The explanation was too much to text. I just apologized and told him I’d come talk to him as soon as I could.
What a mess. And the ironic thing was, all I could think when I walked in was how much, despite my panic, I actually liked the surprise of being here and how cute Daniel looked. GOD.
The girls wanted to relax in their rooms until the appetizer hour, so I took the opportunity to sneak out.
When I let myself into the garage, Daniel was sitting at his workbench. He glanced up and then went back to his project, jaw tight. I made my way over to him and nudged his thigh with my knee. “I’m sorry.”
He looked up at me. “What was that?”
“I didn’t know they were bringing me here. It’s a girls’ weekend, and they booked the room. Besides, I thought this place wasn’t open in the off- season.”
“I opened it,” he said shortly. “Are you mad at me?”
He peered up at me. “Imagine if I showed up with my friends at your hospital. You’re the doctor treating them. And I act like I don’t know you. Does that sound okay to you?”
I let out a breath. “Daniel, I’m not ready to tell people about us yet.” “I’m not asking you to tell people. But to pretend you don’t even know
me?”
“You don’t…” I blew out a breath. “If I say I know you, they’ll want to know how I know you, where I met you and when. Jessica, the brown- haired one? She knows I’ve been coming to see someone who lives south. They’re like gossip detectives. They’ll figure it out.”
He pressed his lips together, and I knew he was wondering why it mattered if they did.
I knew his friends. He was willing to take me to breakfast in front of everyone. He wasn’t hiding me.
I’d hurt his feelings.
I licked my lips. “Daniel, I know we haven’t talked about this yet, but I’m coming out of a really bad breakup. Really, really bad. Their husbands are having a boys’ weekend with my ex. And without getting into details, my ex is not someone I want knowing about my life right now. My best friend Bri knows all about you. But these friends just…can’t.”
He studied me like he was searching for the truth. So I gave it to him. “I was so happy when I realized I was getting to see you today.”
His face went soft for the first time since I’d come into the garage.
He looked away from me, but he put the tip of his finger to my bare knee like a tiny little olive branch.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” I whispered.
His eyes came back to mine, and he blew out a long breath. Then he pulled me onto his lap. He put his arms around me in a hug that was so sweet, it made my heart skip.
Daniel was really affectionate. He liked to cuddle, like a big teddy bear. I bet he was good with children. He was definitely good with baby goats.
I nuzzled his nose with mine. “You looked really handsome when I walked in,” I said quietly.
The corners of his lips quirked up. His eyes were on my mouth. “Do you have my hoodie?” he asked, his voice low.
I nodded.
He smiled. “You brought it, even though you didn’t know you were coming to see me?”
“You have to wear a stolen hoodie,” I said.
“Otherwise it’s just another senseless crime?” “I like the way it smells,” I whispered.
He grinned and kissed me, and I was immediately forgiven. God, I missed him. I realized it almost retroactively, but I had.
It was weird to miss someone you’d just met. But I think it was because I hadn’t gotten enough of him, either time I came. My mood improved, realizing that I had an entire weekend here—because I needed it.
This whole week had been horrible. I had to get a lawyer and a real estate agent. I was dodging Neil in my own freaking house. But I’d missed Daniel. Being on his lap, letting him hold me, smelling his warm, piney scent—it was a finally moment. Like arriving at a finish line or letting go of a breath you’ve been holding—or coming home.
It’s the release that happens when you don’t have to think about anything at all.
Thirty minutes later, Daniel had to go set up the appetizers. I snuck back into the house through the four-season porch. Hunter followed me all the way through the yard pushing his head under my hand, and when I let myself in, he tried to come in after me. I had to wrestle him back out and close the door in his face.
I was starting to develop a theory about this dog, but further observation was needed.
Jessica and Gabby were there sitting on the wicker chairs.
“Oh, hey. I went for a walk around the house. I didn’t know you guys were out,” I said, sitting in the open lounger, trying to look casual, like I hadn’t just been making out with our host in the garage.
“We knocked on your door, but you didn’t answer,” Gabby said. “Figured you were taking a nap or something. God, that dog is obsessed with you.”
I looked and laughed. Hunter had his nose pressed right on the window, breathing heavily. There were two foggy breath trails under his nostrils on the glass and his ear was inside out. He had a dragonfly on his head.
“Was the guy out there?” Gabby peered around me to the yard. “Chopping wood or…?”
“What guy?” I asked, playing dumb.
“Uh, the hot check-in guy? With the tattoos?” I shrugged. “Didn’t see him.”
Jessica flipped through a magazine. “Maybe you should go look. Put another toy into the rotation.”
“I bet he’s outdoorsy,” Gabby said. “He looks outdoorsy. He probably smells like campfire smoke.”
“Motor oil,” Jessica said dryly. “He screams ‘I can change spark plugs.’” Gabby laughed, and I pressed my lips into a line.
“My boyfriend before Philip was like that,” Gabby said. “He was a contractor. Handy. Did all the woodsy stuff, hunting, fishing. They bring ticks into the bed. Actual wood ticks. It’s like letting a dirty dog sleep next to you.”
Jessica chuckled.
“I’m serious,” Gabby said. “And they’re always bleeding.” She made a face.
I gave her a look. “Bleeding?”
“Yeah. They have cuts on their hands and bug bites. Perpetually. They just bleed, all over your thousand-thread-count Egyptian sheets.” She shivered.
Jessica talked to her magazine. “Don’t discourage her. Those guys are fun to play with.”
Gabby gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Yeah. They’re in shape, they’re low maintenance. They’ll churn you like butter. Just take them to a hotel, don’t bring them home.”
“Why the hell would she bring him home?” Jessica winced.
“What’s wrong with bringing him home?” I asked, looking back and forth between them.
They both stared at me like I’d just told a joke.
“Your dad would love that,” Jessica mumbled, going back to her magazine.
Gabby guffawed. “Can you imagine? ‘Dad, I know my last boyfriend was chief of surgery, but here’s this guy who can build me a deer stand.’”
They both laughed.
“He could be really nice,” I said, a little too defensively.
Jessica lowered the corner of her issue of Vogue. “You think your dad cares one ounce if he’s nice?” She scoffed. “Remember that lawyer I set you up with at Marcus’s firm? Adrian? Right before Neil? He was nice. Your dad acted like you brought a registered s*x offender to brunch. He gave you so much crap, you never saw him again. And Adrian was a lawyer, not a guy with a GED, tattoos, and wood ticks.”
Gabby looked at her nails. “Your family’s like royalty. They’ll only marry you off to someone who will strengthen a medical alliance.”
I snorted, even though it wasn’t funny.
“I hate to say it, but your next guy is going to have very big shoes to fill,” Jessica said, looking back at her page. “If he doesn’t have the words ‘world renowned’ on his résumé, don’t bother.”
Gabby nodded to the house. “Forget your parents. Could you imagine bringing a guy like that home to Philip and Marcus?” She sucked air through her teeth. “They’d eat him alive.”
Jessica shook her head at her article. “Philip would probably talk to him about stock portfolios just to be a dick.”
Gabby laughed. “Marcus probably wouldn’t talk to him at all.”
My face fell, and I sat back in my chair and twisted my bracelet around my wrist. I felt like someone had pushed all the wind out of me.
They weren’t saying anything I didn’t already know. But to hear it in no uncertain terms was sobering.
“He is cute though,” Gabby said. “Kinda looks like Scott Eastwood. If he’s single, you should play with him.” She bounced her eyebrows.
I rubbed my forehead. “Yeah, I don’t know if I’m gonna be up for it. Actually, I think I’m getting a migraine.” At this point it technically wasn’t even a lie. This discussion was making my head hurt. “I might let you guys go to dinner without me tonight.”
Gabby frowned. “Seriously?” “Yeah, I—”
Daniel poked his head into the patio. “Sorry to interrupt. The appetizers are out in the foyer.” He smiled handsomely, then disappeared.
Jessica dropped her magazine on the coffee table with a slap. “Good. I could use a glass of wine.” She got up.
I followed them, feeling tired in a way that I hadn’t in a very long time.
