Page 42 of My Heart to Find

We exchange nervous smiles every few seconds, all the way back.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Damien

MONDAY, THE 2ndOctober, flies around all too soon, and nerves fill me the moment I wake up. I walk Rufus, still my only client, and then all too soon it’s the afternoon and it’s time for my date with Jana.

Today, I’m going out withJana. I concentrate on that, not Cara. Not on how I replayed all of yesterday over and over in the night, trying to work out if I have upset Cara.

Jana Hargreaves.

And part of me almost can’t believe it. Jana is going on a date with me. Me!

On the dating holiday, Jana was the plucky girl that everyone around me was talking about. In all the team events, everyone wanted to be paired up with her. I mean, I didn’t because I was enamored with Cara, but now I can see exactly what the appeal of Jana is. She’s bubbly and energetic—her enthusiasm is contagious. She’s just so smiley—I never quite noticed that before.

Jana has a car, so she picks me up, and I think of all the jokes my brother would be making about this. Luke’s proper old-fashioned and stereotypical.The man should always pick the woman up.

“Nice car,” I say to Jana as I get in her Peugeot.

“Thanks.” Her voice is chirpy today. Almost like she’s singing. “So, have you decided where we’re going, or do I get to choose?” Her eyes sparkle as she looks across the console at me.

“Is there somewhere you want to go?” I ask.

“The moors!” Her eyes glisten. “I can show you my favorite part of Dartmoor.”

*

“THIS WOULD BE ANamazingplace to walk the dogs,” I say, breathless, as I stare at the tors in front of us. “You know, I walk dogs for a living?” I look at Jana.

“I can always drive you all up here.” She laughs. “Just wait until you see the view at the top of there.” She points at the nearest tor.

It doesn’t take us long to walk up there—only about forty minutes—and as we walk, I know for sure that I’m not a city guy. This, being out here, is what I was made for. Being in nature. I’m in my element.

“We should’ve brought a picnic,” Jana says as we reach the top. She shields her eyes from the sun. “Wow, what a view.”

But the mention of the picnic makes me think of Cara. Of how the two of us had a picnic on that last day of the retreat. It was a non-timetabled day, that last one. Everyone else was going to the beaches or off to buy souvenirs. But not me and Cara...

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