Faith and Hope Part 4
"You're obviously not handling this well." Peggy shook her head at the prone figure stretched across the sofa in her office. " Why don't you try being more clear about why you feel so negatively -"
"How much can you clarify, 'I don't like him.' What's there to explain?" Miranda stated with exasperation. She fluffed a pillow behind her head and crossed her legs at the ankles. "I was hoping you would listen to me, Peggy. Declan says I'm afraid of Drew because he's a potential serious relationship and I'm so insecure about myself that it frightens me. Isn't that the worst hack psychology you've ever heard?"
"What do you think?"
Miranda sighed and continued her perusal of the ceiling tiles. "I think you guys are on a commitment induced high right now and you want to see everybody around you in a relationship."
Peggy laughed. " Maybe. But remember that Declan has discouraged some of your past 'acquaintances' and he was not wrong to do so I might add. Think about it. Wasn't he right about the fireman?"
"Okay, sure, but I was only interested in one thing from him anyway."
"I had no problem with that." They glanced at each other at the same time and both women smiled in acknowledgement of the fireman's attributes. Peggy got up from behind her desk and moved to sit on the edge of it. "What I'm really trying to say Miranda is that I think you like Drew a lot. You always blush if he directs a question or comment your way and you let him over explain every piece of research. I've never seen you allow anyone to do that, not even Declan."
Miranda remained silent as if she did not hear Peggy's last comments. She knew she had been acting like a star struck teenager around Drew. Because he made her act that way, Miranda tried to avoid him. But he kept engaging her in conversation, in the projects, and now he found his way into her social life. She sighed loudly again and swung her legs to the carpet. With her hands covering her face, Miranda finally spoke.
"Two nights ago I ditched him at Del's, remember? He's probably thanking his lucky stars that he didn't hook up with me then. So you and Declan can find some other way to spread the love."
"Didn't you tell me that Drew called your apartment all night until you got home? And didn't he apologize for upsetting you and offered to try again over coffee? Miranda, he told you he likes you and you left him sitting at a restaurant table. Why?"
From behind her hands Miranda murmured, "Because he ordered me decaf."
Peggy abruptly stood up with hands on her hips. "Miranda! Be serious. You know why."
"Okay!" she flopped backward on the sofa. And looked at Peggy. Her eyes were large and sad. "I like him! Okay? But he's not for me. Girls like me don't get guys like that."
"Miranda," Peggy said to the forlorn girl before her, " Drew sees a beautiful and intelligent woman. You're his intellectual equal and we can see that he finds that fascinating about you. There are not too many people like you and Drew in this world. Declan and I have to work hard to keep up with you."
"He probably thinks I'm crazy now. What's the point?"
"The point is that you should accept his invitation to have coffee after work this evening." Peggy put up a hand to stop Miranda's forthcoming protest. "I know you came in today to ask me how to get out of it, but I'm sorry, I can see that you really want to go. Now call him and say yes."
Miranda looked at her friend. Peggy was being a big sister again and secretly, Miranda cherished this part of their friendship. "Are you going to have your cell phone on after work?"
"Yes, but Declan and I are going to that lecture at the Ethics Coalition. He has to make an appearance for the department. So only call if it's an absolute emergency."
"I shouldn't bother you at all." She gave Peggy a little shy smile. "I still feel bad about the other night. Barging in like that at Declan's house. You guys looked like the last thing you wanted was company."
Peggy turned away from her and went to sit behind her desk again. " You've already apologized and it was alright. We ah .. you know, just really missed each other and we decided to be honest about our feelings." She was blushing now and awkwardly moving things around her desk. A smile creased her face. "I never did thank you for setting us up."
"No need." Miranda sighed wistfully as she rose to leave the office. "I couldn't watch you two circle each other like that anymore."
"Well, thanks anyway. We are very okay with how things are now. And you, young lady, go and let us return the favor. Call Drew now. Trust me."
Miranda nodded. "Just this once maybe."
Several hours later, Declan was exiting his office with briefcase in hand. Mole followed him as he closed and locked the door. He mentally ticked off the names of the people he was suppose to remember to talk to tonight. He was momentarily startled by someone appearing directly behind him.
"Hey Declan." Miranda greeted him quietly.
Declan stopped walking. He then took a few steps backward away from his friend. "Are we okay now? You're not going to hook me up to anything electrical, are you?" He asked her.
Miranda smiled maliciously. "Not today. Your partner in crime has convinced me to have coffee with the hot shot research assistant."
Now Declan smiled. "Cool. Really cool. Don't worry, Miranda he has good intentions. I made sure of that."
"Are you gonna stay out of my dating life after this?"
"I'll try. Gotta run. Peg is waiting for me." He backed away from her with Mole at his heels.
Later
Peggy carefully opened the bag of microwave popcorn and poured the steamy contents into a large bowl. She joined Declan sitting on the floor in front of her large wing chair. The television was on without sound. Declan threw pieces of popcorn in the air and caught them in his mouth.
"Did you see Dr.Menzini's face when his wife staggered into the pastry table?" Peggy tried to catch popcorn with her mouth and failed.
"That poor woman. I saw her doing shots of bourbon at the bar. Thank God someone caught her before she landed in the lemon tarts."
"I noticed a lot of questionable behavior among the members of the so- called Ethics Coalition."
Declan laughed with a snort. "They really know how to party." He moved the bowl from between them and pulled Peggy closer to him. "Maybe if we stay low, Miranda will think we're not here when she shows up later gunning for blood."
Peggy let her head fall to his shoulder. "I think tonight will be different. She's feeling a little more confident. Look it's almost 9:30 and she hasn't called me. Everything is fine."
"I hope you're right." He stroked a hand through her hair while he looked down at her upturned face. Once again he let his eyes feast on her smooth brown skin and full lips. After being interrupted two nights ago by Miranda, Declan spent the last 48 hours daydreaming about Peggy's mouth and the feel of her arms holding him with unrestrained desire.
"What are you thinking about?"
He smiled and her eyes lit up with understanding. "Peg, I'm a very bad man."
"Why?" She decided to play along.
"I have been having carnal thoughts about you, on and off, for the past year. But now, I think about you all day and all night. I feel like a teen- ager. I shouldn't think that one night of heavy petting automatically leads to hopping into bed on the very next date. Silly, isn't it?"
Peggy was having trouble controlling her amusement. "Yes, it is Declan Dunn. What kind of woman do you think I am? Heavy petting? Wow, how old are you really? I haven't heard that term in a long time." She was sitting up now flashing large innocent eyes at him. " Why do I feel so .. naked right now?"
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked pulling her head to his. Neither expected the instant hunger that erupted as their lips connected. Peggy inhaled sharply and let her hands roam down the front of his white shirt. Declan moved them to a kneeling position, his desire rising dangerously every second. One of his hands traveled to the small of her back and instinctively, he pressed her closer. It was difficult to tell who moaned and who gasped at the contact. Declan moved his lips to her neck and whispered his way to her ear.
"Are you okay with this?" He groaned trying to enunciate each word clearly. Peggy was unbuttoning his shirt. She finished her task and then reached up to remove his new glasses.
"Yes." Peggy was certain that they would not make it to her bedroom as Declan suddenly let his hands touch every part of her. "I'm in love with you, Declan." She murmured. He looked at her fiercely for a second, his eyes half closed. Right before he captured her lips again, Declan sighed, "I love you. God help me, Peg, I want you so much"
End of Part 4
"You're obviously not handling this well." Peggy shook her head at the prone figure stretched across the sofa in her office. " Why don't you try being more clear about why you feel so negatively -"
"How much can you clarify, 'I don't like him.' What's there to explain?" Miranda stated with exasperation. She fluffed a pillow behind her head and crossed her legs at the ankles. "I was hoping you would listen to me, Peggy. Declan says I'm afraid of Drew because he's a potential serious relationship and I'm so insecure about myself that it frightens me. Isn't that the worst hack psychology you've ever heard?"
"What do you think?"
Miranda sighed and continued her perusal of the ceiling tiles. "I think you guys are on a commitment induced high right now and you want to see everybody around you in a relationship."
Peggy laughed. " Maybe. But remember that Declan has discouraged some of your past 'acquaintances' and he was not wrong to do so I might add. Think about it. Wasn't he right about the fireman?"
"Okay, sure, but I was only interested in one thing from him anyway."
"I had no problem with that." They glanced at each other at the same time and both women smiled in acknowledgement of the fireman's attributes. Peggy got up from behind her desk and moved to sit on the edge of it. "What I'm really trying to say Miranda is that I think you like Drew a lot. You always blush if he directs a question or comment your way and you let him over explain every piece of research. I've never seen you allow anyone to do that, not even Declan."
Miranda remained silent as if she did not hear Peggy's last comments. She knew she had been acting like a star struck teenager around Drew. Because he made her act that way, Miranda tried to avoid him. But he kept engaging her in conversation, in the projects, and now he found his way into her social life. She sighed loudly again and swung her legs to the carpet. With her hands covering her face, Miranda finally spoke.
"Two nights ago I ditched him at Del's, remember? He's probably thanking his lucky stars that he didn't hook up with me then. So you and Declan can find some other way to spread the love."
"Didn't you tell me that Drew called your apartment all night until you got home? And didn't he apologize for upsetting you and offered to try again over coffee? Miranda, he told you he likes you and you left him sitting at a restaurant table. Why?"
From behind her hands Miranda murmured, "Because he ordered me decaf."
Peggy abruptly stood up with hands on her hips. "Miranda! Be serious. You know why."
"Okay!" she flopped backward on the sofa. And looked at Peggy. Her eyes were large and sad. "I like him! Okay? But he's not for me. Girls like me don't get guys like that."
"Miranda," Peggy said to the forlorn girl before her, " Drew sees a beautiful and intelligent woman. You're his intellectual equal and we can see that he finds that fascinating about you. There are not too many people like you and Drew in this world. Declan and I have to work hard to keep up with you."
"He probably thinks I'm crazy now. What's the point?"
"The point is that you should accept his invitation to have coffee after work this evening." Peggy put up a hand to stop Miranda's forthcoming protest. "I know you came in today to ask me how to get out of it, but I'm sorry, I can see that you really want to go. Now call him and say yes."
Miranda looked at her friend. Peggy was being a big sister again and secretly, Miranda cherished this part of their friendship. "Are you going to have your cell phone on after work?"
"Yes, but Declan and I are going to that lecture at the Ethics Coalition. He has to make an appearance for the department. So only call if it's an absolute emergency."
"I shouldn't bother you at all." She gave Peggy a little shy smile. "I still feel bad about the other night. Barging in like that at Declan's house. You guys looked like the last thing you wanted was company."
Peggy turned away from her and went to sit behind her desk again. " You've already apologized and it was alright. We ah .. you know, just really missed each other and we decided to be honest about our feelings." She was blushing now and awkwardly moving things around her desk. A smile creased her face. "I never did thank you for setting us up."
"No need." Miranda sighed wistfully as she rose to leave the office. "I couldn't watch you two circle each other like that anymore."
"Well, thanks anyway. We are very okay with how things are now. And you, young lady, go and let us return the favor. Call Drew now. Trust me."
Miranda nodded. "Just this once maybe."
Several hours later, Declan was exiting his office with briefcase in hand. Mole followed him as he closed and locked the door. He mentally ticked off the names of the people he was suppose to remember to talk to tonight. He was momentarily startled by someone appearing directly behind him.
"Hey Declan." Miranda greeted him quietly.
Declan stopped walking. He then took a few steps backward away from his friend. "Are we okay now? You're not going to hook me up to anything electrical, are you?" He asked her.
Miranda smiled maliciously. "Not today. Your partner in crime has convinced me to have coffee with the hot shot research assistant."
Now Declan smiled. "Cool. Really cool. Don't worry, Miranda he has good intentions. I made sure of that."
"Are you gonna stay out of my dating life after this?"
"I'll try. Gotta run. Peg is waiting for me." He backed away from her with Mole at his heels.
Later
Peggy carefully opened the bag of microwave popcorn and poured the steamy contents into a large bowl. She joined Declan sitting on the floor in front of her large wing chair. The television was on without sound. Declan threw pieces of popcorn in the air and caught them in his mouth.
"Did you see Dr.Menzini's face when his wife staggered into the pastry table?" Peggy tried to catch popcorn with her mouth and failed.
"That poor woman. I saw her doing shots of bourbon at the bar. Thank God someone caught her before she landed in the lemon tarts."
"I noticed a lot of questionable behavior among the members of the so- called Ethics Coalition."
Declan laughed with a snort. "They really know how to party." He moved the bowl from between them and pulled Peggy closer to him. "Maybe if we stay low, Miranda will think we're not here when she shows up later gunning for blood."
Peggy let her head fall to his shoulder. "I think tonight will be different. She's feeling a little more confident. Look it's almost 9:30 and she hasn't called me. Everything is fine."
"I hope you're right." He stroked a hand through her hair while he looked down at her upturned face. Once again he let his eyes feast on her smooth brown skin and full lips. After being interrupted two nights ago by Miranda, Declan spent the last 48 hours daydreaming about Peggy's mouth and the feel of her arms holding him with unrestrained desire.
"What are you thinking about?"
He smiled and her eyes lit up with understanding. "Peg, I'm a very bad man."
"Why?" She decided to play along.
"I have been having carnal thoughts about you, on and off, for the past year. But now, I think about you all day and all night. I feel like a teen- ager. I shouldn't think that one night of heavy petting automatically leads to hopping into bed on the very next date. Silly, isn't it?"
Peggy was having trouble controlling her amusement. "Yes, it is Declan Dunn. What kind of woman do you think I am? Heavy petting? Wow, how old are you really? I haven't heard that term in a long time." She was sitting up now flashing large innocent eyes at him. " Why do I feel so .. naked right now?"
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked pulling her head to his. Neither expected the instant hunger that erupted as their lips connected. Peggy inhaled sharply and let her hands roam down the front of his white shirt. Declan moved them to a kneeling position, his desire rising dangerously every second. One of his hands traveled to the small of her back and instinctively, he pressed her closer. It was difficult to tell who moaned and who gasped at the contact. Declan moved his lips to her neck and whispered his way to her ear.
"Are you okay with this?" He groaned trying to enunciate each word clearly. Peggy was unbuttoning his shirt. She finished her task and then reached up to remove his new glasses.
"Yes." Peggy was certain that they would not make it to her bedroom as Declan suddenly let his hands touch every part of her. "I'm in love with you, Declan." She murmured. He looked at her fiercely for a second, his eyes half closed. Right before he captured her lips again, Declan sighed, "I love you. God help me, Peg, I want you so much"
End of Part 4