Ever A Never After: Chapter 4

"Mummy, I'm done brushing my teeth" Danielle's voice came from the room a few seconds before she ran into the sitting room wearing her favorite pink pajamas.

"Good girl" Cassie grinned, scooping her up to sit on her lap as she closed the laptop she was working with. 

"Did you read letters of the alphabet A-Z while brushing?"

"Yup....here's my teeth" The little girl opened her teeth and Cassie smiled, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Beautiful. So what time is it?"

"It's 5:35pm mama" Danielle replied cheerfully after looking at the clock for a few seconds and Cassie grinned again in approval.

"That's my baby girl"

"So can I get some chocolate now Mama?" 

Cassie smiled as her daughter bounced excitedly on her laps 

"Yeah, come on" 

They stood up and went to the kitchen for some chocolate.

Cassie handed her one from the open and she teared it open with a cheer before biting into it.

"So would you love to go next door with me? To see our neighbors?"

She asked and Danielle paused, staring up at her mother with a confused look 

"What for mama? We never visit our neighbors. We don't talk to anyone of them" 

"Well, it's time for a change. It's the new neighbor that moved in few days ago " 

Cassie knew she was definitely going to regret this, but she had to. She glanced at the box of cookies she had baked all day after just two hours of sleep

"The big black man?" Danielle queried with wide eyes and Cassie nodded.

"Well, his sister actually. Mama needs to offer some apologies". And she really does 

"What for?"

"Well mama was rude to her earlier today, so I'd love to say I'm sorry" She explained 

"Cus that's the right to do" Danielle approved and stormed off the door 

"Exactly honey"

Cassie said, grabbing the heart shaped box of cookies she had baked earlier that day after she woke up from sleep and felt guilty about how she talked to the poor lady.

Blame it on fatigue and years of isolation. But Daisy seemed nice and didn't deserve the attitude she got from her .

"Come on let's go" Cassie says, grabbing Danielle's palm with the cookies in one hand and they leave the apartment. When they got to their neighbor's door, her heart skipped and started beating fast.

When was the last time she spoke to someone besides Danielle's teachers and her sister. She didn't know how to make small conversations, so she really hoped she wouldn't disgrace herself. 

Well all she had to do was hand the cookies over to Daisy, apologize and then introduce herself.

Or was the introduction supposed to come first?

"Mama?" Danielle's tint voice interrupted her thoughts and she stared down at her daughter's huge eyes. 

"Are you going to knock?" 

Cassie smiled at Danielle and did just that.

One tap, two ...then three.

She inhaled sharply and waited for a few seconds, then she heard a click before the door opened.

With a polite smile she raised her head up to greet Daisy but her smile froze when she saw who was at the door.

Oh my God.

Cassie had to bite her lip to stop herself from saying that out loud.

"Big black man" Danielle yelled, hugging Cassie's leg and Cassie nodded, staring at the tall drink of gorgeousness smiling at her.

It wasn't Daisy. She never stopped to think about the possibility that Daisy might not be the one to answer the door.

The man before her was drop dead sexy and gorgeous in a way that made her think of sin.

He was bare chested, his glorious strong abs available for her Eyes consumption and his face was smeared with something that looked like paint.

Cassie shook herself and gave herself a little scolding for obviously checking out her neighbor. But she doubted any straight lady would see him and not ogle.

"Hi" She croaked out catching his eyes that were staring at her with a hint of amusement.

"Hello" he replied folding his arms

"Uhm....so I'm looking for Daisy" She said skipping the necessary introductions.

"Daisy stepped outside for a while. She will be back in a minute though, so if you don't mind coming just in to wait for her?" He said, quivering his eyebrow, like he was challenging Cassie to refuse.

Well she really should, but Cassie had promised herself that she was done running and hiding.

Besides, if she chickens out now that she has already taken that leap, she might not have the courage to come in here ever again.

"Mama!" Danielle said tugging her gown and the man looked down at her daughter with a very passionate smile that was totally different from the smirk he was giving her earlier. 

"Hello there" he said, squatting to meet Danielle's eyes. Danielle on her part held Cassie's leg tighter with a shy smile. 

She was never good around strangers.

"Hi," She murmured shyly.

"My name is Jake, what's yours?"

Cassie whispered the name in her head a few times with a subtle nod, watching the exchange

"Danielle. My mum is Cassie. Nice to meet you sir" 

"You seem awfully smart for your age Danielle. That's really good"

"My mum says I'm smart all the time"

"Seems like it" Jake said standing up again to look at Cassie with a teasing smile.

"So, would you love to come in and wait for her? Or will you come back later?" 

If she leaves she wouldn't come back later, Cassie was sure of that. She had to get this over and done with. But Jake was a man, a huge strong one at that. How could she handle being alone with him?

What if he does something funny? What if he tries something weird and all? 

What if?

Stop it Cassie. Not every man is a psychopath like Nathaniel.

She could hear her sister's voice in her head scolding her.

But it was true. She was just being ridiculous which was unnecessary.

"We will come in and wait for a few minutes" She replied and the man raised his eyebrow in surprise.

He obviously wasn't expecting Cassie to agree.

Well joke's on you Huge black man. 

Cassie glared at him, threatening him and pleading at the same time with her eyes, hoping he could see what she doesn't want to say 

"Don't worry Cassie, I don't bite." He murmured and opened the door wider.

With a deep intake of breath, Cassie got inside the living room with Danielle's hand in hers.

Jake murmured a little prayer before locking the door behind him. 

His sister Daisy would be the end of him one day. Just a day of being here, and she already has a woman, a sexy one at that visiting him.

The lady didn't seem like someone who easily made friends.

Jake knew her kind very well. 

Haunted by a past or running from something 

The entire time he was before her he could read and sense the fear and nervousness in her poise and face.

So he was very surprised when she agreed to come inside the house 

He only offered to be polite though.

Now he just had to wait for Daisy to come back here