She had to occasionally remind herself that, despite all evidence to the contrary, there had to be something wrong with Daniel Collins. There were no perfect people. There had to be a flaw lurking somewhere. She wished he’d go ahead and reveal it already. Maybe then her mind would stop with this insane tendency it had to paint him as the most genuine, giving, exemplary human being she’d encountered in ages.
He turned to her as they exited the center.
“Do you know how much the work Trendsetters is doing is going to help them?” he asked.
“That’s the point,” Samiah said, charmed by his enthusiasm. “The funds they save can be better put to use by helping place more kids.”
“I can get behind a company like this,” he said with a nod. Once settled in her car again, he continued. “But here’s what I don’t get. Why areyouthe one doing this? Isn’t this the kind of thing HR handles? It doesn’t seem like it would be in Implementation’s wheelhouse.”
“I know,” she said. “But it’s my baby.”
“This particular project?”
“No, Trendsetters’ work with nonprofits. Barrington established a program for charitable giving from the beginning, but there’s a big difference between throwing money at an organization and doing actual hands-on work. I thought Trendsetters could do more, so I started doing more.”
“Most people don’t think this way. You do know that, don’t you?”
She flipped on her blinker. “I know, but it’s important to me.” Several beats passed before Samiah continued. “I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but I didn’t do this by myself. When I was a freshman in high school, a bunch of people at my church back in Houston collected money to send me to a computer summer camp. Many of them didn’t even know things like that existed. They’d raised money to send some of the boys to football and basketball camp, and they’d help to fund cheerleading camp, but computer camp?
“I have no doubts that I would still accomplish everything I’ve set out to accomplish without any help—as my mom is so quick to point out, I’m too damn stubborn not to.” Samiah laughed. “But having people who believed in me enough to offer their support gave me a leg up. I want to do that for others. I think this world would be a better place if more people reached out to help others.”
He was quiet for so long that Samiah glanced over at him to make sure he was still paying attention. He was. He stared at her with a hint of wonder in his eyes.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head. “You’re just…you’re really different from this other person I know.”
It didn’t take a degree in computer science to figure this one out. “I assume you’re talking about an ex.”
He nodded and shrugged. “Joelle wasn’t big into doing for others,” he said. “As in, sheneverdid anything for anyone else. Hearing how important it is to you to give back, it just reminds me that not everyone is out for themselves all the time.” The corner of his mouth tipped up in a sad yet adorable grin. “Like you said, the world would be a better place if more people thought that way.”
“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked before she could stop herself or consider the question’s implications.
His forehead furrowed. “Just hanging out at my crib.”
She should end the conversation right here. Just play the question off as mild curiosity or making small talk.
“Why don’t you get yourself some hiking boots after work today. There’s a nice trail in Bastrop I think you’d enjoy.”
Or just ask him out.
“You sure about that?” His eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. “You don’t want to do a few more lunches together? Maybe get to know me better before sneaking off to the woods with me?”
She glanced over and fought to curb her body’s reaction to the devilish smile tracing across his lips. “I think I can trust you.”
Whether or not she could trust herself around him was an entirely different matter.
Chapter Twelve
You’re not getting tired on me already, are you?”
If there was a way to capture the pure delight radiating from Samiah without seeming like a creep, Daniel would have taken the picture with his phone already. She’d been tossing those teasing grins his way all morning, along with the jabs about him lagging behind.
Why would he want to catch up with her? This vantage point afforded him a magnificent view of her tan shorts stretching deliciously over an ass that, up until now, he hadn’t given himself permission to fully appreciate. He was all too happy to stay a couple of steps behind.
“I can handle whatever you throw my way,” Daniel returned.
“Oh really?” She winked. “We’ll see about that.”
