“Always deposit hers into my savings account. It’s my rainy day fund. There will come a time when I want to do something crazy and that’s what this money is for.”
Pulling up his account, I flash my gaze at him. The amount showing is almost in the six-figure range. A soft whistle works it’s way past my teeth.
“That’s quite a rainy day fund. Do you have a plan?”
“Ehhh, not yet. One day I’ll figure it out. It’ll hit me and I’ll have enough to do it.” It doesn’t seem to bother him that he’s sitting on a heck of a nest egg.
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”
He shakes his head, a harsh chuckle prefaces the words. “Not even a little bit.”
Tilting my head to the side, I observe him, trying to get a bead on what type of person he really is. In the end, I give him the same farewell I give to most of the customers that end up in my line. “Well, I hope you have a good rest of the day.”
“Don’t worry.” He winks, as if it’s our little secret. “I won’t tell your dad I saw the two of you together. But, unsolicited advice here, maybe be a little more discreet if you don’t want him to know.”
My mouth hangs open as I watch him leave.
* * *
“Thanks for inviting me to lunch.”I scoot into the booth across from Hailey, thankful to have a reprieve from my work day. Since Chance left, I’ve been mulling over his parting shot. It seems inevitable Danny and I are going to get caught. What we have to do is mitigate the damage.
One thing I do know for certain? I’m not giving him up, no matter what the rules are when it comes to dating dad’s firefighters.
Hailey sighs heavily. “I couldn’t hang out in the house by myself today. Dad’s working with the forest management service this afternoon. I was hoping you’d want to see me.”
“Even though we’ll see each other again tonight?” I raise an eyebrow at her.
She wrinkles her nose. “Well, you left me last night to go have fun with your new man and then had the nerve to tell me to mind my own business when I asked you about it. So, you owe me. I’m lonely and you’re having all the new relationship feelings.”
I argue a little too hard. “He isn’t my new man.”
Just as I say the words, the front door to All That and a Bag of Chips, the local sandwich shop, opens. The object of my affection walks in and my eyes go to him like a moth to a flame.
She snorts. “The fuck he isn’t. Care to tell me what happened last night?”
Turning back to her, I make a motion to zip my lips. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“One way or another,” she promises, “I’ll get it out of you.”
“Good luck, sis.”
“I’ll take that bet and raise you one.”
Everything in me wants her to let it go, but there’s another piece of me that wants to tell it all. My eyes go over to where Danny sits with a couple of guys who look like him. They must be related.
Our eyes meet as he catches me looking.
“Because the two of you are setting your own fire with the looks you’re giving each other,” she continues.
Breaking our gaze, I turn back to her, hissing, “Shut up.”
Amusement shines in her eyes. “You should teach me your ways.”
“There’s nothing to teach,” I groan, wondering when I’m finally going to be able to extricate myself from this conversation.
“Then tell me,” she pesters. “Let me live my life through you.”
“Shit, okay. So we went up to Cupid’s Point last night.”