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twenty-six

BEN

As soon as I arrived home, I changed my clothes and went into my studio. I was too upset to do anything except work on my necklace. I couldn’t believe Daniel had tried to blackmail me. Using the tiny house village as leverage was terrible. He knew how much that project meant to me and Pastor Adam, but he hadn’t hesitated to use it to get what he wanted.

From the small amount of information I’d found, Daniel seemed to care about the people he worked with and his organization. That in itself made his proposition even harder to understand.

He donated thousands of dollars each year to charities. Why would he stoop to bribery to make me change my mind about working with him?

Reaching for my pliers, I gently twisted a strand of gold wire through the pattern I was creating. I held my breath as the sparkle of a ruby caught the light. The precious gems added depth, color, and interest to the whimsical design. Hopefully, whoever bought the necklace would treasure it as much as I did.

A soft knock on the studio door made my heart race. I looked up and saw Daniel. He seemed every bit as uncomfortable as I felt.

As I rose from the chair, I wiped my hands on the side of my jeans. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve interrupted you. I wanted to let you know I’m going home. There’s a flight that leaves from Boulder in two hours.”

I wasn’t surprised, but I was disappointed. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll send you a refund for the balance of your accommodation.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Daniel looked over my shoulder. “Is that the bird’s nest necklace?”

“It is. Would you like to see it?”

Daniel’s wary glance made me feel as if I’d lost my best friend. He nodded and followed me across the room.

“I need to add a few more layers of gold wire to the base.”

Reaching out, he gently touched the edge of the necklace. “It’s beautiful.”

I took a deep breath. I hated knowing I’d upset someone, regardless of how it happened. If this was the last time I ever spoke to Daniel, I didn’t want him to leave without trying to explain why I was so annoyed.

“I know you don’t understand why I can’t sign a contract with your company. If my life was different, I would have enjoyed working with you. But I can’t.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. “I’m disappointed, too. And I’m also sorry if I offended you. You’re a talented artist and it was a privilege meeting you.” His deep brown eyes were filled with regret. “If you change your mind about coming to the award ceremony, I’m only a phone call away.”

I took the business card he handed me, but it was a waste of time. I wouldn’t be going anywhere near Manhattan.

Daniel stuck his hands in his pockets. “Good luck. I wish you all the best with your business.” And without a backward glance, he left me standing beside my workbench.

I didn’t move. Even after Daniel’s SUV disappeared, I stayed where I was, staring at the card in my hand.

Daniel was gone and I already missed him.