Chapter Fourteen

My hatchback thudded closed with a sense of finality. Taya had gone to use the bathroom. It was time to say goodbye.

Daniel leaned against the corner of my wagon, arms crossed, hair floating loose to his shoulders, looking every inch the self-absorbed, too-hot-for-his-own-good player I’d pegged him for months ago. Except his eyes. Instead of crackling with humor and innuendo, they were serious, and focused on me with an intensity that made a hard, jagged lump lodge in my throat like a piece of frozen avalanche debris.

“So, did you get a job offer?”

I nodded, letting my eyes skid from one side to the other, afraid to meet his gaze. “Two of them. A writer-in-residence gig at a nature center in Big Sur, and an internship working the environmental beat for a small town, local paper.”

“Sweet!” He held up a hand and I made myself slap his palm. He studied me for a second. “You not very pumped. What’s up?”

“I am.” I met his eyes and looked away. “I’m just not sure what to do.”

“Well, which one do you want?”

“The newspaper job is exactly what I want to do.” I gulped and tacked on, “But Big Sur would be amazing too.”

“One pay more than the other?”

“Not really.”

“Hmmh. Big Sur is pretty cool. Where’s the newspaper?”

I stared down at the gravel parking lot surrounding my sneaker-clad feet. “Bellingham.”

“Seriously? Awesome!” Daniel swept me up in a bear hug. “We can see each all the time, no problem.”

He set me down, and I stepped back. His eyes gleamed, and he bounced on his toes, doing that excited puppy dog thing again. Which was flattering, and totally freaked me out. Daniel was a free spirit who moved every season. He wouldn’t want to be chained to me—not when we were a couple hours apart. Definitely not if we were two states apart.

His eyebrows came down in a V over his strong nose. “Unless you don’t want to?”

“You’re not a relationship guy. And you have good reasons. Just like I have good reason for not doing casual.” I crossed my arms over my heart. “It won’t work.”

He pulled my arms apart and took my hands. “I’m serious about this. About us. Give me a chance and I’ll prove it to you.”

I shook my head. “I can’t take a job just to be closer to you.”

“You wouldn’t be. You’d be taking the job you want, and you’d get me as a bonus. How can that be bad?”

Good question. I searched for answers. The Danny-boy I thought I knew was not the Daniel I’d spent the past twenty-four hours with, that was for sure. Still, I had a hard time reconciling the horn-dog hottie image with the earnest man in front of me.

“We barely know each other. Even if I move to Bellingham, it’s an hour drive plus an hour ferryboat ride, each way. We’d only see each other once a week at best.” I swallowed, and worked to keep my voice even. “What if you meet someone else?”

“I know it sounds crazy.” He squeezed my hands and brought them to his heart. “But I’ve never wanted to be with anyone like I want to be with you. Doesn’t matter if you’re two hours away or twenty. If you want to go to Big Sur, I’ll wait for you. Then we can find jobs together or I can get one wherever you end up. If you take the job in Bellingham, I’ll be at your place every chance I get.”

My eyes burned. If I could have yesterday for the rest of my life, I’d be a fool to say no. But I needed to be sure it wasn’t just the thrill of the chase before I put my future, and my heart, on the line.

I blinked and shook my head. “You like being single. It’s safe. Are you sure you’re ready to risk getting hurt?”

“Never been more sure of anything in my life. Other than it would kill me if I broke your heart.” He tilted my chin up and looked me in the eye. “Relax, Morgan. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m not even asking you to pick a job right this second. All I’m asking for is a dinner date.”

“A date?”

“Yep. You know, where two people hang out. Get to know each other better. Have a good time. Hopefully make plans for another date.”

“Except our first date would include your whole family. No pressure though, right?”

“If that’s what’s freaking you out we can go out to dinner instead. I don’t care, as long as we’re together.” His smile flickered. “You’re missing out if you don’t meet the rest of the Griffin clan, though.”

Daniel’s tone was relaxed, but he didn’t move a muscle as he stared into my eyes. Even his chest froze.

I wanted to give this a chance with every bit of my heart, soul, and body. The only thing keeping me from saying yes was my head. It still held on to my old beliefs about him. Beliefs he’d proven wrong time and again.

“Okay. One date.”

“Does that mean you’re coming to dinner, or should I make reservations?”

“I’m coming to dinner.”

“Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air and a huge, gleaming smile spread across his face.

I couldn’t help grinning back. “Shut up and kiss me, you goofball.”