Chapter Eight
W hen the doorbell rang a few hours later, Keira jumped. She hadn’t known it was that late. She’d spent the last hour unpacking and had only started getting ready. Luckily, she hadn’t had to wash her hair.
Her breath caught in her throat when she opened the door. Daniel looked so large, his shoulders filled out the doorway. He looked incredibly handsome in nice jeans, a blue Polo shirt, and boots. For some reason, he made her feel good and safe and gave her a weird feeling like they were meant for each other.
Daniel smiled when she stood frozen as her eyes swept over him. He cleared his throat. “Can I come in?”
A deep blush covered her face. “Oh, yes, I’m sorry. Please come in.”
“This looks really nice,” Daniel said as he looked around the room.
Keira looked around and smiled. “I like it. It will take me several days before I get unpacked and have the house the way I want it. Luckily, Layla and I have the same tastes, so the furniture she’s letting me borrow is wonderful and will go with the other things I’m having shipped here.”
“When is that?”
Keira smiled and held up a hand with crossed fingers. “Hopefully, if there are no problems, Monday.”
“That’s great.” He glanced around again. “Are you moving that furniture by yourself?”
Keira shrugged. “Yes. Why?”
Daniel’s gaze swept back her way. “Why don’t you ask me to help?”
Keira shook her head and chuckled. “But I don’t want to bother you with something I can do myself.”
“I’m glad to help.” He watched as she put in an earring, and it made her self-conscious.
She chose to change the topic. “I’ll be right back. I need to grab my sweater and purse.”
Within a minute, she was walking back down the hallway, turning off lights as she went.
“That didn’t take long.”
Keira smiled at his surprise. “No, I just needed to grab a few things.”
Daniel kept a hand on her lower back as he led her out to the car. He got her settled in the front seat of his Lexus and walked around to the other side.
After he’d driven away from her house, Daniel reached over the console and grasped her hand, making her smile.
“How did it go for your first day at the shop?”
Keira looked down at their joined hands, feeling a warmth spread through her. His hand was so much larger than hers, and his skin was darker. She could feel the calluses from hard work on his palms and fingertips. She pulled her gaze away to look up at his profile. “It was wonderful. Layla has done a great job. I adore working with Vicki. She’s so nice, and I’ve met many people from the town. So, all in all, I deem it a successful day.”
Daniel chuckled and squeezed her hand, keeping his eyes on the road. “That’s good. I really hope you’ll be happy here.”
Keira’s eyes locked on his when he turned to look at her at a stoplight. “I think I will.”
He nodded and then turned back to focus on the road. “Did you get a chance to talk to your sister today?”
Keira snorted. “No, and I wasn’t about to call and interrupt them.”
Daniel chuckled. “I don’t blame you.”
Keira settled back, content and quiet for the rest of the ride, watching the blocks go by. The restaurant they pulled up to looked really old, until she took a closer look. It was made from seasoned barnwood with black iron benches on either side of the fancy wooden doors. People were outside in a little courtyard on the side of the building, drinking and laughing. She loved it on the spot.
Daniel helped her from the vehicle, keeping her hand tucked in his. He opened the door for her, then bent to whisper in her ear as they waited for the hostess. “This is one of my favorite places. I hope you like it.”
Keira looked around. The inside walls also looked like old barnwood. The floor was made of rustic planks. The wooden tables looked antique, with chairs or benches. There were partitions scattered throughout the room, guaranteeing privacy from the other patrons. “This is wonderful, Daniel,” she said with a huge smile.
Keira tried to take everything in as the hostess led them through the restaurant to a small table in a secluded corner. The hostess handed them a menu. “Thank you,” Keira said.
“Absolutely. Your waitress is Shelly, and she’ll be right with you.”
Keira bent a bit toward Daniel. “This place is great. Even the waitresses are dressed like cowgirls.”
Daniel smiled. “I like the casual atmosphere, and you can get a hamburger or a nice steak here. All the food is excellent.”
Keira concentrated on the menu but set it down when she noticed her hands shook. She didn’t have a lot of dating experience, and being with Daniel on a date took her nerves to a whole new level, a level she’d never experienced before.
After they ordered and over the meal, the conversation ran smoothly, with no awkward moments, settling her enough so she could enjoy herself. They learned they had a lot more in common. Both loved baseball. They both ran track in high school and still liked to run if they found the time. They would rather spend quiet time at home instead of out at the bars.
Keira watched several women pass who smiled or waved at Daniel, and a feeling of jealousy, something she wasn’t used to, tightened her stomach. She knew she should have felt some apprehension about how fast her feelings were growing, but she couldn’t bring herself to let it matter at that moment. So, she put everything out of her mind and was determined to enjoy her time with him.