Chapter 37

thirty-seven

BEN

I wiped down the outdoor table, my mind lingering on everything Daniel had shared over dinner. Hearing more about his fiancé and his life with his grandparents made me see him in a different light.

Growing up without his parents must have been difficult, especially when they sounded like amazing people. My childhood was almost the polar opposite of Daniel's. From what he'd said, his family vacations on Shelter Island were the closest to my everyday life. My mom and dad were different, and looking back, I felt blessed to live a simple life.

"Would you like me to clean the barbecue now or in the morning?" Daniel asked, breaking into my thoughts.

I looked at him and smiled. "Neither. You've already done enough for one night."

Daniel slung the dish towel over his shoulder. "I'm grateful you took pity on me and invited me to dinner."

"I couldn't leave you to fend for yourself when I had enough steak for two people. I've got something else you might like, too."

"If it's a letter of intent to work with Wilson Enterprises, I'll be thrilled," he said with a dramatic sigh.

"It's better than that." I laughed. "I bought one of Paul's strawberry ripple cheesecakes this afternoon. Would you like a slice?"

"That sounds like the perfect way to end the evening. How's Paul?"

"He's great. Did you know Paul and Liam are adopting a little boy?"

Daniel nodded. "Amy told me she was getting a baby brother or sister when she was here for your birthday."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I swore on a pinky promise that I wouldn't tell anyone. Besides, it would have spoiled the surprise when Paul told you." Daniel followed me into the kitchen, sat on a kitchen stool, and watched me take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator. "It must be the time of the year for people to become parents. My secretary's baby is due in December."

"I think it's got more to do with our age. Most of my friends are either getting married or having children."

Daniel rested his arms on the counter. "Do you want to get married and have children?"

"One day, but I haven't got the best track record when it comes to men. At the moment I'm too busy creating jewelry. What about you?"

"I'm not sure anyone would want to marry me."

I almost smiled, until I saw the serious expression on his face. "Why do you say that?"

He shrugged, but I saw the hurt he was hiding. "I'm thirty-eight years old. I work long hours and hardly take any time off work. Even if I did find someone, I'm not sure I could give them the happy ever after they'd want."

I slid a piece of cheesecake onto a plate. "Have you ever considered that being yourself would be enough? Happy ever after doesn't have to come gift-wrapped with a sparkly red bow."

Daniel's lips twitched. "Are you telling me I'm a brown bag kind of guy?"

I grinned. "I bet your grandma told you it's not what's on the outside that's important, but what's inside." I handed him a spoon and a slice of the cheesecake. "Having said that, there's no way you're a brown bag kind of guy. You're tall, handsome, and live in New York City. You also have a great sense of humor and you're kind. If you told everyone you're looking for a partner, you'd have men lining up to meet you."

"I should be grateful I didn't tell Jenny I'd like someone special in my life."

I was surprised he remembered the owner of the general store. Jenny was a sweetie, but she was also an incurable gossip. "Sunrise Bay doesn't have the same number of single men as Manhattan, but Jenny has a gift for finding the unexpected. It's probably just as well you don't live here. She'd make your happiness her number one priority."

Daniel pulled out the stool beside him. "Enjoy your cheesecake with me. If you were looking for someone special, what would he be like?"

I thought about my ideal man, but the only person who kept popping into my mind was Daniel. "I'm not sure. I guess he'd have a good sense of humor and love children and dogs."

"You don't have a dog."

"But I'd like one."

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "Big or small?"

"Medium."

"Short or long-haired?"

"Short."

"Black, white, red, or brown?"

I grinned. "I don't mind. If he's adorable and likes lots of cuddles, he'd fit into my life perfectly."

"What if I…" Daniel clamped his mouth shut.

I waited for him to continue, but he remained silent. "What were you going to say?"

"It doesn't matter. The cheesecake's amazing." Daniel ate another spoonful of the sweet dessert.

The last thing I'd been talking about was my future canine buddy. My eyes widened. Daniel was definitely adorable. Maybe he liked lots of cuddles, too?

I scooped some dessert into my mouth, just thinking about cuddling Daniel made my temperature soar.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked.

I swallowed the cheesecake and pretended my cheeks weren't burning. It was time to show Daniel my new designs. "I'm working in my store until midday, then starting a new collection. Would you like to see my drawings?"

"I'd love to."

Daniel followed me into the living room. I'd left my sketchpad in the middle of the coffee table and surrounded it with the things I'd used as inspiration.

"It looks as though you've found someone's treasure chest."

My heart pounded. At least he was close to the theme I'd chosen. "I've been collecting costume jewelry for years. The tiara was a present from Dad. The other brooches and necklaces are from estate sales and second-hand stores. The jewelry was a starting point for my designs."

I sat on the edge of the sofa and handed Daniel my sketchpad. "This is my royal collection. I've created each piece as a tribute to different members of the royal family. Past and present."

Daniel opened the book and smiled. "Queen Victoria would have been impressed."

The drawing of the onyx necklace was one of my favorites. "Black stones are a symbol of self-control and resilience. I thought that was appropriate given Victoria's unhappy childhood and the amount of social and technological change in her reign." I leaned forward and pointed to the diamonds clustered around each stone. "Albert was the love of her life. I wanted to capture his influence on Victoria's life, so I added melee diamonds to lighten the feel of the onyx and balance the design."

Daniel turned the page.

His low, drawn-out whistle made me smile. "Do you like it?"

"It's incredible."

I'd thought about the Princess Diana necklace for days. Regardless of what had happened in her personal life, Diana had changed the world's perception of the royal family.

I wanted to design something that represented her simple yet elegant fashion style, the way she could captivate the world with a single smile. "Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue, so I chose a stunning sapphire for the pendant. Thirty-six diamonds will be woven through the chain, representing each year of her life. The silver setting is more delicate than the Victoria necklace, but that's because I wanted the gemstones to be the showstopper, not the setting."

Daniel studied the drawing. "This collection is more expensive than some of your other pieces."

I nodded. "It is. But, for the right people, it will be irresistible."

Daniel looked at the next four pages.

When he lifted his gaze, I knew he was hooked.

"Where have you been hiding?"

I grinned at the disbelief on his face. "In a little town called Sunrise Bay."

"You need to work for me."

"I know."

"If you want to create jewelry for your store, we could…" His eyes widened. "You know?"

"I've known for the last week, but I had to think about how it could work."

"You wouldn't need to live in New York City."

"Good, because I'm staying here. But I'm happy to visit whoever I'm working with to discuss my designs."

Daniel closed the sketchpad. "We could debut your work with this collection."

"I was hoping you'd say that. Wait here." I rushed into the kitchen and took a bottle of apple cider out of the refrigerator. With two glasses in my hands, I returned to the living room. "It isn't champagne, but it's bubbly."

Daniel's face relaxed into a smile. "It's perfect."

I poured the cider and raised my glass toward Daniel's. "To new beginnings and a successful partnership."

He tapped his glass against mine. "And to happy endings."

I looked into his eyes and hoped our toast came true. I was putting my career and my life in Daniel's hands.

And whether he knew it or not, one wrong decision could have terrible consequences. For everyone.