“Yes.”
He smiled. “Yes, what?”
“To all of that. The bath, wanting you. Especially the wanting you part.”
It had been a memorable weekend. We’d made love in the tub, on the couch, in my bedroom, the kitchen. Many more similar weekends followed. We were inseparable. What I thought would be just fun in college turned into so much more. Daniel and I just clicked. We understood each other on all levels. I gave him my heart without any reservation. We were so good together.
Right until we weren’t.
Things started to fall apart when it was time to decide about grad school. I had received a full scholarship from my first choice, the University of Washington. It was a two-year program, and the first one was in Dublin. I wanted to spend my time with my brother, who’d moved there five years before, and get to know the city I was born in better. Plus, the program was top-notch.
Daniel was going to Stanford for business school. The closer we came to the deadline for confirming our places, I was getting cold feet. I didn’t want to be so far away from him. I’d only received a partial scholarship to Stanford, but I could swing it if I waitressed on the side. Daniel didn’t like my idea at all.
“But Washington is your first choice. The one you want,” he argued every time. “Don’t settle for anything less than what’s best for you.”
I felt him pull away from me with every conversation. So, when he showed up at the bar where I was working, at the end of my shift, I knew that was it.
“Caroline, I thought about this a lot... and it won’t work out. Long distance is so complicated, and you’d miss out on a lot of experiences if you spend half your time on a plane. Same for me. The best place for you is the University of Washington, with the year abroad. Don’t settle for me.”
We parted ways amicably. Our breakup conversation was very adult. No fighting, no shouting. Daniel did most of the talking. I just nodded and held my breath every time I felt like crying. I held my breath so often during that conversation I was half expecting to pass out. In theory, it all made sense; it was the best for both of us. But part of me knew we could have made it work. I was going to Dublin for a year, and spending the second one in Washington, not starting a colony on Mars.
Chapter Four
Caroline
“Hot date tonight?” Karla asks as we rise from our chairs. The school is empty except for the two of us, but we always stay later on Mondays to go over administrative issues.
“No, just meeting a friend.”
She winks, shrugging. “A lot of effort for a friend.”
I look down at my outift: dark blue dress tight around the waist, showing just a hint of cleavage, and a red jacket covering said cleavage.
“I like dressing up from time to time.”
I could argue it’s how I usually dress up when I go out with a friend, but the truth is, whenever I’m about to meet Daniel, I go out of my way to appear put together. Maybe it’s a general rule that you don’t want an old flame to see you looking anything but your best. Except it can’t be too general because I couldn’t care less what other exes think, but when I’m about to meet Daniel? Ohhhh yeah, baby. I bring out the big guns every single time.
We walk out together and I bid Karla goodbye, heading to the parking lot behind the school. Once I’m in my car, I kick off my shoes, curling and stretching my poor toes. Driving barefoot is frowned upon, but if a policeman stops me, I’ll gladly ask him to drive wearing my five-inch heels. See how he does!
I arrive at the address Daniel texted me forty minutes later, pulling my car in front of a three-story building with the sign “Golden Escapes Adventure Center.” I’ve never been to his office. Putting my heels back on, I climb out of the car and walk up the front steps. The sliding doors open when I approach and a friendly blonde greets me from behind a reception desk.
“Welcome to Golden Escapes. What can I do for you?”
“I just have to drop this off with Daniel.” I hold up the paper bag containing Summer’s shoes and a gift I bought for the youngest Bennett offspring.
“Miss Caroline Dunne, right?”
“Yes.”
She points to the right. “His door is at the end of the corridor.”
Nodding, I head in that direction, my palms growing a little sweatier as I approach the door.
Shaking my head, I chastise myself. Still, I can’t help the flutter in my stomach as I knock at his door, or the knot low in my body when he replies, “Come in.”
Wow, his office is huge. Plenty of light comes in, and the large desk is positioned so he can look straight outside. At the moment, though, he’s looking at me, and hot, hot, hot damn.
Stalking toward me, Daniel looks every bit as irresistible as usual. This mountain of a man is about six feet three. That he works out regularly is clearly visible by the way his black shirt hugs his torso. The contour of the muscles lacing his arms is visible on the upper part of the sleeve. He’s rolled the lower part of the sleeves up to his elbow, and I have a clear view of the muscles and veins cording his forearms. Always been a sucker for strong forearms. And a dark stubble.