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Not until I figure out what to do with Danielle.
With a sigh, I pull on a shirt over my boxers and step out onto the patio. I lean over the railing and glance out at the horizon.
Below, I see a flicker of movement. And when I turn to it, I recognize Danielle. She has a hoodie on her head. She jogs past, and I stare after her.
During her second lap, she glances up and sees me.
For the longest time, neither of us looks away.
She’s the first to break our gaze. Then she wipe her hands on the back of her pants. Then she spins on her heels and leaves, her back ramrod straight.
I follow her until she turns into a speck and disappears into her cabin.
After that, I sag and go back into my room. I pause in front of the mini fridge and frown. Then I rummage until I find a small bottle of vodka.
I down it in one gulp then crawl back into bed and close my eyes.
I drift off when the first patches of gray light are on the horizon.
In the morning, someone raps on my door, rousing me from my stupor. I rub my hands over my eyes.
Slowly, I swing my eyes over the side of the bed and stumble in the direction of the door. My body is still heavy with sleep as I wrench the door open and peer out into the empty hallway.
I take a step forward and something crinkles.
When I see the note, my heart misses a beat.
I bend down to pick it up and step back into the room.
I miss you. I’m thinking of you. Let’s have dinner in town. I’ll be outside your door at seven o’clock sharp.
Danielle’s note is cryptic and doesn’t tell me much about her state of mind.
Still, a small kernel of hope takes root inside of my stomach and chest and soon blossoms. I leave the note on the dresser and step into the bathroom.
In the shower, she’s all I can think about. How much I want to be with her openly and take her into my arms.
During breakfast at the dining hall, Danielle is nowhere to be found.
In the afternoon, I see her in the riding arena.
By the time evening rolls around, my stomach is in knots. I’ve convinced myself that I imagined the note.
As soon as I rounded the corner to my room and see her waiting outside my door, relief pounds through me.
Wordlessly, I duck into the room to change out of my sweat-stained shirt.
Danielle lingers in the doorway, a vision in her knee-length dress and sandals.
She follows me back down the hallway and out the backdoor. In silence, we get into my car, and I start the ignition.
The car purrs to life, and I settle back against the leather seat, trying not to sneak glances at her. When the ranch is far away in the rearview mirror, Danielle’s hand darts out, and she laces her fingers through mine.
“Are you sure you don’t want to pick a restaurant?”
Danielle shakes her head. “I’m sure. I want to go on an actual date with you and see how that turns out.”
I rub my thumb along the inside of her wrist. “What made you change your mind?”
