3 A GUEST IN THE HOUSE

Mary woke up early, cooked scrambled eggs, prepared a cup of coffee for Daniel and went to wake him up with a kiss.

She tip toed to his bedroom not to spoil the surprise, leaned over him and started covering his cheeks and neck with kisses. Men have trouble with their passion level in the morning even without any kisses at all, so it was really a hit below the belt.

At first Daniel thought he was still dreaming but soon he started to realize what was going on. He frantically searched his memories for yesterday events but did not find any reason for such a passionate morning! He opened his eyes and saw Mary's beautiful blond hair. That's when realization hit him. He took her by the chin and looked her directly in the eye.

"Mary, what are you doing?"

"Wishing you a good morning," she said smiling. "When do you go to work?"

It didn't matter when he needed to go to work, the fire was burning inside him, and the one to blame was smiling innocently right in front of him.

"Don't you know that it's dangerous to wish a man a good morning in such fashion? You have to be ready for consequences…" while he was saying it, his eyes slid down Mary's freshly bought "naughty girl" night gown. He started to regret giving her his credit card…

"Oh God! I'm twenty eight and I've been single for quite some time. Now, do you think I'm really afraid?"

She laughed heartily at him. Then she stood up and said that breakfast was ready and if he wanted to, he could join her in the kitchen.

Daniel took some time to calm down his senses, and not only senses, and went to have breakfast. While he was eating Mary noticed that he was texting someone and smiling from time to time. Her curiosity was boiling and she couldn't hold it any longer, "Who is texting you so early?"

"No one, just a friend," he said.

A friend texting you in the morning and you are laughing at the messages… It is either a very good friend, or a female friend. Mary suspected it was the latter. And female friends are never a good sign. Mary knew for sure because she used to be a female friend too many times to know what expectations this kind of friend usually has. She wondered whether his mobile phone had any password…

While Mary was washing the dishes she felt a hand slid around her waist and a kiss landed on her neck. Goose bumps rose all over her body. She almost dropped the dish into the sink out of surprise. The kisses ended as quickly and suddenly as they started and Mary felt Daniel's body moving away from her.

"Why did you stop? Please, continue…" she understood that he wanted to revenge her for the wake up kisses, but this was not the way to do it, it surely did not work with her.

He only chuckled in response.

Truly speaking it was not a usual behavior for Daniel, he was not romantic or tender, at least not in his previous relationships. But now he felt playful most of the time while this was not a real relationship at all, was it? But ever since she moved in the atmosphere in the house changed, now it smelled of tasty food and lady's perfume, someone was seeing him off to work and meeting him after it, kissing him good night and good morning. He did not realize that it could be so pleasant, and so alluring, and so warm. Usually it seemed unnecessary and annoying. Who would have thought that to realize it he would have to bring home a total stranger whom he met in the bar and who agreed to sleep with him for money?!

While he was deep in his thoughts another message came and he had an idea. "I think today I'll be bringing my friend home, the one texting me. Can you prepare supper for three?"

"Sure, what does your friend like to eat?" Mary was relieved that she did not have to hack his phone after all.

"Anything at your choosing, just don't buy any sweets."

She saw him off and discovered that she had free time because no cleaning was planned that day. "So I do get a chance for idling around," she though smiling and booked the time in a nearby beauty salon for later in the day. If he was bringing his "friend" then she should be prepared.

She returned home with a make-up, a hairdo, a manicure, a pedicure and a new dress –she was completely ready! She had enough time only to change her clothes and to warm up the food before the entrance door opened.

His friend as expected turned out to be a female with model appearance and an unpleasant expression on her face. Mary had no idea how Daniel explained her presence in his apartment to his friend, but she surely had to send her a message; so she decisively came up to him and gave him a good and confident kiss on the lips. Daniel was speechless, while his friend's expression became somewhat twisted. Seeing the change in the female's face Mary was glad that she did what she did.

"Supper is ready, I prepared for three," Mary said triumphantly and went to the kitchen.

For that evening she decided to make a Greek supper, so she cooked tzatziki sauce to eat with bread, Greek salad and stewed green beans. The smell from the food was overwhelming.

They ate, Daniel was chatting with miss "I-am-just-a-friend"; and Mary wondered why exactly he brought this woman here. Her name was Gabriella, and she behaved like she knew Daniel for years. When he went out to the bathroom and could not hear them, Gabriella leaned forward and whispered, "I know what you are! Don't behave like you're an ordinary girlfriend; Danny told me everything. And I'll make sure that you won't stay here for long, you're not the right kind of person to be by his side."

Mary's expression did not change, "And you are?"

"Yes, and I am. If you don't see, we're very close with him."

"If you're very close, then why is it me kissing him good night and good morning?" Mary asked and smiled coldly.

As soon as Daniel returned, Gabriella took her leave. When the door closed Mary turned to Daniel and said, "Whatever she says to you, I'd believe no more than one word out of ten!" When she said it, her expression was dark but she shook those heavy thoughts off. Yes, she came here as a girl bought for money, but how was it different from Gabriella or any other girl like Gabriella? Do they not fall for men's money? Do they not use this money how they wish? At least Mary was not hiding behind false pretenses; moreover, it seemed that she took an unnecessary liking to this man paying her to stay.

When she realized that part of those thoughts was still mirrored on her face, she quickly took it under control.

"Do you wish to take a bath?" she asked smiling. "Should I fill a bathtub for you? Or maybe a jacuzzi?" she continued smiling even wider.

"No need, I'll work till late. Don't wait for me, just go to sleep," he kissed her on the cheek and went to his cabinet.

"Why are men so complicated?" Mary thought on her way to the bedroom.