The next morning, Danielle put on some leggings and a sweater dress. Her mother was coming in sometime that afternoon, so she wanted to be presentable. She also liked the reaction she got from Samuel when she’d dressed up.

They’d had a surprisingly good kale salad with lots of different vegetables, then sat talking on the sofa for a while, looking at some of the names she’d highlighted. They’d ended up kissing until midnight. Samuel declared that he would not be responsible for her turning into a pumpkin.

“Cinderella doesn’t turn into a pumpkin.”

“Well, something does, and I won’t be responsible.”

She walked him to the door in her bare feet, then kept his lips on hers for another twenty minutes before she told him to get out so she could get some sleep.

As a result, she was a little tired today. Her mother was planning to only stay one night, so Samuel was going to be on standby, but the plan was for them to skip tonight.

That meant they only had three more evenings together. She thought several times about calling and asking her mother to wait until next week to visit, but her mother wouldn’t show up without a good reason.

She took an Uber to work as always and was absorbed in her work when Samuel showed up at her door.

“Is it noon already?”

“I’m early. I wanted to give you this.” He handed her a book about being pregnant.

“I never even thought about getting a book. I seriously don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

He hadn’t answered her, but instead had helped her into her coat. “My younger sister has a copy with highlights and color-coded tabs.”

“I am not that organized.”

“Creative people usually aren’t.” They headed toward the elevator. “The usual?”

“You know what? About that-- I was thinking maybe we could have Mexican instead.”

His face lit up. “I know just the place.”

Relief washed over her. She’d been reluctant to change their lunch spot since he’d gone to the trouble to get her a teddy bear and even named it Pappa. Technically, she supposed he’d gotten it for the baby. But still…

When they were seated at the restaurant, she asked something she’d been curious about. “So technically, you’re working for my father right now?”

“Yeah. He’s paying me for two weeks to pack and relocate.”

“But are you? Relocating?”

“No. I’m keeping my house, and I’ve rented an Air BNB in Dallas for the next two weeks. So it’ll be like staying in a hotel.”

“So what do you do all day?”

“I spend a lot of time with you.”

She smiled. “Other than that.”

“I actually am packing and doing errands. One of my specialties, if you recall.”

She nodded.

“And I’ve met with two people about an airplane.”

“An airplane? What do you mean?”

“I’m looking into buying a small airplane.”

“Wow. You haven’t mentioned that.”

“Yeah. I haven’t decided for sure that I’m going to do it. It’s a big investment. I’m not even sure that I’ll have time to use it after I go to work for your father. It’s my understanding that he keeps his pilots flying four to five days a week.”

“Huh.” There were so many implications in what he had just said that she needed to process everything.”

“I wouldn’t be able to buy it outright.” He clarified. “I’d have to borrow most of the money, so I’ve met with a couple of banks, too.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“Yeah. I’m not fond of driving. I mean I don’t mind driving around Houston at all. But I really try to avoid driving long distances. And with my family here, I’d like to be able to get here quickly and often. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I took the job with your dad. Then this week, I really started to take some steps to make it happen.”

“Since it’s getting closer to time for you to leave.”

“Yeah. That and you.”

Me. Did that mean he wanted to be able to continue to spend time with her? There was a big difference in driving from Fort Worth and flying.

Of course, after he rented a car and drove from the airport, the time would probably just about equal out.

Danielle received a message on her phone. “I think it’s the author.”

“She’s just now responding?”

“I think she’s had the flu or something.” She read the message, then passed her phone over for Samuel to read it.

“She loves it.” Danielle nearly bounced in her chair.

“She said she’s never seen such chemistry portrayed on a cover.”

“She likes it.”

“We should celebrate,” Samuel said. “How about a strawberry lemonade?”

Danielle laughed with a burst of happiness. She had a happy customer and a handsome boyfriend who celebrated with her by buying her lemonades at lunch.

She’d always heard that it was the little things that make people happy.