“I quite like Minnesota,” says Daniel, his eyes still on the restoration site. “The nicest people on earth.”
“Yeah, you have to be nice to live there so I was booted out,” Marcella says with a devilish grin. “Snagged myself a guy first, though. What the Midwest lacks in warm weather it makes up in good husbands.”
Daniel chuckles. “That should be on the travel brochures.”
I laugh then and he looks at me quizzically. “What?”
“Travel brochures. Do you read a lot of those?”
We hold an amused glance for a bit before Marcella says, “This restoration project is huge. A pretty big coup for your firm, yeah?”
Daniel nods. “It really is. Especially for one so young like ours.”
“Dan’s being incredibly modest,” Ellis says with a grin. “It’s really unusual for a firm like ours to get the project. But Daniel’s a star.”
I look at Daniel curiously and can see it. He’s charming and a bit dazzling—but there’s steeliness under the slick exterior. This man gets it done.
He shakes his head, embarrassed. “Let’s not exaggerate. I have great employees, too.” Then he glances down at his watch. “We’ve got to head back. Enjoy your Saturday, ladies,” Daniel says, putting his sunglasses on, his teeth white and straighter than anything.
Ellis nods and pulls his cap down lower onto his head. “Good seeing you.”
“You, too,” I say, holding up my coffee. “Good work. Lads.”
I turn and mutter, “Shut up, don’t say anything,” to Marcella before she can.
“Okay, I won’t.” A pause and then, “You’re so fucked, my friend.”
I’m about to agree when Daniel jogs back up to us. “Forgot to ask for a sleeve,” he says, sheepishly holding up his paper cup. “I’m a bit precious about holding hot coffee cups.”
The confession knocks something inside my chest. I can’t help but say, “Don’t want to mess up those hands of yours.” An awkward silence passes in which I swear to god Marcella is about to pass out from holding in her laughter. “Since, you…draw for a living?”
“Oh, yes, that,” he says, in this level tone that I can’t quite read.
When he goes up to the counter for his sleeve, Marcella pushes me forward.
“What—!”
“Go,”she says. “Ask him to the event. When else will you see him?”
Damn it. I was hoping to wait but she’s right, this is actually the perfect time. Fate is, yet again, forcing my hand.
I stand next to Daniel at the counter, pretending to grab some napkins. “For my runny nose,” I say before I can think.Real hot-girl behavior, Cass.
“Ah,” he says. “It’s nippy out today.”
“Mm-hmm. Nippy.” I keep taking napkins. Please dear god, someone stop me. I can practically see Halmoni’s furious face. “So, Daniel. Are you single?”
He almost drops his coffee. “Yes? That is,yes.”
“Great! I mean, great-ish. My matchmaking agency is actually having a really big event next weekend. It’s going to be at LACMA, our big mingling event all wrapped up in art gala packaging. If you’re interested, I can send you an invite.”
He’s concentrating on putting the sleeve over his paper cup, as if it’s a task that requires surgical precision. Then, he says, “Yeah, that sounds killer. Should I…extend the invitation to other single people I know?” With that pointed question, he looks at me.
I shake my head. “Sorry, it’s a pretty exclusive event.”
“How did I make the cut?” His mouth hitches up at the side.
I hold up my hand and wiggle my fingers. “You’re a normal single man over the age of thirty. A unicorn, check.” I fold down my thumb. “You work in the arts. Check. You…” I pause. “You’re easy on the eyes.” I hold eye contact with him. “Check.”
