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“And do you think you might be ready for a relationship?”
“I don’t know. And even if I were, they don’t exactly happen on demand, do they?”
“No.” Hannah rested her head on top of his. “They come at you out of nowhere when you least expect them.”
He sat up and gave her a puzzled look. “That sounds ominous. Anything you want to tell me?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”
“Want to tell me what you do know?”
She pursed her lips. She wasn’t sure that she did want to tell him, but this was the most open and honest conversation they’d had in years; she didn’t want to close him out. “Remember when you picked me up at the airport in San Francisco, and I was mad that a married guy had hit on me?”
He scowled and nodded. “I’m not going to like where this is going, am I?”
She smiled. “It’s not as bad as you think. In fact, I think it might be really good. I’d appreciate your opinion.”
She hated that he looked surprised to hear that. “Okay, then. I shall try to listen without prejudice.”
She had to laugh. “While you’re at it, could you try to talk like you haven’t swallowed a dictionary?”
He laughed with her and dug her in the ribs. “I’m doing my best to loosen up here. Cut me some slack.”
“Okay. I will.”
“So, what’s the story with the married guy?”
“He isn’t married! There’d be no story if he were. I got the wrong end of the stick. Well, to be fair, he gave me the wrong impression.”
“Deliberately? Why?”
“At first, I thought it was because he wanted to put me off. We got a drink together and we were flirting and … I thought it’d be nice to see him again. And he panicked.”
“Why, if he’s not married?”
“I thought it was because he wasn’t interested – and I was mortified. Can you imagine?”
Jacob nodded.
“But it wasn’t that. It’s because he has his niece living with him. He’s her guardian. She’s his whole world, and he’s doing his best to be a good dad to her. He thought he shouldn’t have time for dating. That he needs to focus on her.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm, what?”
He smiled. “That was a sound of appreciation. I can respect that. And it’s a long way from the married guy who I’ve hated – if only in the abstract – for hitting on my sister.”
She had to laugh. “Aww. I appreciate it. But that’s not who Grady is. He’s a good guy.” She took a deep breath. “He works for Molly at the restaurant, so I’ve run into him a couple of times since I’ve been back, and we’ve talked and figured things out. Most importantly, I’ve met Ava and she’s … Jacob, she’s such a sweetheart! And she wants to be a photographer, and she’s excited for me and Grady to go out. And she gave me a hug, and she just felt like she needed the love – so much!” She stopped, realizing that she was babbling, and that Jacob was giving her a stern look. “What?”
“I get that you’ve fallen in love with Ava. I can even understand why. But what about Grady? What do you know about him – other than he’s not married and he’s raising his niece?” He gave her a small smile. “Both of those things go in the pros column, but they’re not enough by themselves to vouch for him as someone you want to have a relationship with.”
“I know. You’re right. But there’s something …” She smiled as a thought struck her. “I’m going to put this in terms I know you understand. The intangibles count for a lot. And there’s something I can’t put into words. He’s a good guy. He has a big heart. And there’s something between us. Something … intangible.”
He nodded. “Well played. If you’d tried to convince me with a bunch of concrete details, I’d have more to argue against. But you’re right. Intangibles can’t be discounted. In business or in love.”
She raised her eyebrows, surprised to hear him use that word.
“That’s what you’re talking about, isn’t it?”
