“I figured so.” She assured him she knew what he’d meant. But the fact that he’d been embarrassed of how his words had come across, gave her hope that if she did have the guts to ask him out, he might say yes.
Dakota lifted the tray slightly in her hands. “I’d love to chat longer, but I should get these across the street before they send a search party for their coffee.” Her eyes drifted between the coffees in her hands to the handsome man before her. She could stare at him all morning. If only she had the courage to ask him out. The Love List girls had made it sound so easy. But Dakota didn’t seem to have the audacity they had. The words were there, she just couldn’t get them out.
Tristan dashed ahead of her to the door. “Allow me,” he said and he held it open for her. His scent overpowered the aroma of caffeine and pleased her senses.
Dakota politely thanked him. Her shoulder slightly grazed his chest as she passed through the door. A surge of heat rushed through her and her heart picked up its beat. She felt flushed in the face and too embarrassed to turn back. Really, Dakota! How old are you?
“Oh, here she comes with caffeine in hand.” Dakota heard Denise announce her entry. Dakota took a quick breath. The man beside Denise looked familiar from the pictures she’d found through her investigations. She smiled and set the tray down. One by one, she lifted the cups and passed them around. A chorus of thank-you followed, but it was Denise’s words, “Bless you,” that made her laugh out loud. The woman did love her coffee. She then handed the last cup to the man before her.
“Dr. Withers, I presume.” She almost blurted out “Dad but bit back the words on her tongue. She didn’t want to shock him publically. Dakota had more class than that. She only wished she could whisk him down the corridor and tell him in private. Her heart raced like a child’s on Christmas Eve, counting down the minutes for morning to arrive.
His smile calmed her nerves. “I am, and you must be Dakota. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I do hope everyone here has given you the warmest welcome.”
His gentle words melted her heart. She’d finally met him. After years of searching, she looked into warm eyes she wished she’d known her entire life. So much had been missed. Her mother had robbed them both of that—well, Dakota anyhow. There was the possibility that he knew of her existence and had abandoned his responsibility. But for some reason, in the few short moments with him, she couldn’t believe that was the case. She’d waited this long and had grown immense patience. She knew she could wait a little longer. If he didn’t know, then the news would be a shock to him. She wasn’t sure whether she was worried more about him knowing or not knowing.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Withers. Everyone here has been very welcoming. I already feel at home.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I’m happy to hear that.” He lifted his coffee in the air. “And thanks for the coffee. Next time, it’s on me.” He winked. “Now I must get settled at my desk. Denise has left me a stack of files to review. We’ll talk later, ladies.”
He nodded slightly and turned toward the corridor. Dakota watched him briefly walk down the hall. Wishful thoughts crossed her mind of hope that he’d welcome her as his daughter.
Dakota spoke with Dr. Withers a few times throughout her shift but always with others around. Not that she’d planned to drop the bomb on the first day she met him. She liked him as a person and as a doctor. He’d been as knowledgeable and experienced as she’d read in the articles she found during her search for him. His gentle way with words and his bedside manner with his patients only confirmed what type of person she believed him to be. His easy-going demeanor and his dry humor throughout the day with his nurses only confirmed she’d taken after her father and not her mother. Soon, she thought as her shift ended, she’d tell him. She just wondered when and then how she’d break the news.
“So there seems to be a spark of interest from that handsome man at the coffee shop this morning.”
Ethel surprised Dakota with her bold statement when she stepped into the kitchen. The old lady turned with her teapot in hand and winked. Her snicker told Dakota she’d noticed her run-in with Tristan. “Cup of tea before dinner, dear?”
Dakota smiled and pretended to ignore Ethel’s remark. “I’d love one.” She sat at the table as Ethel poured her a cup. She said nothing more until she sat across the table with her own tea.
“Was that the Tanner boys’ cousin? I can’t remember his name. Met him once or twice but I don’t see him around town much. He came here a few months back to run the winery for the boys after their father passed. God rest his soul, taken too young.”