Page 33 of Meet Me at the Grand

“Go back to a conversation like it wasn’t just interrupted.”

“Practice, cuz. Lots and lots of practice.” Mia flashed a wry grin. “Now stop changing the subject and answer me.”

“You’re bossy.” Dani took a sip of her coffee. Hmm. Needed more sugar, even though it was probably too much. But she needed the courage, the extra jolt, if she was going to survive the next few hours. “But fine, I bailed after ten minutes because there wasn’t a spark. It would have been a waste of time and money. At least I got out before he had to buy me dinner, right?” She added another teaspoon of sugar from the bowl beside the Keurig. “That was the considerate thing to do since I knew it wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Dani…”

Here we go. “I know what you’re going to say. Just don’t, okay? I know my standards are high?—”

“Try impossible.” Mia grabbed herself a donut and plucked off a stray sprinkle. “Not every relationship is going to end like your parents’.”

“I know.” And she did. She believed in love. She’d seen it. For other people, like Mia and Troy. “But there’s always the possibility that it will. And can I really live with that constant fear?”

“What fear is that, exactly?”

Dani stirred in her sugar. “The fear that loving someone so much will destroy me if the relationship ends.” Her voice trembled and lowered as she set the spoon down on the counter. “Look at how vulnerable Dad became when Mom cheated on him. Look at what hedid.”

“I know that whole situation was really hard for you, Dani, but there was probably so much more to the situation than you realize. Not that it excuses what Aunt Becky did. Or what your dad did afterward.” Mia frowned and picked at the sugar coating on the apple fritter in her hand. “But who’s to say that the guy you fall for would cheat on you? Does Liam seem like that kind of guy?”

“No.” Dani sipped on the hot coffee, let it run down her throat and warm her through. “But Mom didn’t seem like that kind of woman either. We were happy once, Mia. Or I thought so. But then Mom’s high school sweetheart showed back up on the island—all done up in his fancy attorney suit—and Mom threw that happiness away. The same love that gave us such joy destroyed us all in the end. And I’m just not sure I’m strong enough to survive that kind of destruction again.”

“Hey.” Mia stepped toward her and grabbed Dani’s hand, squeezing. “I’m not saying Liam is the one or anything. Other than cursory introductions, I haven’t spent any time with him since we were kids, and I was too young to remember. But you’re writing him off just like you’ve written off every guy who is a remote possibility. And don’t you think it’s time that you give yourself a chance?”

“Maybe.”

Mia narrowed her eyes. “Maybe?” For someone who was four years younger, she sure had the mom look down—and the ability to put Dani in her place.

Dani laughed. “Fine. I’ll think about dating again. Someday.”

“No day like the present, you know.”

“Ha.” Dani took a final swig of her coffee, finishing it off with relish. “Today is not one of pleasure, but business. Today is, hopefully, the first step toward bringing Jonathon Island back to life. And maybe, once that’s done—once the economy is thriving and people have made their way back here—maybethenI can find time for my own happy ending.”

“I only hope by then it’s not too late.” Mia smiled, something sage and sad in her eyes. “But I do wish you all the luck in the world today. You’re feeling good about it?”

“A bit nervous. Okay, a lot nervous. But yeah, I think I’ve communicated my vision to Liam well enough, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s going to present.”

She could only pray that her mission to get her family back to the island wouldn’t fail before it had even really begun.

* * *

The moment of truth had arrived.

Dani stepped inside the conference room, which buzzed with energy and movement. Off to one side, red-haired Janine Dirks pushed her glasses up on her nose as she chatted quietly with the ever-stylish Tara Chamberlain, who smiled and tossed her silver-blonde hair over one shoulder. Patrick Kelley sat at the twelve-person table, his thumb scrolling along the screen of his phone. Seb and Martha were in back, Seb grabbing a cup of Joe from the coffee carafe someone had supplied and Martha forking out a sticky bun from a Styrofoam container.

“Good morning, Dani.”

She turned, and there was Liam, glancing up from his computer, which was hooked up to the projector. His navy, three-piece suit cut across his shoulders, across his whole figure, somehow emphasizing his muscles without being pretentious. Dani stepped closer to him. “Morning. How are things?” She glanced around him. “Where are the plans you’re going to show us today?”

“Since I didn’t have all the supplies to prepare a professional presentation board, I scanned the plans in via my phone and uploaded them to a PowerPoint last night.”

“Fabulous. And…” She bounced on her toes. “And everything’s ready to go?”

“We’ve got this.” He winked at her, leaning in just a bit to squeeze her elbow. Good thing Mia wasn’t here. She might be able to sense how Dani’s heart hitched just a little at the contact. “You just sit back and watch the master at work.”

Dani snorted. “The very arrogant master.”

“Thecharmingmaster, remember?” He flashed her his dimples as if, yes, he knew how dangerous those things were.

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