Christmas in Angel Harbor - Jeannie Moon Page 0,71
the island for a cozy late supper. It was like they’d been doing this forever. An intimate night in, wine, a Christmas tree, two people who had known each other forever, all combined to make the scenario perfectly romantic, or perfectly ordinary. Whatever it was, the comfort of it all scared her to death.
Dan sat down and took a sip of his wine, nodding approval. “I’m not usually a white wine guy, but this is good.”
“It’s one of my favorites to have with seafood.”
“Ah. I like it.” He took a spoonful of soup. “Mmm. That’s really good. I’ll bring the tree in after we finish.”
“Thank you. I do appreciate your help.”
“Okay.” He grinned, and dabbed at the corner of his mouth with the napkin she’d put out. “I think we should talk about your lease.”
“Ugh. No. I’m sorry I snapped. It’s not your fault.” Being called out made her uncomfortable, but she deserved it. He was only trying to help, and she’d been mean.
“I know. But I want to tell you something…”
Jane cut him off. “No. I’ve been totally irrational about it. I don’t want to ruin our evening. You’ve been wonderful, and the project comment, well, it wasn’t fair. I’m just not used to…”
“Being handled?” She started to object, but Danny waved it off. He put the spoon in the soup mug and leaned back in his chair. “You have a point. I can be overbearing sometimes. I forget that my way of managing something isn’t your way. I’m a fixer. It can be a problem. Ask my sister.”
“No. It’s not your fault. Like you said, you’re trying to help, but I’m not good at accepting it. You obviously didn’t get the memo that I’m the one who does the helping.”
“I wouldn’t have known.” He bit his lower lip to hide his smile.
“Go ahead. Make fun.”
“Later.” He reached out and took her hand. “We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Your lawyer…”
“Stop. I don’t want to talk about it.” Jane folded her arms almost defiantly, but she couldn’t hold the pose when Chloe decided to goose her backside. “Jeez, dog!”
A short burst of laughter came flying out of Danny as he watched Jane pop out of her seat. He sobered quickly, however, and squeezed her hand again. “Okay. No real estate talk tonight.”
“Good,” she said.
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” The amused rumble from his core was low and sexy.
“It’s true, though. I’m not good at asking for help,” she said. “I’m just not. It annoys everyone. I’m stubborn.”
He nailed her with his eyes. “You don’t say?”
She ignored the note of sarcasm in his voice and plowed on. “I’ve been let down by people, so I’m cautious. I have a very small circle and I find it’s a lot less complicated if I…I don’t know…lower my expectations.”
“That is one way to avoid disappointment.”
“Exactly. No expectations, no disappointment.”
It was a philosophy that didn’t sit well with her. In her heart she hoped people wanted to do for her as she did for them. Jane always gave her whole heart. Sometimes, she got hurt as a result.
“You don’t trust people.”
“I’m cautious,” she said again.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I trust you.” More than she should, considering. “You’re a good person, kind and generous. I have no doubt about that, but I don’t want to…”
“What?” he asked. Waiting for her to finish.
Want you? Need you? Fall in love with you? she thought. Nope, none of those would do. She couldn’t bare her soul like that.
“Get used to you,” she finally said, settling on a phrase as innocuous as she could muster. She put her spoon down and folded her hands in her lap. Jane didn’t want to put up a wall, but she felt like she had to. “I guess I’m worried about how close we’re getting. You’re a risk.”
“Because I let you down?”
He’d done more than let her down. As much as Jane had put the past behind her, she wouldn’t forget how much it hurt when Danny never looked back after leaving for law school. The feeling of abandonment, the knowledge that he didn’t care about her lingered, and she couldn’t deny that it made her hesitant, regardless of what her heart was telling her.
“You’re not staying,” she whispered. There it was. Every bit of the past and present, all the love, all the hurt, was laid out with that statement. Not able to face him, she took her half-empty bowl to the sink and stood there, her back to