Chapter 4
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
Head Over Feet – Alanis Morissette
A cup of sweet tea in one hand and the paper in the other, Anna stepped out of the lift and onto the 35th floor. It was starting out to be a pretty good day in her opinion, she'd managed to get a good night's sleep for the first time since she'd arrived in New York, and it was a sunny, warm day.
It was good to be able to feel the heat on her skin again, if there was one thing she missed from home it was that. Taking a sip from her cup Anna waved at Mac as she passed his office, heading straight for the locker room.
Anna had hair her loosely curled today, with parts clipped up loosely allowing the rest to fall over her shoulders and frame her face. The outfit she'd chosen for today was a knot front lace bra top, in a sugar baby colour with black skinny jeans, completing the look with black heels.
It was a simple look but she felt great, confident. Passing the break room she paused, a small smile crossing her face as she caught sight of Danny making himself a coffee. "G'day sailor." She said as she stepped into the room. Danny smiled looking over his shoulder his eyes widening a fraction when he took in her appearance, allowing himself a moment to take her in before he spoke.
"Morning to you to." He replied, turning to lean against the counter, "You look happy." He commented, Anna nodded her hands coming to rest on her hips as she leaned beside him against the counter, her arm brushing against his sending sparks of electricity rushing through them both.
"I am, I had a good night, enjoyed a lengthy run this morning, the sun is shining brightly how can I not be happy." She beamed up at him. Danny looked down at her, a small chuckle escaping when he saw just how happy she seemed.
"You go out running?" he asked, slightly surprised by that revelation, his eyes taking in her soft feminine features, he should have realised, and her athletic frame should have been a giveaway. Anna nodded and snatched the power bar he'd just opened, her fingers brushing against his before she bit into the bar. Winking at him as she did a mischievous smile crossing her face,
"Every morning, you should join me for a work out one day" She said suggestively before laughing softly and backing up out the break room, waving the bar at him, "Thanks for this." She chuckled, not letting him reply before she sauntered out the room and back to the lab. Danny watched her go in surprise, a little put out she'd taken his power bar, actually the last one. Shaking his head Danny grabbed his cup of coffee and followed.
Danny and Anna were able to close their case, not long before the end of their shift. They'd successfully managed to arrest and charge the car park attendant Mike Adams for the murder of Jason Kinsey. Happy with the outcome Anna sat in the office filling out the last of her paperwork eager to get out the lab and enjoy the remainder of today's sun.
"Hey you not out of here yet?"
Anna looked up to smile at Stella, "I'm actually just finishing this and then I am so gone." She laughed slightly, "What about you?" she asked, signing her name at the bottom of the file before closing it.
"No such luck for me, I'm actually heading out to meet Mac at a scene but wanted to catch you before you went, run something by you..."
"Shoot..." Anna said, giving Stella her full attention as she stood.
"What are you doing Saturday Night?" Stella asked a small smile tickling the corners of her lips; Anna shook her head, smiling herself
"Nothing so far. Why what were you thinking?"
"Great, you, I will be attending the opening of a new club called Captivate. My friend who owns the place has given me two VIP tickets, so what do you think?" she asked, smiling when Anna's widened and an excited look passed her face.
"I think that sounds brilliant Stella, my first girls night out in the city it sounds perfect." She exclaimed clapping her hands together once and already doing a mental rundown of her pretty extensive wardrobe. Stella laughed and nodded,
"Great well I'll talk to you more about it tomorrow okay, I better go meet Mac." She said as she backed towards the door of the office. Anna nodded in understanding, a smile still spread on her face,
"Okay I'll see you tomorrow and Stella," Anna stepped forward and shrugged lightly, "Thanks for inviting me."
"We're gonna have fun kid." Stella gave her a wink before she turned and headed down the corridor. Inside the office Anna tucked her hair behind her ear and shook her head, already excited for the weekend. Grabbing her purse and jacket Anna left the office, her eyes twinkling happily when she looked out the window. The sun was still bright as she stopped by the lift, Danny sidled up close on her left his hands in his jeans pocket.
"You hungry?" he asked her in a form of greeting. Looking up at him Anna smiled, her hazel eyes locking with his intense ones, chewing her bottom lip Anna shrugged slightly before turning her body to face his, barely a hairs breath between them,
"Might be." She answered, her eyes narrowing when Danny's grin widened, his head lowering closer to hers a fraction.
"Then I know a great place we can grab a slice." He told her, not allowing her to answer before he stepped into the now open lift. Watching him for a second Anna laughed and followed him into the lift; it was most definitely a good day.
As it turned out Danny's great place had been a little pizza place not that far from the park. Not only that but Danny insisted on ordering her slice, informing Anna it was going to be the best pizza she'd ever tasted. After adding something to the top he'd handed her the pizza, with a suspicious look Anna accepted it, "You really think it's that good?" she asked, watching him smile.
"I don't think it, I know it. It's a well known fact among us New Yorkers that this place right here, serves the best pizza." he informed her, taking a huge bite of his own. Anna laughed as she looked down at the slice in her hand, "You sure you want to do this?" Danny asked. Rolling her eyes Anna shook her head,
"You seem so sure of yourself," she sighed, before taking an equally large bite out of her own slice, making Danny's eyes widen in surprise. Chuckling he followed Anna as she turned and began heading towards the park,
"Come on you have to agree with me right? Best slice you ever had?" Danny said, enjoying the feel of the warm air against his bare arms. Thankful he'd decided to forgo his jacket today. Looking down at Anna he watched as she cocked her head to the side a little before shrugging,
"It's not bad I suppose." She finally answered; Danny looked down at the petite woman walking by his side in mock outrage,
"Not bad? Are you kidding me, it's the best in the city!" he exclaimed, Anna nodded,
"I agree that it's good, right amount of cheese, the crust is perfect but come on Danny the sauce is way too sweet." She replied, looking up at him aware that this had to be the most fun she'd had outside of work since the incident in the bar. Danny just shook his head in disappointment,
"Come on bella, the sauce being so sweet is what makes it so great. There's crushed carrots in it..." he took another bite out of his slice, missing the look that crossed Anna's face when he called her 'Bella' she didn't have to speak Italian to know what it meant and the fact it was Danny calling her it made her smile.
"Hang on there's carrots in here? Now that's just wrong in so many ways." She laughed, taking another bite, despite the sweetness it was still nice. As they walked in a comfortable silence Anna turned to face the sky, letting her eyes close for a moment as she enjoyed the warmth. Sighing she opened her eyes, "It's good to feel the heat again." She commented.
"You miss Australia?" Danny asked, turning his attention back onto Anna, his bare arm brushing against hers once again, as he allowed himself to revel in the softness of her skin. It was a moment before Anna answered but she did so with a small nod and a thoughtful look on her face,
"I do." She told him truthfully as they came to a stop close to the lake front. Leaning against the railings Anna looked out for a moment, "It's only been 3 or so weeks but I do miss it. Australia's my home, the city's the complete opposite to what I'm used to so it's taking some time getting comfortable."
"Surely there's some perks to living in the city?" Danny asked, wiggling his eyebrows as he looked down at her, Anna just laughed and nudged her shoulder against his arm.
"Getting a little full of yourself there Messer?" she asked watching as he shrugged his shoulders lightly, his snug olive coloured t-shirt, tightening around his chest with the movement making Anna curious to see underneath it for the 10th time that day.
"Nah, I'm just stating the truth, and you know it." He turned his gaze back onto her almost challenging Anna to argue back. Anna stared right back at him before she answered her expression and tone playful,
"Not yet I don't, hoping soon enough I will though," she replied, winking at him before she turned and headed back in the direction they'd come. For a few seconds Danny didn't move, he stood leaning back against the railings a smirk on his face as he replayed her comment over and over in his head, whilst his eyes fixated themselves on watching the sway of her curved hips. Every ounce of him wanted to explore every other curve hiding underneath those clothes. "So are you going to stand there staring at my ass all afternoon or you coming with to get another slice?" Anna asked, having stopped walking to look back at him.
Danny smiled at her abruptness and with a small shrug pushed away from the railings, "Oh baby I can do both." He replied his voice husky, as he caught up with her his eyes twinkling. Laughing Anna shook her head and fell into step with Danny,
"Good to know."
It had turned out to be one of the best afternoon's Anna had had in a long time, and she hadn't been surprised at all that it was with Danny. Something about being in his presence made her a hell of a lot more confident than she usually was. Anna found herself outwardly flirting with this man, not afraid to let him see she was in fact attracted to him in a very big way, and she didn't have to be an expert to know he felt something similar for her to.
It would be exciting to see where this led them; Anna was one who enjoyed taking things day by day she didn't like placing too much weight on the future. All she was sure about was sometime soon something was defiantly going to explode between them and she was looking forward to that day more than ever.
Today happened to be the first lie in she'd be getting till Sunday and Anna was determined to make the most of it. Work didn't start till 1, and since she had nothing else to busy herself with, a few extra hours in bed seemed like the perfect way to spend her morning. Burying her face back into her pillow Anna let out a low, content sigh, and soon found herself drifting back to sleep.
A loud rapping on the door quickly woke her, destroying any chance of a lie in. Growling in frustration Anna kicked off the covers and trudged out the bedroom, clad in her short pyjama bottoms, Mickey Mouse t-shirt and thick woollen bed socks. Running a hand through her hair she pulled open the front door and glared at the person on the other side, "Do you have any idea what time it is."
"Yep, it's 9:30." Replied Jason, struggling to hide his amusement, Anna scowled as she leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Okay so what can I do you for?" she asked him, running a quick hand through her knotted locks and grimacing wondering what she must look like. Jason waved back towards his apartment and looked at her sheepishly,
"I figure if we're going to be neighbours, we should at least get to know one another. I already know every one else on this floor and I've treated them to the exact same experience I'm offering you now..."
"And what experience would that be?" Anna asked him warily as he glanced at his apartment. Jason smiled brightly giving her a toothy grin,
"Pancakes, I've actually just invented a new recipe involving strawberries, chocolate chips and banana's, fancy giving them a try for me?" he asked, looking at her hopefully. Anna looked at him and shook her head taking a step back into her apartment,
"That sounds great Jason but I don't really..." she stopped talking when Jason reached out his large hand wrapping around her wrist. The action made her stiffen and when she looked up his eyes were pleading with her,
"Come on, it's just pancakes and you'll be doing me a huge favour..." he jutted out his bottom lip and Anna laughed despite herself, pulling her arm out of his almost too tight hold.
"Okay pancakes do sound good." She agreed, resting her hand over her stomach as it rumbled. Anna didn't like making snap judgements of people and suddenly began to feel bad for doing so with Jason, he seemed nice enough and they were neighbours, so starting now she was going to be a lot friendlier and try harder.
Stepping out of her apartment, she closed her door remembering to put the catch on so it wouldn't lock, "Lead the way chef," she joked, making Jason laugh loudly as he backed up.
"Right this way." He chuckled heading into his apartment. Anna followed with a smile on her face; maybe she had been wrong after all.
Okay guys here's chapter 4 sorry it took longer than usual, I'm having a couple internet troubles but hope you enjoy be sure to let me know what you think. Thanks to those who've added me as well!
Donna your my evil partner mwhahahaha thanks for your help with this chap, the next one and every other one you've helped with. Couldn't do this without you.
jennifer32485 – Thanks for your review hun. There is a lot of sexual tension between Anna and Danny lol
sch – Glad you liked the chapter hun. Anna's reaction at the morgue was unexpected lol but like you I don't blame her, I doubt you'd get me down there. Anna is anything but a shrinking violet, and I am looking forward to her and Danny's future.
Donna – Jason plays a bigger role later on as you know, he's gorgeous but a total tool as you know. Glad you think Danny's coming across okay, I do worry sometimes I'm writing him out of character sometimes, but Anna's a hell of a lot different than Lindsey so I think that may have something to do with the way Danny is...?