Page 7 of Where She Is
“Sensible girl,” he winks, causing those butterflies to stir once more. He jogs towards me, then offers the crook of his arm. A familiar tingle rises through my body as I hook my fingers around his bicep. I wish I could stop these sensations. It’s getting harder to keep a lid on my visible reactions.
On the way back, he does most of the talking and I’m happy to listen. Once the farm is in sight; I slide my fingers away from his arm and he slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His body is one step from mine, but I have an inability to make eye contact. I feel like a teenager at the end of her first date.
“I’ve enjoyed your company today.”
My smile is shy. “Thanks for the tour and I’m—” His index finger smooths across my lips. For just one second, I lose myself in his touch, my eyelids flicker and close, savouring the moment while my senses become hyper aware. It’s hard not to get carried away, but then my eyes flash open with the reality of what is happening.
He whispers before I say a word. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
I nod and touch my lips at the loss of his fingertips… and a moment we shared.
“Hannah! Hannah, I need you. Can you come inside for a second, please?” Daniel and I step apart abruptly when Richard bellows from the veranda. I feel even more adolescent now. “I’d better see what he wants.” But when I turn to walk away, Daniel surprises me.
“Would you join me for dinner tonight—at my table, I mean?”
Internally, I thank God, happy dance then spin on my heels, “Um…”
“You don’t know many people.”
“I know Richard.”
“Well, yes.”
“And your mum and dad now.”
“Hannah, you’re not making this easy.” A boyish grin appears. Maybe I’m just too bloody British and should loosen up a bit. I knew when I came to this country I wanted to have some fun and live a little. I wanted to take some chances and reach out of my comfort zone. I don’t always have to do the right thing.
My thought process stops because he’s made his mind up. “You know what, I won’t take no for an answer.”
Decision made. “In that case, I better say thank you. I would love to.”
Daniel’s smile reaches all the way to his eyes as I accept, then he tips his hat in Richard’s direction. He gently brushes his fingers over my palm. “Until tonight then, Miss May.” The tone of his voice ignites me internally. Then he turns away, still holding my hand for as long as possible before it falls to my side. I call out to him, “Daniel?” And he spins around, still smiling, I tell him, “Please, Hannah will do just fine.”
Chapter Two
I jogpast Richard and into the entrance hall. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!”
Richard follows behind, “Made a friend?”
“Not exactly,” I puff and try not to smirk. “More of a colleague. Didn’t you see who it was?”
“You know I didn’t.” His fingers pinch the tiny arms of his glasses as he lifts them slightly. “Even with these, I’m blind as a bat.”
“It was Daniel.” His brows rise.
“Daniel?”
I hold my breath. “Yes, Daniel.”
Then the penny drops and his eyebrows are about to get lost in his hairline. “TheDaniel?”
“If you mean Daniel Grant, then yes.”
“Daniel Grant was under the hat?” I nod sheepishly, feeling slightly sick and only half of my twenty-four years. “What did he want?”
“Nothing. He gave me a tour of the place.”
“Are you sure that’s all it was?”
