The deciding factor, though, would be if there was a possibility of a future with Daniel. So how did she convince him to take a chance on them?
CHAPTER 19
Daniel had been sitting in the waiting room for less than a minute when his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, surprised to see Robert's name on his screen.
"Hello."
"Are you with Riley?" Robert's terse question surprised Daniel even further. He only spoke like that when he was in full-on sheriff mode.
"Yes."
"Good. Keep her away from the ranch."
"Why?"
"Collin Ainsworth just showed up at the Double Diamond."
"What?!" Daniel bolted to his feet.
His stomach bottomed out. He should have known after the flowers arrived two weeks ago, Riley's stalker wasn't going to give up. He couldn't believe the man was bold enough to show up at the ranch. He wished he was there right now, so he could deck the man who hurt Riley.
"Jake called me. He's trying to stall him until I get there." Robert's voice pulled him from his fantasies of beating up Collin Ainsworth. "But I need you to keep Riley away for a while. It might be best not to tell her why yet."
Daniel looked up to see Riley coming through the door that led to the exam rooms. "Got it. Keep me posted."
He ended the call and got to his feet, falling into step beside her as they headed for the door.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Uh...Jake." He hated lying, but he figured it was the best way to protect her. "Told him we probably wouldn't be back for a while, because I'm taking you to lunch."
She looked at him with wide eyes, her lips turning up. "Oh, you are, are you?"
"It's the least I can do to thank you for all your help yesterday and today."
"Oh." Her face fell.
Shoot.
He shouldn't have made it sound like he was doing it out of gratitude, but rather because he wanted to spend more time with her.
"Did you also tell Jake that you are out of commission for the next few weeks?"
"Not yet, but I will. Maybe now, I'll be able to spend the kind of time that I'd like on the designs for the rec center."
"That's one positive thing about your injury, I guess. You're still going to be plenty busy." After they climbed into the truck, she asked, "So, where are we going to lunch?"
"Charity's, of course." He gave her a look that said she'd obviously been away too long, if she thought he'd eat anywhere other than at her Aunt Charity's diner.
"Right. It's not like there's anywhere else to eat."
"Except for the Tasty Freeze."
She shuddered. "That grease pit? No thanks."
Before long, they were seated in the back corner at Charity's and had placed their orders with Riley's cousin-in-law, Amy Young. The lunchtime rush hadn't started yet, so the diner was quiet.
Riley placed her hands on the table, fingers clasped.
