Dare to Love: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 4)

by Delaney Cameron

  “Are we friends?”

  “I just said so.”

  “I wanted to make sure; this is a big deal. I feel like I should pinch myself to see if I’m really awake.”

  “Forgiveness should lead to some degree of reconciliation, shouldn’t it? Otherwise, it’s just a meaningless gesture.”

  “I know, but memories aren’t so easily forgotten; especially bad ones. They have to be replaced with new ones.”

  “That’s what we’re doing, isn’t it?”

  “I’m definitely dreaming, but that’s okay. I don’t want to wake up. I’ll let you get back to work.”

  When she walked into the building on Wednesday morning and saw Trent standing in the doorway of Jared’s office, she knew all the excuses, arguments, and dozen little talks she’d had with herself hadn’t worked. The exhilaration and sheer delight racing through her body like a hundred shots of adrenaline told their own story. If they’d been alone, she would probably have acted on the foolish desire to throw herself in his arms and prove beyond all doubt how much she missed him. As it was, it took every ounce of self-control at her disposal to act as if his return meant no more to her than that of anyone else.

  * * * * *

  Trent’s fists clenched from the effort to stay where he was. He wanted to pull Sabrina into his arms and never let her go. Seven days was too long to be away from her. Who was he kidding? Seven hours was too long. “Good morning,” he said as calmly as his racing pulse and hammering heart would allow.

  “Welcome back,” she replied.

  She was so lovely it was almost painful. The closer she got, the tighter his fingers knotted together. Thank goodness for Jared. If not for him, Sabrina would probably be slapping him about now. “I was just telling Jared that my grandmother is sitting up in bed and talking today.”

  “That’s wonderful!” she said, going around him to wave at Jared.

  “Hey, Sabrina. I got you a salted caramel scone to try. It’s waiting in your office.”

  “It’ll have to go a long way to beat the blueberry one you brought me yesterday.” Her glance came back to Trent. “I bet Butterscotch was happy to see you.”

  Trent wanted to know if Sabrina was happy to see him. “He was. The poor thing started shaking. I didn’t have the heart to leave him alone today. He’s in my office, hopefully chewing the bone I gave him and not the furniture.”

  Sabrina laughed. “I’ll come see him as soon as I get settled.”

  Would she have come if it had just been him? He was doing it again; being jealous of his own dog. Why did being in love alter one’s ability to act rationally? “Sounds good.”

  When he turned back to say something to Jared, he caught a grin on his friend’s face. “Don’t say it,” he warned.

  Jared’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Good. Let’s get together later to work on that schedule for the symposium.”

  “I’ll be free right after lunch until about three.”

  “That works for me.”

  When Sabrina finally made it to his office, Butterscotch was almost as excited to see her as Trent had been. The difference was the puppy didn’t have to hide it.

  “I’m glad your grandmother is doing better,” she said, a blissful Butterscotch cradled in her arms.

  “Me, too. Have you thought any more about the trip to Six Flags on Saturday? I made the mistake of mentioning to Mason that you might go. It wasn’t my best decision; I didn’t realize he’d get so excited about it.”

  “I’ll go with you.” She put Butterscotch back on the floor and walked to the door. “I can’t disappoint Mason.”

  He felt both relieved and disappointed by her answer. “Is that the only reason you’re going?”

  “It’s why you asked me to go.”

  “Not exactly. I also asked you for myself. I wanted to spend time with you.”

  “At an amusement park? You see me at work almost every day.”

  “I don’t count work. I have to adhere to a certain set of behaviors at the office because you’re my employee. I can’t tell you that the dress you’re wearing brings out the blue in your eyes or that you smell like the gardenias growing along the fence in my grandmother’s backyard or that your smile can make me forget everything else.”

  “I see your point,” she said, the color in her face deepening with what he hoped was pleasure.

  “Then you should also see that I need a time and a place where I can say them.”

  “I’m not sure Mason needs to hear them, either.”

  “Normally I would agree with you, but Mason doesn’t have anyone to show him how to treat a lady. He’s only seen violence and abuse. He needs to see firsthand what friendship, affection, and mutual respect between a man and a woman looks like.”

  “You really care about him, don’t you?”

  “Very much. I know it’s hard to believe considering how selfish I used to be.”

  “You certainly don’t fit the definition now.”

  Did she have any idea what those words meant to him? What they did to him inside? “I really wish we weren’t at work.”

  Sabrina’s brow wrinkled. “You say the strangest things sometimes.”

  He walked over to where she stood by the door. “I can’t help it; you’ve always brought out this side of me.”

  * * * * *

  Sabrina tried not to glance at her watch. Jared was in the middle of a story that she would’ve enjoyed hearing any other time. Just not now. It was ironic that he was the one keeping her late today, too. He was usually the first person to leave. She wondered if his wife had gone out of town again.

  No matter what the reason, she had to find a way to get out of here. She was supposed to pick up Camille in fifteen minutes for a make-up party. A party that she’d tried unsuccessfully to avoid because it wasn’t much fun going when she didn’t have money to spend. Help came in the form of Trent, who arrived back early from a meeting downtown and proved that he actually could remember something she’d told him two days before.

  “Don’t you have your make-over thing tonight?”

  Sabrina laughed. “I’m not getting a make-over. I’ll be trying different facial products some of which will be make-up.”

  “My sister had one of those glamor shots done years ago. I didn’t recognize her at first. Why go through all that when you’ll never look like that again?”

  “It’s fun to look like a movie star for a few hours.”

  Trent shrugged. “Seems like a waste of time to me. Anyway, didn’t you say you had to drive to Powder Springs? You better get going. The traffic is already backing up.”

  This was the opening she needed. “I guess I better.” She glanced at Jared. “Can you tell me the rest of that story some other time?”

  “Sure thing. Have fun at your party.”

  As she walked away, Sabrina heard Trent say, “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

  As she threw on her jacket and grabbed her purse, she wondered if Trent’s comments had anything to do with the seminar they were hosting next week. With it being right before the Thanksgiving holiday, they couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong now.

  By not going home to change clothes, she made it to Camille’s apartment with two minutes to spare. Her friend mentioned this as soon as she sat down in the car.

  “You look like you’re ready to address a board meeting.”

  Sabrina glanced at Camille’s chunky sweater, skinny jeans, and boots. “And you look like you’re going on a date.”

  “Speaking of dates or in this case, old flames, how are things going with Trent the Tolerable?”

  Camille had reluctantly changed Trent’s nickname, although she hadn’t quite forgiven him yet. “They’re fine. We’re more or less learning to be friends again.” Sabrina realized as soon as she said it that she’d unconsciously echoed Trent’s own words.

  “Hmm. I hope the process involves a sufficien
t amount of groveling on his part and plenty of gloating on yours.”

  Sabrina laughed. “That’s not how forgiveness works.”

  “You’re too easy on him. Make him earn your friendship. Show him that he can’t just waltz back into your life and pick up where he left off.”

  “He wouldn’t do that.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Camille twisted the rings on her fingers. “I don’t want him to hurt you again.”

  “He won’t, Cami. I know it’s hard for you to believe because you haven’t been around him, but he’s different. He cares about people and has his priorities right. He isn’t focused on himself. I wish you could see him with Mason. You wouldn’t recognize him.”

  “Then you need to guard your heart even more, Sabrina. You loved him before with all his flaws. How will you resist the new and improved version?”

  Trust Camille to cut right to the heart of the issue. Sabrina had been asking herself that same question. “Let’s not complicate things by looking too far ahead. Being friends is a big enough challenge. I hope they have food at this thing tonight. I’m starved.”

  Camille laughed. “Okay, I get the message. Stop talking about it. Joanie is making her famous ‘road kill’ otherwise known as Hidden Valley Ranch Sausage Stars.”

  “I don’t know what that is, but it sounds good already.”

  “You’ll be begging for the recipe by the end of the evening. Those things are highly addictive. Are you playing chaperone over Thanksgiving?”

  “I told Madeline I’d rather not go, but you know how she is. She feels guilty about leaving me behind. She doesn’t understand that it doesn’t bother me to be alone. I’m fine with my own company.”

  “Madeline is a people person. You’re a person person.”

  “That’s profound, Cami. Let’s put it on a t-shirt and make some money. Then I can stay home and refinish furniture.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. Are you going or staying?”

  “I’m definitely staying; she just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “If you decide that you don’t want to be alone, you can always come with me to Valdosta. I’m not leaving until Thursday morning. Zane’s brother will be there.”

  “Zane’s brother is nineteen and acts five years younger.”

  “He adores you, Sabrina.”

  “He likes to practice all his corny lines on me. I think the next exit is the one we want. Didn’t you say one-seventeen?”

  “That’s it. Venture Highway. We go another two miles and turn right. The apartments sit up on a hill. Joanie’s in the second building next to the pool. Before we get there, I want you to know that this is my treat. I’m not letting you leave tonight without something. Think of it as a belated birthday gift.”

  “You took me out to lunch and gave me a Josh Groban CD for my birthday.”

  “Okay, think of it as an early Christmas present.”

  “I’m not making any promises, but if I see something I can’t live without, I’ll let you know.”

  An hour later, they were sitting side by side at a round table with six other women. Urged on by Camille, Sabrina had departed from her usual neutral shades and gone with more vivid colors on her eyes and lips. She stared at her unfamiliar image trying to decide if she liked it or not.

  “You’re definitely getting that lipstick,” Camille hissed into her ear.

  “Where would I wear hot pink lipstick?”

  “I dare you to wear it to work. You could do the lipstick test on Trent.”

  Sabrina almost choked on the mint in her mouth. “The what?”

  “Wear the lipstick and see if he looks at your mouth.”

  “He’ll definitely look at my mouth. He’s never seen me wear lipstick that’s visible from space. His next thought will be that I wore it for him. Is that the message you want me to send?”

  Camille’s enthusiasm waned slightly. “I still think you should get it. Save it for a special occasion.”

  “I’d rather get this mascara. It makes even my lashes look thick.”

  Later that evening when she pulled out the bag to show Madeline, she discovered her friend’s trickery. True to her word, Camille had insisted on paying for Sabrina’s purchases. Sabrina had mistakenly thought those to be the mascara and a tube of concealer. Camille had added two other items: the hot pink lipstick and some jasmine scented body spray. She’d be having a word with her friend about that.

  * * * * *

  Mason’s excitement was evident from the moment she and Trent arrived to pick him up early Saturday morning. He spent the hour drive to Six Flags studying a map of the amusement park on Trent’s phone, reading out descriptions of the various rides, and getting Sabrina’s opinion on what they should do first. Other than exchanging a few amused glances with her, Trent concentrated on getting them through the Atlanta traffic in one piece.

  The line outside the main gate was long in spite of the definite nip in the cool November air. As they neared the ticket window, the space between them gradually grew denser forcing them into a single line with Mason in front of Sabrina and Trent bringing up the rear.

  In such close quarters, it was impossible not to come into contact with anyone else. Even so, Sabrina wasn’t prepared for the warmth that spread through her when Trent’s hands suddenly grasped her waist a split second before the rest of him bumped into her. How could she feel his touch through a long sleeve shirt and jacket?

  “Sorry about that,” he said in a low voice close to her ear. “I’ve got an overanxious child behind me. He’s almost knocked me down twice.”

  “That’s okay,” she said, wishing it was the truth.

  “Keep a hand on Mason, if you don’t mind. We don’t want to lose him in this crowd.”

  Was that why Trent hadn’t removed his hands from her waist? Sabrina pondered that question during the following twenty minutes that it took them to reach the ticket window. At that point, it no longer mattered. When he reached for his wallet, Trent had to let her go. Once they were inside the park, the crowd thinned out as people went in all directions.

  “Miss Sabrina, can we ride El Toro first?” Mason asked. “It’s got the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster.”

  She laughed. “I’m fine with that. Lead the way.”

  Trent leaned over and whispered, “How does it feel to have two males hanging on your every word?”

  “Like normal; this happens to me all the time.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  “Well, you should. This is a ridiculous conversation.”

  “I keep forgetting that flirting doesn’t work with you. You’re more discerning than most women.”

  “Is that another way of saying I’m prudish and boring?”

  “Not at all. Counting paper clips would be exciting with you.”

  “Do you actually believe all the crazy things you say?”

  “We could put it to the test. I’ve got plenty of paper clips.”

  This was too much for Sabrina. She started to laugh. “I give up. Will you hold my purse for me? I don’t want to take it on the ride.”

  Trent’s eyes went to the huge wooden structure rising high into the sky above them. “It’s the least I can do. Has finding out that I’m afraid of roller coasters lowered your opinion of me?”

  “Why would it? It takes courage to admit your fears. We’ll meet you at the exit on the other side.”

  From that point on, things settled into a pattern. Sabrina and Mason rode the rides while Trent occupied himself taking pictures and holding all their stuff, which after the temperature rose sufficiently to allow it, included their jackets, too. It was during one of the long walks between rides that he reached for her hand. At her surprised glance, he smiled and pointed to Mason.

  She’d thought a lot about that conversation the other evening. Trent’s concern for Mason impressed her more and more. He wasn’t just going through the motions. He was trying to build a foundation that would last long after h
e disappeared from Mason’s life.

  After several trips on the roller coasters Mason wanted to ride, Trent suggested they get some lunch and then go to the arcade. After a meal of foot long corndogs and curly fries, they were ready to test their skill on the boardwalk style games.

  Sabrina enjoyed watching the friendly competition between Mason and Trent. She suspected the latter’s up and down performance wasn’t typical. This was confirmed when she and Mason left him to get snow cones. While standing in the long line, she glanced back to where Trent was waiting for them at the skee-ball table. In the space of thirty seconds, he landed three balls in the top scoring cups. As small a thing as it was, his insight and forethought impressed her. He hadn’t wanted Mason to feel bad about not being as good. He gave him both the experience of winning and losing.

  When they rejoined Trent, he led them to covered pavilion close by with picnic tables. After they were seated, Sabrina held out his snow cone. “Here you go.”

  He took it from her with a teasing smile, his eyes sliding down to her mouth. “Can I change my mind? I see something I’d like better.”

  Another wave of warmth swept over her, similar to what had happened earlier. “It’s not on the menu.”

  Trent laughed. “I know, but a man can dream, can’t he?”

  Sabrina tried to look insulted, but couldn’t manage it. “I’m going to ignore you.”

  “Something you’ve turned into an art form.” He glanced at Mason. “How do you feel about bumper cars?”

  “I’ve never done them before.”

  “Then it’s time you did.”

  “I’ll sit this one out,” Sabrina said. “I’ve never liked those things.”

  “I think they’re more a guy thing. My sister doesn’t like them, either.”

  Once they’d done a few rounds of bumper cars, Mason asked if they could try the go-karts. Because he wasn’t tall enough to ride alone, Mason and Trent shared one kart and Sabrina had one of her own.

  As they sat side-by-side waiting for the starting signal, Trent yelled over to her, “Hey, beautiful. Can we get together after the ride? I know this great place we could go.”

  Behind him, Sabrina could see Mason laughing. “Sorry. I’ve already got plans.”