“What about mow the lawn? Can you do that, too?”
She snapped her head up. He’d sounded dead serious, but his amused expression gave him away.
“With one hand tied behind my back.”
He ran his fingers through his light brown hair. “No doubt there’s nothing you can’t do, but if we’re doing this, I’m going to meet you halfway. You’re not in my debt so quit acting like it.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out he added, “And if you bring up rent again, I’m going to forget all about the rules.”
“Danny.”
“Try me.”
A memory from London slammed into her. She was in the coffee shop with Will. They were seated at a snug table where their knees had constantly touched and they stood to leave. He’d been flirting with her about being the first American girl to catch his eye. She’d responded he was the first British boy to catch hers. She thanked him for the espresso, saying it was the best she’d ever tried. His reply had been “try me.” And then he’d asked her to dinner.
“Okay,” she said softly.
“You all right?” Danny started around the breakfast bar.
“I’m fine, but some water would be great.”
He grabbed a glass from the cupboard. “Ice? No ice?” She shook her head. He had eight ounces of room-temperature water in front of her three seconds later and gently tucked a piece of her still-damp hair behind her ear.
The gesture sparked a tiny quiver deep in her belly, reminding her of the top-secret flutters she’d once had a long time ago. Every girl who met Danny got flutters. It wasn’t a choice, it just happened, so she hadn’t worried about it. You’re not secretly in love with me, right? She wasn’t, but right now, his nearness stirred up a new fluttery sensation she had no idea what to do with. It had to be from missing him these past six months, not to mention her hormones and topsy-turvy emotions. She had desperately needed some kindness today and he’d given it. Like he always did.
Wrapping her hand around the glass, their fingers brushed. She lifted her eyes to his to let him know she appreciated his looking out for her, then gulped down the water before she could analyze what his eyes said.
“I’ve got one more rule.” Danny moved back around the counter, putting some welcome distance between them.
“Okay.”
“No tiptoeing around each other. I want you to be comfortable. Mi casa es su casa.” His Spanish accent had a nice ring to it. “I get up early most mornings and head out to work so you’ll have the house to yourself. I usually call it a day around five or six, and then go for a run or surf. We can have dinner together after that. Let me know what we need to do to get you situated, like your car, stuff in storage, and we’ll do it. Together.”
Olivia stared at him. Tears welled up, but she refused to let them fall. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“That’s easy. You needed a friend at the same time I did.”
Like right now. Danny had always been an essential part of her life, her rock and ally in good times and bad, on quiet days and sleepless nights, and she prayed this new need didn’t take the best out of best friends.
Chapter Three
The next morning Danny looked out his garage door as he wiped the sweat off his brow with the neck of his T-shirt. A seagull cawed from somewhere in the blue sky, and across the street pumpkins decorated his neighbors’ walkway. He took a minute to breathe in the ocean air before turning to run his hand over the side table he’d been sanding.
Most of the high-end furniture he worked on was at his workshop in town, but he kept a few pieces here for when the itch to get his hands dirty struck at odd hours. Last month his designs had caught the eye of a major Los Angeles interior designer. She’d ordered this table and three other custom pieces, telling him she planned to keep him busy with her A-list clients. The recognition and chance to leave a legacy behind fed his ambition, and his focus and time needed to stay devoted to work.
Olivia put a major wrench in that plan.
Olivia.
He’d tossed and turned all night thinking about her. Was she comfortable? Feeling okay? Thinking about Will?
Could he do this?
That was the million-dollar question sitting in the back of his mind with no plans to vacate anytime soon. He’d told Liv yes because that’s what best friends do. Help each other out, even if the game plan has the potential for serious fouls.
Danny wiped his hands on a rag. The antique clock on his workbench—a housewarming gift from Honor—read ten minutes after eleven. Liv had to be awake by now.