Page 19 of Love Under Review

Danielle rolled in her bottom lip and nodded. “I’m in the middle of a job change, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be starting from scratch, unless by some miracle I can write a book about my life and it makes the bestseller list.” She chuckled, the sound coming from deep down. If only it were that easy to sell books. Then again, she was still surprised by the surge of interest in her cozy mysteries.

“Why not? I’m sure you’ve had plenty of adventures in your life. Why not write a book so people can learn about those places through you?” Liam’s hands were stuffed into his suit pants pockets, and he looked serious, causing Danielle to take a step back. Man, he filled out that suit coat well.

No one had ever really understood her writing interests. Her mother had been loyal to the grocery store since they’d moved to Sage Creek when Danielle was three. She vaguely remembered her father, and most of her friends in this small town were practical, knowing that selling a service or holding a position in the town would bring in x amount of money.

To a certain extent, she’d been like that with her job, but it wasn’t enough just to find out a little information. She’d always gone overboard. She’d been given crazy looks more often than she cared to admit, which was probably why she didn’t want to tell anyone about MK Malone’s true identity just yet, if ever.

She caught Liam staring at her and tried to remember what he’d asked. Oh yes, a book about herself. “Maybe when I’m old and gray and I know the outcome of the story. But not yet. There are still too many variables in play to make a concise judgment on my life.”

“Hmmm.” Liam tapped his finger against his lips, his other arm bent to support the elbow.

“What are youhmmming about?”

“I just didn’t picture you as having that much vision about life. I took you for a live-in-the-moment kind of girl. You know, the ones who just go wherever and whenever they want and don’t have any set goals for the future?”

Danielle glared at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly as irritation bubbled in her stomach. “I’ll have you know, I have plenty of goals for the future. But of course, you’re just like every other person in the world who thinks that the goals everyone has have to be accomplished by a certain age. Well, maybe I’m not ready for what everyone expects just yet. I might never be.”

“That’s it.” Liam snapped his fingers and then raised both arms in the air as though he’d made a field goal.

“What are you talking about? Did you not just hear what I was saying?” The anger in Danielle simmered, threatening to explode.

With both hands on his hips, Liam smiled, looking down at her from his slightly taller form. “That can be the topic of our editorial. We can talk about the things society thinks we should be doing at certain ages and what we really feel about that.”

Danielle wanted to say something snarky, but it seemed like every way she looked at the idea, she couldn’t find any holes in it. “Okay, I can get behind that one. I’m sure everyone will justlovewhat we have to say about it.”

Liam’s face turned serious, his eyebrows cinching together. “You’re not going to use this piece as some platform to promote a man-hating agenda to Sage Creek, right?”

With her jaw dropped open, Danielle hesitated, trying to figure out how to respond to his accusation. “I can’t believe you’d say that. What gave you that impression?”

“Just because you are new in town doesn’t mean you don’t have a reputation. Some of the people in this town have followed every story and every piece you’ve ever written, and from brushing up on them the past few days, that’s the impression I got.”

Grinding her molars together, Danielle wished she was at least six inches taller so she didn’t have to tip her head back so far to look at him. This was when she’d love to have heels. “You looked me up on the internet?”

He shrugged. “I was curious, especially since we’ll be writing together. And there’s no better way to get to know someone than through their passions.”

Danielle stood there, unable to speak or even conjure enough words to make a sentence. A guy was curious about her and had taken the time to research her. She wanted to be flattered, but the part about man-hating popped to the front of her thoughts.

“What happened to Tanner?” she asked, taking a step away so the hint of his cologne wouldn’t mess with her head.

“He got sick from some food he ate last night. Colton asked me to fill in as the best man.”

That meant she would have to spend more one-on-one time with Liam tonight. The thought made the mixture of feelings in her stomach lurch.

“I think I forgot a few things for the reception. I’ll, uh, see you there.”

“You’re not going to go help the bride?” Liam pointed toward the building to their left.

“Colton will get her to the reception. I just forgot something at home and need it before the reception.” Danielle turned and stalked off, hoping he wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes. She could hear her breathing increase as she pushed her steps forward, her stride lengthening with each one.

If anything, she was grateful for his bluntness. It would make it that much easier to avoid him from there on out—at least, when they weren’t working on an article together.

Chapter 13

Liam watched Danielle walk away, feeling something he’d never felt with Tawnee, his ex-girlfriend from New York. He’d dated his ex for nearly two years, and while he’d thought he was in love with her, he’d never gotten excited when she entered a room. Not like the flutters he’d felt when he saw Danielle reach the top of the hill and help Becca spread out her dress.

He was still intrigued by why she’d looked away when the bride and groom kissed. The action kept nagging at him. Maybe he’d just generalized all women world-wide when he thought they all loved romance and kissing. Danielle seemed like the exception to a lot of his past opinions. She might have bought romance books, but did she just skip over the kissing parts in those too?

After a few seconds of debate, he looked around and moved down the road to Canyon Street. One of the teenagers who lived down the block had volunteered to watch Cari during the ceremony. Liam was sure she wouldn’t have made it through all of thirty minutes from beginning to end, even sitting by Mrs. McCready.

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