Her Surprise Engagement (The Sorensen Family 4)

However, from the side-eye Daisy was giving him, he was certain she was suspicious.

“Jonathan and I met working on a community outreach program when I was on the city council a few years ago,” he explained, hoping to allay any concerns she might have. “I didn’t realize he would be handling the meeting until I arrived.”

“Small world,” Daisy said and smiled.

From the way she sat, her posture perfect, the inflection in her voice, he could see she was making an effort to appear calm and professional. Like a future business owner, and he couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of pride in her and everything she had—and still would—accomplish.

“Here’s everything that was requested,” Daisy said, handing the folder tucked under her arm to Jonathan, who took it and opened it on his desk, nodding as he flipped through a few of the pages.

“I’m sure everything here is in order.” He looked up. “It will be a great supplement to the documents we already received this morning from Mr. Harrison’s accountant.”

Daisy turned her head, meeting his gaze, fire in her eyes.

It wasn’t as if he’d initially instructed his accountant to do this. But then Mark had called to ask if he should prepare some of the more complex documents, such as the profits and loss statement and projected financial statement for the business—things Mark was trained to complete. And in as much as he wanted Daisy’s loan and her business to be a success, he’d given the okay. He knew that the more complete and accurate the forms were, the faster the loan would be processed and the closer Daisy would be to reaching her dream. And she could finally quit the job that was obviously causing her so much stress.

Jack smiled in apology. “I’m afraid my accountant got a little overzealous when I asked him to put together the documents needed for my part in guaranteeing the loan. Considering his experience, I didn’t think it would hurt for him to do a few more things to help expedite the loan.”

“It’s actually a fairly common practice for professionals to assist in preparing the documents at this stage,” Jonathan said, jumping in. “I promise it doesn’t impact the finalizing of the loan, and in fact, might speed things along since they tend to be more familiar with some of the jargon we look for.”

Daisy nodded, and from the slight smile on her lips, she appeared to have reached some concession to his accountant’s involvement. But in the course of the next hour, as they went through the pages, signing, dating, and initialing their names where necessary, Jack sensed a sort of aloofness from her. She remained polite, continued to smile, but somehow the smile never quite reached her eyes.

He hated that when the meeting was over, Daisy had to return to work and he had a meeting up at the Capital that he couldn’t postpone, which required he leave directly. He barely had a moment to say good-bye in the parking lot before he had to climb into the Suburban in a race to get back on time.

He’d make up for it tonight. He considered the surprise that he’d been planning for the last couple of days, his excitement overcoming any alarms he had at their departure. Once they had a moment, he would put everything to right.

Not just to right. He’d make everything perfect.

Chapter Sixteen

Daisy had expected she’d feel more buoyant as the day went on. Exhilarated even. But it had been frustrating to see, once again, her plan for proving her self-sufficiency go awry when Jack jumped in, as if it were necessary to come to the rescue. It had put a damper on the whole day.

Which was why, despite Jack’s attempts to draw her into conversation tonight, she was struggling to engage. She was mad—no, furious—and was trying to cool that temper before she attempted to discuss it with him, barely picking at the dinner Aggie had prepared for them.

She wished Lily were here instead of at her friend’s for a sleepover, or even her kids, despite how excited they were that their aunt Benny and soon-to-be uncle Henry were having a sleepover. Anyone to help ease the strain in the conversation.

“Are you enjoying your dinner?” Jack asked, glancing down at her half-consumed plate of food.

“It’s delicious—and rich. I’m afraid I couldn’t take another bite.”

“Good. Because I have a surprise for you tonight, and I don’t think I can wait another moment.”

“A surprise?” she asked uncertainly.

Jack’s easy manner was gone and he seemed almost nervous as he took her hand, led her though the house, and out to the patio that was washed in the soft glow from the fading sun. Lovely, made even more so by the fairy lights strung around the posts of the pergola out by the pool and tea lights floating on little lily pads on the surface of the water.

Her breath caught as she admired all the work he’d done. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. Although I can’t take all the credit. Lily and Aggie both spent the greater part of an hour helping me put all this together.” He pulled her to the pergola where a small café table was set with wine and a covered dish that he lifted with flair. “Mini chocolate-filled cakes, something of a specialty of Aggie’s.”

“They look so pretty,” she said, admiring the perfectly shaped cakes that, knowing Aggie, would taste as good as they looked.

Jack pulled her chair out and she slid onto the seat before he took the seat next to her and poured them a glass of wine. “Now. Are you going to finally tell me what’s bothering you?”

It would be so much easier if she could swallow her anger and frustration, choosing to bask in the warmth of the delicious food, the exquisite view, and the attention in Jack’s light blue eyes, and just tell him she was fine.

But the shadow and disappointment of earlier today was a permanent cloud over her and something she needed to clear up.

“About today…” She took another drink of wine before setting it down and taking a breath. “You knew how I’ve spent nearly every night this week working on those forms. How this is something I’ve wanted for so long, that I want to be a part of every step in the process. So, knowing all this, why would you ask your accountant to go behind my back and try to do everything for me?”