Page 66 of Mending Fences
“I wasn’t returning your calls”.
Daniel turned onto a narrow paved lane.
The road was unfamiliar to her. “Where are we?”
“Back gate.” He touched a button on his dash, and the gate swung open. He drove through and parked behind the guesthouse. “I’ll take these in and be right back.”
He had wanted to be at her MFA. And he’d basically contracted all the dates, including the kisses. She processed the information. Hired dates did make them even closer to the brothel scenario. No wonder he’d laughed. Mandy studied the two-story house. It made sense he would have been staying here. The building couldn’t be seen from the road. Even when she had lived with Grandma Mae, this part of the property hadn’t been visible. But the old caretaker had let them play on the rope swing and with his cats. And his wife made snickerdoodle cookies better than Grandma Mae’s. This house would have been a happier place. The kitchen light darkened, and Daniel returned and slid into the driver’s seat.
Mandy placed a hand on his arm. “You don’t need to apologize for the button cam. I doubt you saw anything you wouldn’t have had you been there. It wasn’t like Colin followed me into the restroom.”
Daniel cupped Mandy’s face. “Do you know what I did see?”
Mandy swallowed but didn’t move. His hand felt so right it made her wish for a lasting relationship.
“I saw how sad you were. How when you smiled, you didn’t light up. How you avoided the brothel—”
“Bordello sounds classier.”
“Bordello and Grandma Mae’s house. I wanted to crawl through the computer and hug you. Tell you I was sorry and explain about the dates. I was ready to hop on a plane and come back and skip the ribbon cutting. Terrance talked me out of it.”
Mandy tipped her head. “Terrance? How odd. That is the name of the Englishman who bought the entire show, including Grandma Mae’s and the bordello. I didn’t want to sell them.”
“I know.” Daniel let his hand drop.
Mandy’s hands flew to her face. “He works for you, doesn’t he?” Daniel owned them. He had been able to study the bordello in detail.
“Yes, and, as promised, they are in my private collection. So, I am curious, have you managed to get the fence the way you like it?”
“I haven’t worked on it.”
“And another question—why are you standing in the attic in the old yellow dress?”
Mandy turned to face the window. “I am sure I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Still a terrible liar. Do you want to know what I think it is? I think you hoped I would come find you because I am not really a player.”
Mandy gasped.
Daniel put the car in gear. “Are you done hiding yet? Because I am looking.”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to your place.”
“I thought you wanted to talk.”
“I did, but if we keep sitting here talking I am going to kiss you, and right now I don’t think either of us is ready for that. We just moved past the duck-joke phase.” Nearly the same words he had used last time. Would they ever be ready?
