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Shortly thereafter, Dwight pulled her aside. He had been as quiet as a mouse ever since the toboggan incident.
“Annie, I think I’m going to call it a night,” Dwight said in a small voice. He wasn’t making eye contact with her, and he appeared to be a million miles away. He didn’t seem like his usual confident self. “Will you be able secure a ride home?”
“What? Yes, I can get a ride back to the cabins from Sophie or Hazel. But it’s still early, Dwight. Is something wrong? I hope you’re not feeling bad about the toboggan. It wasn’t your fault.”
He looked at her, his brown eyes blinking like an owl. “I saw the way you looked at Declan when he rescued you,” Dwight said. “That one look spoke volumes. I’m pretty eager to find love, so I’m not going to waste my time with someone who is so clearly smitten with another man. I’m stepping aside.”
Annie didn’t bother telling Dwight he was imagining things. Grams had always told her that she wore her heart on her sleeve. Although she wasn’t in love with Declan, there were major feelings brewing inside her for him. And the truth was that she was well on her way to being in love with him. Dwight had been nothing but kind to her. At the very least, she owed him the unvarnished truth. “It’s nothing against you, Dwight. I met Declan before I even stepped foot into town. It all happened rather quickly. Before I knew it, my feelings for him had grown by leaps and bounds. And there’s nothing romantic going on between us. Declan and I are not meant to be together. We’re just friends. I promise.”
Dwight held up his hand. His features appeared pinched. “Spare me the details. I know women in this town are drawn to men like Declan and Boone and Liam like moths to flames. It seems that young ladies these days go for brawn and chiseled good looks rather than brains and old-fashioned charm,” Dwight said in a small voice. “I always try to put my best foot forward, but it doesn’t seem to matter when I’m not considered eye candy.”
Annie let out a groan. “You’re looking at this all wrong. You’re you, Dwight. A unique and special individual. That’s all you can ever be in this life. Be yourself. And love yourself. That’s the perfect road to happiness.”
Dwight reached for her mittened hand and brought it up to his lips. “It’s been a pleasure, Annie. I wish things could have been different. This town is truly blessed by your presence.” With a stately bow, Dwight turned on his heel and departed, leaving her feeling both speechless and saddened. She had accepted Dwight’s invitation as a date on a friends-only basis. She hadn’t had the heart to say no. Clearly Dwight had been hoping for more to brew between them than friendship, leading to his disappointment when he had come to the realization that she wasn’t having the same feelings.
Was it so obvious that she was falling for Declan? Her palms began to sweat as the realization swept over her that Declan himself might have figured it out. That would be all kinds of mortifying.
Annie watched Dwight leave the area and head toward the parking lot. She walked back to the roasting fire, suddenly feeling chilled to the bone. She wrapped her arms around her middle, then rocked back on her heels.
Before she knew it, Declan appeared at her side. His eyes were full of questions.
“Where’s your date?” Declan asked, peering behind her as if he was looking for Dwight.
“It appears I’ve been ditched.”
Declan moved toward her, a deep frown etched on his face. “He did what? I’ve got a good mind to—”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Annie scolded. “Dwight did what was right. He realized that we were never going to be more than friends. He’s quite serious about finding a woman to settle down with, and he wants to move forward in that pursuit.”
“When you put it that way, it makes sense,” Declan said. “Although he seemed really in to you.” He squinted at her. “Are you sure there’s not something you’re not telling me?” Annie had no intention of telling him what Dwight had sensed about her feelings for Declan. That would be downright embarrassing, especially since she had no idea if Declan had any romantic feelings for her.
Ugh. Why did she suddenly feel as if she had been transported back to high school?
“I’ve told you the main points. I’m here all alone now with no one to enjoy this beautiful evening with,” she hinted. “I’d still like someone to point me toward the northern lights.”
He flashed her a magnificent grin. “It would be my pleasure to be your escort,” Declan said with a gentlemanly bow. “Declan O’Rourke at your service.”
She clapped her hands together and playfully batted her eyelashes. “I thought you’d never ask,” she teased.
Declan quirked his mouth. “If you remember, I did ask. You turned me down for Dwight.”
She put her hands on her hips. “What kind of woman would I be if I ditched the man I first accepted for the man I wanted to ask me all along?” Annie let out a squeak and slapped her hand over her mouth. Had she really just said that out loud?
Declan’s face lit up like Christmas. “So you wanted me to ask you all along, huh?”
Annie groaned. “I hope that doesn’t give you a big head. Or should I say, an even bigger head than you already may have?”
He held up his hands. “Hey! I don’t have an ego.” He snapped the collar on his coat. “I’m not conceited, just convinced.”
She swatted at him and laughed. “You have so many women in this town chasing you that it’s totally gone to your head.”
“There’s really only one woman I want to chase me, but something tells me she never would,” he said, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief.
Annie felt her cheeks warming up, despite the frigid temperature. Was he referring to her? She ducked her head down to avoid his probing gaze. “Ladies shouldn’t pursue,” she murmured. “They should be pursued.”
“Another Gram-ism?” he asked with a wry smile.
Annie couldn’t help but giggle. “I have enough Gram-isms to fill up Kachemak Bay.”
