Looking at the photo now, he smiled to himself, a soft laugh escaping as he studied their faces pressed together. Their time together had been too short. That was it. The connection they’d made wasn’t made strong enough in a week. And Hilary felt too self-conscious once Jorie showed up. No, they hadn’t spent enough time together to forge a bond even if he felt—-
Felt what?
Dane zoomed in on the photo. It surprised him, the way he felt. Dane realized he didn’t have any reservations about taking a risk. Not with Hilary. His short marriage to Felicia blew up three years ago. Suffering through that kind of betrayal again terrified him. He promised himself he’d never be so blindsided again by another person, even going so far as to think he wouldn’t bother for a long time. Yet here was Hilary. He’d known her a week and he was willing to risk it all.
Risk what exactly?
What did he feel? What was he willing to do?
Hilary’s smile blazed up at him.
Dane went through his contacts and found Hilary’s name. His finger hovered over her number. All he needed to do was call. Then he’d hear her voice and it would be like she wasn’t hundreds of miles away but right next to him. So close.
No.
He wouldn’t do that.
He’d written her the note and what happened?
Nothing. That was what happened. She was either so busy that calling him was low on her priority list or she didn’t want to talk.
The number on his phone taunted him. He could check in, tell her he wondered if she was settled back in yet. And how was the progress on the B & B coming along? Keep it casual and light.
His curiosity battled with his insecurities. Maybe deep down he was afraid of facing rejection again or why else couldn’t he call her right then? He wouldn’t lie to himself. Yes, that was why he sat staring dumbly at his phone for the last fifteen minutes. Dane was scared. There was a certain risk after all; he lied to himself for denying it. His fear of losing the slim thread of hope outweighed his need to talk with her.
The ball lay squarely in her court, and that ball happened to be his note. No, he’d wait longer to hear from her. He’d pray that he did, but if for whatever reason Hilary chose not to reach out, Dane would accept it.
Dane slipped the phone into his jacket pocket. It hadn’t been easy. But if Hilary chose to turn her back on him for good, what else could he do? It had been five days since he’d seen her. With each passing day, his hopes dimmed a little more.
Chapter Nineteen
Jorie was big on surprises. She’d thrown surprise birthday parties for Tom and Will. One for Cal’s sixtieth last October too. She told Hilary the best part about throwing surprise events was that she got a rush on the guest of honor’s initial reaction. And she loved the planning part, pulling out all the stops to keep the secret.
I have a surprise for you, Jorie said on the way home from the conference. And that was the last Hilary heard about it until this morning. Today was the day, Jorie said at breakfast, her excitement brimming. Hattie must have sensed it. She clapped her hands, knocking over her bowl of cereal, which scattered little wheat rings across the floor.
“It won’t take long,” Jorie said. “I promise. I know you’re busy.”
On hands and knees, Hilary soaked up the spilled milk with a rag. “Not so busy that I can’t put it all aside for a bit. Did you ever make that appointment with the bank?”
Jorie brushed wheat loops into a dustpan with a hand broom. Still in her high chair, Hattie cheered them on. “Friday at nine,” Jorie said.
Since coming home from the conference, Hilary spent the days reorganizing. She’d gone back to working on the vision boards for the bedrooms in the inn. She also drafted three short articles from ideas Dane helped her come up with after his presentation on content marketing. Keeping busy was easy now that she was home again. Her hectic schedule was a blessing in disguise. There was less time to dwell on what she missed. And she missed Dane; there was no denying it.
“I’ve got the rest,” Jorie said, dumping cereal into the garbage can. “Go upstairs and get ready. I’ll be waiting for you down here.”
Her hair still damp, Hilary followed Jorie to the truck a short time later. Tom waited in the driver’s seat with the engine on, grinning in his quiet, good-natured way. In the backseat, Hattie was pitching a fit for being subdued in her car seat this early in the day.
A plum-colored bandana floated into Hilary’s lap.
“Put that on. Double it up so you can’t see through it,” said Jorie, smiling. “I know how you like to cheat.”
“What? I should probably take offense at that, but I’m too excited.” Hilary laughed and followed Jorie’s orders, tying the fabric tight around her eyes. She couldn’t even guess what Jorie had planned. “I hope this isn’t too far or I’m going to get motion sickness.”
“Not far at all.”
They bumped along the uneven rural roads for a good ten minutes, Hilary guessed. She tried to map out in her mind the route Tom took. But there were too many turns, and after a few minutes queasiness took over. Hilary breathed deeply to calm her stomach.
“Okay, here we are,” said Jorie.
