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“MissDianna.” He sighed. “Aren’t you going to tell my dad you love him too? That’s how it goes, right? You have tocommunicate.”
Both Tristan and Dianna laughed, the tension in her body broken. “You’re right, bud. That’s exactly how it goes.” She leaned over him and puckered her lips. “I love you,” she murmured just before Tristan brushed his lips against hers.
Mathew beamed. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?” Tristan chuckled.
“You’ll see.”
Before they could pin him down and get him to explain himself, they arrived at the country club and he disappeared inside. Tristan faced her, his hands clasping her tightly. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” It got easier and easier to say those words. She almost couldn’t remember what it was like before she’d found her sense of equilibrium.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about before I move out in two weeks.”
She tilted her head. Maybe she wouldn’t have to do anything after all. Tristan could take the reins and she could enjoy the ride.
“I want your opinion on something.”
Confusion marred her features. “Okay.”
“I’m writing a book.”
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
He nodded and laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. It’s nothing special—just a lot about our lives with Mathew and the things we’ve done to make his life and ours easier. I thought that it would be a good jumping-off point for your future—perhaps a future we might share.”
Dianna’s mouth went dry. This was a very strange way to go about a proposal. She felt like she’d been hit up against the side of the head with one tidbit of information only to be slapped on the other with more of the same and yet a different topic.
“You are absolutely incredible with Mathew. So much so, that I thought you might be interested in teaching others how to do what you do. I’d love for you to collaborate on my book and maybe start a training program to help inform the public about what it means to be on the spectrum.”
Every word he said was like liquid gold. She’d never thought about doing such a thing, and now she hated herself for not coming to the idea on her own.
“But if you don’t want to—” he started.
She clutched his hands almost too tightly. He grimaced, and she relaxed her hold on him. “I think that’s an amazing idea. I’d be honored to be part of it with you.”
A smile split Tristan’s face and he pulled her in for a long, warm hug. When he pulled back, he still wore that grin. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I hope you know that.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I think I’ve been told that before.” More specifically, by him. She jerked her chin toward the entrance. “Come on. Let’s join the festivities before it gets too late and all we have left is the countdown.”
He wagged his brows. “Maybe that’s all that I need from tonight.”
She blushed. He had no idea what she was up to. Boy, would he be surprised.
* * *
As the clockticked closer to midnight, more and more people seemed to materialize. The whole club was filled with not only locals but people from nearby cities. Dianna even overheard a conversation about a guy who was just passing through and thought he’d stop by to see what the party was all about.
Shane’s business reputation and what he had created here was already bringing people to their small town. It was exciting, thrilling, and even a little terrifying. New people meant her circle would be expanding.
Tristan put his hand in hers and squeezed.
Dianna looked down at where their fingers intertwined and her thundering heart shifted gears from anxiety to something far more palatable. She glanced up, finding his warm gaze on her. She leaned into him, resting her cheek against his shoulder.
If anyone had told her that when she met him, this was how her life would be a few short months later, she would have called them crazy. Change was a bitter pill to swallow, and she’d perfected the way she lived her life in such a way that prevented much of that from occurring.
Yes, she taught Mathew that change was important. It was one of those better-said-than-done situations. And now she realized she’d only done herself a disservice by hiding behind her drawings and her books.
