“Okay, that’s a stretch.” He paused, cocking his head as he looked at her. “You look like you’ve recovered,” he said, his voice softer.
Hilary nodded.Recoveredwasn’t the word she’d choose, but she was in a better mindset than last night. “I’m good. Thanks.”
He searched her face with an expectant look, like he was waiting for her to elaborate. But she wasn’t about to bore him with details of her sleepless night.
“I told Jorie about our adventure. She didn’t say much, which was surprising.”
“What did you expect her to say?”
Hilary shrugged. “Nothing specific, but Jorie always has something to say.”
“Maybe she was glad it turned out okay.”
Hilary pursed her lips. “Maybe.”
Yesterday had been so busy, and with last night’s drama, it hadn’t dawned on her until now that the conference was half over. It was funny. Looking back, Sunday seemed like yesterday. But Hilary remembered how she’d felt when she’d arrived at the conference, how the coming week seemed to stretch into an infinite horizon.
“The week is really flying by, isn’t it?”
She looked up at him when he didn’t respond and caught him staring at her.
“I got the impression you didn’t want to be here. But maybe I’m wrong.”
She chuckled. “I didn’t, but it’s grown on me. I was mad that Jorie wasn’t here.”
Dane’s brow arched. “And now you’re not?”
“Not really. But it’s too bad you won’t meet her. She’s the dynamo of our team.”
“I doubt that’s true,” he said quietly.
“What?”
“That she’s the dynamo and you’re not.”
Hilary smiled at that. “I’m about as exciting as vanilla pudding.”
Dane looked offended. “What’s wrong with vanilla pudding?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Bland. Boring. If Jorie didn’t talk me into coming here, I’d be back in Idaho, probably cleaning up Hattie’s breakfast. And I’d be happy doing it.”
“Hattie?”
“My niece. Two years old. Cute as a—”
She paused and wrinkled her nose.
“As a what?’”
“I was going to say button. It’s a weird cliche though.”
“I agree. An odd analogy.”
“Anyway, Jorie has really been my rock. I don’t know where I’d be without her.”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”
She was going to disagree with him because it was her nature to downplay compliments. They embarrassed her, made her feel patronized. But she stopped herself. Dane wouldn’t say it if he didn’t think it true. Hilary lifted her gaze to him and caught the puzzled frown he wore before he looked toward the beach.
