by Leah Atwood
“Am I crazy?” The relationship between them was progressing at a lightning speed that should have terrified her, but it felt right. Even after praying, and talking with Gram, there were no clear signs saying they were moving too fast.
“The way I see it, you and he have been skirting around this for months and it’s had time to build up energy.” Her mom paused for a split second. “Essentially, you started off with a friendship—that’s a good foundation.”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“If you’ve prayed about it and you have a peace about the direction you’re moving in, then that’s what is important. But, Dani…” She trailed off.
“Yes, Mom?”
“It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of a new relationship. Remember to keep God at the center.”
“We are.” She changed the subject, eager for news of her home. “Were you able to check on my house?”
“Yes. The house is fine, but one of your elm trees is down. Your dad is already busy clearing it.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. There were a few shingles in the yard, but we think they flew from the neighbor’s house because there were no patchy spots on the roof. To be sure, we went inside and checked for any signs of leaks, but nothing.”
A rush of air came from her lungs and she spread it over a long breath. With that knowledge, she could fully concentrate on the remainder of her time with Rob, without that worry in the back of her mind. “Thanks for doing that.”
“I told you we’d take care of it. Your dad’s calling me over. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dani. Have fun and be careful.”
Chapter 20
The credits rolled and Rob pressed a button on the remote, turning off the movie. He casually draped an arm over Dani. They’d eaten an early lunch, and then had come to his condo and listened to Gram’s interview. Since then, they’d had a lazy afternoon, making the most of being together.
Straightening her back, Dani sat sideways, so that she faced him. “I can’t believe we watched two movies back to back.”
“Your idea, Miss You-choose-one-and-I’ll-choose-one.” He stretched his arms, stiff from sitting so long.
“Next time, we’ll skip right to my choice.” She winked, daring him to disagree.
He arched an eyebrow. “Or we could find one we both like.”
She tucked her bottom lip under her top teeth and became pensive. “You know what? It doesn’t matter as long as we’re watching it together.”
That lump in his throat returned. It’d been showing up a lot the last few days, reminding him, as if he could forget, how much Dani meant to him. “I wish you didn’t have to go back Friday, or that I didn’t have obligations here.”
“I know,” she whispered. “And Bryce has the next two days planned out. We won’t have much more time alone.”
“We have this evening. And I’d rather spend time with you in a group the next two days, than not at all.”
“When do you think you can come to Oden Bridge again?” Long eyelashes touched the rim of her brows.
This was where he had to tell her. He wanted her to understand, but the insecure parts of him thought she’d be mad that it would take time away from what they could have spent together. “I need to tell you something.”
“You have that serious look again.” She touched his shoulder. “Is this another thing like when you told me you quit the band?”
“Maybe.” When she put it like that, his fears dissipated. This was Dani, she’d appreciate why he had to do it. “Can we go outside?”
“Fresh air would be nice.”
They both stood, and he unlocked the sliding door to the balcony. Outside, he moved two of the patio chairs next to each other and gestured for her to sit. He sat down beside her and folded his hands on his lap. Then he unfolded them. Then danced his fingers together.
Dani took them in hers, stilling their movements. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“I’m going to California.” He watched her closely for a reaction, but she remained guarded.
“For a visit? To live? To become a movie star?”
“I need to see my family. It’s been too long. Watching you with Gram, Bryce, your parents—even Gina—makes me realize what I’ve missed out on all these years.” His thumb drew circles on Dani’s palm.
A hesitant smile appeared. “Ever since you told me you hadn’t been back, I’ve been praying you’d decide to make the trip.”
Her reply knocked the wind out of him. “You have?”
She nodded her head slowly. “Family’s important, plus, until you go back, you won’t know for sure that you’ve moved on from the past.”
“Don’t you think I have?” He thought he’d made it clear to her that he had.
Her chest rose with a deep breath. “I want to believe it, I think you have, but there are still these ugly whispers that tell me you haven’t.”
He pulled her hand from his and stood, facing away from her. Both hands ran through his hair. Deafening silence thundered in the air between them. Turning around slowly, he saw the wounded look in her eyes, and he realized her admission had cost her dearly.
“Come here.” His arm extended, begging her to join him. Wavering a second, she finally came and stood with him. He took a step closer, leaving only inches between them. “When I told you I was ready for a relationship, I meant it. How can I convince you?”
“Kiss me.”
Shock reeled through him, expecting to hear anything but that. “Kiss you?”
“You want to.” She put a hand to his chest. “Every time you look at me, I see it in your eyes, but something holds you back.”
A hazy memory of Sunday afternoon surfaced. “You’re the one who backed away.”
“That was then. This is now.” Determined eyes refused to back down. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re right.” A fingertip traced her lips.
“Then what is it?” Warm breath tickled his skin.
He tilted his head, resting his forehead on hers. “I’m afraid.”
“Why?”
“Because one kiss, Dani, that’s all it's going to take.” His voice faltered. “One kiss and my heart’s going to be lost.”
Her eyelids fluttered and her breathing went ragged. “What if mine’s already lost?”
That was all he needed to hear to lose the battle. His lips found hers. Every fear and hope he’d kept bottled poured into the kiss until he knew it was true. His heart belonged to Dani.
Breathless, he broke away, but caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, his knuckles trailing her smooth skin.
Dani covered his hand with hers, causing their arms to lock in the process. “Thank you—for making me believe.” Leaning closer, she kissed him again.
“Dinner…” He forced himself away. “Reservations.”
“You’re right.” She moved a few feet back in the opposite direction.
They’d left the privacy of his condo minutes after sharing the life-changing kiss, the timing perfectly coinciding with their dinner reservations.
“Where are we going?” Until then, Dani had been silent on the drive.
“A place I discovered three years or so ago.” The traffic light turned red, and he stopped. When it changed to green, he made a left turn and parked in front of a brick, historic building. “Here we are. Ever since meeting you, I’ve referred to this place as the Nashville version of Bayou Bits—classic-country meals with an upscale flair.”
“Then it must be good.” Her gaze travelled to the uniformed men out front. “Valet parking? Fancy.”
“It’s laid-back once you’re in. Trust me, you’ll love it.”
Inside, they were escorted to a table in a corner, as he’d requested. He didn’t want any interference during dinner. Although Bryce got the majority of attention in public since he was the front man, Rob and th
e others were still approached often enough to use precautions.
“When are you leaving?” Dani asked a half hour later after their food arrived.
“There are obligations here from now until mid-November.” He cut off a piece of seared catfish. “Caroline arranged the schedule so I can go from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.”
“You’ll be in California for the holidays?” She didn’t lower her eyes quick enough for him to miss the flash of disappointment.
“Not all of them. Gram and I talked last night, and we made plans. If you’re okay with them of course.” Taking a bite, he sat back and enjoyed watching her wheels spins, trying to figure out what had been planned.
“How would I be okay with them if I don’t know?” A fork full of her collard greens entered a playful smile.
He took another bite and chewed slowly, noticing Dani inching toward the edge of her seat. “Gram offered me a spot at Thanksgiving dinner. Since taking I-10 instead of I-40 only adds a few hours to the trip, I couldn’t find any reason to turn down the invitation.”
A broad smile lit her face. “You’re coming to Oden Bridge for Thanksgiving?”
“I told you we’re going to find a way to make this work, long-distance or not.” If he had to move to Louisiana and only be in Tennessee as needed for the next year, he’d do that, too. Anything to be with her.
“I had my doubts, but not anymore. I would volunteer to move here and start a new restaurant if that’s what it took.” She pushed her plate away.
“You would do that for me?” The idea had occurred to him before, but he’d never given it credence.
“The words spilled out before I really thought about what I was saying.” She stared off in the distance then riveted her gaze on him. “But yes, if that’s what was needed. It would be hard leaving what I’ve always known, but Sophie did it for Bryce—I’m sure I could as well.”
How’d he get so lucky to find her? He took her hand and wove their fingers. “When we first met, I realized that any chance I’d have of being with you would require me being the one to move. You love your restaurant, and it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to forsake it. It’s easier for me to move, especially now that I’m leaving the band.”
“Wow.” She had several false starts of speaking again. “I can’t believe you thought about us that far back.”
“I did.”
Pink dotted her cheeks. “I did, too.”
He laughed and raised a doubtful brow. “You could have fooled me.”
“It’s true, even further back than you did, but in obscure terms.”
“Oh?” His curiosity was piqued.
“It must have been about seven years ago, right around the time you started playing with Bryce. For some reason or another, I called him and you answered his phone.”
Rubbing his chin, he tried to remember when that could have been. “What did I say?”
“You asked who I was and told me I had the voice of an angel.” Her cheeks twitched, no doubt amused at the pathetic line.
His jaw dropped. “I remember that. We exchanged a few comments, but before you could reply to the angel line, Bryce grabbed his phone from me. A few seconds later I heard him tell you, ‘that’s just Rob, you don’t want anything to do with him.’”
“That’s right.” Nodding her head she let out a laugh. “And to think, we could have been together years ago if Bryce hadn’t warned me away.”
“It’s a nice thought, but it never would have worked.” He’d been a different person then, incapable of caring, let alone loving. “I would have hurt you, and you would have hated me in the end.”
“You’re probably right. I was pretty naïve back in those days and would have fallen for any line you fed me.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“Sad, but true. Over the next month, I must have replayed our brief conversation over a thousand times in my memory.” Mirth danced in her eyes. “I asked Bryce about you a few more times, but then I started dating someone and the fascination wore off.”
“Bryce must not remember or he never would have brought me within a mile of you.” The fight they’d had on tour relived itself. They’d put it behind them but on a bad day, the words still stung if he allowed them.
“But aren’t you glad he did?” Her lashes fluttered in demure flirtation.
“Very much so.” He gave her hand a final squeeze before releasing it.
Their waiter approached the table. “Are you finished with your plates?” They nodded yes, and the server removed them. “Can I return with the dessert tray?”
Rob didn’t care for any, but conferred with Dani in case she did. “No, thank you.”
“Do you ever eat sweets?” she asked after the waiter left.
“Rarely. I’ve always preferred savory.”
“Lucky,” she muttered. “I wouldn’t have to run so much if I could learn to control my sweet tooth.”
In his opinion, she was perfect, and would look so even if she gained a few pounds, but he’d learned early in his sister’s teen years never to refer to a woman’s weight, even in a positive manner. “I do have one weakness—peanut butter cookies. Give me a batch of them and I’ll have to be running alongside you.”
“I’ll make a note of that. Nothing else?”
“Not really, not even straight peanut butter. Mom would get frustrated packing my lunch when I was in elementary school and tell me I was the only child she knew who wouldn’t eat peanut butter and jelly.”
Dani laughed again. “You were a strange child.”
He gave a slight shrug. “A boy wants what a boy wants.”
The waiter returned and laid a narrow black bill-holder on the table. “Your check when you’re ready.”
Opening it, Rob scanned the paper for the total, took a card out of his wallet, and stuck it inside the plastic tab. Dani reached in her purse, pulling out several bills.
“Don’t even think about it.” Call him old-fashioned, but he was paying for their date.
She hesitated but put the money away. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” The check rested at the edge of the table, waiting for the waiter to return. “What next? Is there anything else you want to see?”
“I feel like a horrible guest for leaving Gram and Bryce all day. Would you mind if we go back there and spend the last of the evening with them?”
Why did she seem nervous all of a sudden?
“That’s fine with me. Do you want me to stay or did you want some time alone with them? You haven’t had much.” Maybe that was the problem.
“No, stay, please.” The quick response answered that question, but not the nervousness.
His eyebrows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Silly girl stuff.” She wouldn’t look at him.
“Talk to me, Dani.”
Eventually she met his eyes again. “Sometimes when I get outside my comfort zone, I need to surround myself with familiar things to regroup.”
“And you’re outside of it now?” Fair enough, so was he.
“In the best way possible.” She grabbed hold of his arm. “This week, today, you, the kiss—every last bit of it was amazing, but my head is in a cloud. You probably think I’m talking crazy.”
“Not at all. Believe it or not, I understand completely.” He signed the final credit card slip the waiter had returned. “Let’s go. Maybe we’ll even catch Gracie before she goes to bed.”
Dani’s shoulders relaxed, and in turn, so did he.
FIVE A.M. CAME way too early for his liking on Friday morning. He hit the alarm, rolled out of bed and checked his phone, only to realize he must have hit snooze a few times already. 5:30. Go figure, the one time he’d slept late, he needed to be somewhere. Dani and Gram were leaving in a half hour for their trip back to Oden Bridge. If he left now, he’d barely make it on time, though he knew Dani wouldn’t leave without saying bye.
He rushed through getting dressed, putting on the first pair of jeans
and shirt he found, didn’t bother with socks, and pulled on a pair of work boots that he barely took the time to tie. So much for a final impression. He ran a toothbrush over his teeth and did a quick gargle with mouthwash.
There wasn’t time for coffee, so he’d have to do without. He grabbed his keys and wallet, then ran down to the Jeep. While backing out of his spot, he caught a glimpse of himself in the rearview mirror. It wasn’t a pretty sight. He rubbed his eyes. Man, he hoped Bryce had some coffee going. Starting the morning this early without it should be illegal.
When he pulled in the driveway, the clock flashed 6:07. Not too bad for how late he’d overslept. He got out of his vehicle at the same time Bryce came out the front door, carrying a suitcase.
Bryce took one look at him and laughed. “Dude, what happened? You look terrible.”
“Overslept. Rushed to get here.” Caffeine. Now.
“This is the last of their bags,” Bryce said, closing the rear door of Dani’s Explorer. “I’ll tell Dani you’re here.”
He was glad they’d have privacy to say their goodbyes. While he waited, he looked at his reflection in the car window and finger-combed his hair, salvaging what he could of his ragged appearance.
Dani walked out, carrying a mug of coffee with waves of steam flowing upward. She handed it to him. “Bryce said you needed this.”
“Thanks.” He took a sip, not caring that it burned. “He was right.”
“You’re adorable.” She brushed a hair from his forehead.
“You’re lying, but that’s okay.” Another drink and his brain began to function. Or maybe it was being around Dani that had that effect. “I’m sorry I look a wreck. I didn’t want to make you leave late.”
“We would have waited.” She hitched her shoulders, shrugging it off. “But I like this side of you. It’s cute, unencumbered.”
He set the half-empty cup of coffee down on the hood and held out his arms. Dani came into them, and he held her in a loose embrace.
“I couldn’t sleep last night, dreading this moment.” Her bottom lip quivered, and he placed a finger on it.
