Love Under Review

by Britney M. Mills

  “You really are MK Malone? But I showed you the book the other day, and you looked like you’d never heard of it before.”

  Danielle chuckled. “I wasn’t expecting to ever see a physical copy of it in the hands of someone I know, let alone my own mother. It threw me for a moment, and then I was curious and wanted to know what the ladies would say.”

  Her mother frowned, indecision on her face.

  Walking over to her laptop on the counter, Danielle sighed and opened it. Searching for the documents, she pulled up the folders she’d created for each of the books, every note and rough draft she’d been through all tucked neatly inside them. She pointed to the folders, and her mother’s mouth dropped open. She kept looking between the computer screen and Danielle’s face.

  Danielle pulled up the website where her books were sold, showing her mother the results of her books thus far. “This is what I’ve made on these books. It’s not millions, but it can support a modest lifestyle right now. And if I figure out the whole ads aspect of marketing, I might be able to up those amounts by significant margins.”

  Her mother’s mouth went slack, looking as though she’d been punched. “You really wrote all those books? When did you have time to do all this?”

  Danielle smirked. “I traveled a lot, Mom. I wrote between assignments and on my way to places. Until I saw the book at your book club, I had been too scared to check to see how they were doing.”

  “And?”

  “And they’re selling even outside of Sage Creek, which, to me, is saying something.” She clicked a tab on the dashboard and scrolled down, revealing the countries where the books were being bought.

  A smile crossed her mother’s face, followed closely by a frown. “I’m so sorry, Dani. I know I haven’t always been the most encouraging when it came to writing. But it seems you’ve proven me wrong once again.”

  Danielle moved forward and wrapped her arms around her mother. “It’s fine. I just had to keep going, and I still have to. If I can make it with writing these books, I can stay here for a while longer. Just, please don’t tell anyone yet.”

  They pulled apart, and her mother’s eyes studied her face. “Are you sure that’s what you want? I know you wanted to get out of this town as soon as you graduated high school.”

  “I can’t say I won’t have times when I get bit by the travel bug, but I’m learning to love some aspects of Sage Creek.”

  “I just hope you know I love you, and that I’m here to support you, even though it probably hasn’t felt like it.” She got a bit teary-eyed, and Danielle reached out to hug her.

  When her mom pulled away to put the ground beef in the pan, Danielle said, “I’ll take care of dinner, Mom. Just relax.”

  Her mother shook her head a bit, looking even more shocked than before. “Did I just hear my daughter say she’d cook? I never thought I’d see the day when that happened.”

  Danielle feigned hurt and turned the cooktop on. “Well, I’ve been gone for a while, and I got sick of takeout after a while. Thanks to the internet, I’ve mastered a few recipes.”

  Her mother chuckled, settling onto a stool by the bar. “Word has it that you’ve been spending a lot of time with the bookstore owner.”

  Spinning to look at her mother, Danielle felt a wave of panic. “Whose word are we talking about?”

  “Everyone from the book club. There have been a few others who’ve stopped me to ask what’s going on between you two.” The mischievous grin on her mom’s face caused Danielle’s stomach to sink.

  Turning back to break up the hamburger meat, she asked, “What did you say?”

  “I just said you had common interests, and since you were working on that article together, you’d been spending time together.” There was a long pause before she said, “Or is there something else?”

  Danielle sighed, twisting her neck to look back at her mother. “He asked me to dinner tomorrow.”

  “And?”

  “We’re friends. We can go to dinner, even though he’d like to think it’s a date.” She studied her mother’s face and saw irritation flash across her eyes.

  “Danielle, you need to stop putting up a wall. Liam’s a good man, and the poor guy has been set up on so many dates here in town that I feel sorry for him. The fact that he asked you out is a big thing.” Her mother stood and walked to Danielle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t let what happened to me drive you away from love. If I hadn’t married your father, I wouldn’t have you. From the look on your face, I’d say you have feelings for him.”

  A rawness clawed at Danielle’s throat as she mulled over her mother’s words. “I don’t want to get hurt, Mom, nor do I want to be the one to hurt anyone.”

  “What makes you think either of those would happen with Liam?” The earnestness in her expression made Danielle really think about it.

  “I guess that’s always been my perception of love. That there will always be some form of heartbreak, even if you stay together until you’re old and gray. I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to survive that.” Danielle licked her lips, hoping to distract herself and hold back the tears like a dam.

  Her mother pulled her in for a full hug, and they stood there for several seconds, the fear and sadness replaced by hope.

  “It’s okay to take things slow, but don’t shut out the chance for a happily ever after too soon. Your father and I had some great times together, and even after the way things turned out, I wouldn’t have changed it.”

  Danielle pulled back a few inches, her eyes searching her mother’s. She’d never heard this much about her father, but despite all the heartbreak, Danielle was grateful her mother didn’t regret the relationship.

  Maybe love was worth taking the leap. Or maybe just one step at a time.

  Chapter 20

  Liam closed up the bookstore early the next day, wanting to make sure he’d prepared enough food for the event. As much as Danielle didn’t want to call it a date, he did. There were so many nuances to her personality, and he wondered if he’d ever learn them all. She could be stubborn and sassy, while other times she could be empathetic and easy to talk to. Every time she saw Cari, she connected with the girl like she’d known Cari all six years of her life. Considering her out-of-the-box personality and his sister’s words to find a girl in his head, he’d finally come around to the idea of wanting a future with someone.

  With everything going well with Kara at the hospital and her last treatment, he’d arranged for Tasha to hang out at the house with Cari while he took Danielle on their date. Kara hadn’t yet recovered completely from the previous surgery, and the doctors wanted to make sure they didn’t send her home prematurely, even though her tests were starting to look more positive.

  After loading a flexible bag with all the picnic items he’d planned to bring, he searched around the kitchen, trying to remember if he needed anything else. A blanket.

  Moving to the front room, he grabbed a large jean quilt Kara had made back when she and Cory first married. After throwing it next to the bag of food, he retrieved a jacket from the hall closet.

  “Where are you going?” Cari asked, walking in from the other room.

  “I’m going out with a girl. Tasha is going to stay with you for a few hours until we get back, okay?”

  A wide grin crossed her face, and she did a fist pump. “I was hoping she would come.”

  Liam chuckled at her enthusiasm. He opened the front door with his arms loaded with the supplies and almost bumped into the teenager.

  “Sorry, Tasha. Go on in. I’m just going to load this, and then I’ll be in.”

  The girl smiled. “No problem, Mr. Pearson.”

  Liam scrunched his nose, feeling really old now that teens were starting to address him like that. After loading everything into his Jeep, he ran back inside. There were only a few minutes left before he was supposed to be at Danielle’s house, and he didn’t want to be late.

  He found the two girls alr
eady playing with some of Cari’s dolls. “Okay, I’ve got to head out now, but there’s some money on the counter. You can order pizza for dinner, and feel free to play games, watch movies, or whatever you want to do tonight. I’m not sure what time I’ll be back, but I’ll let you know.”

  “Sounds good,” Tasha said, turning back to Cari, who was already talking in an animated voice as the character of her doll.

  Liam grinned. Feeling that push of excitement, his feet moved quicker down the stairs than normal, and he burst out the door. Settling into the driver’s seat, he pulled out of the driveway and drove up a couple of streets to the Holloway home.

  He’d done all he could to think of something fun for them to do, and as she’d grown up here, that made it even more difficult. Each place on his list had been considered more times than he’d wanted to count, but he’d finally decided on the Oakland Ranch. With several activities, like horseback riding, archery, and old cowboy games, it sounded like they’d be able to do something relaxed but fun.

  Stepping onto Danielle’s porch at four twenty-five, Liam took a couple of deep breaths, hoping to calm his racing heart even as he waited for someone to answer. Mrs. Holloway came to the door with a wide grin, an apron around her waist. The smell of fresh baked goods wafted toward him, causing his stomach to rumble.

  “Good evening, Liam. I hear you’re taking my daughter out for the evening.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure to have her home at a decent hour.”

  Mrs. Holloway tipped her head back and laughed. “If it were ten years ago, I’d appreciate that. But Danielle’s lived away from home long enough that I can trust her choices.” She stepped back and let him in. “I wish you good luck and hope it goes well. She should be down in a minute, but you can wait in the family room.”

  Liam nodded, walking to the room she directed him to. “Thank you. How are you today?”

  The woman nodded. “I’m doing quite well, thank you. I had a short shift at the grocery store this morning, and I’ve baked a few pans of muffins. Here, let me get some for you to take with you.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

  Liam smiled at her enthusiasm. She seemed to have a watered-down version of Danielle’s personality, and he couldn’t help but grin at the thought. Usually, it was the other way around with parents and children, but in the case of Danielle, she was bound to break expectations.

  When Mrs. Holloway returned, she was holding a small white bag.

  Peering inside, he saw several large muffins. “These smell really good. Blueberry?” Liam asked.

  Mrs. Holloway nodded. “And a couple cranberry-lemon. If you don’t eat them, take them home for you and Cari. I hope your sister is improving.” She paused a moment, looking as though she shouldn’t have said anything. “I’m sorry. Dottie McCready told me about your sister’s diagnosis. Kara is such a wonderful woman. I was just heartbroken when I heard she was sick.”

  Liam dipped his head so she wouldn’t see the visible force it took to swallow around the mound in his throat. “Thank you. We’re hoping some of these treatments will help, and Cari is happy as long as she can see her mother every so often.”

  With a quick tap to his cheek, the older woman said, “I’m sure. Sometimes a girl just needs her mama, even when she won’t admit it.” She glanced up the stairs where Danielle probably was. “Even the stubborn, independent type need a support system to lean on.” She winked at him.

  He chuckled. Stubborn and independent were definitely words he’d use to describe Danielle Holloway. It was something he liked about her, her fierce spirit and zest for life. He’d dated a lot while in New York but always found girls who were looking for stability and security, meaning money. And that described Tawnee to a T, except that on top of all that, she wanted fame, doing everything she could to join every reality show out there.

  While he had plenty of money saved up from his prestigious but stressful job in New York, he didn’t want a girl to like him for his money. He wanted someone who would stick by him even if that money ran out, who would work with him to make it through those slim moments and come out stronger.

  Footsteps padded along the hall above, and Liam glanced up to see Danielle walking down the stairs in a pair of jeans and a flowing yellow shirt. She looked like the sun, and Liam grinned.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said about halfway down.

  Liam shook his head. “No problem. I was just talking to your mom.”

  Hitting the bottom stair, Danielle asked, her eyes wide, “What about?”

  He didn’t think she’d like being the focus of their discussion, and he glanced around, hoping to come up with something that wouldn’t end the date before it began. Holding up the white sack, he grinned and said, “Muffins.”

  Danielle looked at her mother. “Did you convince her that she should start a business selling them? Her muffins are something I dream about when I’m not home.”

  Mrs. Holloway laughed, causing a chain reaction in the other two. “I’m sure you do. Well, don’t stand around here all night. Get going, you two.” She said it with a twinkle in her eye, and Liam was grateful. The woman was kind and gentle, and he could tell she loved having her daughter home, even for a short while.

  “Thank you again, ma’am, for these. She’s safe with me.”

  Danielle scoffed. “That remains to be seen. I can throw a mean right hook.”

  “If I ask you to bring a jacket, you won’t hit me, will you?” Liam asked, one side of his mouth turning up. He’d have to watch his words around this one.

  “Really? I think it was over sixty-five today.” She turned and opened a door in the hall, pulling out a jacket.

  Rolling his eyes, Liam said, “Can you just trust me for one night out?”

  With another chuckle, Mrs. Holloway pushed the two of them out the door. Looking at Liam with a grin, she said, “Like I said, Good luck!”

  The door closed with a soft click, and Danielle walked down the stairs. Turning, she looked back to where he still stood watching her. “Well, are we ‘hanging out’ or what?” The tug upward of her lips made him move, as if breaking a spell.

  “Yep. We, uh, need to stop for a couple of drinks at the store because I forgot those.” He lengthened his stride so he could beat her to the passenger side door, pulling it open for her.

  She hesitated, like she wasn’t sure what to think about that, before stepping inside. “Sounds good. I know the grocery store like the back of my hand.”

  As Danielle slipped into the passenger seat of Liam’s Jeep, he couldn’t help but grin, liking how she looked there. He hadn’t realized how nice it was to be around another adult. Not that Cari was awful. She was one of the best kids Liam had ever met, but there was something about getting out and talking to other people.

  The thought triggered a memory of his mother in the bookstore. With two young kids, that must have been why she talked to everyone she bumped into when he and Kara were growing up.

  After putting her jacket in the back, he got in, turning on the ignition. The stop at the grocery store was quick, and Liam started driving toward the ranch.

  “What do you have in mind for this evening?” Danielle asked, pulling several pieces of hair from her face that had blown out from the wind.

  Turning to glance at her, Liam said, “It’s a secret.”

  From Merkley’s Grocery on Main, he drove north one block, making a right on Fourth Street. Heading past the fairgrounds, he turned left, driving back toward the mountain to the entrance of the Oakland Ranch.

  “Looks like we’re going really far,” Danielle said with a laugh. “I’m picturing a dummy head stuck into a bale of hay and a couple of ropes.”

  At her comment, Liam laughed loud and deep, feeling more and more at ease with this girl. She kept worming her way past the first few walls he’d built after Tawnee’s betrayal and the fear that he might lose another family member to cancer. He didn’t think it would take much more for her to make it a
ll the way to his heart.

  “That’s a great idea for another day. I planned something else.” When he drove into Oakland Ranch, Danielle looked at him like he’d made a mistake.

  “Why are we here?” A mixture of confusion and excitement spread over her face.

  “We’re going on a trail ride. Carter Oakland is lending us a couple of horses.” He studied her face, trying to read the mask covering it.

  “Points for creativity.” She unbuckled her seat belt and slid out of the Jeep before he could make it around. He did his best to tell himself that she just needed some space.

  They walked through the grounds and around to the stables, where he saw Carter had already saddled two brown horses.

  Danielle got into the saddle with ease, surprising him again. She must have seen his expression because she gave him a close-lipped grin. “I was a pageant girl at one point in my life. Riding was everything for a while.”

  “Well, Miss Holloway, you never cease to amaze me.”

  Chapter 21

  Danielle took the reins of the brown mare, feeling the animal move beneath her. It had been some time since she’d had the chance to ride a horse, but all the old knowledge seemed to flood back, telling her what to do next.

  The horse was calm, and she was grateful for that. As much as she missed riding, she could still picture the last time she’d been on one. It was right after she’d been bucked off, and her trainer told her she had to get back on. Something about conquering fears right then. That was the last time she’d ridden, preferring to leave town for college, and she hadn’t thought about it since.

  Danielle hadn’t noticed Liam pull a bag and a blanket out of the back of his Jeep, but he shifted it all to one arm and then handed her the jacket she’d pulled out when they left. Liam loaded everything into the saddlebags that were draped around the other horse and then mounted.