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“Well, you’re handsome, so that more than makes up for it,” she said, sipping her wine.
He laughed, gently kicking his foot to move the swing back and forth. She stared out at the beach that was calm now after the violent wind and rain earlier that day. She loved the stillness after a storm. The smell of the humidity lingering on the air and the slight sway of the palm trees was calming.
This was home.
And it had never felt quite so right as it did in that moment, sitting there with him.
“You okay? You seem a little distracted tonight,” he asked.
Obviously, she hadn’t hid it very well. “I’m great. I’m having a wonderful time with you. I just have a lot on my mind. Sorry.”
“No need to be. Is it about the bakery?”
Among other things. Sticking to that topic, though, seemed safer, easier for now. “It’s a big part of it, yeah. A representative from Not Just Desserts came by this week. They increased the offer to buy.”
“Was it significant?”
“A million dollars.” She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the money part, and she’d been so caught up in Mitch, she hadn’t really even given Mr. Dorsey or the offer much thought. She lived comfortably. She had no debt, so money had never been a motivator for her. But if she could help her friend and have the freedom to figure out what she wanted for her future, it was tempting.
Mitch let out a low whistle. “That’s not something to take lightly. Money like that could change your life.”
“But that’s the problem. I love my life. I haven’t decided if I want to change it yet.” Though the more time she spent with him, it was becoming even more clear than before that she longed for a relationship, to be with someone. Being with him made her feel like the missing piece was in place. But he was only temporary. She needed something long-term to feel this way permanently.
“I know it can’t be an easy decision to make.”
“I hate that my decision could affect my aunt’s shop and Mrs. Barnett.”
“You shouldn’t feel guilty about making a decision that makes sense.”
“Selling it and taking the offer makes sense? You think so?” She turned slightly on the swing bench to look at him, hoping all the answers were there on his face. All she saw was a fantastic, handsome man who gave her more uncertainty.
The fate of the business might be up in the air, but what about her feelings for him? She wanted to trust them. She wanted to believe that there was something real between them and that he felt it, too.
“I may be being selfish in my answer…” He turned her hand around until they could interlace their fingers.
“That’s okay.” Her heart raced and she wanted to know. She valued his opinion on the subject, especially if he was also thinking about what that could mean for the two of them.
“If you sell and the payout ensures that you could take some time off, you could look into that volunteer experience I mentioned.” He stared at their interlaced hands.
Volunteering with Doctors Without Borders sounded like an amazing opportunity, one she’d never even considered. “Go overseas?”
He nodded.
With him. On a trip of a lifetime. She’d thought of it a few times over the last few days, but not seriously until that moment. “I’m not sure I’d be the best choice. I mean, I bake for a living. I’m not a doctor or a nurse…”
He shook his head, his eyes lighting up at the thought that she might actually consider it. “That doesn’t matter. They accept all volunteers. We need people to do all sorts of things in the villages and around our camp. From getting water from the healthy streams and picking vegetables and cooking. We need lots of help building simple homes and you just admitted to being a closet carpenter.”
She laughed, but it stuck in her chest. What he was asking would definitely be life-changing on an even bigger scale than she’d imagined, and she wasn’t sure if it was the opportunity that appealed to her and excited her or simply the idea that she’d be with him. Their time together would be extended. It wouldn’t be right to sign up for this mission if she wasn’t doing it for the right reasons. Altruistic reasons.
“Trust me, your extra set of hands…” He turned hers around and took the other one in his. “These hands could do a lot of good for a lot of people.”
Including him? Or was she just wanting to put the words in his mouth? He very well could be recruiting her because of his passion and belief in the cause.
“And it would be a fantastic way to start seeing the world.”
She nodded. “It does sound amazing.” She bit her lip. “But you leave soon, so when would I have to apply?”
“They have volunteer teams flying out every month. You’re probably too late to fly out with me. There’s a ton of paperwork involved with the application and you probably wouldn’t be ready to go anyway so quickly, but you could fly out when you were ready and the application was approved. And meet me in Cambodia.”
