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What the hell? Maybe I didn’t work out religiously—okay, at all—but I was in damn good shape. I lifted my chin. “Well, you strike me as a stalker.”
His eyes danced, but his mouth quirked down as if the accusation was a foreign one and he didn’t quite know what to do with it.
“Would you believe I happened to be in the neighborhood? Wanted to hear that Southern drawl again?”
“Not a chance.” I lifted my chin, and his eyes raked down the column of my neck. I flexed my fingers so as not to touch the skin where his look had singed me. I couldn’t do this. Feel whateverthiswas. “You’ve said hello. Now, I have work to do.”
I spun, and he caught me by the elbow. His breath on my ear raised every hair on my body. “See. A runner.”
Was he insinuating I was a coward? I whirled back around to set him straight and immediately regretted it. His face was inches from mine. I held my breath to keep from burying my nose in his suit. No one should smell that good. Not without a warning.
“I hope this isn’t your usual approach with women.”
Fuck him and that gorgeous smile. It lit his whole face and made him even more impossibly handsome.
“They usually approach me.”
I rolled my lips together. “That explains a lot.”
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” His voice was so low that I leaned in closer to hear him. Another mistake. I was too close, all in his personal space.
“You want a proper introduction.” I thrust my hand out, creating some distance. “Vivian DeGraw. Though you already know that. Now goodbye.”
His fingers clasped my hand and squeezed. He didn’t shake, just held me in place. “Daniel Elliott. And this most definitely isn’t goodbye.”
* * *
I don’t believe this.Daniel had been trying for three weeks to get me to go out with him. I hadn’t said yes. And now the stalker was at Paths of Purpose carrying a stack of pizza boxes into the dining area. This was drastic even for him.
I watched as Daniel served pizza to the women and children gathered around one of the few cafeteria-style tables. He seemed eager to do it, as if he genuinely wanted to be there, when I naturally assumed he didn’t. And he was good with the kids—playing catch with some of the boys and watching a skit a few of the kids put on. In one afternoon, he shattered some of my preconceived notions about him. I saw a different man than the one he’d shown me thus far. Behind the cold, elitist image he’d crafted, he was infinitely more down to earth than he’d ever let on.
I bumped my hip with his as we cleaned up empty plates and cups. “The kids like you being here.”
A shadow crossed his face as he shoved a paper plate into the trash. He didn’t respond, so I continued.
“They need a bigger space. I’m sorry to say it, but they’re overflowing here. Mrs. Quinn said they had ten new people come just last week.” The director of the facility and I had had long talks about the needs of the shelter. How she remained positive when there were so many in need impressed me.
“What do you propose they do?” Daniel asked, focused on the clean-up task.
I looked around, feeling helpless. “Build a new shelter. A much bigger one.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. But something.”
“Why is this so important to you?” He set the garbage bag down and looked at me.
I shifted from foot to foot. “I-I can’t really explain it. I feel it here.” I pointed to my heart. “I need to do something to help these people.”
“I get it.” And I believed him.
He resumed clearing the tables, and I found myself regretting that it was time to go.
We left the building with reluctant steps, and I noticed an expensive-looking car parked at the curb. He spun on me and gripped my arms. “One night. Give me just one.” His eyes burned into me, intense and demanding.
“No.”
His hands dropped like I’d electrocuted him, and I felt cold without his touch. “Why?” He seemed perplexed, like he’d done everything in the world he was supposed to, and now I should just say yes. Spending an afternoon doing something good wasn’t going to convince me. It had helped his cause, given me a glimpse of his heart, but it wasn’t enough.
“You’re already too attached to me. One night, and I’ll never be rid of you,” I said seriously, though my eyes crinkled in the corners. I loved teasing him. I doubted anyone dared to do it, not often at least, and I got a little thrill at the incredulous flicker in his eyes.
“You’re afraid,” he declared, looking triumphant.
