“Not to me—thank you.”
“You’re so welcome. And the lamps and rugs for the guest rooms will be here by the end of the week, so we, my friend, are done with this project.”
He made a face. “Let’s start on the downstairs.”
“You said you were happy with that.”
“I want to keep you around,” he said, the bluntness startling her.
“Well, I’m just down the road in the Summer House.”
He tipped his head in concession, and his smile faded into something gentler. “You’re going to make me spell it out, aren’t you?”
“Depends on what you’re spelling,” she joked, but her heart kicked up a notch. She could see the look in his eyes and knew what was coming.
“All right, I’m spelling…relationship.” He took a breath, then reached for her hand, guiding her over the tribal rug to the perfectly appointed sectional. “Do you want…specifics?”
She let him ease her onto the cushion next to him. “I know what a relationship is.”
“And don’t tell me—you’re in one with the cop you’ve known since you were a kid.”
Her heart dipped at the description, just thinking about that diary entry she’d read last night and how it had made her want to just wrap the man in her arms and thank him again.
Dear, darling, dependable Peter was so much more than a cop she’d known since she was a kid.
“I’ve been seeing him, yes.”
“Isn’t he ever going back to Pensacola?”
She gave a soft laugh. “He’s actually thinking about taking a job in Destin.”
“Aah.” He leaned back and eyed her. “So, it’s more serious with you two. I should back off.”
Was it serious? She didn’t know—and she didn’t know if she wanted Danny to back off at all. She’d certainly miss the attention.
“But if it wasn’t,” he continued slowly, “then I would very much like to see where this could go. Not just…this flirtation. Butus.I want something real. With you.”
She swallowed, her throat thick. She’d known it was coming—Danny wasn’t subtle. He never had been.
But here in this perfect room he’d trusted her to create, after weeks of laughing and teasing and being seen by someone new…well, it was hard.
“Danny,” she began, her voice soft. “You’re…wonderful. You really are.”
“Oof.” He blinked. “The thanks-but-no-thanks tone.”
Was it? She studied him, thinking and feeling and letting her heart tell her what to do. What did she want from this man? From her life? And when would she figure it out?
Time was ticking.
“No. It’s theI-care-about-youtone,” she said, her voice hesitant. “You came into my life when I was figuring out how to start over. You reminded me that I’m more than a divorcee and a mom and a sister and a decorator. You made me feel…seen.”
“And what I see is beautiful,” he said, the perfect flirt always at the ready.
And maybe that’s what was stopping her. He wastooperfect. Too handsome, too rich, too used to getting what he wanted.
And Vivien had just found her spine, which could very well be lost again with a man like this.
Danny waited, lifting a brow. “But…”
