He nodded and thought for a moment, understanding that this would be important to a girl who’d told him the movies was the main reason she’d moved to New York.
‘My favourite…’ He thought about telling her there and then aboutManhattan, but no, he didn’t want this moment to look staged. Not when it was so truly genuine – that they had happened upon this venue by complete chance.
‘Well, I likeGoodfellas. AndWall Street. Both classic New York flicks, you know.’ Beth scrunched up her face and he chuckled. ‘What, not on your list of all-time favourites?’
‘Well, they are both good enough, I suppose. Cinematic treasures and all that,’ she agreed. ‘I can certainly appreciate Paulie Cicero’s garlic slicing techniques, but I’m a fan of the less violent stuff myself.’
Danny laughed, recalling how the character inGoodfellasprepared dinner while in prison – with a razor blade. ‘Ah, I see… so I have a bleeding heart romantic on my hands? I’d never have known,’ he teased, and she nudged him playfully. ‘So tell me your favourites then.’
Beth took a deep breath. ‘Just about any movie set here in the city, to be honest. I especially adoreWest Side Story,and anything from the thirties with Clark Gable in it – the ultimate leading man. Oh, andRoman Holiday, of course.’ She clapped her hands delightedly. ‘Someday I want to go to Rome and eat gelato on the Spanish Steps and pretend I am Audrey Hepburn. And as for modern movies, well…’ she sighed dreamily, ‘I know it’s not in New York but I don’t think anything can beatThe Notebook.’
‘The Notebook. Oh, man,’ said Danny, laughing. ‘Ofcourseyou love that movie.’
Beth’s mouth flew open. ‘What?’ she asked warily, though her eyes were smiling. ‘What’s wrong withThe Notebook?’
Danny put his head dramatically in his hands. ‘Sob fest. Melodrama. Cheeeesy. That’s all I’m going to say.’
‘It’s romantic!’ she argued. ‘It’s touching and wonderful and… perfect.’
Danny put his hands up in surrender. ‘Oh, OK – fine, fine. You can get away with all that.Onlywomen can get away with admitting to liking that movie.’
Beth smiled. ‘At least you know when to end an argument. I’ll give you credit there. Smart man.’
‘OK, so now that I know straight up that we’re going to be watching a lot of chick flicks,’ he said smiling, ‘I’m wondering something else.’
‘What do you want to know?’ Beth answered, her expression open and honest, as if she’d happily tell him anything. Danny took in her face, and he couldn’t help but allow his eyes to travel to her lips. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her. He considered doing it right there and then, but stopped himself. They’d only just met, were only just getting to know one another, and he didn’t want to scare her off. Still, the temptation was strong. There was justsomethingabout this girl. Something that made him want to be around her all the time.
Danny took a deep breath and thought for a moment about how to pose his question. He didn’t want to make it look like he was probing in such a way that a red flag would be set off in Beth’s mind.
‘So, what’s your five-year plan? Where do you see yourself?’ And as the words crossed his lips, he had the overwhelming urge to punch himself in the face.
Five-year plan, Danny? Five-year plan? What are you doing? Negotiating a corporate merger? Jesus! his subconscious chided.
Beth’s eyebrows rose. ‘My five-year plan?’
Right, completely unromantic, I get it, Danny thought.
‘Well, I suppose, to rise up the ranks at my job – I really like it at Carlisle’s. Maybe make my way up to management someday, though I have to say I do love it on the sales floor. I get to talk to lots of different people from all walks of life, help them – I love being around shoes, being creative with the displays – and the commission is pretty nice, too. Best of all I get to live the dream by spending my days in New York. I adore that most of all, and I feel like it is important to enjoy your life as it is, rather than always be focused on the next milestone.’ She paused for a moment, gauging Danny’s reaction and continued on when he murmured a quiet agreement and smiled. ‘And, well, I know this sounds silly… but I’ve always really wanted a dog. A cavalier King Charles spaniel. We have one at home in Galway – Charlie – and I really miss having her around, but the place I’m in at the moment is just way too small for a pet. And finally… I really want to travel – see as much of the world as possible.’
Danny nodded, pleased to find something else they had in common. ‘I love dogs and as for travel, me too. Where would you like to go?’
‘Oh, everywhere. Give me a globe and spin it. I’d go anywhere my imagination – and my budget – could take me. Unfortunately, that means I haven’t done much at this point other than get from Ireland as far as here. So while my ambition is rich, my bank account needs to catch up,’ she smiled. ‘But like I did in following my dreams and coming here, I can focus on it – and keep working hard – and I know I’ll get there eventually. Nothing wrong with wishing, my grandmother used to say, but you must also do your best to help make your dreams come true.’
And, just like that, Danny knew without a doubt that he wanted to sweep this wonderful woman away. There was something in his heart that wanted to grant Beth Harper every wish she had. Make her every dream come true.
‘I think it’s a worthy goal,’ Danny agreed. ‘But I want to know, taking the globe spinning out of the equation, if you could go one place right now, where would it be?’
Without thinking Beth said, ‘Home. Back to Galway to see my family. I haven’t been for a while and I miss them.’
Danny was nodding. ‘I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland. Seems like it’s a great place.’ He held back from adding that perhaps one day they’d go there together – it felt too forward.
‘It is. But other than that…’ Still thinking, Beth tapped her mouth with a finger. After a moment, she spoke, ‘I would probably have to say Italy – Venice, especially.’
Danny smiled. ‘Amazing city.’
‘You’ve been?’ she gasped.
‘Yes, many years ago. When I was still a kid. But even though I was very young, I could still appreciate the city. It’s unique.’
