Page 5 of Daniel
“Thank you,” Prairie said softly. “Just let me grab my coat.”
I took her arm to escort her to the truck, holding her hand as I helped her step up and slip into her seat. Once we began driving, I asked, “So, I heard that you were studying art? What was that like?”
I glanced over to Prairie’s sweet smile. “It was amazing. I just love to paint, and being surrounded by other people with the same strange urges was really something.”
“Urges?” I said with a chuckle. “As in, painting is a compulsion?”
“Yes,” she laughed. “An addiction. From realism to abstract to whatever suits the mood.”
“What do you plan on doing here in Holly Valley?” I asked.
“Don’t know yet,” she shrugged. “I mean, I don’t have many expenses since I’m living with my parents. They’ve told me to just relax for a month and think about what sort of job I might like.”
I looked over and caught her frowning. “Until then, I’ll be keeping busy working on the farm, I guess.”
“I take it farming isn’t your style?” I asked.
“I don’t mind the hard work,” she said quickly. “Or getting dirty. It’s just that I’m a bit short, with no upper body strength. So I’m pretty useless.”
“You’ll just have to find out what you’re good at,” I said.
“Is that how it happened for you?” she asked. “You’re a woodworker, right?”
I shook my head, taking a right into the downtown area. “Yes. Dad started teaching me woodworking when I was really young. He needed help in the factory, and has always been adamant that most of the work should be done by the family. I worked there for years before he decided to expand, and my brothers and I were sent to manage the showrooms in different cities.”
I quickly explained how the furniture arrived in pieces, so we still had to assemble and stain everything to order. We had arrived at Nora’s by the time I finished.
“It’s not fancy, but the food is amazing,” I said, before running around to open her door.
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” she said. As I took Prairie’s hand to help her climb down, my heart lurched at the way her fingers felt against mine.
I continued holding her hand on the way into the restaurant, and she didn’t pull away.
By the time we were tucked away at a corner table talking about music and movies and books, I felt like my life had completely changed in just the past few hours.
As if everything in my life had been leading me to this moment, speaking with the woman I clearly belonged with.
I’d always thought that love at first sight was a silly idea that you saw only in the movies. Seeing men change themselves completely just to keep a woman happy didn’t seem logical.
But now that I was sitting close to this precious young lady, her knee rubbing against mine, my fingers darting out to tuck her hair behind her ear…my life had changed in an instant. I would do anything to make Prairie happy.
I was already falling so hard for her that I didn’t know what was going to happen when I hit the ground.
4
PRAIRIE
Even though this was already the most magical night of my life, I hated that Lila’s advice and shameful comments were ringing in my ears.
I had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, but forced myself to stop after about two-thirds, carefully eating all of the chicken so I could get some protein. The small snack I’d had earlier wasn’t quite enough for such a nerve-wracking day.
“Are you sure you’ve had enough?” Daniel asked.
I was touched that he was concerned for me. “Yes, thank you.”
His head cocked to the left. “Did you not like it? We can order something else instead.”
“No, thank you.” I had to make an excuse quickly, and didn’t want to outright lie to him. “My stomach gets a bit fluttery when I’m nervous, that’s all.”
