“Hello. I was telling Finn that I should have called first.”
“I, ah…” Dakota grinned. “At least you didn’t show up two hours ago. That would have been awkward.”
Her mother laughed. “For all of us.” She stepped out of the way. “I think Finn was trying to get past me without being obvious.”
“I thought I’d get dressed,” he murmured.
“Don’t put on a shirt on my account,” Dakota’s mother told him and winked.
“Mom, you’re going to frighten him.”
“I can handle it,” he said, wondering if he was telling the truth.
He excused himself and escaped into Dakota’s bedroom. Once there, he dressed quickly. He was stepping into his boots when Dakota showed up.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “She didn’t have a habit of stopping by before I had Hannah. I didn’t think she would today.”
“It’s okay.”
She shrugged. “It’s embarrassing.”
“I’ll survive.” He pulled on his boots, then straightened and kissed her. “You okay?”
“Uh-huh. Thanks for letting me sleep.”
“You needed it. Hannah is fed.”
“I could tell. She has that look of happy contentment.”
He touched her cheek. “So do you.”
He was a good man, Dakota thought, as she walked Finn to the door.
Her mother was hiding out in the kitchen, which Dakota appreciated. Saying goodbye in private would be a lot easier. Of course, she still had to face her mother and explain what was going on.
“I’ll see you soon,” Finn said.
She nodded and hoped he was telling the truth.
Dakota returned to the kitchen where she found her mother playing with Hannah.
“I’m glad you got some rest,” her mother told her. “I know how tired you’ve been.”
Dakota waited, but her mother didn’t say any more. “You have to want to know about Finn.”
“I think I know enough already. He’s the kind of man who looks good holding a baby. Should I worry about you?”
“No. I’m protecting my heart.” For a moment, she allowed herself to wish that she didn’t have to. That, in addition to looking good holding a baby, Finn was the kind of man who stayed. But she knew the truth.
“Are you sure you’re not already in love with him?”
Talk about a crazy question. “Of course I’m sure. I would never let that happen.”
AURELIA STOOD awkwardly on the sidewalk. Karen, one of the production assistants, had emailed her the time of her next date with Stephen. Aurelia had hoped everyone would just forget about her and Stephen, but that was too much to ask. Now she had to not only go on a date with him, but she had to do it in front of the camera crew and who knew how many people watching on television.
If only they’d been voted off sooner, she thought, shifting her weight from foot to foot. But that was the coward’s way out.
In truth, she owed Stephen an apology. Not that they would ever be right for each other, but that didn’t excuse how she’d handled the situation. She hadn’t been very nice. Probably because there was a part of her that didn’t want to give him up. There was a part of her that didn’t care about the age difference or the fact that he deserved someone who was where he was in life.
Somehow everything had gotten so complicated, and she didn’t know how to make it simple again.
“Aurelia?”
She turned toward the voice and found Stephen standing behind her. Despite her best attempt, he’d still managed to sneak up on her. For a single heartbeat, she felt only happiness at the sight of him. So tall and strong, so handsome. She smiled and knew he could read everything she was thinking.
Then reality returned and, with it, the realization that she could never be right for him.
“I guess we have a date to get through,” she said. “If we continue to be the most boring couple, I’m sure we’ll get voted off this week.”
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
“It makes the most sense.”
She found it difficult to talk. When she was that close to him, her brain didn’t work right. She could only think about him holding her and how she felt when he kissed her.
Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn’t he be older or her younger?
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” she blurted. “I never wanted to be someone you would regret. I’m not afraid for me. I’m afraid for you.”
She clamped her hand over her mouth and wished there was a way to call back the words. She should never have told him that, never have admitted the truth. He would think she was an idiot. Or worse, he would feel sorry for her.
Without thinking, she started walking away. She had no destination in mind, just a burning need to escape the situation. But before she could go anywhere, he was in front of her, his hands on her shoulders, his intense blue eyes staring into her face.
“I could never regret you. Us.”
How she wanted that to be true. In this moment, it probably was, but one of them had to think beyond today.