BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, CH 2
The minute she hung up the phone, Betty felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew talking to Daniel would make her feel better. It always did.
She washed off her tear streaked face and taking a deep breath, tried to smile at herself in the mirror, but shook her head in disgust.
She looked at her closet. Everything she owned was too...bright. She knew she was being dramatic perhaps but she picked out a black dress reserved for funerals and put on a pair of prescription sunglasses to hide her puffy eyes a bit, then twisted her hair up in a loose bun, throwing on a scarf.
She looked outside and Jeff was already there for her. Daniel never ceased to amaze her with his constant concern for her. She remembered how solicitous he had been of her after the fiasco at his loft with Renee.
Betty felt empathy for the woman now, in spite of how close she had come to being her second murder victim.
But knowing how jealous she herself had felt of Charlie...she could certainly understand how Renee must have felt. After all, she really DID control Daniel's schedule. It was her job, of course.
But, she could see how all the time she spent with a man like Daniel could be misconstrued for...well, something more, perhaps. He was very handsome, after all. And sweet. And charming.
As she greeted Jeff, getting into the back of the car, she smiled, remembering how she had teased Daniel when he tried to be gentle with her feelings, thinking she really did have a crush on him.
That was ridiculous, of course! She was in love with Henry. Henry was sweet, and caring and...well, actually, unavailable, come to think of it. No matter how much he might care for Betty, his life would always be joined to Charlie, as the mother of his child.
Daniel, on the other hand was...well, single, now. And he was everything Henry was not. He was exciting, and sexy and also very sweet.
Yes, he was confident, and knew he was good-looking, but he was never arrogant about it. She had the feeling Daniel would certainly never have shied away from doing the thing she had tried with the ice cream!
She blushed, thinking she really shouldn't be picturing her boss with ice cream on his stomach. But she found she couldn't help herself.
It made her smile. And that's exactly what she needed right now. A reason to smile. Something Daniel always seemed to make her do, no matter what.
She saw the coffee shop. Their little shorthand of knowing which place to meet just further proved to Betty what a good friend Daniel was. What a good friend he had always been when she needed one.
She remembered him showing up in his wheelchair, knowing immediately that she would turn to potatoes before when Henry was leaving.
Now, the man she loved was truly gone. And Charlie had gone with him. They were going to be a family. They belonged together. She really had no place in Henry Grubstick's life anymore.
She got out of the car, and saw Daniel there. He looked at her rather strangely, then stood and went to hug her. She felt safe. Warm. Right in his arms.
His voice sounded a bit softer, a bit kinder even than she would have expected. "Hey. You look…"
She laughed, shaking her head as she pulled away and sat down, "I know. I've been crying all night. I look like a mess!"
He pulled out her chair for her. Betty loved the way Daniel was always such a gentleman, without even thinking about it. He opened doors, he pulled out chairs.
He stood when a lady left or arrived. He was very old-fashioned in that way and she always secretly enjoyed the attention. It made her feel like such a lady.
"No, I was going to say you look like we should be having breakfast at Tiffany's."
"Tiffany's?" She blushed. "Why? What are you talking about?"
He indicated her sunglasses, "Well, you know, the whole Audrey Hepburn thing you've got going on there. Actually, I was just thinking, you look amazing in that dress!
Black suits you. And I like the sunglasses and scarf! You look...great! You should be in mourning more often."
"I'm sure. You're so silly, Daniel. But sweet. Thank you." She blushed, then smiled, rolling her eyes, and took off the glasses for a moment.
He looked at her face, and reached across the table to wipe away a few stray tears with his thumb. She felt like her face was on fire, where he was touching her.
She hurriedly put her sunglasses back on, as the waiter brought them the coffee Daniel had ordered for them.
They laughed and joked amiably for over an hour. On their second cup of coffee, he tapped her cup with his, lifting it up to 'toast', "To… starting over." He smiled, "Or...maybe I should say, here's looking at you, kid."
She giggled, "Well, if you do, don't do that voice! Was that seriously supposed to be Humphrey Bogart? You sounded more like...
Jack Black!"
He laughed, "Jack Black? Gee, thanks! I call you Audrey Hepburn and you compare me to Jack Black! Ouch! You've wounded me, dear lady!"
She giggled, "Dear lady, huh? Aha! I see the Austen's seeped into your consciousness subliminally! You know, I was going to tell you before. I always like the way you do the whole gentleman thing. Opening doors, pulling out chairs...very retro. But it suits you."
"I see. You mean because I'm so old, huh? I get it. Making fun of the old man."
"No! That's not what I meant at all! Don't be such a baby. I was paying you a compliment. You...goof!"
"Goof? I'm a goof? Says the woman who wore a red freaking poncho on her first day of work at Mode! Right! Listen, I have a plan to make you forget all your troubles. Do you have plans with your family today especially?"
"Not really. Nothing specific. Tomorrow I'm going to go open presents in the afternoon or evening sometime. But, that's it; really.
After having stayed up all night last night, I doubt I'll be awake that late tonight. Santa will have to come while I'm sleeping."
"Great! So, you're mine all day and night. Grab that coffee and let's hit the stores. I'm taking you Christmas shopping today. I need your help."
He pulled her up from her seat, and she grabbed her coffee quickly, looking puzzled, "My help? For what?"
"I need presents. Alexis and DJ are coming to Mom's tomorrow. And I didn't find out until yesterday. I already sent them presents, but they'll probably be delivered to Paris while they're here.
So, I have to find backup gifts. Plus, I think I want to play Santa to you, today. Cheer you up. It'll make me feel better to see you smile. Come on, Miss Hepburn! Your carriage awaits!"
She giggled, "Daniel! You're so…"
"Goofy, yes, I know. Thanks again. You're very kind, Betty. Funny, but I DO recall you telling me what a catch I was at one time. Now, you just think I'm some doddering old goofball who sounds like Jack Black!"
She laughed, hooking her arm through his as he offered it to her, escorting her down the street at a fast pace.
While they were shopping, Betty discovered Daniel didn't have a Christmas tree, and insisted that he get one for his loft. "It'll make your homecoming more fun, more festive. You HAVE to have a Christmas tree, Daniel. It's tradition!"
He rolled his eyes, but grinned, putting his arm around her. "Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say. On one condition. You have to come over tonight and help me decorate it. I'll need the works, ornaments, tinsel, a star, mistletoe."
She shot him a look, "Mistletoe? On your tree?"
He shrugged, "Well, hey, you're the one who said I need to decorate for the holiday. Doesn't that come with the whole 'Christmas package'?"
"Oh. Right. Well, yeah, I guess so, maybe. So, we have the earrings for Alexis and skates for DJ. You DO have a present for your mother already, right? You didn't forget?"
"Yes, Betty. I may occasionally forget birthdays, but I do recognize the signs and remember when it's Christmas. It's pretty hard to ignore! Here, let's try this place. We can look around. It's cold outside!"
He pulled her inside a small boutique. She looked around at a few of the dresses and her eyebrows shot up, seeing the prices, "Oh my God! This place is so expensive!"
He looked at a few of the dresses. "Hmm, it's off the rack, but it seems to be a designer wholesale shop. Here, go try a few of these.
This one should look good on you in red. And you can try the other one in this shade of green. With your coloring, it'll look great." He held up two dresses in front of her.
She shook her head, "No! Daniel, these are way too expensive! I'm not letting you buy these for me! No way!"
"I actually had a present for you. A Hermes scarf. But it burnt up in the fire. So I really want to get you something. You risked your life to come warn me about Renee.
At least let me buy you a few things for Christmas. It'll make me feel better. Please?"
He brushed back her hair from her face, and put her glasses up on top of her head. She hesitated for a second, then sighed, taking the dresses with her into the dressing room, "Oh, okay! You're spending way too much on me, though. I don't feel right."
He called after her as she went inside the dressing room, "Consider this partly your bonus, too, then. I believe you mentioned something about a raise when I tried my feeble attempt to rescue you even though you of course didn't really need rescuing?"
"I was only kidding about that raise thing."
"Well, I'm not. After all you put up with as my assistant, including walking through fire for me, God knows you deserve a raise, Betty. You always go way above and beyond what anyone should expect from an assistant. Or...even a friend."
His eyes widened as she stepped out of the dressing room, wearing the green dress he had picked out for her. "Wow! Betty...that looks...you look really hot! Henry's an idiot! Sorry...I..."
She laughed. "That's okay. You're right. He is an idiot. Thank you, Daniel. You really don't have to say that. But...it helps, having a handsome guy tell me I look hot. Even if it is just my friend, trying to cheer me up."
She turned around, "Can you...zip me up, please? I can't reach it. My arms are too short."
He nodded, and went to zip her dress. For some reason, his hands were shaking slightly. He leaned down, as he reached the top of the dress and whispered, "There you go."
Although she knew Daniel was simply trying to distract her from missing Henry by teasing her, Betty couldn't help but laugh at her friend's antics, pretending to be flirting with her.
"You really look beautiful! You need to dress like this all the time. Believe me, you'll have all kinds of guys lining up to date you. It won't take long before knucklehead is just a distant memory!
He's not worth you shedding a single tear over." He took his thumb and wiped the corner of her eye, then leaned forward and kissed where he had wiped.
Betty looked at him, just inches from her face, staring into her eyes. She seriously couldn't breathe. He looked at her as if he was going to kiss her. Breaking the spell, another customer walked up, "Excuse me, but are you and your girlfriend done flirting yet so I can use the dressing room? I need to try this on."
Daniel glared at the woman as if he wanted to kill her, "Go ahead. She's got another one to try on later but we were still looking at this dress. Flirting? You want to see flirting?"
Betty shushed him, "Daniel! Stop! Don't get upset!"
He rolled his eyes. "Well she was rude! Freaking retail!" he muttered under his breath, as the woman stepped inside.
Betty laughed, "Daniel! You're so spoiled!"
He smiled. "I know. Sorry. I just...oh, wow, we probably need to get going if we're going to decorate my place. I tell you what. Why don't you just wear that dress for now, and we'll go ahead and just buy the red one, too.
You can try it on later. If it doesn't fit, you can always bring it back. Let's get out of here! We'll order a pizza or something and listen to Christmas carols while we decorate my new and hopefully smoke free place."
As they stepped outside, they noticed the snow had started coming down heavier, and they played around in it, throwing snowballs at one another.
She found herself laughing at his enthusiasm. She knew he was probably just trying to be a good friend and take her mind off Henry's early and unexpected departure, but she had to admit, it did her heart good to think that woman assumed that Daniel was her boyfriend.
She hooked arms with him after making their purchases and stopping to get some coffee and a bottle of wine to go with their pizza. She laughed, as they talked about everything and anything, just like they always did.
Before long, she seemed to forget she should have been miserable right now. Daniel always seemed to have a way of doing that.
They got to his door, shaking off the snow, and he grinned, showing her his new key, "They had to give me a new door, since I broke the other one down!" he pretended to flex his muscles, making Betty giggle, as she oohed and awed and felt his bicep.
"My hero! You're so big and strong, Daniel!"
"Hey, I tried! Of course...as usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short! Listen, Betty, about that….I need to tell you something I sort of figured out."
"Okay, but can we eat first? If you want my help decorating your place, I need energy! Let's eat!"
He nodded, somewhat reluctantly, hoping he would still have his nerve to tell her what he had discovered about his feelings for her.
While she put on Christmas music, as he pulled out the gifts he had gotten for his family and took out the wine, bread and cheese, he watched her just move to the music. She was absolutely beautiful, he realized, as he studied her carefully.
How had he failed to notice her blossoming before his eyes, he wondered? Seeing Betty finally wearing clothes that actually fit her curves had definitely stirred his senses and awakened his arousal.
He handed her a glass of wine and touched her glass, and grinned, pleased with himself for remembering, "To yielding readily and easily to the persuasion of a friend."
She narrowed her eyes, "I think you're misquoting there, Mr. Darcy! Hm..."To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either."
She giggled and clinked her glass with his and took a sip, then put both their glasses down and grabbed his hand, "Let's dance! I love this song. I always wanted to literally 'rock around the Christmas tree'! It's a lot easier to do when it's bare like this."
They danced around, then eventually wore themselves out a bit, and Betty helped him put the decorations on the tree, and various things they had gotten to brighten up his place, pictures, candles, plants, they argued about where to place them and if they were straight, rather like an old married couple.
They ended up on the couch, watching an old version of A Christmas Carol on television, Daniel with his arm around her, and snuggling under a blanket together.
Betty found herself thinking that this would be the ideal Christmas if only Daniel were really at all into her, instead of just being a friend.
She knew she would certainly never be his type, however, no matter how well he claimed to like the dress she wore. She was still...her.
She had to smile, thinking of Daniel reading Jane Austen, even if it was just to cure his insomnia. She found herself thinking of him as Darcy, of course. But that certainly didn't mean she was anything like Elizabeth Bennett.
'She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man.' she whispered.
He had dozed off, slightly and stirred against her, "Hmm? Betty? Did you say something?"
She shook her head, "Nothing. Go back to sleep. I should go. It's getting late."
He woke as she moved away and rubbed his eyes, looking flushed and oh so handsome, Betty couldn't help but notice. He got up and went to the window, "Betty, you're not going anywhere tonight, young lady. You're spending the night with me!"
Her eyes widened, "What? Daniel! What are you talking about?"
He crooked his finger, motioning for her to come to the window. "It's like a blizzard out there! I'm not letting you leave here in that! You're mine, woman!"
She blushed, "But, Daniel…It's Christmas Eve!"
"Exactly! Do you think your family would want you to get killed on the way home or freeze to death out in that mess? Just call them and tell them you're here with me and you're safe. At least, until I have my wicked way with you, that is, of course!" He grinned, "Now where is that damn mistletoe?"
She rolled her eyes, laughing, as she picked up her phone to call her family and let them know where she was. Daniel was right, she realized. They would rather her stay with him and know she was safe. They knew and trusted Daniel. And of course, Betty knew he was only teasing her.