Page 17 of Where She Is
“Yeah. You’re new in town and on your own. It’s understandable. I get that, although, you could have used a more reliable source. On-line click bate has a shitload of crap on it.”
“Yes, I suppose it does.” Now I really have an overwhelming urge to Google him. What the hell does it say? His beautiful voice interrupts my thoughts.
“So, shall we start again? Being friends, I mean.”
I openly contemplate his offer with a little more humour. “Hmm... just friends?”
“Well, to begin with.”
My nervous giggle is a bit of a giveaway and he adds, “It would always be more than one night.” How do I reply to that? I don’t. I’m too busy trying to calm my out of control, beating heart. He continues, “I was hoping we could get together again after the weekend.”
With deep breaths, my nervous energy hits the pit of my stomach. I’ve felt this way before. Rob promised me so much and look how that turned out. As tempted as I am, I don’t want that agony again.
“The problem is, I promised myself that this time away would be all about me.”
I sense his smile down the line. “Which is why I want to prove to you that for me, this is all about you. Tell me what you want, and what you hoped for, Hannah, because I think I can help you with that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sure you wanted me to kiss you and do a lot more besides, but you stopped it. Tell me why?”
I think for a second. “It’s like most things in life. You hope what you’re doing is right and it’s not a waste of time. That itwill go somewhere. I suppose just for once, I wanted to believe in the happy-ever-after.”
“You still can.”
God, if he were here I’d kiss him, stroke the back of his neck with my fingers, then lick his olive skin. I desperately want all of this, but my guard is up.
“It might take some time to trust anyone again. I think my ‘happy-ever-after’ is ‘far, far away’.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
His response surprises me and I wish I could have seen his face when he’d said those words. Is he serious? I want to look into those beautiful hazel eyes to make sure everything he says is the truth and not some clever way to conquer me. As these thoughts run through my mind, he takes the words right out of my mouth.
“We need to talk face to face.” With that, he confirms my mind reading suspicions. “Please, just come back to the farm.”
“What, now?”
“Yes. Why not? I’ll send my driver to pick you up.”
“Daniel, I can’t drop everything at a moment’s notice. I have a job to do. Richard needs me more than ever this week, so unless it’s an emergency, I can’t do it.”
His disappointment is obvious. “No, of course not.” I bet he thinks I’m brushing him off again. I hope he doesn’t, so I suggest, “You could come here?”
“Shit. I would, but I have a meeting first thing. I can’t reschedule. My diary’s full this week.”
“Then it looks as though we’re both busy.”
“What about this weekend? I’ll send a car for you Friday at six?”
“I’m not sure. An entire weekend? It could be dangerous.”
“Come on. Give me another go.” He is determined, but the playful tone of his voice isn’t lost on me. And so, I give in and answer with my own little joke.
“You really don’t like being turned down, do you?”
“That’s not the reason I want you here.”
“I know and because of that, I’ll be there.”
