YOU DON'T KNOW ME/CH 2
As soon as Betty started thinking about what Hilda had told her concerning how different she and Daniel had been acting around one another as of late, she wondered if her sister was right. Did everyone else but them see how...well, awkward they had suddenly gotten recently when they were alone together?
His expression when he first saw her after Dr. Frankl had taken off her braces was very...unusual. He looked at her in a weird way she wasn't used to quite often now. In fact, she had seen him staring at her a lot lately. If she didn't know the man so well, and she were anybody else, she might have accused him of acting like he was a man with a crush. But that was totally nuts! Daniel Meade and HER?
She shook it off and tried to plow through the workday, keeping herself as busy as possible, as well as going back and forth to her own desk a few times when she felt Daniel's gaze making her cheeks flame so much she thought she might freak out! How was this possible? Darn Hilda! Why did she tell her all that stuff? It was probably because the woman was so hungry and agitated from those damn diet pills!
Finally, she looked up to see Daniel standing behind her, watching her type, "Hey! You're really on a roll there, huh? Look at those flying fingers! You do realize it's after six and you've barely spoken to me all day other than work stuff and grunts here and there. What's wrong, Betty? Did I do something to piss you off?"
She knew how worried he always got when he thought she was mad at him for something. The look in his eyes was...so...intense! And sexy! Those freaking blue eyes of his! Why did the man have to be so good-looking? How was a reasonable person supposed to get any work done with him looking...like that?
She shook it off, and smiled, placing her hand lightly on his arm, "No! Of course not! You didn't do anything wrong! Daniel, I'm really sorry! I just got back in the groove of working here again, I guess. I miss working with you like this, you know? I mean, don't get me wrong; I love being in Features, too. Being an editor is amazing! But...well, I definitely didn't mean to ignore you. Forgive me?"
She meant it sincerely. She could never stay angry even when he did do something totally stupid, anyway. And how was he supposed to help it that he always looked so great? It was hardly his fault that she was having a difficult time concentrating because she found herself getting distracted every time the man looked at her lately!
He raised one eyebrow and seemed rather distracted himself looking at her hand on his bare forearm, but he definitely didn't pull away from her light touch. He drew in a slow, measured breath and gulped slightly, then placed his other hand on top of hers, and smiled, "No problem-o, Betty! I'll tell you how you can make it up to me. How about letting me take you out to dinner for 'old time's sake', huh?
If you play your cards right, I might even let you take me out dancing afterward! Get in some practice at other types of dancing together at least before you laugh your ass off seeing how goofy I'm sure I look trying to Salsa dance!"
She licked her lips and nodded, "Mmhmm! Sure! Sounds fun! I'm starving!"
She rose quickly, trying to ignore how flushed his simple gesture of placing his hand on top of hers had started to affect her. This was not a good sign! How on earth was she supposed to act being around him all night now that every little thing the man did seemed to get her...well, hot?
And why the HELL had she brought up dancing? That was NOT a good activity for someone you're trying to keep your distance from! It was the total opposite of what she should be doing around Daniel until she got some kind of control over her crazy fantasies!
It had been difficult enough making it through the day and yes, she admitted it to herself at least, she HAD been TRYING to ignore him! Or more like ignoring the feelings she was having as she tried not to let her imagination run wild after that little "intervention" of her stupid sisters!
He put on his own coat, then helped her with hers, and started to hand her scarf to her, but took it and wrapped it around her neck a few times for her, then smiled at her rather shocked expression when he suddenly leaned in and kissed her cheek, "Ready? Let's go! I'm starving, too!"
"PIZZA?" they both exclaimed, then laughed.
As he offered her his arm like he had done countless times before, she bit her bottom lip for a moment and blurted out, "I was trying to stay away from you before!"
He merely nodded, "Uh-huh. Well, duh! I know you were, Betty. The question is...why? You said you're not mad at me...but is it because of Trista? I know you don't think much of her."
"She's very sweet!"
He rolled his eyes, "Sure, whatever! But she makes me dumb, right? I wouldn't want to annoy you with how stupid I got after going out with her!"
"It's not her. I mean...I guess at least she's better than doing that silly fun buddies thing with Amanda!"
"Well, why don't you tell me what you really think of my crappy, unsatisfactory dating habits that you clearly don't approve of, Betty?" he teased.
"Hey, you asked!"
"Not really. I asked why you have been avoiding me like the plague all day! I was so excited to have you again, but every time I looked up to see you and smile at you, you were either gone off somewhere or on the phone or with your head in your computer!"
She winced, blushing furiously at his choice of words, "HAVE me? Okay, yes, I know! What can I say? I am sorry, Daniel!"
"You don't have to keep apologizing. Just tell me what's going on? Why won't you look at me anymore?"
He stopped on the street, as they headed towards the town car, and tilted her chin up towards him, then held her by her arms. He seemed determined not to let her move from that spot until she gave him an answer he actually believed. She knew she couldn't keep putting him off forever.
But how could she put into words exactly what she was feeling towards him? She didn't want to embarrass herself (or him)! Was this really all one-sided? She somehow didn't think so. But maybe he was only watching her because her attitude towards him had changed? Could his behavior be merely his reaction to her ogling him?
She was curious, "Why did you...kiss me?"
"Huh? Kiss you? No, I didn't! When? Oh! You mean on the CHEEK? Geez, Betty! I don't know! I just...felt like it for a change! I'm sorry, did you really not...like me doing that?" He looked like a sad little boy, his puppy dog eyes in full swing!
"I did."
"Good!" He smiled, winking, and moved closer, and at first, she was fairly sure he was going to kiss her lips, he kept staring at them so hard.
But at the last minute, he grinned, and leaned down to kiss her hand, causing her to giggle, "That tickles!"
He shoved her elbow with his, "Tickles, huh? Get in, silly! Your chariot awaits, Princess! First stop, pizza, then dancing!"
Once they got to the restaurant, they were both able to relax and talk comfortably, with only a few small awkward pauses in their conversation. They laughed about various people at Mode and how crazy they were. The more the wine flowed, the easier it felt to open up. Especially for Betty.
She hiccupped and laughed, leaning forward conspiratorily to tell him, "You know, I still have no idea what in the world Amanda was talking about earlier, but I DO know what Marc meant now!" He wondered if he should admit that he did know exactly what Amanda was talking about and show her the picture he had taken. But she would probably think he was nuts. He couldn't really tell her why he liked having it so much.
She beckoned him to come closer as she tried to whisper, but simply spoke loudly, "Marc and my sister bet Justin that I wouldn't have the guts to ask you to her wedding! I mean Hilda! Not Marc!"
She giggled, "Although Marc really should be married already! And he would be if he hadn't cheated on poor Cliff that time at my Party After thing where I caught that Jesse guy kissing Amanda! Wow! That seems like so a long time ago! Ha! You know Marc could be a married happy man, with a cute little baby named Didiyay in his backpack on his chest! Like in my dream!"
Daniel laughed at her slightly tipsy little rant, shaking his head, "Sorry, I didn't catch half of that! Marc was engaged? I guess I sort of remember that a little. But wait, what did you say about him and Hilda betting against Justin that you wouldn't ask me to her wedding? Why would they think that?"
She started to take another drink of wine, but stopped herself, pushing it away and spilling it on herself, "AHH! I've had too many glasses of think I wine! To drink! This is wine good! I mean...you know what I mean! Huh? Oh...um, Hidla I mean Hilda, my sister says I act goofy around you now. And you act shy around me, too. That's what she said."
He raised his eyebrows, handing her a glass of water to drink while he took the napkin and put his own water on it, then tried to help her dab at the wine on her blouse, "Really? Yeah… I...sort of noticed that, too. Not the part that you're 'goofy', well, you are a little maybe, but on you, it's adorable! No, I mean...well, I guess we both have been sort of acting differently around each other recently, though, haven't we?"
"You think I'm goofy?" she snorted, "Thanks a lot!"
He shrugged, putting his index finger and thumb together as he smiled, and intertwined his hand with hers, then kissed her fingers, "Maybe just a teeny tiny little bit, but you somehow make it look incredibly cute and...sort of sexy even! Um, you might want to go in the ladies' room to soak that before it stains. Get them to give you some club soda. Here, let me help." He stood and flagged down a waiter and asked for the soda.
She nodded and excused herself. When she went into the bathroom, she splashed off her blouse and her face, trying to clear away the fuzziness from drinking too much too fast. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, "Ohmygod! What did I just say?" She panicked, realizing she had revealed exactly what she had been trying to avoid all day! Leave it to her to find a way to sabotage herself!
When she returned, he stood and smiled, "All better? So...you've noticed how different it is between us, too, huh?"
She sat down and placed her hand on top of his, "I love that you're so… gentlemanly, Daniel! Do you know how many guys still do stuff like that? Stand up when a lady comes back from the bathroom? Or stands when she leaves? That's so...sweet! You're a real catch! Your mom taught you really good manners!"
"Thanks, Betty! But you're clearly trying to avoid the subject. So, I take it you don't want to talk about...us, then?"
"Us?"
"Yes, us! You're still not ready to acknowledge the fact that there is obviously something strange going on? I mean, it's kind of driving me crazy! I can't...you know, talk to you anymore like we normally do! I keep staring at you all the time. I know you've noticed it. And, I mean, look at this! Explain this to me, will you? I don't even know why the hell I took it! It makes no sense!" He pulled out the picture of her and put it on the table.
Her eyes widened and she held it up, "You took this? When?"
"No! I didn't. Amanda did. That's what she was looking for when she came to Mode today. It was in her desk drawer. She called it her "Betty pic" and said she couldn't sleep without it. I guess she misses having you around all the time, too. Just like I do. I miss working with you! Seeing you every day. You're habit-forming apparently."
She blushed, handing it back to him, "Oh!"
"Yeah! Exactly!" He tried to get her attention, but took the picture back and placed it inside his jacket again, then picked up her hands and looked into her eyes, "You are going to look at me sometime tonight, aren't you, Betty? Please tell me what's going on in that brain of yours! Normally, you babble all the time; I can't shut you up! But now, suddenly you've gotten all quiet! Tell me what I did or didn't do and I'll try to fix it!"
She blew out a breath, trying to focus and it seemed obvious that they were both having the same issue. The wine had seemed to act as some kind of truth serum and she no longer wanted to keep trying to hide her feelings from him. Why should she? They had always been best friends. What was she so afraid of?
She looked down at his hands on hers and chewed nervously on her bottom lip for a moment, thinking. "I don't know what to tell you to 'fix' the situation, Daniel. I just know...that I find myself looking at you differently all of a sudden. I guess maybe it happened that night at the Guggenheim when I got my braces off."
He started to shake his head, "Betty, listen, I want you to know, I've always thought you were beautiful, you know that, right? With or without your braces! And before you started dressing...um...well, sexier! Please don't think I'm that shallow!
But...fine, maybe that did sort of cause me to see you as more mature. And, okay, yes, now that your smile is...well, totally gorgeous, I pretty much can't stop staring at how dazzling your smile is!
Hell, I couldn't help grinning when you entered a room before, you were always cute, but now! Well, now, you're definitely the most beautiful woman I've ever seen! But it's still...you, my friend, Betty. So, it's sort of freaking me out a little...actually a lot!"
She couldn't keep the smile off her face, as the color crept up her neck again at his words, "You really think that? About me?"
The way he rolled his eyes made her laugh, "Of course I do! I'm not blind! I've seen how you've...um...well, blossomed these last four years, Betty! You're a total hottie now, okay?"
She laughed, "I am? Well, that's very nice of you to say, Daniel. Thank you."
"I shouldn't say it, because I'm your boss, though! That...complicates things! I mean I may have a shitty reputation in my past for sleeping with my assistants but you've worked way too hard to keep getting your name dragged through the mud just by hanging out with me!
I know when I slugged stupid Matt at the UN was just the tip of the iceberg! I've read that stuff on the walls in the men's room about us! I'm sorry people say that you...that we...you know, are together. I know you've worked your ass off and you have way too much integrity to ever even think about getting involved with a guy like me!"
"Is that really what you think about yourself? Daniel, you're not that guy anymore!"
"Well, thank YOU, Betty! I'll take that as a compliment!" He grinned, and dropped her hands, taking a drink of his wine.
"I meant it as one. Everyone knows you've changed, though, Daniel. Nobody thinks of you as a playboy anymore! Anyone who knows you at all sees you as a really nice man. Well, except Wilhelmina, I guess. But nobody thinks SHE'S nice, so consider the source!"
They both laughed, "A nice guy? Oh, no! Betty, that's the kiss of death! Everybody knows nice guys finish last and never get the girl! I don't want to totally lose my bad boy image! I'll never get laid again! I mean...SHIT! Sorry! That was...not what I meant, exactly!"
She snorted, "You're so crazy! That's sad but probably a little true, I guess. Heck, I actually had some pretty racy fantasies about Bobby that time when I did my Fearless article, remember? Hilda was sure jealous! Since she was dating Archie...the 'nice guy'! Ooh, yeah, look at that! Maybe you're right!"
"Of course I'm right! That's always been the case. Girls all say that they want you to change, to be a 'better man'. But who do they secretly want? Some guy on a Harley with a tattoo!"
"I wouldn't worry. You still have some of your 'bad boy' image, too. So please don't rush out and get a Harley...or a tattoo! You're the best of both. You seem like you're bad, because you're so sexy, but you're really sweet!"
"Well, just say what you think, Betty! Is that still the wine talking? You really think I'm still sexy?"
She blushed, rolling her eyes, and took a sip of her water, "Come on! You know you are, Daniel! Trust me, nobody has ever called you Ugly Daniel!"
"Thanks, but you're the only one whose opinion really matters to me, Betty! You're the only woman I trust implicitly, and respect and admire. I don't listen to anybody but you. Because you always tell me the truth. The good, the bad, and the ugly! I know you won't sugarcoat it, either. You definitely give it to me straight! I mean...tell me. You know what I mean!" He seemed flustered suddenly.
He stood, holding out his hand, "Do you want to dance?"
She looked around at the restaurant, "I don't think they do that here!"
He grinned, shaking his head, and threw down some cash, then grabbed her hand, pulling her behind him, "Not here! I'm taking you to a dance club. Let's go!"
She nodded, feeling as if there was something about to change between them permanently. The idea of change had never been comfortable for Betty. Changes were often scary and uncomfortable. But they could also be good, fun, and adventurous, right? I can do this!