Page 76 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, at first, it was all just an act. I mean, I know this whole thing started out as a fake engagement. He needed a fiancée. I needed content. It made sense…at the time. But then…Logan showed up offering me a chance to go back to the way things were.”

“Oh…”

“And I realized I didn’t want that.” Daisy shifted, slumping against the cold wall, savoring the chill against her warm back. “Logan and I, we worked because we wanted the same thing. We were both out to win. To be the best…But Logan didn’t build me up. He was actually pretty terrible to me. He was manipulative and controlling. He belittled me while in the same breath took credit for my ideas.”

“You never told me any of this…”

“I never told anyone.” She ran her nails down the seam of her jeans. “I was afraid of what fans would think. He’s HGTV’s golden boy. I was afraid of needing to rebuild everything I worked so hard for if I raised a fuss. It wasn’t worth it.”

She paused, brushing her hair behind her ear as her next thought brought a wave of heat to her face. “Hunter has never made me feel like that. He sees me, you know?” She brushed a thumb over her knee, remembering that night on the beach.I’d really like to get to know Daisy without the Decker.

“The Barrett family is incredible. All of them. They’re loud and messy and hilarious. They’re close. And I think a lot of that is because of Hunter. There was a time in their lives when everything fell apart. Hunter was the one who held them together…He still does. It breaks my heart sometimes how hard he holds on to them. Like one little crack and he could lose them all…” She hadn’t realized how much she’d really learned about Hunter since this all started. How much she respected him. “It’s crazy, because I know it’s afakeengagement, but I could see myself being a part of all that. I could see myself staying.”

Robin was quiet. “That’s big, Daisy.”

“I know.” Daisy let out heavy breath. “And I don’t know what to do, because he’s talking to his grandpa right now, trying to get him to change the trust so he doesn’t need to be engaged in order to inherit the house. And then, that’s it. It will be over.”

The words sank into her with a heaviness that made her heart ache.

She was about to get everything she’d planned for.

And nothing she wanted.

Robin cut through her thoughts. “Does it have to be?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said it yourself. You can see yourself staying. So what’s stopping you?” A loud wave of voices sounded from Robin’s end of the phone, and she hurriedly said, “Oh love, I wish I could stay and talk. That’s all so much. But my mom’s calling me in. I think she needs reinforcements.”

“It’s okay,” Daisy said. “You go. We’ll chat later. I’ll be back in LA in a few weeks.”

“Love you, babe. Hang in there.”

“You too.”

The call ended and the silence closed in around her, the cold November night seeping through her jacket. Her breath clouded in the air as she let the question sink in.What’s stopping you?

Things had changed so quickly between her and Hunter, they hadn’t had a chance to make a plan. Could she really stake her future on someone who hadn’t promised her a life?

She stood and started up the stairs when a sound from the street caught her attention.

A figure strolled across the entrance to the alley, and paused, glancing toward her.

Logan.

“Daisy,” he said as he stepped into the circle of light from the exterior lamp beside her door. “Is this…is this where you live?”

Daisy glanced uncomfortably up at her door. Had he been listening in on her conversation? “Um, yeah.”

“Looks…” His eyes scanned the faux potted plants and the garland. “Very you.”

“What do you want?”

“Relax,” Logan said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I wanted to apologize for the way I acted the other day. It’s obvious that you’re happy here with…with Hunter.” He said the name as though the taste of it made him sick. “But I also know how things are on the set. And that’s what the house is, right? It’s the set for your show. I know how emotions can get a little…tangled.”

“Spit it out, Logan.”

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