Page 21 of Heart in Waiting
“Have you never been to a fundraiser before?”
“Nothing as fancy as this...” He ran his hand through his hair. “I suppose I’ll survive.”
He was almost adorable in his uncomfortableness. No, that wasn’t quite the right word. Dane could easily be compared to a handsome devil. He would make any female stop and take a second look. She had liked him after their first encounter, but hadn’t ever considered dating him. It had been a long time since they’d met. He’d been sweet then, and she’d felt sorry for him. They’d danced at his high school prom even though she’d come with a different date. That night had been magical for her, but he’d had a hard time.
He hadn’t been joking about being picked on in high school. She’d witnessed it first hand, and now he had to walk into the lion’s den again. The same people he went to school with and had tortured him at prom would be at that fundraiser. They were all rich snobs, but their money would help pay her research bills. She didn’t blame him for not wanting to go. In his place, she’d want to stay home too. Hell, she’d probably curl up in a ball with a pint of chocolate marshmallow ice cream instead. That sounded heavenly in comparison...
“At least it should be better than the prom,” she offered. “You’re not the same boy they all picked on.”
He groaned. “I hadn’t even considered that.” Dane sighed. “You’re right though. It will be different because at least I’ll have a date this time. Even if it is a duty more than something fun. They don’t need to know that.”
“It’ll be our secret.” She laughed. Part of her wished it was a real date though. Something told her that when Dane loved, he did it completely and without apology. Reese wanted that, and she couldn’t help the envy sprouting inside of her. He’d looked at Paige with such tenderness, and that was where her jealousy had stemmed from. It was mean of her to be petty though. Dane wasn’t hers and never had been. “You protect me, and I’ll return the favor.”
“I don’t need you standing in front of me. I can take care of myself and have for years. Let them make their snide comments; it doesn’t matter to me.”
She didn’t believe him. He carried around that pain still and would probably be sensitive about it for the rest of his life. How could a person walk away from that and not be scarred? She had her own wounds she licked every day, and they weren’t nearly as bad as what he’d faced. They made him feel worthless on a daily basis. That kind of bullying could ruin a person, yet Dane had used it as the catalyst to make him strive to be more. She admired that side of him.
“If you say so,” she said then smiled. “Deep inside, you’re a softy, aren’t you? I saw you with Halie. She had you wrapped around her little finger.”
“I thought you were going to protect my secrets.”
“Tonight,” she reminded him. “Until then, everything is fair game.”
He laughed. “You don’t play fair.”
His whole face lit up when he was happy. He had forgotten about the stress that would present itself later on that day. For now, he seemed content, and she’d done that for him. She didn’t realize something as simple as teasing would or could make someone feel something resembling joy. “Why would I?” she taunted him. “You make it so easy not to.”
They stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at each other. For several heartbeats the worlds stopped around them. It was just Reese and Dane—a smile, a breath, and something a whole lot scarier. She was close to falling in love with him. One little push and she’d be confessing it all to him. He messed her up in ways she didn’t think was possible anymore. Her heart raced in her chest and she couldn’t stop thinking about the possibilities. What if they could be together? What if she was wrong about everything? Could he love her?
“So...” Dane pushed his hands inside his pockets. “I’m actually looking forward to the fundraiser now. Thanks for putting my mind at ease, but don’t think I’m going to let what you did in the parking lot earlier slide. We will have a discussion in length later about your reckless behavior regarding your safety.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and saluted him. “Whatever you say.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be cheeky. I’m serious.”
“So am I.” She smiled. “I realize I make stupid mistakes from time to time, but I promise to do better. Also...” Her voice trailed off. “I should apologize for what I did. My mom turns me into this person I don’t recognize, and I shouldn’t have tried to use you. Can you forgive me?”
She had other ideas she wanted to explore, and he was the star of the show. Reese needed him to be willing to discover the possibilities with her. The evening would be better than she had planned originally. She intended on treating it like a real date and seeing how things went. It was time to push the boundaries and determine if there was something between them.
“Don’t worry about it,” Dane replied. “There’s nothing to forgive. I overreacted a bit. I should be apologizing too.”
“Then I guess we’re even.” Reese smiled warmly. “I’ll see you later.” Then she turned and left him alone with his thoughts, as she was with hers. She’d been hiding for far too long. Nolan had destroyed a part of her, and she intended to reclaim it. Dane would help her do that, and if they discovered an incredible relationship in the process, even better... Reese wanted love, and Dane might be the man to help her find it.
