Disclaimer: see the first chapter
A/N: It's getting so close to romance! Thanks for sticking with me! Thanks for the reviews and encouragement so far...keep 'em coming!
"Zoe...Zoe..." Dan nudged the sleeping woman. "C'mon Zoe wake up." Zoe groaned as her eyes fluttered open. A blush immediately spread across her cheeks as she processed the dream she had just awoken from. The dream had involved her, Dan and strawberries with whipped cream. She cleared her throat and moved into a more comfortable position, turning to look at Dan as she did so. "I almost forgot about these," he extended a small black velvet box towards her. The ring on Dan's finger did not go unnoticed as she took the box from his hand. Zoe tentatively opened the box to find a beautiful diamond and pink sapphire engagement ring set in white gold and a simple white gold and diamond wedding band that perfectly matched Dan's. "They were my grandparents rings," he explained quietly.
"Dan...they're beautiful," a solitary tear escaped Zoe's eye as Dan slid the bands onto her left hand. He reached up to cup her face and wipe away the tear tenderly. Zoe blushed again at his affectionate gesture, unconsciously pushing her cheek into his hand and allowing her eyes to slip closed. This time it was Dan who pulled away first, knowing that they needed to talk before they did anything more intimate than holding hands.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lennox? We've arrived," their driver's voice crackled over the intercom. Moments later the door was opened and Dan exited the limo back into the bright California sun. Dan turned back and took Zoe's hand to help her from the vehicle. "Your bags will be brought up to your room for you. The front desk is that way," the driver waved int the direction of the main entrance doors, effectively dismissing the couple. Dan reached for Zoe's hand and intertwined their fingers as she had done earlier and began to lead her towards the door.
"Hello!" a chipper desk attendant greeted them, "you're Mr. and Mrs. Lennox right? Welcome to the Amon L'isa!" A moment of flying fingers over a keyboard later Dan was presented with the key to their room, "enjoy your stay!" Zoe had been unable to tear her eyes away from the incredible architecture of the building since they had arrived and was only jolted back when Dan gently tugged her hand, leading her towards their room. A few moments later Dan was leading her into an incredibly beautiful and very spacious room with one luxurious king bed as the centrepiece. Zoe gasped at the sight and tossing an evil grin Dan's way she shook her hand free of his and launched herself onto the bed.
"Oh Dan it's soooo comfortable!" He grinned and followed her over, laying gingerly down beside her. Dan nearly jumped from his skin when a bellhop knocked on the door, signalling the arrival of their luggage. After the bellhop left, handsomely tipped, Dan shut and locked the door and turned to find Zoe standing with her forehead pressed against the window, admiring the gorgeous view of the water. "Such a pretty view, isn't it Dan?" she asked.
"Sure is," Dan agreed, blushing when she turned to catch him staring at her, eyes nowhere near looking out the window. "So, we're here now. Let's talk." Dan walked to the sliding door next to Zoe and stepped out onto the balcony, holding the door for her to follow. "Okay Zoe, we're going to be spending the next week together here and that means we're going to be sleeping in the same bed, unless of course you were planning on me sleeping on the floor." Dan smiled at Zoe, trying his best to put her at ease. Zoe sank into a chair as the realization that she would be sleeping in the same bed as a guy she was constantly aroused around. Great she thought to herself I just know I'm going to end up embarrassing myself or Dan sometime this week and of course it has to be in front of him, the guy I'm practically in love with!...Woah where did that come from? I love Dan? Oh God this is gonna be one loooong week. Zoe sighed, "Hey Zoe...Earth to Zoe you still with me?"
"Wha...oh sorry Dan, just thinking." Zoe swallowed, hoping he wouldn't notice the blush on her cheeks. "Same bed is fine. We're supposed to be married right?" Zoe silently cursed herself for agreeing to sleep with him.
"Okay good, but I asked if we could talk about...you know...us. And what exactly 'us' is and where it's going." Zoe nodded her consent. "I don't really know how to say this Zoe so I'm just going to say it...I'm attracted to you Zoe. You're beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and a million other adjectives and everything about you makes me want you. I realize this isn't the best time to be telling you this considering we're about to spend a week alone together in a romantic hotel for work but I thought you should know. You don't have to say anything, or decide whether you feel the same way or not but that's how I feel and I know it's not going to change." Dan had been pacing the length of the balcony during his confession and stopped only when he felt Zoe grab his wrist.
"Dan you're making me nervous. Sit down." Okay so what do I say? I know I feel the same way about him but if I tell him then I'll have to admit to him my deepest and darkest secret that not even my sister knew! "Dan...I-I um..." Zoe blushed, Just do it! She chastised herself, "I like you too Dan but there's something I need to tell you before we do...anything and I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it right now."
"It's okay Zoe. We can take this as slow as you want." Dan smiled across the table at her, "I don't ever want to do anything you're not comfortable with Zoe." He reached for her hand and kissed it, "now whaddya say we go swimming?" The child-like exuberance Dan displayed made Zoe laugh, allowing her to relax and let her guard down. After a day of swimming and suntanning on the beach the couple headed back to the hotel to change for dinner. Zoe exited the bathroom to find Dan in a fancy suit, mouth agape at her outfit. She twirled like a ballerina, the gauzy black dress swirling around her thighs.
"You like?" she asked, reaching around to push a bobby pin deeper into the strawberry blond updo. Dan nodded, "Close your mouth Daniel." He blushed and did as he was told, rising from his chair and walking over to her.
"Close your eyes," he whispered, "I have a surprise for you." Zoe closed her eyes obediently and felt Dan's presence behind her back. A moment later she felt something hit her collarbone lightly and smiled as Dan's hands fumbled with the clasp of her gift behind her neck. "There," he said, "perfect." His hands rested on her shoulders as she opened her eyes and looked into the mirror, a delicate platinum chain suspended a pink sapphire and diamond butterfly charm. Her eyes welled up with tears,
"Oh Dan it's beautiful," she breathed. "Thank you," Dan smiled and offered his arm to her as they proceeded to the dining room. After a sumptuous meal the couple returned to their room for the night, both tense as they prepared to spend their first night together. This time Zoe emerged from the bathroom wearing silk pyjama pants and a matching camisole, again taking Dan's breath away. Dan was lying on the bed in boxers and a t-shirt, his hair slightly ruffled from the pillows and all Zoe could think was that he'd never looked more sexy. Zoe flicked off the overhead light as she made her way to the bed, the feeling of arousal growing with each step she took. "Dan?" she questioned. "About what I said earlier, about needing to tell you about something else..."
"Zoe don't worry about it. I can wait until you're ready to talk about it, I don't want to pressure you into anything." Dan looked into her eyes and saw fear as she lay down beside him.
"I wanna tell you Dan. I just- It's hard to talk about." Zoe's eyes were filled with tears again, her voice shaking as she spoke. Dan moved closer to her, wiping away her tears and gently kissing her forehead.
"It's okay Zoe. Just relax." He soothed, brushing her hair back from her face.
"Dan when I worked in Vegas I dated this guy, Mike. He seemed really nice, we went out a few times and had fun but by our fourth date he started pressuring me to have sex with him. I didn't want to so I kept coming up with excuses but one night he invited me up to his place for coffee. He hadn't broached the subject of sex all night so I assumed he'd given up but when I got up to his apartment he locked the door and tried to rape me. All he ended up doing was beating the crap out of me before the neighbours called the cops." The tears were flowing freely now and Dan pulled Zoe into his arms, trying to calm her fears. "The cops came and broke the door down. I don't remember much, he knocked me out and they said he was starting to tie me up when they got there. They arrested him and found out his real name, Luke McDonough...he was wanted for rape in three states. I don't even like to think about what would have happened if his neighbours hadn't been suspicious. I-I still get scared sometimes and I used to get really awful nightmares, they're better now but I still - I'm still scared sometimes."
"Oh Zoe, honey. I wish I could have been there to protect you. You didn't deserve that Zoe. You are a beautiful, intelligent woman and any man would be lucky to have you. Get some sleep okay? We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow." Zoe nodded and snuggled closer into his chest as he pulled that blankets up around them. "G'night Zoe," Dan leaned down to kiss the crown of her head softly but met her lips when she turned her face up to look at him. He pulled away quickly, "Zoe I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I..." Dan was silenced with Zoe's index finger pressed to his lips.
"It's okay Dan," she removed her finger and stretched up to kiss him goodnight. Oh my God I'm kissing Dan! Her synapses were firing, lighting her nerve endings on fire as he returned the kiss. She pulled away reluctantly and snuggled into his chest, falling to sleep.