The Best Friend Bargain(69)

Liv took the cake and turned for privacy to read the note.

Nothing is as sweet or delicious as you, Maybug…except maybe this.

On the other side of the notecard it said “Honey Bun Cake.” Liv sucked in her bottom lip. The memory of falling into Midge’s birthday cake and Danny flirting with her danced through her mind.

Someone tapped Liv on the shoulder. She turned. “Derek is waiting,” the hostess said.

Olivia hurried back to the car.

Their next stop came an hour later in the quaint town of Los Gatos, still more miles away from San Francisco. Derek parked in front of a floral shop where ironwork and flowered vines decorated the storefront. Liv walked into the store and before she could say hello, a young woman presented her with a giant bouquet of yellow, pink, and white daisies.

A notecard sat nestled in the middle of the flowers.

They say flowers are sunshine and make people feel better, happier. But you are my sunshine, Olivia, the light when I see only dark.

Liv wiped at the tears in the corner of her eyes.

God, she wanted to see Danny already. If his goal was to make her yearn for him it was working. She got back in the car and sent a text. Tell me I’m close.

Not close enough. Relax and enjoy the ride. I’m not going anywhere.

Derek continued southbound on highway 101, heading somewhere halfway between San Francisco and White Strand, she guessed.

But halfway came and went. Derek stopped to get them sandwiches and bottles of water, which they ate while driving. She fell asleep for a little while. Her next “clue” came from a lovely older man who owned a gift shop in Solvang. He presented her with a large snow globe that held a yellow half moon, sparkling white stars, and the planet Earth inside it. On the bottom of the base were the words, You mean the world to me.

Her thoughts took flight. With each passing hour and each amazing, thoughtful sentiment, her heart pounded harder and faster.

And she felt more certain she knew where Derek was taking her: back to White Stand. The anticipation made it hard to sit still.

The time neared four o’clock when Derek pulled off the freeway in Santa Monica to get gasoline. Liv looked at her gifts and could barely breath. Excitement, gratitude, love filled her and she hoped the next hour went quickly.

Someone tapped on her window. She turned her head to find Derek holding a lovely ornate silver mirror. She opened the door and accepted it from him. Written at the bottom of the glass in Danny’s neat writing was, Who is the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid eyes on?

Liv looked at herself in the mirror. His choice of words meant everything to her. A text sounded on her phone. You.

When Derek got back behind the wheel Liv said, “Would you mind breaking the speed limit? I’m in a hurry.”

He looked over his shoulder and grinned. “Not at all.”

She smiled and rested her hands on her stomach, hoping to alleviate the queasiness. The nervous, crazy-about-you kind of queasy she felt only for Danny.

Butterflies kicked into high gear when the car pulled up in front of his house and she looked out the window. It had taken almost nine hours to get to the man standing curbside.

He’d brought her back home.

She took a moment to stare at his familiar, gorgeous face while her insides melted. When he opened the car door and helped her out, her hand shook. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” she said back, finding it hard to locate her voice. He was so handsome in a white button down, loose at the neck and black dress pants. His hair had that magazine cover style going on and his eyes…his eyes were warm, vulnerable, and yet wolfish, too.

“God, I’ve missed you.” He cupped her face with his warm hands, gave her a second to pull away, and when she didn’t, smashed his mouth to hers. No hesitation, no sweetness. This kiss said to hell with just being friends. The way he parted her lips and pushed his tongue inside took hot and animalistic to a whole new level.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and answered his kiss with her own longing. He tasted like mint and man, and she wanted to suck face with him until morning. He had other ideas and pulled back. His all too appealing smile beat every other smile in the history of smiles.

“You look beautiful.” He took her in from head to toe, lingering a few extra seconds on her abdomen.

“Thank you.”

“Of all the things I’ve seen in my life, the greatest and best thing by far is you.”

Her legs shook so badly at his sweet words she needed help staying upright. He put his hands on her waist.

“Danny,” she said, breathless. A cool breeze fanned over her cheeks, the smell of the sea and wood burning in a fireplace teased her nose. Her eyes drifted shut to take everything in.