“It’s the least I could do considering we got off on the wrong foot. You really showed a lot of grace in accepting my apology.”
Lorelei shrugged. “Hey. It was easy. I really wanted the role of Rhiannon,” she said, chuckling. Daniel joined in on the laughter. The more he saw of Lorelei, the more he liked her personality. To think he had almost blown her off during their first meeting. That experience had taught him a monumental lesson. Judging people was always wrong. Whether it was for their looks or socioeconomic status or religion or race, it was dead wrong.
“Ready to start?” Nash asked, appearing beside them with a wide smile on his face. Daniel knew how much Nash loved to photograph people. At the moment it was written all over his face. Daniel imagined someone as beautiful as Lorelei would make it easy on him. She would photograph like a dream. He had seen some of her work online and he could see why she was a top model. She shimmered like the sun.
“I sure am,” Lorelei said. “Let’s do this.”
Daniel stepped to the side, far away from the action taking place. He didn’t want to disrupt anything. He just wanted to get a glimpse of Lorelei in her element. He wanted to see her bring Rhiannon to life in this photo shoot.
For the next half hour, Daniel felt like a fly on the wall as he watched Nash photograph Lorelei in all her Rhiannon glory. Lorelei took Daniel out of his surroundings and transported him to another world. It amazed him how much she could convey with her eyes and her expressions. She was fierce in some shots, yet tender in others. It was stunning how she was able to transform herself like a chameleon. Daniel’s chest tightened with pride.
Lorelei was sheer perfection. He’d made the right decision.
At the end of the shoot, everyone clapped and whistled in appreciation for the work Lorelei had just done. Everyone in the room had felt the electricity. Daniel knew without a doubt that once they began working on the actual video game, Lorelei would nail it. Without wanting to be intrusive, Daniel left the studio and headed back to his office. Although he had wanted to congratulate Lorelei on a successful shoot, he didn’t want to seem as if he was fawning all over her. Something told him she had her fair share of admirers. She didn’t need him awkwardly lurking around.
For the millionth time in his life, Daniel wished he was eloquent and suave and that he could walk up to Lorelei and tell her in glowing terms how wonderful he thought she was. But he wasn’t any of those things. And most likely he never would be.
**
Lorelei felt energized after the photo shoot. Daniel’s brother Nash was such an amazing person to work with. He had been encouraging and professional while empowering her to take control of the Rhiannon persona. The love she had felt from the crew afterwards had been heartwarming. And Bethany had been there to cheer her on. She was the luckiest person in the world to have her as a best friend. She never let her down.
Thank you, Lord, for a successful shoot. Thank you for granting me favor and for making this dream come true. With Your love, all things are possible.
She looked around the room for Daniel, wondering where he’d disappeared to. He had been watching from the sidelines, a fact she hadn’t been able to ignore. A few times her eyes had strayed in his direction which was a big no-no for her since being distracted on set didn’t result in successful photo shoots.
On the whole, Lorelei was finding it very difficult to stop thinking about Daniel. Where was he? Perhaps he hadn’t been impressed by her performance. She frowned. It would be so great to hear from Daniel that she’d done a great job.
Ugh. She was being ridiculous! She barely knew the man and she certainly didn’t need his validation. But why did she feel as if she did? She was a strong, independent woman. Because of her parents Lorelei had always known she was out here in the world alone. She’d learned that hard lesson at a very early age. In many ways, she’d raised herself. Other than her agent and Bethany, Lorelei didn’t really seek approval from people. So why did she want Daniel’s? Why was she wishing he’d stuck around?
It was a frustrating feeling since models had reputations for being narcissists and she didn’t want to become one. Daniel Donahue was a very busy man, one who ran a video game empire. He didn’t have time to stand around and watch photo shoots and congratulate models.
As she changed out of her Rhiannon costume, Lorelei felt a little bit forlorn. It was a feeling she couldn’t shake. And she wasn’t sure if it had to do with the impending parole hearing or not seeing Daniel after the shoot.
It had been a very long time since a man had intrigued her. For the most part she’d cut herself off from men in lieu of the trauma she’d endured due to her stalker. It was hard for her to trust people, especially men. Yet she felt Daniel might be different. It was hard to put the feeling into words. Instinct perhaps. She felt more at ease with him than she did with most men. Perhaps it was because of her friendship with Micah and knowing that the Donahue family were outstanding pillars in the community. Perhaps it was something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. A feeling. A hope. A desire so strong inside her to feel something other than fear for a member of the opposite sex.
Even though she had been traumatized, Lorelei still harbored dreams in her heart. She still believed in love.
“The past is there to guide us, but it shouldn’t yoke us up either. We should learn from the past but we can’t allow it to limit our present.”
Jason Donahue
Chapter Four
Daniel spent the next few days up to his elbows in business matters. A pressing deal had him flying to Tokyo on urgent business. Despite the long flight, Daniel was only planning to be there for a few hours before flying back home to Pelican Bay. Having a private plane at one’s disposal really helped in matters related to foreign deals. He could travel overseas without a whole lot of difficulty. He wasn’t a big flyer and he didn’t really like to be away from his home turf. It was difficult for him to be so far away from the people he loved the most.
People always made casual jokes about him owning his own plane. They tended to think it was best thing since sliced bread. Honestly, Daniel didn’t really consider it his plane. It belonged to his company, DD Studios, and there had only been a few occasions when he had used it for personal use. It had never been solely for himself. On his parent’s anniversary, Daniel had flown them to Ireland so they could track down the Donahue family roots. They had dined in Dublin, explored the emerald green hillsides in Tipperary, toured a castle in Cork, attended church service in Galway and stood at the Cliffs of Moher and looked out over the breathtaking waters.
Daniel’s heart had been full to the point of overflowing when they’d told him he had given them a glorious vacation full of exploration and surprises. After a lifetime of their love and support it was the least he could do to make them smile. On another occasion, he had flown his siblings to Bermuda so they could have a small getaway together without having to worry about booking flights and doing the hectic airport shuffle. It had been a wonderful way for all of his siblings to connect while enjoying sun, surf, pink sand beaches and the wonders of Bermuda.
Now that he was back from Tokyo, Daniel was feeling a bit jet lagged and confused about his time zone. He’d pretty much slept on the ride there, as well as the return flight so he wasn’t feeling tired. Just a bit restless. He resisted the urge to head to the office. Too much work wasn’t good for him. He needed to develop more of a social life, just like his mother had told him on numerous occasions. No amount of protesting satisfied her. She wanted him to lead a well-rounded life.
“Any woman would be lucky to have a man like you.” It was Penelope’s rallying cry. Daniel loved his mother, but he knew she was biased about his charms. Like most mothers, Penelope Donahue thought Daniel could do no wrong. And, Daniel realized with a chuckle, if he did do wrong she usually blamed someone else.
Daniel needed some relaxation, as well as fresh air and the gentle breezes of Pelican Bay Harbor. He needed something to take the edge o
ff.
It didn’t take very long for Daniel to figure out that a run on the beach would make him feel more energized. And even though it was June, the sun hadn’t yet reached its peak yet since it was still late morning. He wouldn’t bake in the sun while running the beach. It might also take his mind off thoughts of Lorelei. He deeply regretted not telling her the other day how well she had done in the photo shoot. His reasons had been ridiculous. He’d been upset with himself ever since.
Daniel changed into his running clothes and headed outside, cutting down the side of his property which led directly to the beach. Within minutes he was running along the beach, his heart pounding within his chest due to the cardio exercise. He needed to get more fit. As of late it had been all business all the time. His workouts had suffered. Although he was naturally thin and didn’t have a tendency to gain weight, he was clearly struggling to complete the run. Daniel slowed his pace down to a jog. There weren’t many people on the beach which was a bit surprising to him. Just up ahead a woman with an over-sized straw hat and sunglasses was approaching him. She was wearing a long caftan paired with leggings. She almost looked like she was in disguise, he thought. As they came closer to each other, Daniel stopped in his tracks. Although her hair was hidden under her large hat, Daniel would know those high cheekbones anywhere. It was Lorelei!
“Lorelei? Is that you under there?” he asked, feeling a bit off-kilter. He would feel rather foolish if he’d been mistaken.
She walked the short distance toward him and took off her sunglasses. “I can’t believe you saw past my disguise. I guess I need a better one.”
“I have a pretty keen eye for faces. And your features are very memorable,” he said, hoping he wasn’t gushing. A voice in his head kept reminding him to keep it cool. Despite her beauty, she was still a regular human being. Who was he kidding? There was nothing regular about Lorelei James.
“That’s a nice compliment.” She made a face. “I do get a bit of attention from the public and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. I enjoy walking the beach without people following me. It stinks to have your privacy invaded and to have photographers shoving their cameras in your face.”
“Are your fans that overzealous? It’s a shame you have to cover yourself up to walk the beach.”
Lorelei nodded. “I don’t mind people saying hello or recognizing me, but I’ve had some pretty intense past experiences.”
Daniel felt the subtext in Lorelei’s statement. She didn’t seem like the sort of person who would exaggerate and the tension in her tone spoke volumes. If he knew her a little better he would prod her for a bit more information, but as it was, he was still trying to fight his way back from making such a poor impression on her when they’d first met. The last thing he wanted was for Lorelei to view him as nosy or prying, especially when he was trying to make a decent impression on her.
“Makes sense,” Daniel said. “I value my private time. Not that anyone is looking for my autograph or to take a picture with me,” he said in a teasing voice.
“Speaking of which, I don’t want to interrupt your run,” she said, looking down at his running shoes. “I’ll let you get back at it.”
“No worries on that score. I was pretty much done.” He put his hands on his hips and let out a huff. “Running isn’t as easy as it used to be. I’m a bit out of shape.”
“I give you a lot of credit for running on the beach,” Lorelei said with a shake of her head. “I don’t run,” she added with a chuckle. “I do yoga and Zumba to stay in shape.”
Clearly it was working, Daniel noted. Lorelei was in amazing shape. Everything about her appealed to him. Life didn’t give him a lot of opportunities to meet interesting women like Lorelei. He needed to seize the opportunity to get to know her better.
“I’m glad we ran into each other. I’ve been wanting to tell you how great you did at the photo shoot. You and Nash make a great team.”
Her face lit up at his praise. “Your brother is amazing. He’s going to have a great career. He was really kind and patient. Those are great skills for a photographer. Sometimes those shoots can get really tedious.”
Daniel filed away that information so he could share it later on with Nash. Since his brother was new to being a professional photographer, Daniel knew he needed all of the praise he could get.
“I’m going to be honest. I would love to see you again without having to run into you on the beach or at a photo shoot.” He shifted from one foot to the other and studied her expression. She was the very opposite of an open book. There was no way of gauging her feelings by her expression.
Don’t stop now. You’re too far in to chicken out.
He continued. “Would you like to go out with me? On a date?” He pushed the words out of his mouth before he lost his confidence. Seconds ticked by without her saying a word. It was as if she was thinking it over right before his eyes. This was never easy for him. It didn’t matter how successful he was or the fact that he was building an empire. He still felt like an awkward middle school kid who’d been mocked and ignored. People thought money and success changed a person, but Daniel didn’t feel any more confident because of his status. He felt as if he was holding his breath waiting for her reply. Ouch! This was a bit awkward, which was the main reason he didn’t put himself out there romantically.
“It’s funny. When we first met I thought you were the last man on earth I would ever want to sit down with for a meal or anything else for that matter. But, later on that day, you showed me your humility. You proved me wrong. You showed me it isn’t right to judge someone based on one encounter. Judge not lest ye be judged. I’d love to go out with you, Daniel.”
His first instinct was to do a back flip right there on the beach in front of her. His second instinct was to pick up her up by the waist and spin her around. He decided to do neither. Keep it cool! Act like you have some sense!
“Great!” he said, grinning at Lorelei. “How about Friday at seven? I can pick you up at your place.”
“Works for me,” Lorelei said. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” she said with a wave as she continued down the beach. He stood for a moment and stared after her, marveling at how he’d ended up getting her to agree to a date with him.
He felt on top of the world as he continued his light jog down the beach then doubled back and headed down the path toward his house. Maybe he should have invited Lorelei over for coffee. Nah. He was sweaty and gross from running. He just needed to be patient and wait until their date on Friday so he could see her again. He wasn’t used to feeling this type of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was euphoria, plain and simple. And he knew it had everything to do with Lorelei James and their upcoming date. Perhaps he was being overly optimistic, but he couldn’t help but think his life was about to change for the better.
**
After leaving Daniel at the beach, Lorelei headed home to gather her things for a photo shoot just outside town for a major clothing campaign. She knew from a text Micah had sent her earlier in the week that he too was going to be on the shoot today, along with Faith, who was making the most out of her summer break from her teaching position and accompanying her fiancé to his gigs. Lorelei knew Micah loved the support and companionship. For a moment she felt a bit envious. It would be amazing to have a man in her life who provided her with such great company and encouragement.
Please, Lord, let it happen for me too. Let me find that special someone who will open up my heart and provide me with love and devotion. I promise to give him the same in return. I vow to love him for a lifetime.
Could Daniel be that special someone? It was way too early to know the answer to that question, but she couldn’t deny how good she felt about him. She felt like a dying ember of a fire that had come back to life. Being stalked by James Ellis had cost her so much. Being victimized by him had turned her into a person who no longer believed in happy endings. At her core she knew she still thought those things were possible, but it had
been hard to keep the faith. Through it all, she had leaned on God for support. Through His love, Lorelei had come back to the world after her hellish experience. Although fear was still present in her life, it didn’t rule her. She hadn’t allowed it to swallow her up whole.
When Lorelei arrived at the studio, it wasn’t long before Micah came to find her. She had a dilemma regarding Daniel. It felt kind of awkward to tell Micah she was going out on a date with his brother. What if it just ended up being one date and nothing further? What if Daniel was really private and didn’t want his brother to know anything about their date? It would appear as if she’d blabbed about it to Micah.
“I haven’t seen you for a while. What’s new?” Micah asked, reaching out and giving her a hug. When he released her, Faith stepped forward and kissed Lorelei on the cheek. Ever since Micah had introduced Lorelei to his fiancée, they had been as thick as thieves. Lorelei couldn’t be happier about their impending wedding. She would be one of the first people to volunteer for babysitting duties when their little ones began coming into the world.
Lorelei was bursting to tell them the joyful news about her job with DD Studios. “Well, I don’t know if Daniel told you, but he cast me as Rhiannon in his new video game series.”
“That’s excellent news!” Faith said. “Congratulations!”
“Daniel did tell us and we’re thrilled for you, especially after the interview went so badly,” Micah said. “I’m glad he came to his senses. You’re the perfect Rhiannon.”
“I’m really grateful to Daniel,” Lorelei said, her tone gushing. “He’s been incredible.”
Faith looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Lorelei looked away from Faith’s intense stare. Had she sensed something about her feelings for her brother-in-law? Perhaps she’d gone overboard in praising him. Faith was a very perceptive woman. Suddenly, Lorelei felt as if she was keeping secrets.
Forever and a Day (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Book 5) Page 5