Free Laughing Eyes: Bittersweet Familia (3) by Melissa Jane Page A

boss like that,” another gorgeous smile crept across her face.
    “Would you rather share with him?” She raised her eyebrows at me with mock curiosity.
    “I think we all know the answer to that!”

 
    Anna
     
    Luiza and I both sat on the end of the bed we would be sharing not really knowing what to do next. We silently watched as the two men unpacked various electronic equipment, placing each item carefully on the mattress. The room was dimly lit, courtesy of only one lamp in between the two beds. It’s occasional flicker in perfect timing with the lightning outside. The incessant rain battered the foggy window pane, the mustiness of the room clinging to our damp bodies.
    “Well,” I said, drawing the attention of both men, “If you don’t mind, Luiza and I will try to tidy ourselves up first?”
    “Go for it. May as well go downstairs to the bar afterwards,” Danny’s eyes twinkled.
    “Sure, sounds good,” I barely managed as Luiza pulled me into the tiny bathroom.
    “What’s happening between you and Danny?”
    “What on earth do you mean?” I feigned innocence knowing that Luiza had been oblivious to the amount of time Danny and I spent together. After a hard day at work she would crash straight after dinner and not move until I woke her in the morning.
    “I see the way you two look at each other,” she teased. The confidence and sass Luiza typically possessed was starting to show itself again. If only it would stay.
    “What about you and Aiden, hey? He’s a bit of a hunk as well.” Pulling off my now filthy dirty and soaking shirt, I came face to face with Luiza’s bemused frown.
    “Hunk? Anna, I don’t think people use that word anymore.”
    “Yes they do and stop changing the subject. Perhaps you should spend some time enjoying Aiden’s company. It might help take your mind off things.”
    “Maybe you’re right. But same goes for you. I see the way your eyes ravage Danny’s body. You’re subtlety needs a bit of work.”
    An abrupt knock at the door caused us both to jump, both our faces guilt riddled.
    “Yes?” I asked, cautiously.
    “Ah, I’m sorry to interrupt your um…scheming,” said a clearly amused Danny. Luiza’s face drained of color, a hand covering her mouth, “but reception just arrived with towels.”
    I couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Clearly the walls were paper thin and the sound of the rain didn’t drown our whispering. Opening the door slightly, I took in the Cheshire cat grin Danny wore. He held both towels out to me, a satisfied look beaming from his eyes. He was a gorgeous man, there was no denying it. Luiza had been right. I did lose all control of subtlety with him around.
    “Thank you,” I offered in a lame attempt to hide my own smile.
    “Pleasure’s all mine.”
     
    ***
     
    The bar downstairs was dingy, carrying the same mouldy smell as our room. None of that bothered me. I was just happy to be safe and dry and away from all the grief and sorrow that had plagued us all for so long.
    Luiza and I always carried a bag of clothes with us as we tended to be covered in filth and blood by the end of day. While we both wore jeans and singlets, nothing flash, it was a lot different to the sacks we were made to wear when out in the field.
    Luiza sat next to me deep in conversation with Aiden. They seemed to be hitting it off well as friends, the spark between them non-existent for anything more. Me on the other hand, I was sitting opposite a man who had somehow had a complete personality swap in the last hour. Danny tapped his fingers on the wooden table, his eyes traveling over every crevice of the bar. When I asked a question he made brief eye contact and delivered a short reply before once again looking away.
    “Danny?”
    “Mm?” He answered but his mind was elsewhere.
    “Is everything alright? You have barely looked at me.”
    Again he flashed me a distant glance before looking away. This time however, his fingers began an irritated drum on the