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[AngelofDeath]

"Not that good. You'll be fine, too many kids and husbands around for the sharks to circle too badly. And not every woman around here is going to want to eat you alive Jake. Not even a nibble. But if it will convince you to come around, if you get into any trouble, you can use me as a get out of hell free card."

Of course Dani was in no hurry to get to the party, but she could use the distraction. Carlo's constant gift giving had put her on edge and frankly it was probably better if she wasn't home when he stopped by. Dani might be inclined take her frustration out on him. Looking back at Jake she smiled, "Please? I really hate going to this damn party alone."

 

[musicankane]

Jake looked at her, in her eyes there was something. She was hidding something, like a real reason for begging him to come with her. He flicked his tongue out over his lower lip and nodded, "Alright alright. Let me go see if i have some shorts or some shit." He said throwing his hands up and turning to head back to his house.

Five minutes later he came out in a wife beater and a pair of long swim trunks colored in blue and white strips. He had a red towel thrown over his shoulder and he cake up to Dani with a smirk. "I hope for your sake the burgers are good." He told her.

 

[AngelofDeath]

"The food's ok, but hey I own a cafe. It would be wrong to compare." She grabbed her bag and the two headed down the block. The Queen Bitch, or Rebecca Swan to the locals had the dubious and distinct pleasure of having the biggest home on the block. Which also let her have the biggest pool as well. The vibrant red-head was strutting around in a tiny red bikini with a blue sarong on her hips.

Even through the small sea of adults, and kids she spotted Dani and Jake and came over. "Daniella, what a lovely surprise," the two hugged and touched cheeks. "And Jake, I am so glad you could make it." While not as bad as Kathy, Rebecca did manage to press every inch of her breasts into Jake as she hugged him. "Well welcome to the party. Drinks are ready and the food is too. I'll see you two later."

Rebecca sashayed off and the two of them found an open set of chairs to set their things down. Dani peeled her shirt off and then her shorts. Pulling the matching green sarong she wrapped it around her hips. "Drink?" she suggested with a smile.

 

[musicankane]

Jake looked around at the people of the neighborhood. His eyes stuck to Rebecca's ass as she walked away. He took a long look before following Dani to a couple of seat. Jake sat down and found his eyes pulled to Dani as she peeled away her outerware and left herself in a bikini that made her look incredible. He didn't hear her the first time she asked him if he wanted a drink.

He smiled and nodded, "Yeah that would be great." As Dani moved to grab drinks, Jake looked around at the women. Kathy wore as small of a bikini as she possibly could. He sighed and shook his head, these women need some fucking hobbies.

Jake smiled and took the drink DAni brought him, "Thanks Dani." He gestured to the pool, "You gonna get wet?"

 

[AngelofDeath]

"In a bit, and besides since when are pool parties ever really about getting wet," Dani grinned at him. Taking his arm she escorted him around, introducing him to the other neighbors. When it came to the horde of kids of varying ages she just waved her hand, "Too many to name and remember, but they're generally well behaved."

Cliff, Rebecca's husband was many a grill most men would kill for. "Hi Dani, glad you could make it. This is Jake right?"

"Jake, Cliff. Cliff, Jake. Cliff's a lawyer, mostly criminal defense, but he does handle other matters as well."

"So tell me Jake, how are you liking the area so far?" Cliff flipped a couple burgers and then set two done patties on a pair of buns for them both.

 

[musicankane]

Jake shrugged, "It sure beats living in tornado alley." He said, putting extra effort into the southern drawl. "Seems nice enough though, everyone insisted on throwing housewarming gifts at me. I prefer one of them burgers though," he said gesturing with his drink.

Cliff nodded and said, "I hear that."

"Thank you sir." He said.

Then he turned back to Dani and smirked, "We men only need a few words to get to know each other." Then he took a bite and gave cliff a nod.

 

[AngelofDeath]

"Having more testosterone than estrogen in my family I know damn well men don't even need words. More like grunts and nods. You only use your words when there is a woman around who might get lost trying to follow such a unique conversation." Dani set her empty glass aside and took the burger Cliff was handing to her.

"And that is why Dani is the only woman allowed at poker nights," Cliff placed a few fresh hot dogs on the grill. "Though with you around, Jake I think she might have to fight for her spot. Assuming you play that is."

Dani rolled her eyes, "If I lose my seat, then you guys can start providing your own homemade snacks."

Cliff threw his head back and laughed, "Ok so maybe Jake can be our fill in player." The trip chatted a bit longer, before Dani and Jake went back to their seats to relax.

 

[musicankane]

Jake shook his head and raised his hand, "No way, I can't even hope to compete with Dani's snacks." He said. He really didn't like talking to this lawyer. There was too much risk involved in being recognized. Though he was on protective reassignment custody, and couldn't be prosecuded there was still the chance that Cliff would recognize him and word would inevitably spread to someone who shouldn't know that Lou existed.

"I'm not much of a poker guy, more like a go fish guy." He said, "Hey you guys got a restroom I can use around here? I love beer but the shit makes me piss like a race horse."

 

[AngelofDeath]

Cliff gave him directions to the bathroom and Dani watched him walk off. Rough around the edges for sure, but a great body. While Jake was off, Dani slipped off her sarong and decided a quick dip wouldn't hurt, considering how hot it was today. Since the kids were taking up the shallow end Dani made due with the deep end. Of course swimming meant Jake was on his own once he came back from the bathroom.

She started doing a few laps.

 

[musicankane]

After Jake had taken a leak, he sighed and washed his face and his hands. HE shook his head, really really not wanting to go back out there. Maybe he would simply slip out the front door and go back home. Dani would only come and find him though, which meant he would have to be part of thie neighborhood whether he wanted to or not.

He walked back out and spotted Dani in the pool doing laps. Which made her the only person actually swimming in the pool. Sure the kids splashed around the shallow end playing, but they didn't actually swim.

He knelt at the end of the pool and waited for Dani to surface. "Having fun?"

 

[AngelofDeath]

Dani splashed him on her way up, "Its not bad I suppose. You?" Using the steps in the side of the pool wall she pulled herself out of the water and sat on the edge of the pool next to him. "I know this probably isn't your thing, but thanks for letting me drag you along." Dani wrung the water out of her hair slowly and looked around, "I'll make you a deal, you put up with all the crazy for another half hour and then we can go."

From the look on his face Dani could tell he liked that idea. "I'll even make you dinner," she smiled at him sweetly.

 

[musicankane]

Jake let a slow smile cross his face and he let his eyes roam over her for a moment. "Deal, but can you make dinner wearing only the bikini?" He teased her with naughty glint in his eye. Before she could hit him, he moved away laughing softly back to the poolside chairs they started this day at. He sat down and started to finish off the rest of his burger.

Cliff came over to him with a beer and asked, "You know something Jake? You got an awfully familiar face, did you live around here before moving?"

Jake felt his heart stop as he looked up at this lawyer saying the words he didn't want to hear. The pause was only for a minute, then his face melted into his good ol' boy smile, "Naw, I just have one of them faces." He assured, "They say I'm like one of those everyman faces, so average that i look like everyone. You know?"

Cliff seemed to think about that for a second and nodded, "Yeah I could see that."

 

[AngelofDeath]

Dani got them another set of drinks and they sat around enjoying the sun and whatever company that happened to wander by. Well minus the string of women interested in getting Jake to loosen up a bit more. When the time Dani had set was up they said their goodbyes and headed home. Along the way they both ended up laughing over how impossible it seemed for Kathy's top to contain her breasts.

"Personally I didn't know spandex could be so forgiving. Then again a blow out could have blinded someone." As she turned around Dani relaxed seeing there were no gifts or worse Carlo waiting for them. At her driveway she smirked, "Well I need a shower, so give me an hour? You can help make your dinner this time."

 

[musicankane]

Jake shook his head, "Hey wait a minute that wasn't the deal, you said you'd cook." He protested, then he frowned at the look she gave him and he shrugged. "Fine, I'll see you in an hour." He turned and headed toward his house, thinking he needed to take a shower himself.

He headed inside and raised his arm to take a sniff. Shit he smelt like a dozen lonely housewives spent the afternoon rubbing their cooches on him. He showered and got dressed in real clothes then headed over to Dani's. He had grabbed a bottle of a wine from his cabinet so they could have a drink while they ate dinner.

When Dani answered the door he smiled and said, "Teach me master."

 

[AngelofDeath]

Dani ran inside and through herself into the shower. Once she was chlorine free and dry Dani picked out a simple blue sundress and a matching bra to wear. By the time she was ready Jake was at the door with a bottle of wine. "Oh teach I shall and thanks for the wine." Lucky for Jake, Dani planned on keeping dinner simple. She pulled two steaks out of the fridge along with salad fixings, dressing and some bread.

Pointing to spice rack she asked, "You think you can keep from burning the steaks?" Dani turned the grill section of her stove on before she started making their salad.

 

[musicankane]

Jake smirked and took the steaks over to the grill. "I thought I got to get a great meal from you. Alright though, here we go watch me work." He clapped his hands and adjusted the dials to heat the grill. "Where you got the condiments?" He asked.

She pointed him to a cabinet right above the stove. He took down some seasonings and lightly tossed the steaks in flavor before setting them onto the grill. Ten minutes later the steaks were ready and he set them on plates Dani already decorated with salad.

"Dinner in served." He said with a smile.

They sat down and Jake cut into his steak, "These look so good I could write a book."

 

[AngelofDeath]

"How to cook on someone else's budget," Dani chuckled softly as she refilled their wine glasses. She spread some herb butter on her bread and steak before digging in. "Ok so you can cook a good steak. You might be worth keeping." As they ate, Dani talked a bit about her family, mostly that they were in New York and that she was second generation American born.

"I think it was the food that really got my parents together. Other than quick tempers and the love of family, food is pretty much the only thing left to have in common."

 

[musicankane]

Jake sighed and sat back in his seat as he chewed the last piece of his steak. "My family is a bunch of all over the place professionals." He said, keeping things vague and metaphorical. "I have a cousin who is a plumber, my dad and grandfather share a concrete business. We are all pretty good with our hands I guess. No surprise I got into construction." He explained.

"I know I could have gotten a job with them, a career or whatever since construction is a similar profession. But I wanted to be out of my own you know? I wanted to try and make it on my own, not feel like I only was successful because of my family." He shrugged, "Besides they live in the midwest and California is so much nicer."

 

[AngelofDeath]

"Now that I can understand," Dani responded. Getting away from Carlo had only been part of it. The other part was getting out from the shadow of her father's family and doing things on her own. If she were home, he cafe would be treated as just another 'family' business, even unofficially. After dinner, the pair was once again in her living room, more wine and dessert. Some soft jazz playing in the background. She really was enjoying how Jake seemed to be relaxing and opening up more. Even a blind man could see that he was normally more private and reserved.

Jake was refilling her glass when there was a knock on the door. "Excuse me." Dani hopped up and went to the door. The minute she looked through the peep hole she swore, "Fuck."

Slowly she opened the door to look at her ex-fiance Carlo. 6'1 muscled but not bulky and still very much a pretty boy. From his styled hair to the guuci shoes, he was all style and no substance.

"Dani, I."

"Don't Dani me. You know damn well you aren't here Carlo so why the fuck am I looking at you?"

"Look baby I'm sorry about what happened. Really I am. Come home, let's start again."

She rolled her eyes, "No you're sorry you got caught. " Dani took a deep breath as her grip grew tighter on the door knob. "Look I have company right now, but even if I didn't, I still wouldn't want thick Italian skull. We...are...OVER!"

 

[musicankane]

Jake heard Dani's voice raise as she argued, or rather yelled at someone at the door. He snuck to the side of the doorway, behind Dani and away from where the door opened so that niether Dani nor the person she was hissing at could see him. Trouble was brewing and it was a shame because he was enjoying himself, and the wine was starting to make everything feel lighter.

Though the moment potential danger reared its head, Jake was instantly sober and alert. The three years as a Navy SEAL he spent prior to jumping into the rabbir hole of the family business had stuck with him. It was funny how the government made him so much better at killing and getting away with it. All of it had turned around simply to be used in the mob.

He leaned against the wall and listened to Dani try very hard to shoo someone away. The man on the other side didn't much sound like he was inclined to leave. Dani made a dirty Italian insult and Jake winced. Oh she wouldn't like him very much if she knew the truth.

Nevertheless Jake wasn't about to stand idly by and let Dani get harassed, "Problem here Dani?" He said casually, loud enough to interupt the bickering from both parties.

When Dani turned to him, he saw the heat in her eyes like she was going to say something to him. But he had his SEAL face on, both to let her know that he could handle anything and also to shut down any attitude she might let splash onto him. Every muscle in his body was ready to fight at a moment's notice. This part of him that was always there no matter how hard he tried to forget about it.

 

[AngelofDeath]

"Who the fuck is that?" Carlo asked as he tried to take a step forward.

"My company and none of you business. Now leave before I decide I actually do want to call the cops on you."

He glared at her, and for a second she though Carlo might grab at her. He didn't do it however and it was probably because he had heard Jake's voice.

"Fine, but you and I are gonna have to talk eventually, dolcezza." Carlo turned and walked off. Once he was in his car she shut the door hard and locked it. Jake came out of hiding as she leaned against the door.

 

[musicankane]

Jake was serious in his vocie. So serious that when he spoke his southern accent was forgotten. "Was that a problem Dani?" He asked glancing out the window and taking an instant memorization of the guy' ls license plate. Carlo was his name, at least that is whatever he thought he heard.

"Does tbat guy give you problems often? I can talk with him next time if you want. I am good at setting little men straight." He said.

 

[AngelofDeath]

"Often? No. Lately however is a different matter. Its not your problem Jake. Carlo is just an ex who can't understand why finding out he cheated on me, repeatedly might be a reason to leave him." She pushed away from the door and headed back into the living room. "I'm a big girl and if he gets out of line I can handle him." Dani usually wasn't one to ask for help, but after this she was going to make a call or two.

"I'm really sorry our evening got interrupted." She took a deep sip of her wine.

 

[musicankane]

Jake gave her a serious look. Like he didnt believe it was nothing, but what could he do i was her life and he was only her neighbor. Jake followed her back to the living room and grabbed his wine glass again. He took a sip and watched her carefully. She was on edge and whatever mood the night had had, was over and gone.

"Tell me. Does this Carlo give you much trouble? Because he sure didnt seem like much of a gentleman."

 

[AngelofDeath]

"Like I said this is recent. Those flowers you saw me throw away? Him. I guess he figured gifts weren't going to work so just wait for when I would be home." Dani shook her head and took another sip, "I really need to pin the ears back of whomever told him where I was, considering he lives in New York. And he can be a gentleman when he wants. He just thinks too highly of himself."

Leaning back into the couch Dani sighed, "Seriously though Jake, he's pretty harmless. We may be across the country, but my father has a long reach and I'm the baby of the family." She was touched by his concern though, even if she didn't really want to see him get involved in her drama. Ok that was half true, seeing Carlo get put in his place would be nice. Which was why she was reminding herself she wasn't a violent person.