When A Man Loves A Woman(7)

“Sarah, I’m fine,” she said in a curt voice. She didn’t want Sarah to think she’d been crying into her pillow.

“Then why have you been ducking my calls?” Sarah’s voice sounded wounded.

“Because I wanted to hang on to the last shred of dignity I possess.”

Sarah made a tutting sound. “I’m sorry about Mac. He didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

Delilah let out a harsh laugh. “I think he meant it exactly the way it sounded. It couldn’t have been more obvious. Or more humiliating.”

“I’m sorry Lilah,” Sarah said, using her childhood nickname. “Mac is a blunt kind of guy.”

“It’s not your fault. I know you were trying to do something nice for me.” She began to choke up. “But you can’t create my happy ending for me. It has to find me without getting a huge push from you. And you can’t force your brother-in-law to take me out.”

She could hear Sarah sniffling on the other end of the line. “Y-you’re right. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy, Sarah. I’m just not in love. My knight in faded blue jeans hasn’t found me yet.” She began to giggle at the joke she and her sister had shared since they were kids. They had decided that knights in shining armor were stuffy, so they had come up with the idea of modern knights who would crash into their lives and sweep them off their feet. And when they showed up they’d be wearing blue jeans instead of rusty armor.

Sarah’s tinkling laughter rang out on the line. “He’ll find you, sweetie. I know he will.”

“From your lips to God’s ears. Kiss Faith for me okay. I didn’t get to say goodbye to her.” Her sweet, two month old niece was such a blessing in all of their lives. Focusing on her made everything else fade away. It also caused a huge longing within her to bring her own precious bundle into the world. But she knew that patience was a virtue. Her time would come.

“Will do, sis,” Sarah said before they said their goodbyes.

As Delilah made herself a cup of mint tea her mind wandered to her earlier encounter with Mac. He had looked genuinely upset that she had overheard his rant about her. Although she never would admit it in a million years to Sarah, there was something about Mac that intrigued her. She didn’t know if it was his strong, silent vibe or the fact that he seemed to welcome solitude rather than being in the presence of a crush of people. Mac was so unlike his brothers. It made her wonder what made him tick and what forces had shaped him into the man he was today.

It didn’t really matter though. Mac Donahue had shown in no uncertain terms that he had zero interest in her.

**

Delilah sat in her medium-sized office overlooking downtown Breeze Point. Located right off Main Street, she was a short walk away from the best shops in town and some wonderful eateries. Not to mention Sweet Treats, the bakery owned by the Donahues. Her good friend Layla’s dance studio was also located on Main Street, right in the hub of things. Having just taken a cardio funk class there last week, Delilah could attest to her friend’s skills and prowess on the dance floor.

She let out a sigh. Not only was Layla a talented and gorgeous woman, but she had won the heart of the youngest Donahue brother, Nick, who owned a popular restaurant in town called The Cove. No matter where she went in town she was surrounded by happy couples. Tess and Ryder Donahue were a perfect pair. Their tight friendship and work relationship had blossomed into love. Although she didn’t know them that well yet, Sarah had introduced her to Rose, Gabrielle and Kaitlyn, who were all married or engaged to Donahue men—Brandon, Remy and Wyatt. She had known Kaitlyn years ago, although they hadn’t attended the same school.

All of the women seemed blissfully in love. Kaitlyn was planning her beach wedding to Wyatt, who was a local hero due to his being a famous baseball player for the Bay State Bombers.

She didn’t know why her thoughts seemed to be so preoccupied with the Donahue clan. It wasn’t as if her own family wasn’t wonderful. She and Sarah had been raised in Breeze Point in a modest two story home a few blocks from Breezy Beach. Her parents had scrimped and saved to send them to private schools on their modest income as town officials. There had been lots of love in their home, courtesy of Peggy and Eric Dalton.

Delilah shuffled through some papers on her desk. She was having a problem focusing today. She kept replaying the events that had taken place in the Donahue’s kitchen. Why hadn’t she told Mac Donahue that she didn’t want to date him either? Why had she been so tongue-tied and emotional? She had run out of the Donahue’s house as if her feet had been on fire. How awkward was that?