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seventeen

BEN

On Monday morning, as I was getting my jewelry store ready for the day, Paul knocked on the front door.

I flicked open the deadbolt and smiled. “You’re here early.”

“You didn’t tell me Daniel looks like an NBA basketball player. He’s gorgeous.”

The heat of a blush hit my face. “Looks aren’t everything,” I mumbled.

“Maybe not, but they don’t hurt. If he was offering me an all-expenses-paid flight to Manhattan, you wouldn’t be able to stop me.”

I opened a jewelry case and took out a necklace. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“I know you don’t want the publicity, but accepting the award could make a huge difference to your career.”

“I’m happy with how everything’s going.” I carefully placed the necklace in the front window. I knew Paul cared about me, but he didn’t know what had happened after my family went to Los Angeles. “Amy enjoyed meeting Daniel. She didn’t leave his side all evening.”

Paul grinned. “She asked questions that no one else would.”

I knew the tone in Paul’s voice. “You don’t need to tell me he’s great with kids. When I saw them walking toward my cottage, they looked as though they were already best buddies.”

“There must be something wrong with him.”

My eyebrows rose. “Why?”

“He’s thirty-eight years old and still single. I can’t believe someone hasn’t snapped him up and marched him down the aisle.”

“Maybe he decided not to date anyone after his engagement ended. I can’t say I blame him.”

Paul took the glass cleaner and cloth out of my hand and wiped the counter. “Neither can I. But that was a few years ago. He needs to expand his social circle and date a jeweler from Sunrise Bay.”

I burst out laughing. “Daniel lives in Manhattan. He works long hours and is more interested in acquiring new products for his company than dating. The chance of anything happening between us is practically zilch.”

“Do you want something to happen between you?”

“I’m not sure.” Last night, I’d tossed and turned, wondering the same thing. I was attracted to Daniel. He had a great sense of humor. He cared about his company and was determined to make it a success. But above everything else, he seemed like a really nice person.

Paul squirted glass cleaner on the display case. “He’s staying here for two weeks, even though you won’t accept the award. That must tell you something.”

I smiled. “The only thing it tells me is that he desperately needs a vacation.”

Paul stopped cleaning. “Do you want me to ask Liam if he can investigate our New York executive?”

“He can’t do that,” I spluttered. “Liam works for the FBI. If he uses their databases to screen potential boyfriends for me, he’ll get fired.”

Paul pulled back his shoulders. “You’re right. There’s only one thing we can do.” He handed me the glass cleaner. “I’m going to bake Daniel a cake and we’ll take it to him. If he doesn't answer our questions about why he’s single, we’ll know he’s a phony.”

“There’s only one problem with your idea. Daniel values his privacy as much as I do. Even your triple layer chocolate cake won’t make him talk.”

“It worked with Liam.”

“But he was already in love with you. He just didn’t know it.”

Paul glanced at his watch. “Maybe that’s Daniel’s problem, too. If I’m going to add another cake to today’s baking list, I’d better get back to work. Let me know if Daniel comes to see you.”

I sighed. “You’ve been married for a few months now. I thought it was supposed to be a calming influence on a person’s life?”

“I don’t know where you heard that.” Paul opened the front door and smiled at a person walking along the sidewalk. “Remember to lock the door behind me. I’ll give you a call once the cake’s ready.”

Before I could remind Paul about our meeting with Pastor Adam, he dashed next door to the candy shop.

I looked at the cuckoo clock on the wall and rushed into my workroom. One of my customers would be arriving soon to collect a necklace for his wife’s birthday. If I didn’t gift wrap it now, I wouldn’t have time once the store opened.

Thinking about Daniel Devlin, his sexy brown eyes, and his boyish charm would have to wait—at least until Paul’s cake was ready.