Page 78 of Someone to Tempt
“Then I’ll take that,” I tell her, “along with an iced tea—unsweet.”
“Same for me,” Daniel says as he hands the waitress his menu.
“Coming right up,” she promises.
Daniel holds up a hand, palm facing me, and I realize he’s looking for a high five. “Already we’re on the same page,” he says as I give him one.
My stomach lurches, and I remind myself change is inevitable. “How long have you been with the foundation?”
“Almost my entire career,” he answers with a sheepish smile. “I got my undergrad and master’s in nonprofit administration from UNM, so I worked in Albuquerque during the school year. But every summer, I came back and interned with your grandfather. When he offered me a full-time position after graduation, it was a no-brainer.”
“And no interest in trying something different?” I ask after the waitress delivers our drinks. “I understand the constraints of working for a family foundation. If you were with a community agency or a trust that operated with a bigger fund, you’d have more impact, more power.”
He glances down at the table. Is the man blushing?
“Having power isn’t my main motivator.”
“What is your main motivator?”
He thinks about it before answering. “My three sisters and I were raised by a single mom who relied on scholarships and community-funded activities. We didn’t have much, but she made sure we didn’t feel the lack, and your family helped with that. The foundation impacted my life, and now I’m dedicated to offering similar opportunities to people who wouldn’t otherwise have them.”
It’s a good answer. One I admire. “Would you consider moving away from Skylark?”
He frowns. “I can’t imagine not living here. It’s my home.”
“But you don’t have a family of your own,” I point out.
“Not yet, but I’d like to someday.” He clears his throat. “How was your date with Jodi? The two of you seemed to be having a good time at the rodeo.”
“Yeah, but we won’t be going out again.”
“Why not?” He sounds legitimately baffled. “She’s perfect.”
“We just didn’t have a connection.”
“But she’s perfect,” he insists.
“Why haven’t you asked her out?”
His head snaps back like the question is painful to consider. “Jodi and I are friends,” he says, his voice a little too casual. “I’m not going to take a chance on ruining that.”
“If you don’t take a chance, you’ll never know if it could be something more.”
“Friendship is enough.”
“Not always.”
The waitress brings our food, and there’s a pause in the conversation as we both dig in. Our server was right—this sandwich is the best thing I’ve tasted in a long time. The bread is toasted perfectly, thin slices of grilled meatloaf covered with Swiss cheese are balanced by the tangy sauce. I don’t know where that guest chef came from, but they’d be fools not to hire him for real.
“I think you have a shot with her,” I confide as I dunk a crispy fry in the ramekin of dipping sauce the waitress explained is a fancy mix of ranch dressing, ketchup, and the chef’s secret spices.“Sometimes love isn’t loud—it’s about being steady, showing up, and trying again.” That’s what I’d like to believe with Iris, anyway.
Daniel pushes his plate forward an inch like he’s suddenly lost his appetite. “Be real, Jake. I’m a geek through and through, and I realized it long before the first day of second grade when Logan Martin announced it to the class.” He taps a finger on the corner of his thick glasses—the kind that would make Clark Kent proud. “I’m okay with who I am, but I’ve seen the type of guys Jodi dates. Most of them look like you. Like they flip cars or bench press horses for fun.”
“Bench pressing a horse wouldn’t be fun,” I assure him with a laugh. “Don’t sell yourself short just because some asshole called you a stupid name or tried to make you believe something about yourself that doesn’t have to be true.”
He blinks and glances toward nearby tables. Yep, people are staring after my overzealous reaction to his geek comment. It’s a name I was never called, but I’ve heard and believed plenty of others, all to my detriment.
“Okay.” He nods again. “You’re persuasive, Jake. And passionate. The foundation would be lucky to have you at its helm. I hope your grandfather and the board see that.”
