Did he think there would be difficulties? Of course. He’d admitted as much to himself when he first met her and felt her draw. He was going to be a busy guy. He would have a lot of responsibilities in the coming months and years, and he couldn’t tell whether he’d have the time to always give her what she deserved. But he also knew that he didn’t want any of it, that it wasn’t worth it, if he couldn’t be happy.
And Daisy could make him happy.
A little while later as he reached the house, he looked up to see Officer Kenney watching him from the deck above, trying to keep an eye on him. He’d doubted the older man would ever have been able to run the beach, which was part of why he’d snuck out so early, so the guy didn’t feel guilty.
He nodded to the officer, who smiled a little warily and said, “Good morning.”
From over the man’s shoulder, he could see into the kitchen where Daisy was already whipping something up in a bowl.
And she was entirely alone.
He grinned as he threw open the door and went in. “Good morning.”
She looked up briefly and then back down at the bowl, a pink flush staining her cheeks. “Morning.”
Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, the end tossing about as she whipped—rather ferociously—the contents in her bowl. “There’s coffee ready.”
“Thank you,” he said, leaning down to unclip Ollie’s leash before heading over to the pot. He filled a mug, watching her as he did so. “Hope you slept well last night.”
“Quite well, thank you.”
“Ah. And here I was hoping that maybe you’d spent a restless night dreaming about what might have been. And maybe thinking something like…what have I got to lose? Maybe I can have everything I ever wanted.”
“Now you’re dreaming.”
“Not in the least.” He took a drink of the strong brew, not minding the heat of it on his tongue. “Actually, my night was fairly restful since I knew I’d wake up to a new day. Another day of possibilities and of convincing this remarkable woman standing before me that we could be really good together.”
She shook her head, but there was a slight smile on her face. “You really are a dreamer.”
“I just know when something good is right in front of my face and I’m not afraid to do whatever I can to hold on to that.”
“Jack,” she said, her voice softening. “I meant what I said last night. You and I need to keep things on a professional level. There’s too much at stake to risk it on something that has no chance of actually happening.”
“There is definitely a risk, but I find that’s true in anything that’s worth having.”
She threw her head back and muttered something under her breath before pulling the glob of dough from the bowl and throwing it onto the counter, kneading it without mercy. “Jack. You’re a Harrison. You’re going to be the governor with duties and responsibilities I can’t even imagine. And you will be expected to attend galas and many more fundraisers with people who I probably sold coffee and Danishes to last week. And if I’m lucky, will be selling them more of the same in a few short months, albeit from my own bakery. This little arrangement, both staying at this beautiful home and doing such incredible things, has deluded us both into thinking that we have anything in common that will keep us together when it’s all over. This is like a vacation on steroids, and when we get back home and you go back to your life and I go back to mine, you’ll recognize that we made the right decision.” She pushed her fist into the dough, as if testing it, and continued. “How do you see this ever working out, Jack?”
“Just like it would work if you were any other woman I’m interested in. We would make time for each other. Get to know each other better. And someday maybe even make this whole pretend engagement thing real.”
“You make it sound so simple, but you know it will be anything but. And I can’t make snap decision about my heart like you—not anymore. I only do things after measured thought, after considering every possibility.”
“Such as…”
“Such as the possibility that in two days you find that you’re sick of the sight of me, and you want to get as far away as possible.”
She didn’t say, like Leo, but she might as well have since the implication was there. And it nearly shattered his heart to think that someone could make her doubt her own amazingness like her ex had, to the extent that she didn’t think she was worth the risk.
He walked slowly toward her, even as she eyed him warily. “I know everything I need to know about you, Daisy Sorensen. About how loving and generous and brave you are. How much you value honesty, hard work, and your own independence above everything. I also know how you make me feel when I’m with you. Whatever I don’t yet know about you I look forward to learning.”
He reached her, stopping inches in front of her but not moving to touch her since he knew she’d only flee again. “I’m as surprised as you by what’s developed between us. But you’re in my system now and all I know is that I want more. More of you, more of moments like last night when it was just the two of us, as well as moments when we’re all out there, your family and mine, fishing or sailing or even rappelling off the face of a cliff if the notion strikes us. I’m not asking for you to commit to me forever right now. Just…don’t say no. Not yet. I promise that the moment you’re not having fun, when you don’t think it will work, then I’ll respect your wishes and leave you alone.”
He saw the hope in her eyes as she bit her lip, and he knew she wanted to say yes but was too afraid to leap.
“Just…consider it. Today, keep yourself open to the possibility of how good we can be. Can you do that?”
She sighed and a second later, nodded. “I can try.”
That’s all he could ask. For now.