More Than You Know - Part Eight

People, please comment on my stories. Oh it hurts me when people who usually always comment on them have forgotten about them now *sniffs*...so please comment!!!
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The night outside was completely black now, the darkness broken occasionally by a twinkling star. Dave sat on the stool right in front of where Jenni was busy drying glasses. He examined her beautiful face, hoping she was all right. Ever since he had unwillingly dropped the bombshell about her past on her, he had been watching her carefully. Where Jenni went, you could be sure he was following.

Her mood had been giddy and chipper - she had smiled at everyone and laughed with a lot of people she didn't even know. Dave could tell this was not how she usually acted - she looked more comfortable now, on her own, occasionally glancing up to check he was still there and smiling sweetly. Dave scanned her face as she did this for the tenth time, and found she was in her own world. He could tell she was still digesting what he had told her, and hoped the outcome of what she felt wasn't bad.

Technically, they weren't blood relations, and they weren't even related in any other way any more, so Dave felt it all right to check her out. And there was a lot there to check.

Silky, streaked blonde hair that fell layered and feathered, just past her shoulders in a straight, thick waterfall. Big, wide, thick lash rimmed, stunning eyes, a deep blue-green color that made him want to draw her. But he had left all his stuff back at home. Her nose was straight and small, her lips full and luscious, her teeth a dazzlingly white and perfectly straight. She was, in a phrase, breathtaking. If Dave didn't have a wonderful, happy relationship with a girl back home and Jenni wasn't in any way related to him, he would definitely be trying his hardest to get her right now.

He smiled to himself secretly as he thought of her. Long, lean legs, a tall but not overly long frame, lightly tanned skin, curves in the right places. Yes, his ex step sister was a babe. And about as untouchable as the man on the moon. Or should he say women on the moon?

Danny sat at the table, drumming his fingers on the side of the glass in time to the music. He was pretty bored - the music was OK but dancing was no good when there was no one to dance with. He had got up the nerve to ask Jenni a couple of times, but on both occasions she was lost in conversation with that Dave guy. Thomas and Marissa were pretty much immersed in each other, and all his fans were jumping to touch him at any chance. Heck, they were jumping to touch his seat every time he got up. Pathetic.

He turned slightly to glance at Jenni again; like he had so many times that night and smiled as he watched her polish off every glass, bending down to place each shining thing in its place. Danny could see her ridiculously short uniform dress riding up every time she did so, and had to catch his breath in his throat, reminding himself that she was taken. But the fact that she was still didn't stop the thoughts entering his mind - this girl was definitely driving him crazy; he wasn't sure it was in a good way.

"So, I have to go now. I catch a flight back tomorrow morning and...Stephanie will be waiting." Dave smiled and Jenni and reached over the bar to hug her tightly. She obliged, but when he pulled away, her pretty face was confused. #

"Stephanie?" she asked gingerly. "Is this like another sister or something I don't know about?" she asked easily, throwing her dishcloth down on the bar and grinning at him cheekily. Dave laughed, glad she could joke about it.

"No, actually, but she may soon be your sister-in-law. She's been my long-term girlfriend, and, although we're still young, I'm sure she's the one...and wish me luck. Fingers crossed she says yes!" Dave grinned at her. Jenni squealed and jumped on him, running around the bar to grab him in another hug.

"Aw, I'm so happy for you! How comes you didn't tell me before?" She cried, pulling away slightly and looking him in the face.

"I guess...there were a lot of other things to tell you before I told you that. Now," He pulled fully away from her and smiled, pulling his car keys out of his back pocket, "I have to go. I'd love to stay, but I miss her, and dad, and I need to tell him, I think. I'm sure he'll be thrilled." He smiled gently at her, already walking out of the door.

"Well, good luck. And goodbye! I'll call you." Jamie said to his back, as he threw a grin over his shoulder at her.

"Bye. I'll miss you, Jenni. Even if I've hardly known you for two minutes." He was hardly out the door when he rushed back, hugged her one last time, kissed her softly on the cheek, and ran back out again. Jenni laughed and stared after him for a moment, before turning back to her work and packing up. It was already eleven, and the bar would rest for a few hours then re-open at 1:00 am. It was weird, but those times were when business was best, and Jenni didn't work a late night shift.

(Jenni's POV)
"It's OK, Jenni. You can go now. Everyone's more or less out of here and you look beat. You should make your way home." My boss smiled kindly at me, a change from the usual state of grumpiness he was in.

"Thanks, Mr Hampton." I smiled at her employer, and then ducked out from behind the bar. After changing back into my faded skinnies and purple top, I picked up my bag and confidently walked across the room. Danny was still there, but Toto was gone, and he was sitting alone at the table. I had promised to talk to him, and I would, realizing that I had to make the effort. Things don't just get handed to you on a silver platter in life. If I wanted to be friends with Daniel Gray, I had to try. I reached the table and waved a hand in front of his face. He blinked, looked up and smiled.

"C'mon." I said, taking his hand and pulling him up gently. When he was standing, I let go of his hand, on account of the fact that mine felt as hot as burning coals where his skin had brushed it. "We're out of here, whether you like it or not." I stated, already walking out of there. Danny, looking surprised, smiled and followed me out of the door. I grinned secretly to myself in relief. Once we were outside in the cool night air, he turned to me.

"Have you brought a car? Cause I haven't. I kind of...got here in a rush and walked it." He smiled at me. I returned the gesture, somewhat weakly.

"Yeah, so did I. I guess we're trekking, then." I sighed, but was somewhat excited by the prospect. A whole twenty minutes with Danny. In the dark. Alone. I blushed, and was glad of the nighttime. We began to walk. At first, the only sound was owls hooting and the occasional car passing. I could hear our footsteps in the crunchy leaves and maybe some animals in the bushes, but that was it. I shivered in my little cardigan. Danny noticed.

"Hey, you're cold. How comes you didn't bring a jacket?" He asked, looking down at me with a little frown creasing his face. I tried to stop my teeth from chattering, or my spine from tingling for that matter. Even when he was frowning, he was sexy.

"Like, in said, I was in a rush. But I'll be fine, I'm OK. It's only the cold." I replied, looking up at him as he looked down at me. Our gazes locked for a breathtaking moment...then I had to tear myself away. He was a rock star. I reminded myself. And I was just an ordinary girl. Then, suddenly, as were walking, little flurries of snow began to swirl their way down from the cloud laden sky.

"Now you're definitely cold. Here, have my jacket." He began to shrug his jacket off.
"Hey! Then you'll be cold. Leave it. I'll be fine." I tried not to shiver as I pushed the jacket back up his shoulder.

"No, you have to take it." Danny insisted, trying to pull it off while I kept on tugging it back up his shoulder. We ended up breathless with laughing, unable to walk any longer. I was numb with the cold, but, because of his laugh, a strange fire raged inside of me.

"Please don't." I pleaded, looking at him with puppy dog eyes. He relented.

"Don't look at me like that." He said, his warm hands covering my freeing ones as he tried to pull them away from his jacket so he could take it off.

"Why?" I asked holding on fast.

"Oh, just stop, Jenni. You're having my jacket and that's that. So you can stop looking at me with those beautiful eyes of yours and trying to put me under a spell or something..." he laughed, finally gently prying my fingers away from the jacket lapel. I laughed at his words.

"Me? Beautiful eyes? Yeah right. And a spell? Ch-easy." I sang, skipping out of his reach with a cheeky grin on my face. I was free again - I didn't have to be closed off around Danny. He caught my waist and pulled my close suddenly. Not one part of our bodies were not touching, his lean torso was pressed against mine, his strong legs entangled with my long ones, one hand gripping my waist and the other sliding into my hair. Then, with a last look deep into my eyes, he positioned my head gently and brought his lips toward mine. Our mouths touched, his soft, firm lips began to work against mine, and the bottom of my stomach fell clean away. Butterflies flew crazily inside of me, and it was a good feeling, not a nervous one. I could feel heat from him spreading all the way through my body, the white hotness of our embrace piercing my mind till I could hardly think of nothing but Danny...Danny.

He pulled away slowly and his gaze lingered on my lips for a moment before he tore out of the circle of our arms tenderly. He just looked at me and I just looked at him - there's not much you can say when you're completely speechless. He silently picked up my hand and held it firmly in his as we began to walk again.

"I don't know what just happened. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. That Dave guy was obviously your boyfriend. Sorry." Danny broke the quiet with an apology. I squeezed his hand tightly.

"Don't be. Dave is my ex-step brother. And you know what, if you didn't, I probably would have been very upset right now." I admitted truthfully, huddling up closer to him as the biting cold began to seep into my bones again. I looked up at Danny, seeing how he was taking it. A big grin was spread across his face, just revealing the slight dimple in his cheek.

"You mean it?" He asked, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice. He must actually like me! Not just a boy but a ROCK STAR liked me!

"Yup." I replied truthfully, once again stopping and looking into his eyes. "I'm sure of it." Goosebumps, partly from the cold, but mostly from something else, formed on my skin as he leaned down and sweetly, gently, planted a whiskery kiss on my forehead. I shivered. He, unfortunately, noticed.

"So, now that we have an agreement on something, you'll take my jacket?" He smiled hopefully. He hadn't won yet.

"Definitely...not!" I responded cheekily. Danny dropped my hand and instead, did something I hadn't anticipated. He unzipped his jacket and held one side of it open, indicating I should get in. I hesitated, then obliged. His strong-arm wrapped around me as we both huddled in his jacket, laughing easily. Somehow, something told me...my luck was beginning to change.