You Don't Know Me/Ch 3
As they sat down, looking around the dance club Betty had suggested, Daniel seemed somewhat intimidated, as he slugged down the water, then sipped his coffee, "So, uh...do you come here often, Senorita?" he teased, seeing this place looked like most of the people really knew what they were doing on the dance floor. Perhaps even more so than the club he had followed Sofia and "Hunter" to years ago.
She laughed, and nodded, "Yes, I really like the bands and DJs here. I love to dance! Actually, Gio and Hilda came here for a date once and Henry and I double-dated with them. I liked it so much, I've come back a lot."
"Not with Henry again, though?" he seemed concerned.
She shook her head, "Henry? No! I...haven't seen or heard from him ...in years...OHNO! OMYGOD! Daniel, I think I did something really, really...well, STUPID when I was in London!"
He grinned, "Yeah, I know. You flashed Gio in a bar! Or pub, or whatever they call it there! I read all the "gory details", remember?"
She winced, putting her hand over her eyes, "Well, yeah, there was that, too! But...after I did that, he and I got into this big fight, he was so annoying, so I went back to Hilda, Christina, and Amanda at the pub and we all got REALLY drunk!"
He seemed mildly amused, leaning forward to try to hear her better over the music, "Yeah? So? Don't tell me you went back and hit on Gio again after he told you he was engaged! Naughty girl! Wow, you really do kick your heels up in London, huh? It's like a European Vegas for you! We should definitely go there together sometime."
She ignored his slightly flirtatious suggestion, since she was starting to panic, as she remembered what she had done, "No, not him. Henry."
"Henry was in London, too? What the hell? Does that guy follow you everywhere? So Henry and Gio were there?"
"No, Henry wasn't in London. I meant I remembered that I called him while I was there and...I'm pretty sure I invited him to Hilda's wedding! Daniel, I'm so sorry! I didn't remember even doing that until just now, I swear!"
He made a pained face, "Did he say yes? He's willing to fly all the way here from Tombstone?"
"Tucson. And he didn't pick up, so I just left a message."
"Do you want to go with him? Are you...uninviting me, Betty? Because that's really...not cool!"
She reached forward, placing her hand on his, "No! I want to go with you, Daniel! I don't know why I drunk dialed, Henry! It was a totally dumb thing to do!"
He rose, taking her hand as he tried to shake off her sudden revelation, "Apparently, we both have other people we shouldn't really hang around because they bring down our IQ levels, huh? Come on, Seniorita! You ready to watch me do my white man's underbite and show me some of your sizzling moves on the floor?"
She smiled and followed him onto the floor and the live band started playing their last set of the night. Betty guided Daniel's arm around her waist and showed him how to hold her hand to signal when he was going to spin her. He followed her instructions carefully, but she reminded him, "Don't look down! Look at me!"
He smiled, nodding, "No problem!"
His gaze seemed to sear through her, and she returned his smile, "Much better! Excellent footwork, Daniel! Wow, you really have been practicing, haven't you?"
He shrugged, "Thanks! I felt like such an idiot that time, after that fiasco with Sofia, I watched a few videos here and there and practiced a little."
She smirked, "Don't be so modest. Not just a little! You've been practicing a lot! I can tell."
He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, but she could see that he took a measure of pride in her compliments, "Yeah, well, I think mainly I wasn't feeling it with her that time because...I guess I just didn't have the right partner! She was such a big phony! I want a real woman,"
She was taken off guard by his skill. He was clearly still a beginner, but the hours of practice he had put in and his desire to have a good time with her showed. He spun her into him masterfully and she glanced up at him slowly, trying not to drool at how amazing he looked. Seeing him sweaty and watching his intensity was making her a little lightheaded.
He started to dip her but thought better of it halfway through the move and they both ended up on the edge of the dance floor, on the floor, laughing hysterically. He quickly got up and held out his hand to help her up, "Well, that was embarrassing! Sorry! I told you I'm actually NOT that good yet! You give me too much credit, Betty."
He slugged down some water and at first, started to sit back down, but she shook her head, holding out her hand again after she had a drink as well, "Are you kidding me? You're doing fantastic! We're not done yet, Mister! No rest! Let's go again! We'll get it right next time!"
Her enthusiasm and love for dancing encouraged him not to give up. The rhythm seemed to become more natural to him and they moved in sync to the music. Each dance grew more and more sensual in their movements and intense in the way they kept their eyes locked on each other.
She left to use the restroom, and try to cool down. She came back out with her contacts in, deciding that she was ready to try them out and this was as good an opportunity as any since her glasses kept sliding down her face.
Daniel was totally stunned when she came back out and he saw her face unencumbered with her signature red frames. His eyes widened and he held out his hand, "Wow, Betty! Um...Senorita? May I...have this dance?"
She blushed, and nodded, "Mmhmm...I like it when you call me that."
"Senorita? Yeah, me, too. I have to tell you something….my senorita. You have never looked so beautiful!" He stepped closer and put his hands on her face, touching her cheeks softly, then pulled her tiny waist against him even more, his lips next to hers, and closed his eyes, "Betty…"
But she seemed hesitant, afraid to "cross that line" with him, and giggled nervously, then pulled his hand, dragging him back onto the dance floor, "Let's keep dancing, Senor Meade!"
Hours later, they got particularly close at the end of the last extremely steamy song. Daniel moved in, and she was so damn sexy, staring at him, and by this time, she didn't seem afraid anymore. She was totally carried away from the sensuality of their dancing as much as he was.
He kept moving closer and closer, and she surprised him by suddenly grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to her level for a searing kiss.
"Daniel…" she stared into those dreamy eyes of his. They were on the very crowded dance floor, so he gestured for them to step outside away from all the noise and other people.
He paced for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he stood in front of her, sliding his hands up her arms, "Betty...I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that."
"You didn't?" She looked at him with hurt in her eyes.
"I mean...I did! But well, you sort of...kissed ME, you know. You took me by surprise, that's all. I was definitely thinking about it! I just didn't want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable, that's all. I know how important your career is to you, has always been to you. And I know you don't need or want some man, any man messing it up for you. I get that about you.
I totally respect and admire you for your ambition and dedication to reaching your goals. You've told me a bunch of times how you are tired of how you always let guys get you off track. Like all that drama with Henry and his baby mama stuff, then Gio and having to decide between those two, so you chose yourself. Then all the crap with Matt. I care about you, Betty. I want you to reach your dreams. I've told you before, I never want to get in the way of those dreams. So…"
She had gone from looking hurt to being touched and now her expression had changed to being frustrated and something he didn't register at first. Was she mad at him? For actually listening to her? He wasn't sure why, but she looked pissed! "What? What's wrong? Why do you look mad at me?"
"I kissed YOU? Excuse me, but you want to tell me that's not what you were planning on doing? But as usual, I have to jump in and actually DO the real work!"
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Nothing! Forget it! Thank you so much for "caring" about me enough to NOT want to ever kiss me! That's so flattering!"
"Flattering? What are you talking about? I said I wanted to kiss you. I would have kissed you."
"When? About the same time you would have ever promoted me if I hadn't won the coin toss? Because I gotta tell you, my nightmares about still being your assistant forty years from now are enough to convince me I won't always STAY working at Mode! Maybe Gio was right, maybe I do need to get out of fashion altogether!"
"Gio again? Please, Betty! You haven't seen him in years! Why are you even listening to that guy?"
"Why do you care who I listen to? I'm not allowed to even talk to your brother or say boo to Henry or listen to Gio...but you can do...whatever with that bimbo Trista? Fine, go kiss her if you like dumb girls so much!"
"Why are you being like this?"
"Like what? I'm not being like...anything! Clearly, you don't want me. I'm not good enough or maybe I should say STUPID enough for you to want to…" he cut her off by grabbing her and kissing her passionately, wrapping his arms around her waist, and pulling her into him as she ran her hands through his hair wildly. When he finally let her up for air, he smirked, "You were saying, my smart, sassy little Senorita?"
"Shut up!"
"Make me." he grinned and she kissed him tenderly.
She pulled his hand, "We should go. It's late."
"Yeah, but it's the weekend. Besides, I know the boss. He's a pretty cool guy. He might be dumb but he's not that punctual. He won't care if we're late to work, even during the week. And it's Friday night. So let's sit back and relax. Maybe keep on doing this. IF you're sure it's okay. I never meant to hurt your feelings or imply that I didn't fully participate in that first kiss or hadn't been thinking of kissing you myself all day and night, Betty! Hell, for months, maybe years even!"
"My boss is NOT dumb, okay? He's very sweet. And understanding. You're right about that. I never meant anything by that."
"No, you just were jealous of Trista." he teased.
"I was not!"
"You were, too!"
"So? What if I was? You were jealous of Henry!"
"You're damn right I was! You drunk dialed the guy! So part of you must still be thinking about him."
"Come on! It was a drunk dial! It didn't mean anything. You've drunk dialed me a bunch before. 'Betty I locked myself out! Betty my hair is thinning!"
He touched the back of his head, "That never happened because my hair is NOT thinning! Sorry, do you want me to powder my head at Hilda's wedding? I mean, I wouldn't want to blind anybody!"
"You're being ridiculous!"
"Maybe. But that's because I have no idea what we're even arguing about. You kissed me, I kissed you. You kissed me again, and I kissed you again, then I took you home before I embarrassed myself by coming onto my best friend."
"No, you didn't! I mean...you put in an EXTRA 'you kissed me' in there I think. Oh! You mean you're about to again?" she smiled as he nodded, pulling her back to him, and held her face in his hands, "You know me so well, Betty. It's like you can read my mind or something!"