Page 46 of Love Under Review

“I got a job offer from an opposing news station back in LA.” She took another bite. Folding her arms on the counter, she rested her chin on top, staring at the glass cup.

“And? Are you taking it?”

“I was going to. I have my suitcase packed and the car all gassed up. But something just doesn’t feel right, like I’m missing something.”

Velda’s face broke into a wide grin. “Or someone.” She stood and put her hand on her hip, exuding the attitude Danielle loved.

Nodding, Danielle said, “Yeah, but that someone doesn’t trust me anymore. I lied to him, Velda. Lied to him even after he told me he couldn’t stand liars.”

“Was it the book-writing thing?”

“Yes. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone, not until I agreed to the author visit. I’d already burned one career, and I was worried I’d ruin this one if I told anyone. And now I’ve lost the man I think I’m in love with.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she did all she could to keep from sobbing, knowing she was already getting stares from the people around the counter.

“If a man won’t forgive you for one sincere lie, then he probably isn’t worth your time,” a male voice said from behind her.

Turning slowly, Danielle was surprised to find Liam standing there. As she studied his face, she couldn’t get a good read on his emotions, but the words rotated in her mind at high speeds.

“What if he’s been hurt before?” she said, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice.

Liam took a few steps toward her, his hands reaching for hers and sending that shock wave of electricity through them. “He should have realized the girl of his dreams wasn’t the one who’d caused those trust issues.”

His blue eyes looked back and forth into hers, and he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her. She returned the hug, feeling the dam break on the emotions she’d been holding back.

“How did you find me here?” she managed between sobs.

“It’s a small town. There were only so many places to look.” He brushed the hair back from her face gently. “And I might have seen your car outside.”

Danielle laughed, wiping at the tears.

His lips came next to her ear, and he whispered, “I’m so sorry. With all the success you’ve had with your books, I should’ve been the first one to be excited that it was you who wrote them.”

Danielle wiggled her head against his shoulder. “I should have told you beforehand, when I realized how much you meant to me. But when you told me about being betrayed by your ex-girlfriend, it made it hard for me to want to say anything.”

Liam leaned back, taking her head between his hands softly. “I love you, Danielle Holloway, for being just who you are.”

“I love you too,” Danielle said, a lone tear sliding down her face.

She never thought she’d be able to say that to anyone or that she’d even want to. But as she reflected on the words, she realized that every scrap of loneliness she’d felt before was gone.

Leaning down, Liam brushed his lips across hers, setting her nerves on fire. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a more intense, passionate kiss.

Clapping began around the diner, and she pulled back, rubbing her lips together as the sensations continued to fire in her nerves. She looked at Liam and grinned as they put their foreheads together.

“Just promise you won’t leave me,” Liam said, his voice barely a whisper.

“As long as you won’t leave me.”

He licked his lips, his gaze more intense than she’d ever seen it. “If something were to happen to, uh, to Kara, I would be the guardian of Cari. We’re kind of a package deal.”

Danielle pulled him in for another kiss, his lips soft against hers. When she pulled back, she said, “You wouldn’t be the man I love if you didn’t take care of family.”

He gave her a peck to the lips and said, “You were really going to take that job?”

Danielle laughed, all the pieces connecting now. “I discovered there are a lot of things here for me, and even though I thought about taking that job for a few seconds, I realized I’d be making a bigger mistake by leaving than by staying.”

With a half-smile on his face, Liam asked, “What kind of things would you be missing out on if you left?” His arms wrapped around her middle, pulling her closer.

Danielle tried to keep her face neutral, but the corners of her mouth twitched. “That would be you.”

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