“Well, David, I’m curious as to what you think about the company, now that you’ve had the opportunity to tour the grounds and meet everyone. Do you think you made the right choice?” Aaron asked as he leaned back in his office chair and laced his fingers over his protruding belly.
David nodded as he glanced between his new boss and Braxton. “Most definitely.”
Chapter 4
Candice
As soon as the clock struck five that afternoon, Candice was clearing her desk and preparing to make a hasty getaway before Aaron had the chance to stall her with more work. Several coworkers walked past her door, waving goodbye and wishing her a good evening, and as Candice picked up the last two folders to store in her filing cabinet, she was almost giddy over leaving work on time and being able to spend some quality time with Sarah before bedtime.
She stood and went to the filing cabinet, but she was in such a hurry, she accidentally bumped a corner of her desk and sent the two folders flying. Papers were strewn in every direction. Bending to pick them up, she bit her bottom lip and fought the urge to curse.
“Here, let me help you with that.”
A shadow fell over her, and when Candice looked up to see who was standing over her, she was surprised to see the new construction manager, David Maxwell. He knelt beside her and helped her gather the papers, and she was overcome with a sudden bout of shyness. He was so close, she could smell the woodsy, masculine scent of his cologne, which wafted past her nose and made her head swoon.
She had to admit he was quite handsome, and his dark brown hair and the five o’clock shadow on his face gave him a rugged appearance that made her weak in the knees. When he looked her way and smiled, his piercing blue eyes seared right through her and caused her whole body to tremble.
Candice shook her head and refocused her attention on the task at hand, but as she reached for the last piece of paper, David did, too. Their hands touched, and she inhaled sharply. When they’d met earlier that morning and shook hands, she’d been so preoccupied with work that she hadn’t really noticed the roughness of his skin, which she assumed was from his many years in construction.
He moved out of the way so she could pick up the paper, and Candice caught herself staring at his hands a lot longer than she probably should have. For a fleeting moment, she imagined his rough hands caressing her skin, and she vehemently shook her head to chase the thoughts away before standing.
“T-thank you,” she stammered.
Candice cringed when her usually strong and steady voice came out sounding timid and squeaky. Stop it, Candice! You’re being ridiculous!
“You’re welcome,” David replied.
His voice was low and deep and incredibly soothing. She didn’t trust herself to speak so she simply nodded before leaning against her desk for support. Her knees felt rubbery, and her heart beat a little faster when she considered how often she’d see him now that they were working together. David gave her a tentative smile before walking to the door, but before he left, he turned to her one last time. “I enjoyed meeting you today, and I look forward to working with you.”
The compliment made her blush. “Thank you, David. I feel the same way.”
She meant it too. For the first time in a very long time, she couldn’t wait to return to work in the morning. When he left the room, she plopped in her desk chair before her shaky legs threatened to give way. It was a strange feeling, this renewed anticipation and excitement, but she tried to contain it. After all, she knew nothing about David, and he could very well have a girlfriend or a wife waiting for him back home.
Candice put the folders in the filing cabinet and gathered her things so she could leave. As she walked outside and headed for her car in the parking lot, she saw David getting in a truck a few spaces down. She tried to act nonchalant when he saw her and waved, and she waved back, but she couldn’t stop the enormous grin that spread across her face as she unlocked her car and slipped inside behind the steering wheel.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s gotten into you today, or do I have to guess?” Whitney asked.
Candice handed her sister the last of the dishes they’d spent the past thirty minutes washing and drying. Whitney was grinning like a Cheshire cat, but Candice looked out the window above the sink and did her best to ignore her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Whitney dried the plate and put it away inside one of the overhead kitchen cabinets. “We could’ve finished this chore a lot sooner if your mind wasn’t preoccupied. You’ve been in la-la land ever since you got home, so tell me what’s going on.”
She knew Whitney wouldn’t relent until she confessed, so Candice took a deep breath and told her the day’s events. “Our new construction manager started today. His name is David Maxwell, and he moved here from Texas.”
Whitney leaned against the counter and eyed her suspiciously. “And? There’s got to be more to the story than that.”
Candice could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, and she looked down at the dishcloth in her hands and folded it to keep from having to look at Whitney. If she gave her sister an inch, she would take a mile, and the last thing she needed was Whitney picking on her for having a crush on someone. “We haven’t had the chance to talk much yet, but he seems nice.”
Whitney moved closer to her. “And?”
Candice groaned. She’d opened the door, and now there was no backtracking her way out of it. “And he’s … he’s very handsome.”
Whitney slapped her hand on the kitchen counter, startling Candice and making her jump. “Aha! I knew it!” she exclaimed. “Tell me everything.”
She grabbed Candice’s hand and pulled her to the dining room table, and as soon as she sat down, Whitney was moving her chair closer and watching Candice like a hawk eyeing its prey. It was funny in a way, but also kind of nerve-racking.
“Well, he’s tall, and he has dark brown hair and light blue eyes. He has a beard, but it’s thin and not long and scraggly, and I noticed a hint of dimples in his cheeks. I have no idea if he’s married or has a girlfriend, though, so I’m not getting my hopes up.”
Whitney tilted her head. “Why not? It’s been a long time, Candice, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling a little optimistic over meeting a new man who interests you.”
She sighed. “Then why does this excitement make me feel so guilty?”
Whitney draped an arm over Candice’s shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “I know I can’t speak from experience, but I think it’s normal for you to feel that way. And I promise I don’t mean for this to come out sounding cruel, but your life has to go on, Candice. You have so much love to give, and I have no doubt Barry would agree with me.”
Her comment made Candice smile. She had no doubt Barry would agree with Whitney either, but that’s just the way he was—kind, considerate, and always wanting the best for others.
Whitney reached for Candice’s hands. “Listen, even if it turns out he is married or dating someone, I don’t want you to lose this feeling. I haven’t seen you smile, really smile, in months, and I miss seeing you happy. If it doesn’t work out with David, then someone else will come along. I’m sure of it. The most important thing is that you don’t stop looking, because you deserve to find love again more than anyone else I know.”
Candice was a bit overwhelmed by Whitney’s response, and as her eyes filled with tears, she squeezed her sister’s hands and smiled. It felt good being able to talk to her about boys again like they had when they were younger, and she hoped there were many more conversations to come.
“Who is David?”
Sarah’s question caught Candice off guard later that night as she lay beside her in bed and waited patiently for her to go to sleep. Unfortunately, after two cups of juice and two boxes of animal crackers, Sarah was wide awake and very inquisitive, so Candice settled in for a long wait.
“I heard you and Aunt Whitney talking about someone named David while I was watching cartoons. Who
is he? Do you like him?”
Candice frowned. She should’ve known little ears were listening and talked to Whitney some other time when they were alone.
“He’s a new employee where I work, and today was his first day.”
Sarah rolled over onto her side so they were face-to-face. “But do you like him?”
Candice sighed. Her curious streak was almost as long as her aunt Whitney’s, and she was just as stubborn, so she knew Sarah wouldn’t let up until she was satisfied Candice was telling her the whole story.
“I don’t know him very well, but he seems like a nice man,” she replied.
Sarah pulled her bed comforter over Candice’s shoulders, and the sweet gesture made her heart swell. “Mommy, it’s okay if you like this boy. I promise I won’t be mad.”
Candice rubbed her cheek and smiled. “Thank you. It makes me happy hearing you say that.”
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “I think boys are gross.”
Candice laughed and kissed her forehead. “I thought boys were gross when I was your age, too, but that will change when you get older. You’ll see.”
Sarah didn’t seem too keen on the idea, and it made Candice’s heart ache when the realization hit her that her baby girl would be dating someday. She silently prayed Sarah would be blessed with another father figure in her life to look up to before that time arrived. No one would ever take Barry’s place, but there were so many things a young girl needed, and one of those was a positive male role model. Knowing that fate rested in her hands made Candice anxious, but it also gave her hope.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Candice asked.
Sarah spread her arms open as wide as they would go. “This much?”
Candice tickled her stomach, which made Sarah double over in a fit of giggles. “Nope. I love you a bunch more than that.”
Sarah smiled. “I know that, Mommy. I love you a bunch too.”
Chapter 5
David
Two Weeks Later
Two weeks later, David stood outside his office, holding some finished paperwork that needed to go to Candice. He’d recited over and over what he would say to her, but nothing sounded right, and so he stood motionless outside his door. A couple of his coworkers walked by with curious glances, and he waved and made small talk, but he saw the strange way they looked at him as they walked away.
Other than a few casual hellos and goodbyes, David hadn’t really talked to Candice since his first day on the job. He’d thought about her constantly, and he wanted to ask her out numerous times, but every time he worked up enough courage, his throat became parched and his tongue felt glued to the top of his mouth. And so, here he was again, trying to work up the courage and not chicken out. A couple of deep breaths later, he was walking to Candice’s office. He wanted to be brave, but she was a hard one to read. Over the past two weeks, she hadn’t made an effort to talk to him at all, and he hoped and prayed he wasn’t getting his hopes up for nothing.
Her office door was open, and David knocked on the doorframe before entering. She was sitting behind her desk, typing on her computer, and he smiled when he saw the eyeglasses perched on the tip of her nose. She looked adorable, but as soon as she saw him standing in the doorway, she yanked them off and dropped them on top of her desk.
“Good morning, Candice. Do you mind if I come in? I just need to drop off these papers for the Henderson project.”
She cleared her throat and motioned for him to enter. “Of course. Come on in.”
David went to her desk and gave her the forms. As soon as he looked into her beautiful brown eyes, every conversation topic he’d rehearsed that morning immediately flew out the window, and he could only think of one thing to say. “How are you?”
He grimaced, but Candice gave him a smile. “Well, right now, I’m stuck. Aaron wanted me to find a couple of nice restaurants for his trip to Seattle next week, and there are so many to choose from. Henry Toler is expanding his hunting and fishing business to Lehi, and Aaron put in a bid last week. Now he’s hoping to win him over with a little wining and dining.”
She rolled her eyes when she said it, and David couldn’t help but laugh. He peeked at her computer screen and recognized a couple of the restaurants she was researching. “Brigham Bay has the best fried oysters and boiled shrimp on the West Coast, and they have a pretty extensive beer and wine list to choose from too.”
He stopped when he caught Candice staring at him with inquiring eyes.
“You’ve been to Seattle?” she asked.
David sat in one of the leather chairs across from her desk. “I was there a couple of years ago for a construction project. I’ve traveled to a lot of those while I worked for Owens Industries. I’ve been to most of the major cities like New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Miami.”
Her expression never changed, and David felt the heat rise on the back of his neck. He hoped she didn’t think he was being pompous by talking about the places he’d visited. She was a difficult person to read, and he honestly didn’t know what to say to her.
“I envy you,” she replied. “I’ve lived in Lehi my whole life, and I’ve never traveled across the state line. I would love to visit Italy someday. That’s always been a dream of mine.”
David tried not to stare, but she had a wistful look on her face when she said it, making her brown eyes glisten. She had on a pink blouse that complimented her porcelain skin, and she wore her hair up, but there were tiny wisps of it that hung loose and cradled her face. She was simply breathtaking.
“I haven’t traveled overseas yet, but I hope to soon,” he replied.
She didn’t say anything in return, and an awkward silence fell over the room. David’s heart pounded as he tried to come up with something to keep the conversation flowing, but his mind went completely blank. Candice blushed and looked down at the pen she was holding.
“If Aaron doesn’t care for seafood, the Dover Inn in downtown Seattle serves some awesome ribeyes and filet mignon. I always stop there when I’m in town. They don’t have as many beverage choices as Brigham Bay, and it’s a bit more expensive, but I think they would enjoy it.”
He was probably rambling and grasping at straws, but it was the only thing that came to mind. When she frowned, David wished he could take it back.
“Dover Inn was my first choice, but when I called a few minutes ago, I was told they were booked solid next weekend because several families made reservations for Easter.”
David moved to the edge of his seat. He saw an opportunity, but he was afraid to take it because he worried he would come across as arrogant. When more silence fell between them, he decided to take a chance.
“Would you mind if I called? I don’t know if it will help, but I know the manager at Dover Inn personally, and it could be worth a shot. I promise you, those steaks really are worth it.”
Candice laughed and gestured to her desk phone. “Be my guest.”
David stood and walked behind her desk to use the phone. She pulled up the restaurant information on her computer screen, and as he dialed the number, he hoped and prayed for some good luck. The last thing he wanted was to make a fool of himself in front of Candice. On the second ring, someone picked up on the other end of the line. The man had a foreign accent, so he knew it wasn’t Paul, the manager.
“Hello. May I please speak to Paul Bowen?” he asked.
There was a short pause before the man responded. “May I ask who’s calling?”
David gave him his name, and there was another long pause before he heard Paul’s familiar voice.
“David! How are you? I haven’t seen or heard from you in ages.”
He grinned. “I’m doing well. How about you? Staying busy?”
They talked for a couple of minutes about the usual stuff like work and when David would be traveling to Seattle again, while Candice sat by and watched him closely. He felt like he was under a microscope, and his heart raced so frantically, he worried it might leap
right out of his chest. When Candice leaned back in her office chair and crossed her long, lean legs, David had to force his attention back to what he was doing.
“Paul, my new boss is flying to Seattle next weekend for a very important business meeting with a potential client, and I was wondering if you might have a slot open for Friday or Saturday evening.”
Paul put him on hold so he could check, and David held his breath and waited. He contemplated several other scenarios in case it all went south, but he doubted he would get over the humiliation if it did. Paul returned to the phone and told him he had one spot left.
“Saturday evening at seven thirty?” he asked while looking to Candice for confirmation, and she nodded her approval. “That sounds great! His name is Aaron Mason, and he’ll be bringing one guest.”
Again, he looked to Candice to make sure he was getting his story straight, and she once again nodded. “Thank you so much, Paul. I appreciate this more than you know. Say hello to Maria and the kids for me, will you?”
They spoke a little while longer, and when he hung up, he expelled a long sigh of relief before sitting back down across from Candice, who was busy writing the information down in her day planner.
“Have you ever thought about a future in politics?” she joked. “Or law?”
David chuckled. “Absolutely not. I don’t have the patience for either one. I’ve been known to schmooze my way into a reservation or two, but that’s as far as it goes.”
Candice stopped writing, and when she looked at him and smiled, he hoped the smile he gave her in return didn’t resemble that of a goofy teenager because he sure felt like one.
Knee Deep in Love: A Sweet Traveling Romance Novel (All Roads Lead to Love Book 1) Page 3
