Chapter 4: Hilda's wedding.

Daniel had a serious headache and Betty gave him something to drink which had a disgusting feel on his throat. He grimaced but he had to admit this stuff actually worked. Then he told her that she did not need to replace Amanda. But she did not mind and admitted she kind of missed her old desk. He smiled. It was good to see her there, not that he wanted her to move backwards and be his assistant again but it was great to be able to work and see her through the glass window of his office.

But what she did really surprised him. She invited him at Hilda's wedding as her date. He was delighted and was quick to accept while pretending like it was no big deal. But it will be nice to have her on his arm for the day. He felt proud to have the privilege to escort the woman he has come to regard as an essential part of his happiness and source of support to this event.

He remembered when his wife Molly died, the only person he ever thought of calling first was her. She didn't say anything; his expression had told her everything she needed to know. She pulled him in her arms as he sobbed into her shoulder. His pain was so deep and only the tenderness of her hands caressing his back has soothed him a little. He could hardly remember how long they have spent there holding each other. Betty took care of him by making him eat something, listening to him when he needed to talk about Molly. When came the day of Molly's funeral, Betty has spent the entire day fending off paparazzis, giving him privacy when he needed to be alone or being there when he needed it. It was one of these moments where it was once again confirmed that he could not live without Betty as a constant presence in his life.

He then went away to a meeting with advertisers. But when he finished it and went to join Betty, her expression told him that something happened that he was not going to like. It was confirmed when she said the name of Henry. Daniel hated this guy for putting Betty through so much heartache with the whole drama with Charlie and the baby. Everytime he heard his name, he wanted to hire some of the hit men his family occasionally used to hunt down and kill this no good accountant.

Even more galling, Betty was considering going to the wedding with him. Has she forgotten her bloodshot eyes and depression when he left? When he finally saw this prick again with his son, he had to restrain himself with great pains to strangle the guy. He had to admit the kid was cute. When he heard that Henry was interviewing for a position as an accountant in a law firm here in New York, Daniel knew he had the perfect opportunity to get him out of everyone's life. Including my own!

Evidently, when Betty heard what he has done, she was furious and they quarreled. Although he hated doing that, he called back the law firm to recommend Henry. But that didn't stop him to think of some ways to get rid of the guy or at least get him as far away as possible from Betty.

Saturday came and he prepared himself to go to Hilda's wedding. When he first saw Betty dressed to the nines, he was speechless. The green dress emphasized the soft curves of her body and her skin seemed to glow. He mumbled something about her looking great before internally beating himself for saying such a weak understatement as "great".

She thanked him for giving Henry his job back. Although he had no real relish to do it, he offered to apologize to him. But when she told him Henry was not coming, he had great difficulty to restrain himself to pumping his fist in the air and shouting a gleeful "Yes!" Now he could actually enjoy the day in the company of his Betty.

The wedding was at the same time simple and beautiful. Hilda was radiant and Betty delighted. Daniel though he knew he should watch Hilda could not prevent his eyes to stray to Betty and he smiled at her obvious joy and happiness.

Hilda's speech moved him to the very core because he finally recognized his true feelings. He could not believe he has taken so long to recognize that it was love that he felt for her. A love so deep and powerful to make him almost weak in the knees. A love that would make him "throw himself under a bus" and do anything to protect her as Hilda said. He understood now that what he had felt when he saw Henry again was jealousy.

This realization propelled into the hall pacing up and down trying to calm his "feverish state". When he heard that the first dance had begun, he walked back into the room, took several deep breaths and invited Betty to dance.

She accepted and at the moment, she put her hand on his, an electric shock ran through his whole body and his heartbeat was pounding loudly. It was even worse when he lightly put his hand on her waist. He could feel the soft flesh of her body underneath her dress and that drove him mad. He was so happy that a large smile of happiness stretched on his mouth and that made Betty laugh.

On this moment, he felt they were alone on the dance floor. They talked but he could not remember the subject. He was contemplating the woman he loved, marveling on her smile, her beautiful brown eyes, and her lips. He never wanted to kiss her so much than at this moment but he restrained himself not knowing if she would like it.

Then he noticed her looking at her right and smiling more widely than before. He tore himself from his absorption with her and glanced at the same spot. He saw Justin dancing with his boyfriend Austin. It was his coming out. Daniel was happy for him and even more that he knew that Betty felt her happiness to be complete.

After that, he had to let her go so she could dance with members of her family but he immediately felt empty. He did not ask other women to dance though he has noticed several of them eyeing him with appreciation. But he was focused on Betty, getting jealous of anyone dancing with her who was not her immediate family.

He could not at last reclaim her for another dance. Betty noticed his expression and asked him the reason. He preferred not to tell her anything for the moment knowing this was not the right place for a declaration. She joked with him and he laughed. He adored her humor. She sighed and glanced at her family knowing that they were happy and content. He assented adding silently "even more when I have you in my arms."

A salsa came next and she asked him if he remembered his salsa lesson. He smiled remembering her teaching him over the phone.

"It has been a while. But I can try again."

She repeated to him what she had said about the basic step: "You are still biting your lower lip." She added with humor.

"No."

"Daniel!" she protested teasingly.

"All right, all right." He replied laughing.

As tradition dictated, Hilda threw her bouquet. Betty was the one who caught and Daniel caught the garter. He was smiling very widely and Betty was blushing. Hilda and Bobby then left for their two weeks honeymoon to Mexico.

Daniel danced other few dances with his Betty and then they separated to go home. Daniel wished he could find an excuse to stay longer with Betty. But he could find nothing.

His dream that night was quite "tame": He dreamed he was kissing Betty. They were alone on the dance floor. Their kiss started sweet and tender but quickly turned passionate. They could not separate. Daniel was mad when he woke up. The sensations he felt during that dream kiss were strong. He wanted nothing more that to make it reality. But he knew he had to proceed slowly.