Erin nodded. “Yes, yes they did. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Well, actually, maybe you can. You see, I was thinking about ways to capitalize on the fact that the show is filming here. When the time comes, I’m going to be updating the Glenshire website, obviously, along with most of the village sites as well, and I was wondering if I could discuss with you the idea of showcasing some of the date sites featured on the show as a way to boost tourism.” She lifted a quick hand. “Of course I wouldn’t do that until after it had actually aired. But if we could advertise the idea that our guests could go on the same kinds of fantasy dates as your cast members, well, I thought that might be a fun idea. I wasn’t sure who I needed to talk to, so I thought I’d start with you. I was hoping maybe you could share with me some of the other dates you have planned—I’d be sworn to secrecy of course—so I can get a head start on designing the pages for those dates. I know I could wait until the show aired, but I’d like to start advertising them as that happens, really make the most of the exposure, so I’d like some advance time to plan and prep.” She finally ran out of breath, and managed a short laugh. “Sorry to gush all this out at you, but—”
“No, no, not a problem. I think it’s a great idea, actually, and I don’t see where it would be a problem. Let me follow up with my boss and see if there are any specific kinds of things we need to do to make sure no legal toes are stepped on.”
Daisy beamed. “Thank you, so much. And if there is anyone I need to talk to, I’ll be more than happy to do that. I can even do a mock-up of a page or two so they can see what kind of thing I’m looking to do. I really appreciate your help on this.”
“Sure, no problem. I’m heading out of town for a few days, but I’ll put in on my list of things to handle as soon as I get back.”
“Oh, that’s fine. No hurry, really. I just wasn’t sure how long you stayed with the production. I knew you were doing more an advance team kind of thing and I didn’t want to miss the chance.” She paused for a moment, and there looked like there was something else she was going to say, but instead she stuck her hand out. “Thank you, Erin. I’m glad we had a chance to meet.”
Erin shook her hand, and couldn’t help but wonder what she’d opted not to ask her. Daisy didn’t strike her as someone who backed away from pretty much anything. “My pleasure. And I’m glad we met, too. You made my job a lot easier when I first got here. I appreciate you paving the way with some of the other locals.”
“We Yanks have to stick together,” she said with a grin.
“Aye, that we do. Well, I need to run.” She opened her car door, then glanced back at Daisy. The question came blurting out before she thought it through. “How long have you been here? In Glenbuie, I mean? Was it hard to adapt?”
Daisy tilted her head slightly and gave Erin a considering look. “Not very long, but it seems like I’ve lived here forever.” She laughed. “In a good way. As for fitting in, for all it’s a small town and the villagers definitely take care of their own, they were very welcoming to me. But then I had the added benefit of being related to one of their own, so they were predisposed to be kindly toward me, anyway. As for the rest, well, I suppose it would depend on the person, but I was very much ready to make a big change in my life. Of course, I wasn’t expecting quite as big a change as I got.” She fiddled with the gorgeous engagement ring adorning her hand. The smile that came to her face then could only be described as radiant.
Erin felt an odd little pang in her chest. She’d seen that look before. Over and over again. Every season, in fact. She’d always been thrilled because she knew that meant the show would be a success. Expressions like the one on Daisy’s face meant higher ratings and better market share.
At the moment, however, she wasn’t thinking about any of that.
“I’ve been truly blessed since coming here, so I’m probably a bit biased,” she went on. “But I’d already fallen in love with the place, even before I fell in love with Reese, or the rest of the villagers.” She looked at Erin, paused for a moment, then abruptly said, “Can I ask why you asked?”
“I’m not sure,” Erin said, which wasn’t exactly a lie. She really wasn’t sure. She’d just finished deciding to end things with Dylan, so there was no reason to be wondering about any of it. “I guess it just intrigued me, the idea that you gave up everything and moved half a world away.”
“I didn’t have all that much to give up,” Daisy told her. “And I knew I was moving toward something important. Because it was finally something I was doing just for me. At that time in my life, that’s what really mattered.”
“Well, obviously no regrets. Which is great. I’m really happy for you.” Erin forced a sunny note into her voice, wanting to get in her car and drive away and pretend she wasn’t having this conversation. Because then she wouldn’t have to think about Daisy’s answers. Or why she’d asked the questions in the first place. “I should be going.”
“Right.” Daisy stepped back to allow Erin to get in her car. “Thanks again for your help with this.”
“No problem.” Before Erin pulled the door shut, she glanced back up at Daisy and asked, “By the way, you didn’t happen to see Dylan in the village anywhere this morning, did you?”
Daisy shook her head. “I saw him pulling out of here earlier on my way to Miss Eleanor’s. From the direction he was heading, I’d say he was going back to Glenshire.”
Erin swallowed a sigh of disappointment, even though she’d suspected as much. She really didn’t want to have their next conversation on his turf, but apparently she wasn’t going to be given that option. It was probably the least she deserved anyway. “Thanks.”
Just as Erin went to close the door, Daisy lifted her hand and stopped her. “Wait. I—uh…”
Erin waited, shading her eyes against the sun as she looked up expectantly at Daisy.
Daisy fidgeted a little, then said, “I was just wondering, there’s a rumor making the rounds. About you and Dylan and, well, is it true you’re—?”
“Considering him for an upcoming season?” Erin hurriedly interjected, knowing that was not where Daisy was headed, but knowing it would certainly derail where she was headed.
Which her surprised reaction confirmed. “Are you? Oh! Well. I guess that explains things then.” She laughed a little. “You two had been spotted together a few times, and well…you know how people are.” She smiled reassuringly, then said, “It’s just that…well, never mind.” She shrugged and smiled, as if she wanted to believe it, but Erin could tell she wasn’t quite sold on the explanation.
“I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything, or encourage the talk, either. We’re just now starting to film the current season and with the craziness of that, it’s best not to add more insanity to the mix. Can I trust you’ll keep this between us?” Erin silently swore at her big mouth. She knew better than to do something like that. She’d never once put the show before her personal needs before, but then she rarely had personal needs. Yet, she’d taken one look at Daisy’s face and had known full well where she was going with that little talk, and given that she was Dylan’s future sister-in-law, Erin really hadn’t wanted to go down that particular path. Still, she had no business spilling those particular beans, either. If Tommy found out? She shuddered to think.
“Sure, sure,” Daisy assured her, sincere this time.
Erin breathed a small sigh of relief. “We have a lot of wish lists for future seasons,” she told her, truthfully, “so don’t read anything specific into it. It was just that Dylan and I arrived back this morning right when all of this season’s contestants were arriving and they all reacted pretty favorably to your future brother-in-law, and of course, why wouldn’t they, right? Well, my boss was right there, and there had already been some talk amongst the crew working out at Glenshire about him, and that put the bee in Tommy’s bonnet, and, well…” She shrugged and smiled, thinking she’d done a good job of diffusing the situation. But the smile slowly faded as a sp
eculative gleam came back into Daisy’s eyes. What had she just said? She was mentally reviewing her comments, wishing she’d left well enough alone and not babbled on trying to explain away things that didn’t need explaining, when Daisy cocked her head, then abruptly spoke up.
“You know, I know this is totally none of my business, it’s just… I’m rarely wrong about these things, so I guess I’m a little confused.”
Erin really wished she’d closed the door and started up the car. She considered doing that now, but Daisy had her more or less trapped. A trap of Erin’s own making, so she had no one to blame but herself. “Wrong about what things?” she asked, knowing she wasn’t going to get out of there until Daisy got whatever was really bothering her off her chest. So much for diverting attention away from herself.
“Oh, nothing really, it’s just that I was known as something of a matchmaker back in my old life, and I was kind of instrumental in getting Brodie and his wife, Kat, together, after I arrived here in Glenbuie. I guess it’s like I said, it’s none of my business, but I had the feeling that there might be something other than business discussions going on between you and Dylan.” She put up a quick hand to stop Erin from commenting. “I’m not unhappy about that possibility, either. Actually, I was really intrigued by the idea of you two together. I’ll even confess that I partly tracked you down this morning for the reason we talked about, but it was also an excuse to get the chance to talk to you a little, and, well, be nosey.” She laughed self-consciously. “I guess living in a small village is rubbing off on me. I swear I’m no busybody. But I do care about Dylan a great deal. His brothers have been worried that he’s spent too much time boarded up out there in Glenshire cutting himself off from rejoining the rest of the world. They’ve been pushing him, as brothers do, but they’re so grateful he’s home to stay, they haven’t prodded too much. Not to mention that Dylan isn’t exactly all that easily prodded.”
For once, Erin managed to wisely say nothing.
“Anyway,” Daisy went on quickly, seemingly determined to get this out now that she’d begun, “I’ve worked with him a little on the website stuff and I share his brothers’ concerns. We were thrilled when you were able to talk him into leasing out Glenshire for the television program. Not just because we all thought it was great for the bed and breakfast and for the rest of the village, but having his house overrun with people would force him back to the land of the living. We knew that would happen to some degree when the guests he’d booked started showing up, but this was even better.” She grinned. “And it didn’t hurt, from his brothers’ perspective, that a lot of the people cluttering up the house would be gorgeous women. Men,” she added, with an eye roll. “But I’ll admit to being a bit curious to seeing how he’d react to all that, too. I hate that he’s cut himself off like he has. I know how tragic the circumstances were, but…well, anyway. Then we heard you and Dylan had taken off for the day a while back, and we put that together with him coming into town that first night after meeting you, then agreeing to the lease because of you, and, well, of course we were all a bit curious.” She put her hand out. “In a good way, I promise.” She smiled her friendly smile. “We like you.”
Erin found herself smiling back. Daisy had the kind of infectious, bubbly force of nature that was hard to resist. In any other situation, she’d be interested in getting to know Daisy better, maybe developing a friendship. The very notion surprised her. Other than Dana, which was a work relationship that had become a friendship, Erin didn’t pursue that avenue. Too complicated. The idea that the town liked her gave her a rare warm fuzzy feeling as well. She liked the villagers, liked Glenbuie. They’d made her feel comfortable here. Or as comfortable as possible, anyway.
Of course, once they found out she was going to spurn Dylan’s desire to continue developing a relationship with her, they might not be feeling so friendly toward her. She could only hope that Dylan was a man of his word and would stand by his offer to be the next Prince Charming. If his family and friends saw him making that kind of leap, they couldn’t be too angry with her for nudging him in that direction. Maybe they’d realize it had all been for the best and forgive her. Not that it mattered, really. She’d be leaving eventually anyway. The thought had her rubbing at that achey spot on her chest again.
“And then you arrived together this morning,” Daisy went on, “and, well, enquiring minds and all that. You can tell me to take a flying leap, and I wouldn’t be hurt if you did, it’s just…” She trailed off for a moment, seeming indecisive, then abruptly blurted out the rest. “You say it’s business, but then you light up when his name comes up. And he’s not the kind of man to spend time with someone, heck, anyone, these days, if he doesn’t have to. If he’s with you, it’s because he wants to be. Now, I know I’m biased, but for good reason. And all I’m saying is, you could do worse than one of the Chisholm brothers, but not a lot better. They’re a determined, loyal, dedicated lot. And very tenacious when they want something.”
Tell me something I don’t know, Erin thought morosely, feeling worse now than before, which was saying something. Unprepared for Daisy’s sudden speech, Erin was caught too offguard to school her expression, and Daisy had obviously seen something of what she was grappling with. So she didn’t even try to evade the topic again. “I—I don’t know what to tell you, Daisy. It’s…complicated,” she said, deciding on honesty, as much as she could anyway.
“So is Dylan,” Daisy said with a smile. “But in a good way, I think.” She leaned down and gave Erin a spontaneous hug, then immediately stepped back. “I’m sorry to thrust all that on you like that, and I wouldn’t have if I didn’t think it was worth at least putting it out there.” She shook her head and smiled ruefully. “I’ve said enough. Too much, probably. But I care about him, we all do. We want to see him happy. And lately? From the glimpses I’ve seen…he is happy. He’s like a Dylan I’ve never met, one his brothers have missed immensely. I just wanted you to know how grateful we are for that. And tell you personally what a lucky woman I think you are. So, whatever happens, thank you, for giving him that much of himself back.”
“I’m not even his type,” Erin blurted. “He told me so himself.” She shut up, shifted her gaze ahead, seeing nothing, feeling far too much. She was going to tape her mouth shut, that’s what she was going to do.
Daisy froze in the act of stepping back up on the curb, then turned back to Erin. “Dylan had that all sorted out in his head before, you know. And it didn’t serve him too well.”
Erin glanced up at Daisy, surprised.
“He thinks we all believe his marriage to Maribel was a match made in heaven. And it’s true, the villagers like to think of it as a fairy tale. It plays better, makes them feel good. But his brothers know there was trouble in paradise, or certainly suspected it. They suspected his reasons for staying on were more complicated than he let on. As I said, once a Chisholm is dedicated to something, there’s never a more loyal man. Dylan’s come home. And he’s not the same man he once was. So why he thinks his tastes are the same, I have no idea. If you say he’s interested, even thinking you’re not his type, then maybe he’s finally operating from the heart. I’m sure it’s as much a surprise to him as it is to anyone. Don’t give up on him just because he might not be clear on what he wants.”
Erin snorted before she could stop herself, then groaned inwardly at Daisy’s increased interest. “If I get him to sign on with the show, he’ll have the chance to meet a variety of potential Ms. Rights. At the very least he’ll put himself back out there, give himself a chance to figure out what he does want.” She dared to look at Daisy again. “I don’t think it can be me. I…my life isn’t here.”
Daisy studied her for a moment, then a hint of a smile crossed her face. “But you’ve thought about it, haven’t you?” She pushed the car door shut, and tapped the roof. “That’s why you asked me, isn’t it? So, think about it some more. A man like him doesn’t come along twice in a lifetime.” Her grin spread.
“Trust me, I know whereof I speak. Give him a chance, Erin. Or maybe it’s more about giving yourself one.”
With a wave she walked away, back toward the village square, leaving Erin to pull out of the lot and head toward Glenshire, a hell of a lot more confused than ever.
Chapter 19
Dylan clicked open another window on his computer screen and shuffled through the folders on his desk, all the while keeping the phone pinned between his shoulder and his ear. He punched the intercom button and laid the phone down. “Go ahead and sell that block, Ian,” he instructed. “But hold on the other two until I get back to you.”
“Are you sure you want to do that, mate? I’m telling you, it’s going down and you should strike now—”
“Too risky for my blood at the moment. I’ll be in touch next week.”
There was a short sigh. “You’re no fun, you know that.”
Dylan smiled. “I can’t afford to be fun.” He clicked off and was closing folders when a tap came at the door. Now it was his turn to sigh. He’d been home a few hours and for one reason or another, a production staffer of some rank or position found a reason to intrude on his privacy every other minute. “You say you want me out of sight, then don’t keep sending people up here to annoy me.”
“Dylan?”
His head shot up, and a grin immediately creased his face. “Erin.”
“I’m interrupting.” She nodded toward the clutter on his desk as she walked closer.
“No, I’m finished. Just some portfolio business to tend to before heading out.” He flipped several folders shut, switched off his monitor, then pushed his chair back and stood. “I’m all yours.”
He could see immediately from the set of her shoulders, and her jaw, that she’d spent their time apart girding her defenses yet again, instead of letting them down any further. And he tried not to be discouraged. Or scared. Or both.
He knew he was asking a great deal of her and that her default position was to protect rather than risk. So, rather than give her an opening, he made a preemptive strike. He surprised a squeal out of her by scooping her up in his arms and striding across the rooms of his upper floor apartment. There was the study, which doubled as his office, a living room area, and his bedroom. The latter was his intended destination.
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