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She planned to document her journey and show people how they could change their lives too. It would not be easy. Life was about to take a one-eighty.
Women in their thirties would be her new demographic. Once she got the channel up and running and making money, she’d phase out the younger, twenty-something audience she’d been catering to. Flitting around Europe on a dime was a young person’s game, and she had to admit, she was no longer feeling so spry.
Recent events had cemented her change of heart. Realizing she didn’t need to compete with her sisters, falling in love with Noah, losing her uncle, and almost her life had changed her. She felt as though she’d matured a decade in the last two weeks. When all that was added to her sisters marrying and having babies, her parents and grandma aging, and the simple fact that she was tired of the adventures, she had no choice but to make a change.
Five years ago, it was freeing, knowing she wasn’t tied down to anything or anyone. Nowadays, that freedom felt more like a hole in desperate need of filling. Maybe she’d matured, or perhaps she’d had it all wrong in the first place, but finding someone to share life with sounded pretty darn good these days.
That realization led to Noah. Though they had only just met, she’d come to hope he would be her person. The one she shared life’s adventures with.
Granted, they were completely different, but even so, there was an undeniable attraction. More than just a physical one too. At least, from Daisy’s point of view.
If someone had told her at the beginning of their road trip that she would fall for him, she’d have bet all her newfound money against it. He was so not her type. But after only one week together, figuring him out, finding out what made him tick, and getting to know the real Noah, she’d fallen hard. The gruff exterior was a mask to cover the pain. And she ached to help him past that pain. She thought she could if he’d give her a chance, but he didn’t want that. Didn’t want to see where things might lead under normal circumstances. Didn’t want anything more to do with her.
Clearly, she’d read too much into their brief but intense attraction. He liked her body, but not her mind. Story of her life. That stung, but at least she knew where she stood. Back at square one. Alone again and ready to start over. Which wasn’t anything new. It’s how she started in each new country she landed in—fresh, with no job, no home, no friends or family. At least this time, she was starting with a home, a family who loved her, and a plan.
That’s what this trip was about—remaking herself, rebranding her business, and resetting her heart.
The following morning, she checked out of the motel, bought a ticket to New Orleans, and boarded the train. Seated at a table, sipping black coffee and watching the landscape sail by through huge windows, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
“You’re a tough woman to track down.”
Noah. Her pulse geared up to turbo as green eyes bore into hers. He looked as handsome as ever, and she had to tamp down the urge to jump into his arms and immediately forgive all. She took a deep breath.
“So, why bother?” she said, feigning indifference.
He sat in the seat next to her. “I wanted…scratch that…Ineededto find out,” he said, “if there was more to us.”
“Listening.”
“I’m going to say something crazy,” he said.
“I love crazy,” she said, shrugging one shoulder. He laughed, and the sound melted her insides and forced her to smile.
“I love you, Daisy Parker.”
Her mouth fell open, but nothing came out. He what?
“Don’t tell me the queen of quick wit is speechless?”
“What did you say?” she said, shaking her head, believing she must have misheard him.
“I said, I love you.”
It took another minute to wrap her head around what he’d said, but then a mile-wide grin spread across her face.
“Please say something,” he said. “You’re killing me with the quiet.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you too.”
“So, we’re up to four things in our Venn diagram.”
“What more do we need?” she said.
He laughed again. His spirit seemed freer and happier.
“You let go of the guilt.” She took his hand in hers.
He sighed. “I did. Tucker called me up and wanted to see me. The gist of his message was that I was being an idiot. He told me to get over myself and move on. He’s getting married and wants me to be his best man.”
