favor! You do not belong with that girl. What about Diane? She's much more beautiful and her father is…"

"I know all about Diane's pedigree, Mother. I don't care about that crap. I'm ready to take Betty away alone. I want to get us to my nice little cabin, up in the mountains where there's no one else around and she doesn't have work or Daniel or any other distractions.

Where it's just me and her. She'll come around then. She'll have to. Look, if you ever want to see me again or see your future grandkids, you stay away from Betty, is that clear?"

"But, Matt!"

"Just stay away from her! You understand? I mean it, mom!" He stormed off.

Betty stepped out of the steamy shower, in a towel. She felt her way into the bedroom, as she heard Daniel yell, "Hey, where are you going? I still need to soap you up a little more. I think I missed a spot."

She giggled, "I can't see a thing."

"You were doing just fine feeling your way around. I'll be your eyes. Get back here, woman!"

"I'm just getting my glasses. I'll be right back."

She found her way into the bedroom and saw her glasses on the nightstand. She squinted as she fumbled her way there and went to put on the glasses. Suddenly, she felt two hands on her eyes from behind her.

"Guess who!"

"Daniel? How did you sneak out of the shower so quickly?"