Free The Wedding Promise by Thomas Kinkade Page B

about replacing a roof or painting a house.”
    “Oh, you’d be surprised,” Liza teased him back. “Some people could think of a lot of things to say. But you’re more of the straight-talking, honest type. I can see how the folder approach would be a challenge for you.”
    “Thanks, I think.” He looked puzzled but amused.
    It was true. Daniel was the honest type, in business at least. She had never once felt that he was misleading her in any way. Except, when she asked about his past. It wasn’t that he seemed deceptive in that area either, only that he hardly ever spoke about it. That door was closed tight and carefully guarded.
    Daniel’s voice jarred her from her wandering thoughts. “So, now that you’ve finished this challenging assignment, would you like to go out tonight and celebrate? There’s a movie playing in Cape Light I wanted to see. Some mystery—”
    “ False Witness ?”
    “That’s it,” Daniel said. “I thought we could go to the early show and then have dinner in the village.”
    Liza was surprised by the invitation, pleasantly surprised. “Sure . . . I’d like that a lot. I’ve been wanting to see that one.”
    “Me, too. I have to run home for a little while,” he said, checking his watch. “Can you be ready by six?”
    “No problem,” Liza told him.
    “Good.” He turned to go, then looked back at her. “I like your hair like that. It suits you.”
    She felt her face get warm, an instant reaction to his compliment. “Thanks. I couldn’t do much with it today,” she admitted.
    “Some women don’t need to do much,” he noted with a smile. “See you later.”
    Liza wasn’t sure what to say. But she did know how she’d wear her hair when they went out tonight.
    Daniel took off, and Liza stood a moment, wondering what had just happened. Had Daniel just asked her out on a real date? They’d hung out together, shared meals, even visited Daisy Winkler’s tearoom in the village center. But those almost-dates had all been by chance, never initiated by a premeditated invitation on Daniel’s part—or her own.
    Liza was just getting used to the idea of being divorced. She had separated from her husband, Jeff, in the early winter, after discovering he’d been unfaithful to her. Their divorce was finalized in March, about the same time she came to the island to settle her aunt’s estate. She’d been confused about nearly everything in her life then, but coming out to the island had helped her see things clearly. Jeff had made one last attempt to get back together, surprising her by showing up at the inn. But Liza knew in her bones that ending their marriage was the right decision for her. And staying on the island had definitely helped heal her battered heart.
    Was she ready to date again? Well . . . not just anyone. But Daniel wasn’t just anyone, and dinner and a movie didn’t seem like such a great leap.
    But it was definitely a real date, and Liza felt an unfamiliar excitement, like standing in line for a roller-coaster ride.
     
     
    THE movie theater in Cape Light was small and old-fashioned looking, complete with a balcony and amber glass light fixtures that slowly dimmed as the film began. Though there were plenty of seats, Liza and Daniel decided to sit in the balcony, just because it was fun.
    The story got off to a quick start and was very suspenseful. The main character, living an ordinary life in a small town, had a secret past and finally the criminal ties from his past began to catch up with him.
    Liza found herself totally drawn into the story, hardly aware of Daniel sitting so close to her. Well . . . less aware than she thought she would be.
    She took a moment to glance at him, secretly studying his shadowed profile. He really was very handsome. But more than that, she just liked who he was inside, his sharp intelligence and quick, warm wit. The way he listened to her. Even the way he teased her. She just liked . . . him.
    When he slipped an arm around