California Girls(85)

Chapter Twenty-Two


The Four Seasons Biltmore, an old Spanish-style compound, had been built around the turn of the previous century. Still elegant, with an old-world air, it was a celebrated piece of Santa Barbara history.

After leaving the car with the valet, Ali and Daniel went inside and checked in. A bellman led the way to their rooms. The two-bedroom bungalow had been decorated with plenty of Oriental rugs and botanical prints. There was a large sofa and a coffee table, and on one end was a dining room table that seated six. Outside was a patio with comfortable seating, along with a fire pit and the ocean beyond.

There was a brief argument over the master bedroom versus the smaller, second bedroom. Ali thought Daniel should take the master, and she wanted him to have it. He was insistent and she acquiesced, hoping against hope that come the night, they would share it.

Once they’d unpacked, they headed into town to walk around. They strolled along State Street and wandered in and out of stores.

Daniel insisted they buy a kite to fly on the beach in the morning, then they spent time in a little bookstore. He surprised her by buying a couple of biographies on Civil War generals while she bought a workbook to help her decide on the next stage in her career.

They returned to the hotel and went back to their room. Ali spotted an ice bucket filled with champagne next to a tray of what looked like delicious appetizers.

“I thought we’d eat in,” Daniel said. “Is that all right?”

She looked from the champagne to him. Courage, she reminded herself. It was going to be her new mantra. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Okay, then. Good to know. I’m going to go put on something seduction-worthy.”

She put on her dress and touched up her makeup, then smoothed her new bob and hoped Daniel had brought condoms. Anticipation danced with her nerves, making her stomach jumpy. She was scared and excited and wondering if this was all really happening.

Back in the living room, she found Daniel had turned on music and opened the champagne. He handed her a glass and they went out onto the patio.

He pulled two chairs close together with a small table in between. They sat next to each other, watching the ocean rush into the shore. He was the first one to break the silence.

“I always knew I was the marrying kind,” he said with a quick shrug. “Given my profession, you’d probably think I was a player, but that’s never been my style. I’m conventional. There were women, but only one at a time. Volume was never that important to me.” He flashed her a smile. “I guess I burned up my restlessness on the track so I could be steady everywhere else.”

“Good to know.”

“I meant what I said before about my first marriage. There was no great drama. We fell in love and then we fell out of love. I think we were more interested in getting on with the next part of our lives than figuring out if we could actually spend the rest of our lives together. She’s a good person, we weren’t awful during the divorce. I don’t miss her. But I do want to find the right person. I’m not looking to play around.”

It was a lot of information, she thought, not sure what to do with it.

“You know my sad history with Glen,” she said, hoping her voice sounded light instead of stunned. “Before him, I’d had a few boyfriends but nothing that lasted a long time. I want to say they didn’t really see me, but with my recent revelation that maybe I’ve been trying to be invisible, now I’ll tell you maybe I was the one afraid to want more than I had. Maybe I’m the one who always kept myself so protected that no one could get in.”

“Until Glen.”

“Yes, until Glen. I’m not sure why I was more comfortable with him.” She looked at him. “Honestly, I wonder if maybe it was because there wasn’t any real passion between us. Being with him was comfortable, but not exciting. I think maybe I’ve been afraid of exciting.”

“Are you still?”

She smiled. “I’m willing to take a chance.”

“Good.”

She couldn’t believe they were talking like this—putting it all out there. She felt vulnerable, but strong, too. She trusted Daniel. She knew in her gut that even if things went south, he wouldn’t be a jerk. He would never send his brother to break up with his fiancée.

The background music—a soft jazz version of old standards—went silent for a second before starting up again with “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Daniel rose and held out his hand.

“Dance with me.”

She rose. He led her inside and pulled her close. They swayed together with the music.

“The first time I saw you was on a Sunday morning,” he said.

“I remember. We had brunch with your parents. You barely spoke to me. I thought you hated me.”

He drew back just enough to look in her eyes. “You wore jeans and a white sweater with a V-neck. You had your hair in a braid and your perfume smelled like vanilla. The second I saw you, it was like being kicked in the gut. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t breathe. I sure as hell couldn’t talk. Not without saying something inappropriate.”

They’d stopped dancing. Ali was having trouble processing what he was telling her.

“You liked me back then?”

“I wanted to run away with you. I’d never felt a lightning strike before, but I felt it with you. I wanted to take you somewhere so we could talk for hours. I wanted to throw you over my shoulder and find a quiet corner to make love with you. I wanted to challenge Glen to a fight to the death over you. Instead I ate quiche.”