“For the past five years, I have cut myself off from getting close to anyone. I went to work and I slept. That was it. I even cut myself off from my own heart because it was too painful to feel anything.” He caressed the side of her face, his rough calluses stroking her skin. “You heal me. To say that I love you doesn’t even begin to describe it.” He sighed and glanced at the door, Naya and Ravi still arguing on the other side of it. “But I can’t take you away from your family.”

“You won’t. We’ll work on them. You’ll see. My parents are reasonable people.”

Daniel widened his eyes at her.

“Deep down.” She grinned into his hand. “Way deep down. But you’ll see. I’m not rebelling—I’ve got no reason to. I love you, too. Or didn’t you hear me tell my parents? That has to be enough for now.”

“It’s more than enough.” Daniel grinned as he finally leaned down to kiss her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DANIEL

HE HAD PROMISED. There was no reason he couldn’t do this. He pulled into the parking lot of Chase Creek Elementary. He was just unnerved by Annika finding that paper heart last week. He parked the bike and removed his helmet, involuntarily holding his breath against the odor of lavender that he remembered. He climbed off the bike, still not breathing, and leaned against it. He had purchased the motorcycle when he and Sheila divorced. Everyone thought he was going through some kind of self-destructive, risk-taking phase. The truth was much less exciting. Men with families needed cars. Men without families did not.

He finally drew breath, the cloying scent of lavender filling his nostrils and sending him back in time. His head spun and nausea claimed him as he spiraled into the past and watched as a man and his young daughter entered the building.

The little girl able to hold only three of his fingers in her little hand.

No. He shut his eyes against the memory. Annika. He loved her and she loved him, and that would give him the strength to go into the building and keep his promise to her. But his legs wouldn’t move, and he couldn’t open his eyes.

He wasn’t exactly sure how long he’d stood there, but the next thing he became aware of was a familiar hand on his. Annika. Already, he could recognize her touch.

“Daniel?”

He slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze landed on those warm brown eyes he’d fallen in love with, and he exhaled, relaxing in an instant. His calm was fleeting, as he realized what had happened. And who was with her. His heart ratcheted up as he recognized Annika’s father and Sajan.