But then he’d been a stranger, and now she knew him and cared about him.
Don’t you dare go soft, Ella,she told herself.And stop noticing how handsome he is. That has nothing to do with convincing him he has to stay.
“You know you can’t leave, right?” she asked him with a hint of steel in her voice that shocked her. “We really do need the help. And they’ve been beside themselves this whole time, not paying you. It’s selfish of you to make them feel beholden like that.”
Dalton stepped back, his eyes widening slightly like he was as surprised as she was to hear her speaking so forcefully.
“There’s plenty of work to do here,” she went on, hearing her voice go gentle in spite of her determination to stay strong. “And you shouldn’t be alone for the holidays anyway.”
That last part had come out as low as a whisper, andshe instantly wished she hadn’t said it as his face tensed up again.
“Is that the only reason you want me here?” he asked in a measured tone. “Because you feel sorry for me?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Of course not. We like having you here. Everyone wants you to stay.”
He took a step closer and she could see the intensity in his blue gaze, even in the dim light of the hall.
“Doyouwant me to stay?”
His voice was like the low purr of a big cat, warm and dangerous.
She knew what he was asking, and the answer wasyes. But she also knew she couldn’t let herself respond.
“You’re really good for my dad,” she hedged. “He’s been so much happier since you came. And my mom loves hanging out with you. And Dove has blossomed so much with you here…”
Her words trailed off. As she thought about all the ways he’d affected the people she loved most, she realized that he’d done even more for her.
Dalton was the first person to push through her defenses since Lee passed. He was her friend, he made her laugh, and he cared about her family.
When he was around, she felt like her heart could heal and love again.
“Doyouwant me to stay?” he asked her again.
“Yes,” she admitted, dropping her gaze from his in the hopes that he wouldn’t be able to read the emotions in her eyes.
She waited for him to respond, but instead the hall was silent except for the sound of her own heartbeatpounding in her ears. She was beginning to think he was just going to stay silent when he finally spoke.
“I’ll stay,” he said softly. “If you’ll let me take you out to dinner.”
“What?” she asked, lifting her gaze to his again without thinking about it.
“You heard me,” he said.
One side of his beautiful mouth tugged up in a playful half-smile that took her completely by surprise.
“Okay,” she heard herself agree.
“Done,” he said. “Let me go talk to your dad.”
He moved past her to go back to her father, and she stood alone in the dark hallway watching after him and feeling gobsmacked.
I can’t really go to dinner with him, can I?
But it was too late. She had already said yes, and she wasn’t even really sure why.
She took a deep breath and let it out again slowly, then realized that she had no idea if Dalton was going to tell her dad about hisconditionfor staying.
She hurried off after him and arrived back in the family room in time to see her father shaking Dalton’s hand.
