Page 65 of Blame it on the Kiss
“Danny did a great job on your floors.” He wandered around the small shop, avoiding direct eye contact with the purple wall of shame. It didn’t lookthatbad.
“He did. Did you know he fixed Mrs. Jamison’s gate?”
“I mentioned the gate needed some repair but I didn’t know he’d helped already.”
Honor shuffled some papers on her desk. “Yes, and then Mrs. J. referred him to Shirley because her fence was coming down or something, and he fixed that, too. Word has it he’s also helped a few other people. Sophie and I were in the Beach Café the other morning and she mentioned he does all sorts of woodwork, including making furniture.” She glanced up with a pained expression on her face. “Now the Street Team is talking about Danny’s wood.”
“Street Team?”
“Don’t ask.” She waved off his question and went back to her computer.
Bryce knew Danny had been in White Strand more often lately to help Zane with some tax stuff, but he hadn’t realized he’d become so popular.
“So, um, I have to write up an invoice for Beth Rhodes and that means I need to actually have a name for this place.”
He inwardly smiled. Beth had been the unintentional catalyst that brought him back to Honor.
“What do you think of the name Driftwood?” she asked. “When we were little Payton and I used to collect pieces and build beach houses for our Barbie dolls.” She sat back in her chair with a faraway look in her eyes. “I also like it because I picture beaches all over the world with driftwood and how it sort of connects us all. It could come from anywhere, just like the antiques I want to find and sell.”
“I think it’s a great name.” He stopped in front of her desk.
“Really?” She blinked up at him and he hoped she saw how proud he was of her.
“It’s a keeper.”
The grin she flashed before going back to her computer put him over the moon. Seeing her happy drove every other thought but her out of his head. For a long time work had meant more to him than anything else, but when he was with Honor he didn’t think about business. Had he let his client list interfere with his personal relationships in the past? Maybe.
He had no idea where things would lead with Honor, and contradictory emotions still sat in the back of his mind. But if ever there was a risk worth taking again… was it with her? Could she heal his blackened heart? Could he heal hers?
“You busy next Saturday night?” he asked.
Her fingers kept tapping away on the keyboard. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m being honored at a charity dinner and would like for you to go with me.”
She froze, like time stood still and Bryce was the only one breathing. When she finally raised her eyes to his, he didn’t know what to make of her blank expression.
“You mean as your date?” she said quietly.
“Yes.”
“You want me to be with you when you receive an award.” Not a question, more like a crazy fact she couldn’t wrap her head around.
“Yes,” he answered with conviction. Until he heard from Cooper, he saw no reason not to keep seeing Honor. Once he got a yes or no answer from the skateboarder, he’d figure out what to do then.
Her gaze fell to her desk. “Will your family be there?”
“Yes. And so will Danny, Zane and Sophie. Look at it as an excuse to dress up and have a night out.”
“This is a big deal.”
“The evening or the date?” He couldn’t be sure, but he had a feeling if he handed her a brown paper bag, she’d be grateful to breathe into it.
She let out a sigh. “Both.”
“The dinner is an annual event put on by the Bishop Foundation to recognize contributions by volunteers and people in the community. My grandmother started the organization to honor my grandfather and its grown quite a bit since then. In the past it’s been a relatively small celebration. Maybe a hundred and fifty people. Having you as my date will make me the envy of every man in the room. But more importantly,” he lifted her hand off the desk and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “When you’re near me I’m infinitely happier.”
She lifted her eyes back to his. “You don’t play fair.”
