Knee Deep in Love: A Sweet Traveling Romance Novel (All Roads Lead to Love Book 1)

by Vivian Porter

  Sarah rolled her eyes and started eating again, and they spent the rest of the meal in silence. It wasn't the comfortable silence Candice was used to when she was around David, and that bothered her a great deal. When they finished their meal and headed home, he held her hand but barely said two words. If it hadn't been for Sarah's constant chatter, it would've been a very quiet and boring ride.

  "Would you like to come inside for a while?" Candice asked after David parked in her driveway and helped her move Sarah's booster seat from his truck back to her vehicle.

  He glanced at Sarah, who was spinning around and around in the front yard, making the bottom of her princess dress swing with the breeze.

  "I can't tonight. Braxton and I are getting an early start in the morning, so I should get some sleep."

  They walked hand in hand back to his truck, and although Candice tried not to let her imagination get the best of her, she couldn't stop herself from thinking the worst. "David, did I do something wrong? You've been so quiet tonight."

  He put his hands on her waist as she leaned against the side of his truck. "You haven't done anything wrong, Candice. I'm sorry I haven't been very talkative. I just have a lot on my mind."

  She squinted. "Would you like to talk about it? You know you can talk to me about anything."

  He kissed her on the lips, nearly causing her knees to buckle.

  "I know, but this is something I need to work out on my own. I'll call you tomorrow night when I get home. Okay?"

  She nodded, and after he jumped inside his truck and drove away from her house, Candice tried to disregard the uneasy feeling that sank deep in her bones.

  It wasn't easy.

  Chapter 25

  David

  The air was cool and brisk as David soared with his paragliding instructor the following afternoon. The temperature dropped considerably following the rain showers they received overnight, and he did his best to push his problems aside so he could enjoy the experience. The rain brought everything to life below him, like the brightly colored wildflowers, the towering rock formations to the east, and the huge herd of buffalo that grazed nearby in an open field.

  The cool breeze was desperately needed to keep him awake after a long, sleepless night spent tossing and turning over his predicament with Candice and Drennan Enterprises. He hardly remembered their dinner the night before because he was so preoccupied, and it wasn't hard to miss how Candice seemed suspicious over his change in demeanor. He wanted so badly to tell her what was going on, but he still hadn't made a decision, and he needed to do that first.

  A half hour later, they made their descent, and once again, he wished he could do it all over again. If he had the time and the funds, he probably would have, since time spent in the air was so much better than having his feet on the ground and not knowing which steps to take.

  Braxton came over to join them while their instructor unhooked their harnesses. "Great flight, guys! Did you see the buffalo on the other side of the ridge?"

  David nodded as the two of them helped their instructor with the equipment before they left. They'd spent most of the afternoon paragliding, and his legs and arms were weak as he climbed into Braxton's truck for the drive back to Lehi. He was ready to hit the sack and catch up on his sleep. While Braxton talked nonstop about the sights they'd seen, he attempted to listen as best he could, but he was fading fast.

  "Hey, man. Everything okay with you? I noticed you've been really quiet today," Braxton said.

  It was the second day in a row someone had made that comment, and he was starting to wonder just how loud he was when something wasn't weighing him down. So far, he'd managed to fight the urge to confide in Braxton about the job offer, especially knowing how protective he and his family were over Candice, but he felt like he would explode if he didn't tell someone.

  "If I tell you, do you swear to keep a level head, an open mind, and to keep it between us?" he asked.

  Braxton gave him a curious look. "Sounds ominous but okay."

  He took a deep breath and watched the trees and pastures fly by his window as they sped down the interstate. "Remember a few weeks ago when we ate dinner at that Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City and you told me about a man named Drennan calling Aaron while you were in his office?"

  Braxton nodded.

  "Well, yesterday I received a phone call from Randy Drennan, the owner of Drennan Enterprises in San Francisco and New York, and he offered me a job making twice what I do now."

  Braxton balked. “I’ve heard of that company, and I don't think they do construction for just anyone. Their clientele consists of celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile people. If the rumors are true, Randy isn’t one of the most favorable people you'd want to work for. What's the job?”

  David shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I’d be working as lead construction manager over both offices. The only bad thing is I would have to move to San Francisco, and the job would involve a lot of flying from coast to coast."

  Braxton was quiet for a long time, and David didn't interrupt his train of thought because he knew from experience, it was a lot to process at once.

  "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Have you told Candice about it?"

  David wrung his hands together. "That's just it. I don't know what to do. I haven't told her yet because I'm still trying to make up my mind, and I don't want to get her upset over nothing if I should decide not to go through with it. What would you do?"

  Braxton shook his head. "You already know my situation, so the choice would be easy for me. I'm not moving away from my mother because there's always the chance her cancer could return again. Lynda's family is here, too, and I wouldn't feel right asking her to leave them. But you're free to do whatever you want because you don't have a sick parent or anything else to keep you here."

  His friend’s comment stung. Yes, he did. He had Candice and Sarah.

  David rested his head on top of the seat and closed his eyes. "I enjoy my job at MBC, and I like living in Utah. I care about Candice and Sarah so much, and I want to stay in Lehi with them like I promised her I would. I've made a lot of great friends here, too, especially you and Lynda."

  There was a short pause. "Then, it sounds like your choice is clear," Braxton stated.

  David opened his eyes and looked out the windshield at the busy interstate. "But what if she and I decided to get married someday? We could build a great life together with that kind of income, and she and Sarah would never want for anything."

  Braxton disagreed. "I hope I don't have to remind you that there's more to life than money. Plus, I seriously doubt Candice would ever leave Lehi and her family behind, no matter what you had to offer her in return."

  David rubbed his throbbing temple. "Randy said he'd pay for me to fly to San Francisco to see their operations firsthand and learn more about the job. I'll probably do that before I make a decision."

  He expected Braxton to get angry and shout at him for even considering it, but he was thankful when he didn't because he had enough to worry about without adding a fight with his closest friend into the equation.

  "Do you love her, David?"

  He was caught off guard by the question, but it wasn't a hard one to answer. He'd felt something for Candice since the first day they’d met, and it had only grown stronger the more they got to know each other. She was everything he’d dreamed of, smart, beautiful, caring, humble, the list went on and on. "Yes, I do."

  Braxton veered off the interstate and pointed his truck south toward Lehi. "Then, you should keep that first and foremost in your mind. Jobs come and go all the time and so does money, but what you have with Candice doesn't. Remember that."

  He knew Braxton had a point, but part of him still believed Candice might consider moving if she understood how much they would benefit from it. There was only one thing left to do and that was to tell her about the job offer and hope for the best.

  Chapter 26

  Candice


  The next morning, Candice tried to arrange the dozen chocolate chip cookie dough pieces on the baking tray like the directions called for, but Sarah was determined to do it her way. It was a battle Candice knew she wouldn't win.

  "But, Mommy, if you put three of them together, they'll melt into one big cookie," Sarah reasoned. "I don't want little cookies."

  Candice shook her head as she rearranged the pieces of dough again into four groups of three while Sarah stood beside her and bounced on her tiptoes. When that was done, they washed their hands in the kitchen sink, and Candice turned on the oven. The doorbell rang at that time, and before she could catch Sarah, who darted from the room to answer it, she was halfway to the front door.

  "Wait a second!" she called. "You know the rules."

  Sarah gave her an exasperated look. "I know, I know. Don't open the door without a grown-up."

  Candice looked out the front window in the den, and her heart leaped to her throat when she saw a familiar dark blue truck in her driveway. "It's Mr. David."

  Sarah unlocked the door and quickly swung it open, and before David could utter a word, she was jumping in his arms and hugging him.

  "Well, good morning to you too," he said with a laugh.

  Candice sidled up next to him, kissed his cheek, and whispered a "good morning," and he smiled and did the same. When Sarah finally decided to remove her arms from around his neck, her eyes were as big as saucers.

  "We're baking chocolate chip cookies!" she exclaimed. "Would you like one, Mr. David?"

  He set her down on the floor and ruffled her hair, which made her giggle. "I would love one, but do you mind if I talk to your mom first?"

  Sarah nodded and went to the den, where she hopped on the sofa and used the remote control to turn on the TV so she could watch cartoons. Candice turned her attention to David and slipped her arms around his waist so she could hold him close. "Everything okay?"

  He didn't answer right away, and she could tell by the strained look on his face that something was going on. He motioned to the door. "Let's go outside."

  A bad feeling swept through her body and made her tremble. "Sarah, we'll be on the front porch, okay? Don't put the cookies in the oven until I get back."

  Sarah gave her a thumbs-up. "Yes, ma'am!"

  As soon as they stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind them, David walked over to the swing and patted the space beside him. Candice was able to get her shaky legs to the swing, but when she sat down, she was even more alarmed when he didn't put his arm around her shoulders and pull her to him like she was used to him doing. Instead, he kept his hands on his lap and laced his fingers together.

  "Okay, you're scaring me, David. What's wrong? Is it work? Is your family okay?"

  He held up a hand. "Yes, they're fine, but I'm afraid there is something going on at work."

  Candice's stomach twisted into a knot. She imagined all sorts of things, from an employee being injured on a job site to him and Aaron fighting over some disagreement. "What happened?"

  David frowned, and when he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "Candice, I don't know any other way to say this than to just come right out with it. I received a job offer from a construction company in California called Drennan Enterprises. It's owned by the Randy Drennan you asked me about a few weeks ago when he called to speak to Aaron."

  Candice was stunned, but at least now she understood why he'd been acting so strangely over the past couple of days. "I don't understand. You told me you wanted to stay in Utah. What changed?"

  He wrung his hands together and looked up at the porch roof. "Randy offered me twice what I'm making now along with more benefits and bonuses. I would be the construction manager over his offices in San Francisco and New York. The only downfall is I would have to travel a lot between the two, but we could do so much, Candice. We could go to Italy like you've always dreamed of doing, and the three of us could have as many adventures as we want."

  Candice couldn't believe what she was hearing, and she immediately teared up. "We? David, I've told you repeatedly that this is my home. I'm not leaving my family behind or uprooting Sarah and moving her away from her friends and her school. She's been through so much in her short life, and she needs some stability. I'm sorry, but I can't go with you."

  David turned to her, and she could see the shimmer of unshed tears in the corners of his eyes. "I don't want to lose you, Candice. I love you."

  Candice squeezed her eyelids shut to keep the tears from escaping. It was the first time he’d professed his love, but she never expected it would be under such circumstances. "I love you, too, David."

  He reached over and held her hand. "I haven't made a decision yet. Randy offered to fly me to California so I could check out their operations, and I might do that this week. I wish you would come with me."

  Candice shook her head. "Being there won't change my answer, but you should go if you feel this strongly about it."

  David stood and helped Candice up from the swing. When he held her head in his hands and kissed her, she tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut telling her it might be the last time. She held on tighter, and their kiss deepened, and by the time they let go, they were both breathless.

  She somehow managed to give him a smile. "I would never hold you back from doing something that makes you happy, but I can't tell you what that is. You have to find out for yourself."

  He nodded, and it took every bit of strength she had, but she let him go and walked away. When she reached the front door, she turned to him one last time. "David, I hope you can understand when I say I would appreciate if you didn't come back here until you make a decision. Sarah’s been through enough, and this would only make her upset."

  He didn't say anything, but he nodded, and Candice stepped inside the house before her tears threatened to overflow. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes, and seconds later, she heard David's truck tires crunching against gravel as he backed out of the driveway.

  "Where's Mr. David going?" Sarah asked.

  Candice mustered the best smile she could. "He had to leave, sweetie. Something came up at work."

  Sarah pouted her lips a bit. "Oh well, maybe he can come back some other time and eat cookies with us."

  Candice breathed deeply to keep from crying. "Maybe so."

  Chapter 27

  David

  David stepped off the plane in San Francisco the following Wednesday, and while the other passengers on the flight raced to reunite with their loved ones as soon as they landed, his steps were a lot slower and heavier. He'd been to California before—several times. Perhaps not to San Francisco, but he still had the familiar “been there, done that” feeling when he walked into the airport.

  He hadn't spoken to Candice since he broke the bad news to her on Sunday, and it had been the worst three days of his life. He'd never been in love before, so this was all new and unchartered territory, and the empty feeling in his soul was a constant reminder of what he'd left behind.

  "Mr. Maxwell?"

  A middle-aged man in a black uniform and hat approached him, carrying a sign that read DAVID MAXWELL, and he raised his hand. "Yes, I'm David Maxwell."

  The man shook his hand. "Good afternoon. I'm Norman Childs, Randy Drennan's chauffeur. I'm here to drive you to Drennan Enterprises. Can I take your bag for you?"

  It was odd being met at the airport by a chauffeur, and he didn't quite know how to respond, but he handed the man his carry-on bag, and they walked to the baggage claim area to retrieve his suitcase. They made small talk on their way to the parking lot, and when they exited through the sliding door entrance, he saw a tall gentleman leaning against a black limousine. The man waved and came over to join him.

  "David, it's nice to finally meet you in person. I'm Randy Drennan."

  They shook hands while Norman put his luggage in the trunk of the car. "It's nice meeting you too. Thank you for picking me up. This is a nice surprise."

  Ran
dy waved a hand in the air. "It's no problem at all. You mentioned on the phone you've never visited San Francisco, so I thought I would show you some of the sites first before we head back to the office if that's all right with you."

  David agreed as Randy opened the back door and gestured for him to get inside. When he did, he was surprised by the size of the interior. There were two long seats on each end and a small bar to the side that held several glass containers of what looked like alcohol.

  "Would you like a drink?" Randy asked.

  David shook his head. "No, thank you."

  Norman opened the driver side door and got behind the wheel, and soon they were pulling away from the airport and heading south. Randy's cologne was overbearing, even in the large space, and his eyes watered.

  "I'm glad you were able to get away from work this week and visit," Randy said. "Did Aaron ask a lot of questions?"

  David shook his head and looked out the window. "No. I just told him I needed some vacation days, but I didn't explain why, and he didn't ask."

  That seemed to satisfy him, as he grinned and unbuttoned his suit jacket before leaning back against the seat.

  "I have no doubt you’ll enjoy it here. This city never sleeps, and there’s always something to do, so you’ll never get bored. I reserved a suite for you at The Ritz for as long as you care to visit. I hope that's satisfactory."

  David nodded, still unsure of what to think about his possible new boss because he was very different from Aaron, who was more laid back. Randy's three-piece suit was so crisply pressed, he wondered how he could even move without it breaking, and his voice was dull and monotone. He pointed out the celebrities’ homes he built and a couple of businesses, but there was no excitement in his tone or demeanor.

  "The mall I'm building in Long Beach will be home to some of the most elite clothing and jewelry designers in California and abroad. I have a sculptor in Venice designing a statue that will be placed in the courtyard in the center of the mall. I can't wait to show you the blueprints so you can see for yourself what we have in mind."