Dating Daniel (Cloverleaf #4)

by Gloria Herrmann

  Her sister’s room was down the hall and across from her own. She tapped lightly against the heavy wooden door. “Nina, breakfast is ready.” Hannah paused and knocked again. No sound or response. She opened the door slowly in case her sister was still asleep. Hannah scanned the room in confusion as she encountered a perfectly made bed, unslept in by the looks of the tight folding Hannah had done yesterday. “Nina?” Hannah called out, shocked by the panic in her own voice. She moved inside the small room. On the pillow laid a piece of paper. Hannah felt her stomach bottom out. She had watched enough movies to know that a note left behind by anyone was never good news.

  She grabbed the sheet of paper and sat on the bed to read what she knew was going to explain all of Nina’s strange and odd behavior.

  Hannah,

  I know this might come as a complete surprise, but I had to go. I just can’t live in Birch Valley anymore. There’s nothing here for me. I have decided it’s time for me to find out what it is I’m meant to do. I know that living on a farm is not it.

  I don’t want you to worry. I had to borrow the money in your jar. I needed it to buy a ticket out of here. You always wanted me to be happy, and this is a start. Thanks for understanding, Hannah. I will try and call soon. Please don’t worry. This is something I needed to do.

  Tell Dad I love him. I love you too.

  Love,

  Nina

  Hannah fought the urge to throw up as she clutched the note. What was she going to tell their father? Where had her sister gone? Thoughts and worry swirled in Hannah’s mind, causing her to feel dizzy and sick. Gulping in the damp, cold air, Hannah tried to swallow a breath and wrap her brain around the sudden reality of what was happening—Nina was gone.

  Chapter Twelve

  Daniel

  “It will find a way of working itself out,” Daniel said, sounding every bit like his mother as he held Hannah’s hand. They sat at her dining room table. She had called him that morning, sounding distraught and hoarse from crying. She needed him, and he wasted no time coming to her rescue. He’d even brought donuts.

  Hannah sniffled, wiping her tear-stained cheeks. “I know. I just worry about her. This is so unlike her, and what if…”

  Daniel stroked the top of her soft hand with his thumb, enjoying the small bit of affection. “Nina can take care of herself. She shouldn’t have left like this and put you and your father through this kind of worry.”

  Hannah nodded. It broke his heart seeing her this upset. It also made him downright furious with Nina. How could she do something so selfish? But was he really surprised? No. Nina was incredibly selfish, and he knew she would figure things out. Granted, California was a great deal different than Birch Valley, so he understood where Hannah’s fears stemmed from.

  “Daniel, I really appreciate you coming over.”

  “You’re happy I brought donuts. I know my place.” Daniel laughed and snuck a quick kiss on her damp cheek.

  “Well, the donuts helped. I won’t deny that.” Hannah picked at a chocolate-covered buttermilk circle of perfection. A slight smile appeared on her pretty face.

  Daniel took a bite of his maple bar. Hannah had made them coffee when he had arrived with the donuts, and then she’d burst into tears. He had held her as she cried. They’d stood in her kitchen, the morning light streaming through the large windows, a clean citrus scent in the air, accompanying the sounds of Hannah’s despair. As Daniel cradled her in his arms, Mr. Belsky had walked in, his face vacant of any real expression. Daniel couldn’t tell if he were upset or sad. There was just no telling. Daniel had brought him a donut as well, figuring that they all could use one. With that gesture, he found he was more like his mother than he had ever realized. Bringing food and the gentle words to soothe, all of that came from his mother. He was even more thankful that Mary O’Brien was his mother. She had taught him very special things: compassion and how to love. The moment Daniel saw Hannah in such a vulnerable state, he realized he did indeed love her. The gears in his head had already put plans into motion. He just prayed she felt the same way.

  ***

  Hannah

  As she sat there with Daniel, she realized one thing: this man was special, as was the softness behind his piercing eyes, the concern in his voice when she had called him that morning. When she’d discovered Nina’s note, she hadn’t known know what to do. Hannah immediately went to their father, who had been washing up for breakfast. He didn’t seem at all shocked, but she couldn’t dismiss the disappointment and quiet worry in his eyes. She’d expected more of reaction. Hannah, herself, was both livid and frightened. She had no one else to turn to, except Daniel. The moment she dialed his number and he answered, she felt instantly guilty. Why burden him with this trouble? He didn’t owe her anything, yet something told her he was the one she wanted to console her. Then he arrived, with donuts no less, and scooped her up in the most comforting hug. His strong arms had been securely wrapped around her as they stood together in her kitchen. She hadn’t been able to stop the tears. It was as though being with him, knowing he had her in his arms, somehow made it okay to let the tears flow. He was her rock, her pillar of support, and never in her life had she ever had anyone who was there for in that capacity. When her mother died, she was the rock, the pillar of strength and support for Nina and her father. No one had been there for her. She’d cried alone. When Nina wailed, begging for their mother, it was Hannah who fought back her own tears, wearing a brave mask. No one even considered that she was shattered inside.

  “Don’t borrow trouble, Hannah. Have some faith.” Daniel gently kissed her nose and then returned to eating his maple bar. She could smell the sweetness on his breath, making her want to kiss him so she could taste more.

  Hannah sighed. If today taught her anything, it was that the human body could endure a torrent of emotions. One moment she was devastated that her sister had run away, and the next she wanted nothing more than to make out with Daniel. It was a guilty and internal torture. She wondered if he noticed how desperately she battled against it. She silently prayed she was able to wear a mask that hid that too.

  “I know what will cheer you up,” Daniel said confidently, giving her a crooked smile she found delicious.

  “Fishing,” they answered in unison.

  ***

  Hannah felt guilty as she unpacked Daniel’s truck and headed for the shore of their favorite fishing spot. What if Nina tried calling? Hannah knew her cell phone didn’t get the slightest bit of reception at this lake. Mountains surrounded it protectively on all sides. Even knowing that she still glanced her phone, just in case. No service available.

  “Here, let me get that,” Daniel called out as he noticed her lugging some fishing gear.

  “It’s fine. I got it.”

  He frowned at her, and being the gentleman that he was, he gingerly snatched the heavy stuff from her arms. They trudged down to the sandy edge of their favorite fishing spot. The tall grasses had browned, and the water slightly receded. Hannah heard the honking of geese and looked up, noticing a V formation of Canadian geese against the pale blue sky.

  “Boy, you can tell fall is about here.” Daniel pointed at the yellowing tamarack trees in the distance. The air had a bite to it, not cold, but the slight breeze nipped at her. Hannah was thankful she had wore a hoodie—her favorite, a soft pink camouflage one. Daniel had already teased her, saying that he wasn’t so sure what she trying to blend in with, but she’d be hard to find in Candyland. She had laughed. He had a point, but it was still warm and comfortable.

  “You want me to bait your hook?” Daniel asked as he started to thread the line and check the reel on one of the poles.

  “Haven’t we been over this before?”

  “Yes, Miss Fisherman, but can’t your boyfriend offer?”

  Hannah smiled. Boyfriend. There it was, finally out in the open. Neither had really said anything before. It was just been quietly assumed, she supposed. The way the word rolled off his tongue was sort of
nice. As she moved closer to him, the breeze picked up. She watched ripples move along the dark surface of the lake. Daniel stood near the water as he busied himself with the pole, wearing a well-loved Seattle Mariners baseball cap and gray hoodie. He looked comfortable, and she suddenly, without warning, found him incredibly sexy. Hannah wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt him drop the pole down carefully, his hands landing on her hips. She felt time pause, her ears picking up the sounds of nature, but they were alone in that moment. Her lips sought his, finally tasting the sweetness she knew they’d promised earlier, along with the after hints of coffee and his maple bar. Daniel O’Brien was delicious in more ways than one.

  ***

  Daniel

  Driving home from the lake, Daniel looked over to see Hannah asleep. She had been through a lot that day and was probably more than a little exhausted. As he watched her, he saw her eyes were closed, her steady breathing making her chest rise and fall. He felt his heart swell. Seeing her sleeping soundly, he couldn’t but help notice how gorgeous and peaceful she looked. The way her eyelashes fanned out almost drew more attention to the spray of freckles across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Her lips were slightly swollen, more red than their usual rosebud pink from how much they’d kissed at the lake. Hannah’s long, golden-blonde hair was curling near her shoulders. He tried to keep his focus on the road, but found it quite difficult to take his eyes off of her. Daniel felt a strong urge to protect the woman beside him. He knew she was strong. She could milk goats and wasn’t afraid of hard work. Hell, she could even bait her own hook, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to shelter her. Seeing her so emotional today, that pulled at something inside him. He vowed to himself that he would do everything he could to make her happy, because seeing her smile, that brought him a kind of joy he had never felt before. Hearing her laugh, watching the brilliant blues and greens and flecks of amber of her eyes sparkle when she was amused, all these small things, they were starting to mean the world to Daniel.

  “Hannah, we’re home,” Daniel whispered as he shut off the truck in her driveway.

  She stirred slowly, confusion in her eyes until she looked around. “Gosh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  “It’s okay. You needed it.”

  “Probably just tired from all that darn crying.” Hannah laughed nervously. “Daniel, it means a lot that you came over today.”

  Daniel slid over closer to her side. “Hannah, I would move mountains if you asked.” Staring at her lip, he saw her tongue flick across them, creating a wet sheen. It was too much to resist. He lowered his mouth onto hers, but not delicately. This was a kiss that was deep, hungry, and needy. Daniel felt desire pulse through him, God, he wanted her. What he wanted was something he had never had, never tasted, but he knew he craved it now more than anything. He was starving for Hannah.

  ***

  Hannah

  The fireworks that erupted behind her eyes as she felt Daniel kiss her, she couldn’t explain the intensity behind it. She just knew that the flood of emotions from everything that had happened and from what she felt for Daniel was all almost too much. It was consuming her. The rawness of this kiss, the primal moan that had escaped Daniel or her, she wasn’t sure who, scared her a little. The blaze that was beginning to burn through her was far more wicked now than it had ever been before. She now wanted something she thought was forbidden. She understood what Nina had meant about making love, and she wanted nothing more than to feel closer to Daniel. Maybe waiting to sleep with someone until marriage was overrated. Her brain felt faulty, her reasoning quickly vanishing. If he had taken her right there, she wouldn’t have stopped it, but maybe even encouraged it.

  She explored the tight muscles of his back with her hands as she pulled him closer. The confines of the truck were beginning to irritate her as her body started to take control. She slipped her hands under his shirt. Feeling his skin was almost her undoing. The desire to shed her clothing and feel the heat of his flesh on her was growing stronger as his tongue explored and teased her mouth.

  She felt his hands move under her shirt, cupping her breasts. Now she wanted to be naked more than anything. All these sensations, all new and wild, were overwhelming, but welcomed.

  “God, Hannah.” Daniel hissed in her ear as he suddenly pulled back. He practically flung himself back into his seat, his face flushed, the vivid color of his eyes hazy with lust. Daniel rubbed his face. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” Guilt and shame were starting to enter her mind. Had she done something wrong? Was she not what he really wanted? Self-doubt started to burn through her.

  He must have sensed her feeling discomfort, because he reached for her. “Oh, babe, it’s not you. It’s, uh…me.”

  Hannah felt her heart thump loudly inside her. Panic began to take over. It was him? Was he going to break up with her? She wasn’t sure she could take much more. Today had been a roller coaster.

  “I, well…” Daniel was avoiding her eyes, embarrassment or something etched on his face. Hannah was beyond confused. For them to go from being tangled up in each other only moments earlier to this awkwardness? What went wrong?

  “It’s fine. I get it. You aren’t interested. I’m not Nina. You shouldn’t have to settle for second best,” Hannah spat angrily, trying to work the door open. Daniel pushed the lock button and glared at her.

  “What? God, no. That’s not it at all.”

  She watched as Daniel swallowed. He seemed to be slowly digesting his thoughts. She could see him trying to figure out how to tell her whatever it was he needed to say. Her stomach started to move in uneasy waves, she felt her bottom lip quiver in anticipation, and the familiar burn of tears were building up in her eyes. “I don’t understand then, Daniel. I thought…”

  His eyes had an angry hue in them as he spoke, “First off, let me make myself quite clear. I don’t want Nina, ever. I want you in ways I can’t even begin to tell you. One way that just about happened here in this truck, in front of your house for goodness sakes.”

  Hannah frowned. “Okay, you have a point there. I’m sorry. I…”

  “Stop apologizing.” Daniel moved closer and cupped her face. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You wanted what I wanted. But I haven’t, well…”

  “You’re a virgin?” Hannah gasped in shock.

  “Yes.”

  She burst out into laughter. Daniel scowled at her in disbelief. “No, no. no. I promise I am not laughing because of what you told me.”

  “Then why, Hannah? That’s not really something you hope someone does when you tell them that.” He slid back over to his side of the truck. Tension started to thicken between them. Daniel must have felt it too. He rolled down the window and stared outside.

  Boy, she had really done it. She hadn’t meant to laugh, but the sensation of the relief that soared through her, well, that was the way it had decided to escape her. “Daniel, I am too,” Hannah admitted, placing her hand on his arm, trying to coax him to look at her. “I wanted to wait until I met the man I wanted to marry. I guess it’s kind of cheesy, but I wanted it to be special.”

  Daniel turned to face her. “I don’t think it’s cheesy. I think it’s beautiful.” He smiled at her, pausing briefly before he explained, “It’s not common for guys to wait, but I wanted to. I always wanted to be with the right woman, someone I would marry and be with for the rest of my life. I wanted it to be something special that I could share with her and something that hopefully she could share with me.”

  Hannah couldn’t believe her ears. How was it that this man just became that much more perfect?

  They both sat quietly. Hannah’s mind was racing, but one thing she knew was that this was the man she wanted to marry someday. After all the countless romance novels and all the movies with their happy endings, she realized now it was almost as if they had prepared her for something she didn’t think existed. But here it was, right next to her.

  Chapter Thirteen

>   It had been a couple of weeks since her sister had left, and Nina had only called once to let them know she had made it to California safe and sound. Why did she have to go there, of all places? Nina had explained over a static telephone line that she had met someone online who had made her grand promises of a career in modeling. Hannah was leery and scared for her sister. She knew Nina could easily become a model. There was no doubt about that. It was Nina’s inexperience and naiveté that worried her. She also knew that not everywhere was like Birch Valley. Hannah had been doing a lot of praying, and her one happy distraction had been Daniel.

  Hannah stomped out into the soggy morning, the saturated ground squishing under her boots as she headed to the small barn to tend to the goats. She always milked the goats and fed the chickens around this time of morning, right after breakfast and before she started on any other household chores. She cherished this quiet time, alone with her thoughts and her animals. Growing up on a farm was all she knew, but she was happy here, unlike her sister.

  As she opened the wide wooden door to the barn, the heady scents of damp hay, earth, and animal hit her. Straw was scattered about, and several goats with full udders waddled around. Hannah reached down to pet a brown and white goat that had nudged her. She found her stool and locked herself a small pen with the animal and set to work on milking. The milk shot hard into to the metal pail, echoing against its sides as she squeezed in a steady rhythm. Hannah was so focused on the task she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her father’s voice.