The next evening, Danny showed up with a dozen red roses when she arrived at their agreed meeting place.
“These are gorgeous. Thank you, Daniel.” Josephine sniffed the flowers deeply, her eyes fluttering close. When she opened them she found herself staring into Danny’s as he gazed down at her adoringly.
“They aren’t half as gorgeous as you.” He said, taking her hand in his as they walked out of the mall into the parking lot towards his car. Josephine halted mid-step, deciding suddenly to take a leap of faith.
She’d stayed up most of the night before watching “Love Actually” and maybe it was a little foolish to follow directions from a movie, but she didn’t know when she’d have a chance like this again. She was in a foreign country far from home, with a man who made her heart flutter holding her hand. She willed her heart to stop pounding so loudly.
“Josephine, are you okay?” Danny asked, worriedly.
“Daniel, I have to tell you something. And it may be a little forward of me to say it, but I study you while I'm at the bookstore pretending to read. I am quite fond of your face and your smiles are the best part of my day.” She exhaled and closed her eyes for a moment before turning to look at him for a response. Her spine was rigid with nerve but she still felt a deep sense of relief at her admission.
“You noticed me?” Danny looked at her, confusion and disbelief etched on his face.
“Yes.” She said slowly, feeling slightly less sure of herself than she did only seconds before.
“Let me be clear, I could have asked you out over a month ago and you would have said yes?”
“Yes, if you had asked...”
“But you’re so beautiful...” Danny looked genuinely surprised at her admittance. Josephine touched his hand to get his attention and the feel of her warm skin against his finally brought him to his senses.
“Josephine, from the second I saw you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. You’re the girl of my dreams. And I didn’t want to tell you that in the middle of a parking lot, but you’re the best part of my day too.” He said honestly, placing his hand over hers. They smiled brightly at each other, each feeling a weight lift off their shoulders as they admitted what was in their hearts.
They sat across from each other in a little booth in a tiny steakhouse restaurant within the mall. Hands still intertwined, Danny placed a soft kiss on the back of Josephine’s.
“Do you attend Christmas mass?” She asked out of the blue.
They’d talked for hours about anything and everything that came to mind, not wanting their impromptu date to end. From her childhood in various boarding schools in Europe, to how his parents and grandmother, who lived in Boca Raton, Florida, rarely visited because they hated the cold weather. Danny hardly noticed that they skirted around parts of her personal story and focused mainly on his.
He didn’t pry and she didn’t offer, and truly he didn’t care one way or the other, just as long as she was near him.
“No, I'm not very religious.”
“You don't have to be very religious to go to Mass, especially at Christmas and Easter. I love it because that's when people are at their best. Wearing their finery and with such hope and love for their fellow man. I always cry then, but only happy tears. Is that odd?”
“I’ve got to tell you, before today, I never even thought about it. But now I'd love to go with you. I’m pretty sure if you wanted to go donkey racing, I would say yes and mean it.”
Josephine giggled, tossing her lush ringlets of hair behind her. Danny reached over and twirled a strand around his fingers. He noticed the twinkling gemstones in her earrings and sighed.
“Not that I’m complaining or anything, but out of all places how did you end up here in Bridgeville? Why not somewhere glamorous? Like Los Angeles or New York City?”
She regarded him carefully, the easy smile she’d had moments before slid into a cautious replacement. From her reaction Danny gathered that he’d asked a touchy question but it was something that weighed on his mind the night before while he laid in bed thinking about their ice cream date.
“My father recommended Bridgeville.” Josephine answered impassively.
“Really? Why of all places would he send his gorgeous daughter to Delaware?”
“His reasons are his own, which he hasn’t informed me of. Although, I’m sure some sort of business venture played a part in his choosing such a...random location.” Her tone was cool, bordering on icy, leaving no mistake that she wanted him to change the subject.
Danny was well aware that he was pushing his luck, he could see it clear as day but he couldn’t have survived with a sister like Daniella, if he hadn’t picked up a trick or two on how to be pushy and slightly ruthless when he wanted an answer.
“A business man? He must be doing pretty well right? I mean look at you. You have the air of ‘Heiress’ about you.”
“I’m sorry but why are you asking me these questions?” She pulled away from him, politely but nonetheless taken aback. Josephine’s hurt expression jolted Danny back to his senses.
“I screwed that up, didn’t I? Listen, I’m sorry! I was rude and nosey. I just wanted to get to know more about you. Where you come from, you know?” He wanted to reach out for her but decided against it when he saw that his apology wasn’t enough.
“I didn’t mean to upset you or sound like I was accusing you of anything, but my dad was a jeweler for years and, well, long story short...you’ve got real diamonds and sapphire earrings on. Your coat tag says Oscar De La Renta, and not to mention your bag from the other day was worth a butt load of money. So I’m guessing you’re the daughter of an oil tycoon or something?”
“Austria doesn’t have oil tycoons. However, they do have Hedge funds and I am a Hedge fund analyst by trade, albeit for the family business. I do quite well for myself via that, so I can afford to wear what I wear.” Josephine informed him, sitting up ramrod straight, tension emanating off her body in waves, still she didn’t look upset, just guarded and more than a little resentful.
“You don’t have to tell me anymore until you feel like it okay? I’m sorry. We were having such a great time and I ruined it.”
“No, don’t be sorry. It’s my own fault. Yes, technically I am from a wealthy family but it’s not what you think. It’s a long story and I doubt you’ll believe me right off the bat...” She explained, looking uncomfortable.
“You can tell me anything. I just want to know more about you.” Danny said earnestly, sincerely, imploringly, his eyes never leaving hers. Josephine hesitated. She wanted to tell him but she didn’t want to spoil the illusion that her secret allowed her to have. Fortunately, her cell phone buzzed a text message at that moment. She pulled it out of her bag and glanced at the message. Color faded from her face.
“What? What is it? What’s wrong?” The concern in Danny’s voice brought Josephine back to attention. She slapped a forced serene look on her face.
“It’s nothing. I just...I just have to go right now.” She stated in a calm, controlled tone, grabbing her handbag and coat.
“Are you sure? Do you need a ride somewhere? I can take you home.” Danny offered.
“No, thank you. My ride will be here shortly. Thank you for a lovely time, Daniel.” She smiled sweetly at him, but he could see something was still bothering her.
“I’ll call you tonight? So I can check on you?” He didn’t want to push any further, sensing that he’d nearly ruined things already. His heart sank when Josephine hesitated for an instant before nodding.
“Goodbye, Daniel.” She leaned down and kissed him softly on the cheek before walking quickly out of the restaurant’s double doors.