Page 32 of Someone Like You
So he could have one more minute with her.
And now … now he had found a surreal blond version of her. Younger, but so much the same. The article had mentioned a sibling. Hayley. Was she London’s sister, too?
A gentle wind played in the trees near the exhibit. This part of the zoo was less crowded. More space to think. He narrowed his eyes and drew a deep breath. So what was his next step? He couldn’t just walk up to her.Hi. You don’t know me but I was best friends with your sister in Portland.
No. He sighed. That would never do.
Or maybe it would.
Dawson shifted on the bench and remembered thegirl, the way she looked talking to visitors in the kangaroo enclosure. Maddie West. Certainly Dawson wasn’t going home without talking to her. Which meant at some point he’d have to approach her. Right? He could walk up to her, introduce himself and laugh a little. Something to set her at ease.
And then he’d tell her the truth about why he was there. Yes, he could do that. Nothing strange about conveying news to someone. Maddie might want to know about her biological parents. His thoughts picked up speed.I’d want to know. If I were in her place. Not like her life has to change over this. It’s just news. Important, very sad news.
News Maddie deserved to hear.
The wind picked up and Dawson lifted his eyes to the gray sky overhead.What am I doing here, Lord?The question wasn’t one he wanted to answer. On the face it made sense. He had come here to tell Maddie West that she might have a biological family in Oregon, and if that was true … then she needed to know about her sister.
But did he have other reasons? Was the search about finding someone like London? Maddie looked so much like her and she—
Enough. He took his phone from his backpack and dialed Louise. She would have something to say about the situation. One ring, two. Three. The call went to her voicemail and Dawson hung up. None of this could be summarized in a message. Besides, it didn’t matter what Louise said or thought or what advice she might give.
An urgency came over him. What was he waiting for? He slid his things back into the bag and stood. He was going to talk to her.
Then he could fly home and get on with his life.
STORM CLOUDS COVEREDIndianapolis that afternoon, a precursor to the severe weather forecast for later. Maddie was glad for the change. The kangaroos were more active when rain was in the air. She’d been hand-feeding them pellets for the past hour trying to keep the visitor path clear.
“Okay, Joey, come on.” Maddie patted the head of the smallest kangaroo. She held out a handful of food and led the baby off the walkway. “There you go. Good boy.”
Her boss must’ve decided Maddie could handle the work, because she was alone in the enclosure today. Not that it was busy. Only three visitors had walked through the exhibit since lunchtime.
Maddie turned to the wash station and cleaned her hands. As she did she heard the gate of the exhibit open.Good,she thought. Patrons made the time go by faster. She turned back toward the fenced-in grassy field. Only instead of a couple or a mom and dad with kids, it was him.
The stranger from yesterday.
Maddie took a step back. He was still fifteen yards off, but he was looking her way. Straight at her. She glanced around. If he threatened her she would run out the back gate and scream for help. He couldn’t do anything to her here. Not out in the open like this.
Why are you afraid?she asked herself. Determination welled up. She didn’t have to be nervous. Maybe the guy only wanted to know about kangaroos. He was getting closer, walking up the winding path toward her. Maddie held her ground. As she did she sucked in a soft breath.Wow. The guy was gorgeous. Tall, broad shoulders and short dark hair. Deep blue eyes, eyes that held hers so completely she almost looked away.
“Hey.” He stopped a few feet from her and smiled. “I … I wanted to apologize if I scared you yesterday.”
Maddie felt her shoulders relax. Maybe he wasn’t a creeper. Still … She took a half step back. “I thought you were—”
“Following you?” The stranger slid one hand into his jeans pocket and shook his head. “I know. I was worried you’d think that.”
His kindness caught her off guard. There was an easiness about him, despite his obvious strength. Maddie let her attention fall to his sketchbook. She nodded at it. “You’re … an artist?”
“Sort of.” He slipped the book into his backpack, and slung it over his shoulder again. “I’m … studying animal behavior for a report I’m writing.” He looked at her again. “So yeah, I’ve been doing a little sketching and—” He stopped short and held out his hand. “I’m Dawson Gage. Again … so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
The moment her fingers were in his a chill ran through her. She shook his hand. “Maddie West.” She cleared her throat. What was this crazy attraction? Like she’d known him all her life. She pulled away and folded her arms. Why did the stranger have such an effect on her? “Thanks … for the explanation.”
“Definitely.” He chuckled once. “I couldn’t finish my work today and not tell you.”
“Right.” She narrowed her eyes. “So yesterday … you were interested in the kangaroos?”
“Yeah. I mean …” He glanced down for a moment andhis cheeks grew a shade redder. “I guess … it’s just …” The guy was definitely struggling. “Okay. Here it is.” He held his hands out to the sides. “You’re really pretty, Maddie. I wanted to meet you, but I never worked up the courage.” He hesitated, his eyes on hers again. “Until now.”
The stranger thought she was pretty! Maddie started to smile but then she remembered Connor. Her fiancé! What was she supposed to say? She fiddled with her engagement ring. “Uh … thanks.” She uttered an awkward laugh. “I’m … engaged.” She held up her hand. “Thought I should get that out there.”
