‘No problem. And you should sleep, too.’
‘I will. Love you.’
‘Love you, Daisy.’
* * *
After her late-night conversation with Iris, Daisy woke up a little braver.
Can we meet at the library? I want to show you something.
Elliot’s response was almost immediate.
I’m intrigued.
Daisy smiled, her heart fluttering in her chest.
So that’s a yes?
Of course.
Of course. Of course, like she could ask for anything, and he’d be there.
How about today? I can meet you during my lunch break.
Perfect. Thanks, Elliot.
Any time.
Any time. Even after she’d hid from him for two weeks. Even after she’d propositioned him for sex and then told him she couldn’t ever be in a relationship with him. Even after Beltane, after sleeping next to each other, even after she backed off again and said they should just be friends.
Of course, any time.
Elliot had been showing her all along that he was different.
Maybe it was time she started paying attention.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
‘Good book?’ Elliot asked, startling her out of her reading.
She looked up at him and her heart stuttered back to life. ‘Hi,’ she whispered.
‘You’re smiling while you read,’ he said, still standing over her like he wasn’t sure if he should join her. ‘Must be a good one.’ His hair was wet from the rain, and a dark curl dripped over his forehead. Daisy yearned to push it back, but she was afraid she’d given up that privilege.
She put the diary down on the library table and stood up to meet him, feeling suddenly awkward and nervous. ‘It’s my aunt’s diary. It’s part of what I wanted to show you. Can you stay?’
‘For a bit, sure.’ He shucked off his wet coat and draped it over the back of a chair.
She blew out a sigh of relief.
‘Thanks.’
Elliot gave her another small smile and then silence settled between them as they made themselves comfortable at the table. She’d picked one in the back corner so they wouldn’t disturb anyone, not that there were many people here. Finals were over for most schools, so it was mainly toddlers running around after story time and some older folks browsing the shelves. Elliot picked up a few photos and flipped through the old flower-shop ledger. She hadn’t brought the whole box. Just a few of her best finds. And certainly, no photos of her as a little girl in frilly dresses.
But she didn’t feel like they could get down to business until she apologized.
‘I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you,’ she blurted and Elliot looked up in surprise.
