Dan smiled at her. “It’s okay Kenzie. We know what you mean, don’t worry about it. We’ll take two Jack Daniels.”
Kenzie grinned at Leanne. “See. That’s exactly what I mean. Dan will put me at ease that I didn’t screw up, and you’d give me shit and pretend to be offended.”
Leanne had to laugh. “I know. We’re like the good cop and the bad cop.”
She looked at her drink when Kenzie set it in front of her. “Thanks, Dan.”
He nodded. “I figured you might need that.”
“Yeah.”
“Want to talk to me about it?”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you telling me that you don’t already know the whole deal?”
His eyes twinkled when he smiled. “I won’t deny that Ryan’s told me what’s been going on.”
“So, what do you want me to tell you?”
“How you feel.”
She laughed. “And the world has officially turned on its head. Dan Benson wants to talk about feelings.”
He shrugged. “I’ve always been there when you wanted to share yours. Is it so strange that I should ask you about them when you’re obviously not sharing?”
Her smile faded. “Sorry. No. It isn’t. And you know I appreciate it. You know I love you, Danno. But I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He smiled. “I do.”
“Go on then, genius. You tell me.”
“You’re going to have dinner with him tomorrow night. And you’re going to let him convince you that things weren’t what they seemed. And the two of you are going to figure out that you’ve already wasted enough time and you aren’t going to waste anymore.”
She stared at him for a long few moments.
“Are you going to tell me I’m wrong?”
“I wish I could tell you you’re right.”
“But you’re not going to go?”
“Oh, I’ll go. I’ll have dinner with him. But as for the rest …”
Dan cocked his head to one side. “You’re still not ready to let it go?”
“I’d love to. But you’re the one who always told me not to bury my head in the sand. Whatever he comes up with won’t change what he did—no matter how much I want it to.”
“I’ve told you for years. It wasn’t what you thought. You just need to hear him out.”
“And I’ve told you. I know what I saw.”
Dan shrugged. “There’s no need for us to have the same argument again. Are you saying that you’re still determined not to believe him?”
“No.” She took a slug of her drink and blew out a sigh. “You asked me how I feel. I feel sad. I feel hopeful. I feel stupid for feeling hopeful because I know the truth. I feel weak because I am considering burying my head in the sand—even just for a short while. Just so we could …” She hadn’t even realized that herself until she said it, but it was true. Feeling his arms around her earlier made her want so badly to be with him again—at least, physically. If she could buy his lies, she could have that, for a while, until she couldn’t fool herself any longer.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryan checked around the house, then checked the clock on the wall. He still had time. He’d worked from home today because he hadn’t wanted to run into Leanne. It’d also given him time to make sure that the place looked great. It always did. But he’d wanted to make sure. He’d started to make this place feel like a home and he knew that she’d notice that. When they’d first met, she’d commented that his house in Berkeley had felt empty. And it had been. He’d had no artwork on the walls—no personal stuff around—because he was only there for a while. His career had meant that he’d only ever been anywhere for a while so there was no point in him collecting stuff.
He went back to the kitchen and checked the fridge. He didn’t know if she’d even remember it, but he’d prepared the same casserole that he’d made the night he’d asked her to marry him. He shook his head sadly. That had been the happiest night of his life. He’d thought it was the beginning of the rest of his life. He couldn’t have known that six months later it would all be over.
He realized that he was standing there staring into the fridge and closed the door with a wry smile. He needed to pull himself together. He checked the clock again. He could go now and have a drink in the bar before he went to get her. He’d told her that he’d pick her up. He hadn’t said where. He planned to go up to her room.
No. He didn’t want to go and sit in the bar. But he did need a shot of Dutch courage. No again. He’d rather wait. He didn’t think he did nervous, but he was proving himself wrong about that tonight. He was glad that he’d gone back into the restaurant with Dan last night. He closed his eyes as he remembered the way she’d felt in his arms. He’d told Dan that he wanted to see how she reacted to him, and it’d been better than he’d dared to hope. He’d had to force himself to leave. But it had been the right move. She’d proved that by the way she watched him go; she hadn’t wanted him to. A rush of warmth spread through his chest. It was going to work out. She still wanted him.
Then he came back to his senses. She was still convinced that he’d cheated on her. That old familiar stab of anger was there. Why hadn’t she believed him? But he had to let that go. All that mattered was that she didn’t need to believe him now. Now, he could show her, and she could know. He went through to his office and fired up his computer. He had everything there. He’d checked who knew how many times throughout the day. She could watch the video. She could read the emails, and if that wasn’t enough … He didn’t see how it couldn’t be.
Okay. Enough putting it off. It was time to go. He debated walking over there; it wasn’t far. But no. He wanted to get her into his truck and get her back here as soon as he could. He didn’t trust her to walk by his side and not turn around and leave if he said the wrong thing. He chuckled at the thought that he should maybe drive her around town for a while in the hope of disorienting her. If she thought she was miles away she might be less inclined to walk out on him if she got angry. No. He knew better than that. When Leanne was mad, nothing mattered. And before he freaked himself out with that thought, he picked up his keys and went to get in his truck.
He parked in the square and walked over to the steps that led up to the reception at the lodge. Ben came out and greeted him with a smile. “Did you decide to take my advice?”
“Huh?”
“I’m guessing you’re here for Leanne? If not, then I should warn you that she’s in reception.”
“I am.”
“Good luck. I hope sitting down and talking to her works out as well for you as it did for me with Charlotte.”
“Thanks.”
Ryan stood there a few moments before he continued. For Ben and Charlotte, it had ended up in marriage. Was he crazy to think that it could turn out that way for Leanne and him? There was only one way to find out, but he knew in his heart that was what he wanted. Back then, he used to tell her that he’d retire by the time he was forty, and she used to joke that they’d move to a small town and live a quiet little life. They’d both thought that part was a joke, but here they were. They both had work they loved here. He had a house that he’d love to share with her. And even though he felt pretty dumb about it, he still had the ring that she’d given back to him.