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~ Tales of Romance ~
Whispered Promises
Chapter 12
Two days later, the front doorbell chiming at seven thirty in the morning had Dani sending the oak front door a questioning look as she descended the long staircase. She knew Sergei and Chloe were already on the ice with Dee and Whittaker, her father was in his office and her mother was going through cook books looking for something 'new and unusual' for Thanksgiving Dinner. Something that didn't necessarily bode well for anyone, but would be in all likelihood joked about for years to come.
Peeking through the leaded glass panes, she sighed in disbelief, rolled her eyes as she glanced down at her pajamas, covered with dancing frogs, and opened the front door to find herself looking at Matt, who was just too damn good looking for this time of morning. Dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, and a seductive smile that made her breath catch and her pulse race, she ran her hands through her tussled hair. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
"'Morning, Dalin'. Nice jammies!" His eyes sparkled with humor. "Feel like skating?" He asked with another dazzling smile, and adjusted the small skating bag that was draped over one broad shoulder.
Dani's eyes narrowed in consideration. "That's an awful small bag to hold all your hockey gear. Aren't you supposed to be practicing? Time's a wasting. The Olympics are only weeks away now!" she needlessly reminded him.
Matt's eyebrows lifted in amusement. "Same could be said for you," he countered, sending her a telling look. "Besides, I'm skating, not playing hockey, today."
"I'm grounded. Remember?"
"Only from practicing, not skating," he corrected her.
"You sure seem to know a lot about my sabbatical." Dani pouted.
"Everyone knows you're off the ice for undisclosed reasons, Of course, there are those more than happy to speculate as to the true reasons you're not presently skating," he offered with a devilish grin.
"I can just imagine," Dani stated with a sigh of disgust.
"Oh, Darlin', some of the rumors that are floating around are even more than your clever mind could conjure up."
Dani crossed her arms over her chest, the motion lifting her breasts so they pressed enticingly against her bright green jersey pajama top and made the dancing frogs dance a little more. "Do tell!" Dani demanded, stepping aside and waving him into the house.
Matt's gray eyes took in the two-story open foyer, filled with morning sunlight, flowers, family pictures, and the warm glow of polished wood. "Nice digs!" he murmured softly, his gaze softening as he glanced at the table filled with pictures of the family.
"Thanks," she mumbled, her cheeks blushing rosily as she watched him pick up one picture of her at the age of four, sitting in the middle of the ice, crying her eyes out, her lower lip jutted out in a full pout.
"So this is what a future Olympian looks like, is it?" Matt asked softly, his eyes filled with humor, and something softer, as he gazed at the old picture.
"Not one of my better moments," Dani answered quietly, chewing her lower lip, casting a sheepish look his way.
"I don't know. We've all had days like these," Matt indicated the picture. "Most of us just don't respond quite this literally. Not that we haven't thought about it."
"Right. I could just see you sitting in the middle of the ice throwing a temper tantrum because you didn't get the goal you were going for!"
Matt set the picture back carefully in its place. "Actually, I didn't bother to sit and scream, I broke my hockey stick in half when I whacked it on the goal," he explained with a chagrined look. "Then, thanks to my Dad's urging, I spent the next three weeks doing extra chores around my neighborhood to earn money to pay for a new hockey stick."
"That was nice of your neighbors to help you out that way."
"Oh yeah, real nice!" Matt laughed wickedly. "My father encouraged them to offer me the nastiest, dirtiest, most disgusting jobs they could find for me to do. I spent three weeks picking up dog shit, cleaning garages, scrubbing bar-b-que grates and cleaning out gutters that hadn't seen a hose in years. It was the last time I ever broke a stick in anger."
"Then you learned a lesson from your little adventure."
"Yeah, I learned a lesson. Don't do something stupid when your dad's watching."
Dani shook her head in exasperation, but had to smile at his story. She could just imagine him as a young boy, tussled hair, flashing gray eyes, rushing the goal, pulling back his stick and letting the puck fly toward the goal; only to watch it miss its mark. She could just imagine his disappointment; could see his frustration venting itself as he smashed his stick against the steel goal post, pieces of wood shattering into the cold air. "I'm surprised your father wasn't more understanding since you were a child."
"Hardly a child; I was twelve years old and acting like two. My father did exactly what had to be done and in a manner that reminded me for a very long time there are consequences to your actions and to think of what might come after before you take that leap. I've come to appreciate his lesson, although at the time, I sure wasn't happy about it."
Dani's light chuckle filled the air. "I can just imagine."
Matt looked at her, bathed in morning sunlight and while his heart thumped erratically in his chest, it suddenly seemed impossible to take a deep breath. Here she stood in just about the ugliest pajamas he'd' ever seen, her face free of make-up, her hair tussled as if she'd only just crawled out of bed and her eyes shining with joy. She was simply gorgeous and so full of life he couldn't help himself. Without a second thought, he stepped toward her, cupped her face in his hands and gave her a gentle kiss. "Good morning," he voiced huskily, brushing his lips across hers in a whisper of a caress before dipping his head for a second, deeper taste of the sweetness of her mouth.
Dani's senses swam as his mouth devoured hers, his tongue softly stroking her own. The sighs that escaped their lips melted in each other's mouths as the kiss lengthened and passion flared to life. Dani inched forward and pushed up to her toes, her suddenly tingling breasts sought the warmth and strength of Matt's broad chest. Her hands grazed a heated path across his back and up his shoulders, pulling him even closer and swallowing his groan of passion as her hips bumped against his own.
"Oh, God, Dani&ldots;" Matt growled deeply, pulling his mouth from hers and tasting the fragrant skin behind her ear. "You're dangerous for me. You make me want to simply forget about everything and lose myself in you!"
"Would that be such a horrible thing? To forget for awhile?" Dani murmured, her senses swirling as his mouth trailed a hot line of kisses down her neck and then bit her lightly at the 'v' where her shoulder and neck joined. Her nails dug into his muscular shoulders and she pushed her hips more snugly against his swelling passion, sparks of electricity jumping between them.
"Don't tempt me," Matt growled.
"Fine. I dare you!" Dani stated defiantly, her eyes so green they were nearly black, and glazed with want and need and a bit of desperation.
Matt's hands left her face and slipped around her hips to rest against her bottom, pulling her firmly against his turgid heat. At her gasp of surprise, his mouth swooped down to cover her own and his tongue stroked in and out of her mouth in the same slow, sensuous, tormenting rhythm that his hips pressed against her own.
Dani felt a languid warmth steal over her, followed almost immediately by a flame that flared to life and began to race through her blood. Breathing seemed to become unnecessary and she found herself being rushed along on a wave of sensation that left her reaching for something she couldn't identify, but knew she wanted desperately. Bright flashes of light flared before her closed eyes and every muscle in her body tensed as Matt continued his sensual onslaught, pushing her ever closer to the edge of oblivion&ldots; and fulfillment.
The doorbell ringing broke through the haze that surrounded the two and if Matt hadn't steadied Dani, she was sure she would have simply dissolved to the floor, nothing but a puddle of tingling, unsatisfied sensation.
"Dani, can you get the door please?" Jordan called out from the kitchen.
"It's okay, I've got it," Aleksei called, making his way into the foyer and blinking in surprise when he spotted Dani and Matt, looking a bit flustered, only a few feet away from the door. His surprise turned to a frown as he watched his daughter step in front of Matt, as if to protect or shield him.
"Hi Daddy. Matt's here," Dani offered lamely with too bright a smile, her cheeks blushing rosily.
"So I see," Aleksei returned, sending the pair a dark, questioning look as the doorbell sounded again.
The sound of telephones ringing sounded throughout the house.
"I've got it," Jordan called from the kitchen.
"The door, Daddy," Dani urged needlessly, hoping whoever was at the door would keep her father's attention long enough for her to get Matt out of the house.
"You two don't move!" Aleksei commanded, his look more than enough to gain their nods of assent. A quick peek through the curtains had Aleksei muttering a low curse, that in turn had Dani and Matt exchanging baffled looks.
"Good morning, sir. I hope I'm not too early." Hunter's voice sounded unusually loud in the quiet of the morning.
* * * * *
"Not at all. You know, we're early risers," Aleksei countered, attempting to sound casual, while sending Dani and Matt another dark look. "Come in," he offered, stepping aside and allowing Hunter cross the threshold, cringing as he contemplated the meeting to come.
"Thank you," he said and stepped into the foyer, shaking Aleksei's hand warmly. "Again, I apologize for the hour, but there's new information I felt it was important for you to hear in person&ldots;" Hunter began only to suddenly notice Dani standing silently a few feet away, and the man behind her. It was bad enough she was clothed in only her pajamas. But when the unknown man's hand traced a path up her arm, and came to rest on her shoulder, in a manner too damn possessive, in Hunter's opinion, his smile vanished and the urge to punch first and ask what the hell was going on second was almost overwhelming.
Time seemed to come to a screeching halt as Hunter and Matt sized each other up, each instantly disliking the other on the spot, and the air grew cold, tension thickened to an unbearable degree. Hunter saw a man, probably a jock if his attitude was any indication, with his hands on Dani. Matt saw an Armani suit with a proprietary attitude and GQ looks. Dani found herself feeling like a big ham bone sitting between two growling dogs, just waiting for one of them to make a move.
"Aleksei, why on earth are you holding Hunter hostage in the foyer?" Jordan asked with a light laugh. Walking into the foyer, she found herself in the middle of a testosterone-laden battlefield as Matt and Hunter continued to glare at each other, Dani looked as if she wanted to disappear and Aleksei had a 'save me' expression on his face that had her struggling not to smile.
"Mrs. Rocmanov." Hunter offered with a slight nod of his head and a cool smile.
"Good morning, Hunter. I hope traffic wasn't too miserable this morning," Jordan said pleasantly, then added, "That was Marcus on the phone; he wants you to call him immediately."
"You can use the phone in my office," Aleksei offered hastily, happy to have a reason to separate the two men who continued to share dark looks.
"Thanks, Aleksei." Hunter's gaze swept over the small group of people, and landed on Dani, his tawny gaze filled with conflicting emotions. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go call Marcus." With a final dark look at Matt, he left the four people in the foyer and headed for Aleksei's office.
"What's he doing here?" Aleksei growled, pointing his finger at Matt.
"Good morning, Mr. Tanner," Jordan offered pleasantly at the same time. "Would you like a cup of coffee?"
Aleksei cast a shocked look at his wife, unable to believe they had barely escaped a battle between the two men and here she was inviting the man to breakfast. "Do you think that's a wise thing to do?"
"Aleksei, if you'll recall, I made the coffee this morning, not you. I don't think there's any cause to worry about him being poisoned," Jordan teased, ignoring her husband's glower and looking to Matt for his answer.
"That would be wonderful. Thank you," Matt answered with a smile.
"Terrific," Aleksei mumbled, rolling his eyes as he contemplated the next round between Hunter and Matt; certain there would be another less than cordial meeting.
"Good. Then, if you'll follow me, we'll find you that cup of coffee and give Dani time to get dressed," Jordan ordered, sending her daughter a look that had her nodding in agreement and sending her a grateful smile. With a last look at Matt, Dani dashed up the stairs, escaping into the safety of her bedroom.
Matt followed Jordan down the hall and into a kitchen filled with sunlight, and took a seat at the large, oval table, appreciating the beauty of the softly gleaming oak wood. In less than a minute a cup of coffee was placed before him.
"Do you take sugar or cream?" Jordan asked, holding up both a sugar bowl and a small creamer.
"No thank you, ma'am. Black is just fine," Matt answered with an easy smile, sipping at the steaming brew and sighing in pleasure. "Excellent coffee, Mrs. Rocmanov."
"Please, call me Jordan, and count yourself lucky that you picked a day to visit when I made the coffee and not Aleksei. Then you'd really be taking your life in your hands," Jordan teased, ignoring her husband's look of censure.
"It's early yet; there's still the risk of another pot being made before the morning's over, so don't consider yourself out of danger just yet!" Aleksei stated sardonically.
"I'll keep that in mind," Matt responded calmly.
"You do that," Aleksei countered with a steady gaze. "Speaking of which, why are you here?" Aleksei asked bluntly.
Any additional conversation between the two was lost as loud voices arguing preceded the door leading from the gardens into the kitchen opening, and Sergei, Chloe, Dee, and Whittaker entering the room.
Jordan's green eyes rolled in exasperation as she listened to the decibel level rise and cast Matt a look of warning. "Don't be alarmed by anything you see or hear!"
Matt could only nod, baffled by her cryptic message, and found himself surrounded by the noisy group.
"There's no reason to change that split triple-twist lift to have a hands-free dismount!" Whittaker argued loudly.
"It's not as if it's never been done. Some skaters have been doing it for years. Besides, it looks wonderful, and the crowds love to see it. I don't know what the big deal is," Chloe countered, looking to Sergei for agreement.
"It doesn't matter to me one way or the other. But Chloe's right, it looks great and the crowds do love it," Sergei answered calmly.
Whittaker muttered a low curse. "The big deal is if you're a split second off on your timing, you're going to find yourself slipping right through your partner's arms and hammering the ice," Whittaker bellowed back. "The last time I looked, the judges weren't handing out high marks for shitty lifts! We stick with your planned element!"
"Frank, everyone's here in the same room. You don't need to yell to be heard," Dee stated, returning his scowl with one of her own.
"Yelling is the only way to get things through to these stubborn, hard headed Rocmanov brains." Whittaker directed his look at Aleksei. "God knows how many times I've tried to be rational and calm to get my point across. Unfortunately, with this group, it's accomplished more easily with a fifteen-pound sledge hammer!" Whittaker spied Matt sitting at the table, quietly sipping coffee and blurted out, "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm not a Rocmanov yet," Chloe corrected him with a sweet smile.
"Matthew Tanner," he stated, offering his hand for a firm handshake.
Whittaker shook his hand and returned his attention to Chloe. "Semantics! You're wearing his ring, and every time I turn around the two of you are sneaking off to play grab and tickle!" Whittaker ranted, waving his hands in frustration.
"Grab and tickle?" Jordan laughed, her eyebrows lifting in humor, as she looked from Sergei to Chloe.
"Frank objects to public displays of affection; it gets him all hot and bothered!" Dee explained with a wicked laugh.
"I don't get hot and bothered!" he roared back.
"Don't I know it," Dee sighed forlornly, her response eliciting a burst of laughter from the group.
"Why do I continue to take this abuse? After all these years you would think I could find a better team to coach," Whittaker complained, looking at Matt's cup of coffee with a longing expression. "Why does he have coffee and not me?"
Jordan sat a cup of coffee down in front of their longtime coach and friend and kissed the top of his head, smoothing down the sparse strands of his hair. "First off, Frank, no one else would tolerate your tantrums. Face it, you've turned into an old curmudgeon! Secondly, you're the best coach out there, in our esteemed opinions, and thus we will tolerate your less than friendly manner."
Whittaker practically glowed at Jordan's words. "Now there's a lady who knows what's what!"
"Oh Christ, there's going to be no living with the man now. Thanks, Jordan," Dee teased, dropping her head in her hands and shaking it forlornly.
Dani entered the kitchen in the middle of the uproar. Whittaker's voice boomed, not so subtle innuendoes flew, and uproarious laughter created a symphony that made her forget how tense she'd been only moments before, and had her smiling without even realizing it.
A quick look showed her Matt sitting in the middle of the group, Whittaker on one side, Dee on the other, and Sergei and Chloe seated across from the trio. Jordan and Aleksei stood at one end, her father's arm draped comfortably over his wife's shoulders.
Chloe spotted Dani. "Ask Dani what she thinks," she demanded.
"Ask Dani what?" Dani repeated, pouring herself a cup of coffee and turning to lean against the counter.
"What do you think of hands-free dismounts from split triple-twists?" Chloe asked.
"I think they're amazing," Dani offered with a small shrug.
"I told you!" Chloe crowed.
Whittaker growled.
"I also think they're very dangerous," Dani added.
"I told you!" Whittaker bellowed, ignoring Chloe's groan of disappointment.
"Whose side are you on?" Chloe grumbled, sending her dear friend a look that said she wasn't happy with her statement.
"The side that keeps you safe. You two are getting married in a few months. Wouldn't you like to be able to walk down the aisle without crutches?" Her gaze shifted between Sergei and Chloe.
"She has a point," Sergei conceded. "Besides, I think our wedding night would be more enjoyable sans casts and splints!" he suggested with a leering grin and sparkling eyes.
"Like it would make a difference one way or the other. The only thing that's going to make your wedding night different is that you're not going to have to worry about getting caught messing around!" Dani tossed out challengingly, with a broad smile and wicked laugh.
Mayhem broke out again as good-natured threats were made, and dares were issued. Laughter abounded and everyone was so busy talking at one time that it took a moment before Hunter's presence in the kitchen was acknowledged and the noise subsided.
"Hey, Hunter. I didn't know you were here. It's good to see you," Sergei said, shaking his hand. "I trust you've met Matt Tanner?"
"Only briefly," Hunter responded coldly, his tone causing Sergei's eyebrows to lift slightly in surprise.
"Well, keep an eye on him. He's a member of our Olympic hockey team and going after gold!" Sergei stated.
"Yes, that's the impression I got when I met him. But then, he's also been in the newspaper recently, and they insinuated more or less the same thing." Hunter's tawny gaze glared at Matt. "He's looking for gold, but I'm not certain if it's a medal or a medal winner."
Several eyes shifted between Matt and Dani, each filled with questions, and an uncomfortable silence filled the large kitchen.
"Well, you know what they say? Believe only half of what you read. Of course, the problem is," Matt asked calmly, his gaze drifting to Dani, before returning to face Hunter, "which half do you believe?"
"All right, we've had a long enough break," Whittaker interjected, sensing impending doom and for once, willing to run away from it instead of toward it. "Sergei, Chloe, back to the ice."
Amid groans and complaints, the four, who had only recently entered the kitchen, prepared to leave the way they had come.
"Mind if I watch?" Matt asked suddenly.
"You want to watch?" Dee asked in disbelief.
"If you don't mind. I know some skaters are self-conscious about strangers being around during training.
"The Rocmanovs work harder when there is a crowd. Hell, maybe I'll even get a decent session out of them if you're there!" Whittaker challenged Sergei and Chloe, simply laughing when the pair gave him an international sign for their displeasure.
Matt smiled and slipped the strap of his skating bag over his shoulder, sent Dani a lingering glance, and followed Chloe and Dee toward the door. The ladies exited first, and then he followed Sergei down the steps into the garden, but not before he heard Whittaker's booming voice ask, "Dani, are you coming?"
Matt couldn't hear her answer, but judging from Whittaker's wide smile, as he joined the group, he had a pretty good idea what her answer had been.
* * * * *
"Daddy, I'd like a moment alone with Hunter, please." Dani requested, her eyes flashing fire, her hands clenched into small fists at her side. She was practically vibrating with outrage and indignation.
"Hunter's very busy, and I know if Marcus wanted him to call as soon as he got here, it wasn't simply for the sake of letting him know he had arrived safely," Aleksei stated calmly. Recognizing the danger signs of Dani's temper, and wanting to save Hunter, for some unknown reason, from yet another confrontation, he offered the excuse.
Hunter's eyes never left Dani's face. "It's all right, Aleksei. What I have to say can wait a minute or two. I'll make the time for Danielle," he offered magnanimously.
Aleksei and Jordan cast each other a concerned glance, but hesitantly agreed. "Fine. We'll be in the office."
With a final look at the pair, they headed off for Aleksei's office.
"How could you do this to me?" Hunter suddenly growled, his eyes glowing with rage.
"What on earth are you talking about? I didn't do anything to you," Dani countered calmly, despite the urge to scream and throw something at him. Here he stood, acting as if she'd committed adultery, and casting himself as the forlorn victim.
Hunter felt his control slipping and didn't like the sensation at all. His closely held emotions were perilously close to the surface and he couldn't decide if he wanted to kiss her or kill her. At the moment, one seemed as good an idea as the other did. "You're sleeping with him, aren't you?" he asked bluntly.
Dani's mouth dropped open in disbelief and shock, and it took her a few seconds to realize he was really expecting an answer to his question. "You know Hunter, for a brilliant man, you're a complete idiot sometimes!"
"Answer me."
"First off, it's none of your business who I'm sleeping with. Although we both know it's certainly not you; not for any lacking of trying on my part!"
"Danielle&ldots;" Hunter's deep voice held a warning note.
"Don't 'Danielle' me! You had your chance with me. For Christ's sake, I did everything but strip naked and crawl into bed with you. But you weren't interested&ldots;"
"That's not true!" Hunter interrupted.
"I'll clarify that, you weren't interested in a 'child'. Well I've got news for you, Hunter. Matt doesn't see me as a child; nor does he treat me like one."
"The newspapers said you were lovers."
"As Matt said, 'believe only half of what you read'," Dani countered coldly.
"And what about what I saw in the foyer this morning?" Hunter demanded.
Dani's shoulders lifted in a minute shrug. "I don't know Hunter. What did you see in the foyer this morning?" Dani asked calmly.
"He had his hands on you."
"So? Did I look distressed? Did I seem upset about it?" Dani taunted him.
The muscle along Hunter's jaw ticked as he clenched and unclenched his teeth, struggling to keep his emotions under control. "You looked like you were considering crawling into bed with him."
Dani's eyes darkened to the color of a deep forest and her heart pounded madly in her chest as she slowly walked up to stand before him. Despite the fact she stood several inches shorter than he, she tapped him lightly on his cheek, and purred sexily, "Sweetheart, another thirty seconds and you wouldn't have had any doubts what we were considering."
"You would fuck someone you only met a few days ago?" Hunter asked hurtfully.
"No. Unlike you, I tend to want to know a person before I take that particular step with someone."
Hunter blinked in surprise, his expression wary, unable to meet her eyes steadily.
"It took me a while to catch on to the little slips and rumors floating around when your name was mentioned and in the various newspaper articles touting your good works. I mean, I understand the PR involved trying to do good things for the underprivileged. All the parties, the late-night meetings, the glad-handing and sucking up, I'm sure it takes a lot to see a vision come to be. And I do applaud your efforts to be relatively discreet. Of course, that doesn't necessarily work unless both parties know when to keep quiet," Dani explained tonelessly.
"Dani, I don't know what you're talking about," Hunter stammered.
"It doesn't matter, Hunter. Since there is nothing between us, what we do has no bearing on the other."
"You're important to me, Danielle. What you do effects me!" Hunter stated insistently.
"Nothing affects you Hunter! I'm only important to you when you feel like bothering with me, and the rest of the time it's all about you. Well, you know what? My time of mooning and crying over you is over. You're here simply to do the job you originally came here to do and nothing more." Dani stated angrily.
"How am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to work knowing you're with someone else; wondering if you think of me when he's touching you, kissing you?" Hunter asked arrogantly, his hands lifting to cup her face, his mouth lowering toward hers.
"Believe me, when Matt's kissing me, you're the last thing I'm thinking of," Dani countered coldly, her green eyes emotionless. Backing out of his grasp, she headed toward the door that led to the ice rink.
"He can't give you what I gave you, Danielle," Hunter called darkly from across the room.
Dani sent Hunter a look filled with sadness and nodded in agreement. "You're right, Hunter. Matt won't break my heart the way you did."
Hunter had no response, because there wasn't one. *
Copyright © 2001-2002 C.E. Moynihan
*All Rights Reserved