After that Brian took them to his favorite place on campus, the dining hall which, to his great joy, was right next to the dorm. As he walked ahead of Dani and Storm, talking animatedly about the variety of meals offered, she touched Storm’s arm.
“You can see what I had to deal with when he was at home,” she whispered. “I was going broke keeping him fed.”
“What was that?” Brian yelled back at them.
“Oh, nothing,” Dani said but she and Storm exchanged an amused look and a smile.
After the tour they all went for a drive around the campus then they found a quiet grassy knoll with the perfect shady tree all red, green and gold in celebration of fall. There Dani spread out her blanket and laid out disposable plates, cups and flatware. Then, one by one she took out the plastic bowls and lifted the lids to reveal salad, cornbread, corn on the cob, potato salad and the piece-de-resistance, Southern fried chicken.
Brian rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “When did you make all that?” he asked. “This morning?”
“Yup. I was up before the birds. All for you, kid. Enjoy.”
Storm shook his head and there was a smile on his lips. “I can see you and my mom have something in common. You’re both fans of chicken.”
She grinned and reached for a drumstick. “My favorite.” That afternoon was one of the most relaxing times Dani had had in a long time. She enjoyed watching the men wolf the food down even though she almost had to fight to get a piece of the corn bread. People always joked about the appetites of growing boys but these were grown men. She’d marveled at how easily they packed away the pounds of food she’d brought.
After lunch she leaned against the tree trunk and listened to them talk animatedly about Notre Dame sports, with Brian giving Storm the low down on the latest wins in hockey, football and basketball. By the time they packed up the dinnerware and headed back to the car it was almost six o’clock.
Dani sighed in contentment, glad for a day well spent with her brother. And, if she were to admit it to herself, the new second-favorite male person in her life, Storm Hunter.
Back at the dorm Storm waited for Dani in the car as she walked up the steps with Brian.
“It was great spending today with you, kid. You look like you’re doing good here.”
“I am,” Brian said with a nod. “I think I made the right choice, Sis. Notre Dame is a great school.”
“Here.” She dug into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a small roll of bills. “It’s the money for your trip.”
Brian’s mouth fell open as he stared at the money. “All of it?”
“It’s all here. Take it.”
“Sis,” he said, his voice soft with wonder, “How did you-”
“Don’t worry about that. Just take it.” She smiled at her brother, wondering if he knew how very much she loved him. She’d do just about anything to make him happy.
Brian took the money from her hand and tucked it into the front pocket of his jeans. Then he grabbed Dani and hugged her close. “Thanks, Sis. I love you.”
“I love you too, Brian,” she said and was surprised when her eyes welled up with tears. What was wrong with her these days? Please, she thought, don’t let me turning into a softie.
They pulled away and Dani went down the steps and toward the waiting car. She turned and waved to Brian. “Be good,” she yelled.
“I will.” He waved back.
Storm pushed the door open and Dani slipped in, then they were off. She settled back in her seat, happy to relax and enjoy Storm’s company. It had been a wonderful day and she never wanted the feeling of euphoria to end. When Storm switched the radio on and turned it to an easy rock station she smiled to herself. He would have preferred heavy rock music she knew, but he was just being nice. She liked that.
By the time they got to Chicago it was after nine o’clock. Being in no great hurry, they’d made a couple of stops along the way and Storm had cruised back to Illinois. It was like an unspoken agreement between them - let's make this day last as long as possible.
At nine-fourteen Storm pulled the car into the parking lot of Dani’s building and switched off the engine. He gave a sigh, whether from tiredness or relief she wasn’t sure, then he turned to look at her. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I had a great time.”
“No. Thank you,” Dani countered. “You were the one who gave up your Saturday to drive me all that way.”
He gave her a slow smile. “My pleasure.”
The way he said it made Dani’s breath catch in her throat. Why did he have to look and sound so sexy? He was a tempting dish that she was finding hard to resist.
“Would you like to come up…for a cup of coffee?” Now where had that come from? She hadn’t planned to invite him up at all. She would have to blame it on the fact that she never wanted this day to end.
He must have been feeling the same way because his eyes brightened. “I’d love to.”
“Great. I want to make sure you’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for your drive home.” She climbed out of the car and waited until he’d walked around to meet her then they walked to the apartment building in companionable silence.
Upstairs she directed him to the living room and gave him the remote control then headed for the kitchen. When she got back with a tray laden with coffee pot and mugs he was still flipping channels. When she approached he put the remote down and looked up at her, his face eager.
Was that look of anticipation for her or for the coffee? She bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh. Oh please, Dani, let's not get ahead of ourselves. It’s the coffee the man wants, not you.
She rested the tray on the coffee table then sat at the other end of the sofa. She poured Storm’s coffee and then hers while he flipped channels some more and finally ended on the Discovery Channel. They sipped coffee as they watched archeologists dig up a body they were convinced was the abominable snowman. When the coffee was done they sat there and watched some more until finally Storm put his hands on his knees and stood up.
“Well, it’s been a heck of a day and I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s getting late and I don’t want to keep you so I'd better go.”
“Where are you going?” Dani’s voice was bold and imperious.
He stared down at her and his face registered his confusion. “Home?”
She stood up and folded her arms across her chest. “You’re forgetting something. You’re on my time and you don’t leave till I say so.”