Chapter 34

thirty-four

DANIEL

After I saw Pastor Adam, I visited The Welcome Center to see what the volunteers were doing. My quick tour turned into two hours of working in the kitchen, peeling potatoes, and making sure the dining room was ready for the evening meal. After I left, I walked through town, eager to find out more about Sunrise Bay.

Jenny and Tim Evans had been happy to talk to me. Their general store seemed to be a meeting place for many of the locals and most tourists. I discovered more about the community in our hour-long discussion than I'd read about on the Internet.

Everything they said confirmed what I already suspected. The residents of Sunrise Bay wanted their community to retain the things that made it special. But they also wanted to provide more resources and facilities for people who were struggling.

And that, above everything else, was why Pastor Adam's latest project had a lot of support. News about the tiny home village was already spreading. Almost everyone Jenny and Tim had spoken to were looking forward to seeing the houses built.

After I left the general store, I went to the public library and used a small meeting room for my call with the board of directors. The meeting went better than anyone expected.

I wasn't sure whether they'd finally seen my point of view or if they were more selective in the battles they chose to fight. After working with the current board for four years, I'd place my money on the second option.

With a weary sigh, I turned into Ben's driveway. As much as I appreciated the board's agreement to postpone the next phase of my plan, I still had to move fast. One way or another, I needed an answer from Ben and his dad. If they agreed to work with Wilson Enterprises, it would allow me to rebrand the company and take it to another level. Without their support, I'd be lucky to have a job.

I drove past Ben's home and frowned.

He stood in the middle of the yard between the two cottages with his arms extended, stepping backward as if he were…waltzing?

I parked my vehicle under a tree and watched what he was doing. It was definitely a waltz, but his half turns were tying his feet in knots and almost toppling him over. All he needed was to turn his hips farther around, and his center of gravity would do the rest.

After he tripped over his feet for the second time, he stopped moving, repositioned his body, and began again.

I didn't know if he'd appreciate my help, but it was worth a try.

My smile widened as I walked toward him.

Ben's blond hair was covered by an old baseball cap. He looked cute in a baggy red T-shirt that he'd tucked into a pair of faded jeans. Compared with the men I'd met in New York, he was completely different. There was something about him that made me want to stay close, to help him be successful and follow his dreams. And right now, teach him how to waltz.

With his eyes closed and earbuds silencing everything around him, he had no idea I was there.

I listened as he counted the beat, dipping and rising in the one, two, three rhythm I'd learned as a teenager.

Now that I was standing a few feet away, I wasn't sure how to interrupt him. Scaring him to death wasn't an option, so I cleared my throat. Loudly.

Ben kept dancing.

I waited until he was close, then reached out, pulled him against my hip, and led him across the grass. Well, that was the plan, anyway.

As soon as our hands touched, Ben's eyes flew open. His ear-piercing screech echoed around the lake, sending a flock of birds into a frenzy.

As I threw my hands over my ears, I smiled. Unfortunately, it didn't look as though Ben shared my sense of humor.

When he got over the shock of seeing me, he yanked out his earbuds. "Haven't you been told it's rude to sneak up on someone? Especially when they've got their eyes closed."

I winced at Ben's loud indignation. "I didn't want to interrupt what you were doing."

"You don't think grabbing me around the waist and pushing me across the grass is an interruption?"

I sighed. "I was trying to be helpful. Your basic waltz steps are fine, but your quarter and half turns need some work."

"You know how to dance?"

The surprise on Ben's face gave me a faint glimmer of hope. A few seconds ago, I thought I'd be banished from the cottage and forced to sleep in my SUV. "Grandma taught me how to waltz, foxtrot, and two-step my way out of trouble."

Ben bit his bottom lip. "How would you feel about teaching me to dance?"

I pretended to consider his request carefully. With raised eyebrows, I asked, "How long have we got until you need to be step-perfect?"

"A week."

My eyes widened.

"I know," Ben said miserably. "Dylan's getting married next Saturday and I still don't know how to waltz."

My confidence took a nosedive. "Does your date know how to dance?"

Ben frowned. "I'm not going with anyone, but Dylan and Alex have been practicing for months. They kept warning me that there would be lots of waltzes, but I've been so busy?—"

"I'll do it," I said quickly.

Instead of looking relieved, Ben's frown deepened. "That was fast. What's the catch?"

"There's no…" The words that would have come out of my mouth disappeared. Throughout most of my life, there'd always been catches. But not now. Not with Ben.

He banged the palm of his hand against his forehead. "I shouldn't have said anything. Now you're thinking of all the things you can weasel out of me as payback for the lessons."

I hoped he was joking. "I don't weasel things out of people. I use my superior negotiating skills and charming personality to encourage people to agree with me."

"What's your price, Daniel?"

I didn't want to spoil Ben's righteous indignation, but the piercing glare he aimed at me wasn't intimidating. It was hot. My grandma would blush if she knew how useful her dancing lessons were about to become.

"I want to come to Dylan and Alex's wedding with you."

Ben's mouth dropped open.

"It makes perfect sense. It's much easier to dance with someone who knows how you move. And I won't be insulted when you step on my toes."

"Would that speech be part of your superior negotiating skills or charming personality?"

I grinned. Maybe Ben did share my sense of humor after all. "I'll go for charm, but only because I'm saving my negotiating skills for another day."

Ben didn't smile. "You're forgetting one important thing."

My eyebrows rose. "I am?"

"You're leaving on Sunday. That only gives us one day and a few hours to perfect our technique."

"I could stay in Sunrise Bay for a few more days."

Ben seemed as surprised as I was by what I'd said. "You have to go back to Manhattan. You're the chief executive."

My grandfather's voice boomed inside my head, agreeing with Ben. Not for the first time, I ignored it. "I can work from here almost as well as I can from my office."

"You'll get fired."

I shrugged. "Possibly. But the board can't do anything about it until our next meeting. That gives me a whole month to do what I want."

Ben silently studied my face.

"Do we have a deal?" I held my hand toward him, hoping like crazy he'd accept my offer.

He shook my hand.

The flame of hope inside me rose a little higher.

"We have a deal," Ben said. "Dancing lessons with no strings attached."

I smiled. "I didn't say there wouldn't be any strings."

His eyes connected with mine and a bolt of pure energy shot through my heart.

"Be careful what you wish for," he murmured. "It might come true."

My smile disappeared. That's what I was hoping.