Page 30 of Stay

“Yeah, but you know…failing that spectacularly can make you reluctant to try again.”

I nod and then frown when it hits me. I look back at Owen and he’s in his own little world, but I still whisper my next words. “Are you not over her?”

His next laugh is incredulous, and I file away all these new expressions and sounds while anxiously waiting for his answer.

“Trust me, I am.Completely,” he adds. He lowers his voice. “But being a dad comes first, and then there’s the whole matter of being a judge. I’m busy, and there aren’t exactly a lot of full-timers living here that are single, and it wouldn’t look right if I went out with a different tourist every week…not that I’d ever have the time for that…”

I think on that for a moment. “So when’s the last time you…went out?”

My cheeks heat with how close I just came to asking him when he last had sex.

Slow your roll, Shaw. You’re getting way too comfortable around your boss.

“Hmm.” He shakes his head. “It’s been a while. About a year ago now, maybe less than that. Blake’s wife Camilla has a friend who comes every year to ski and we…had dinner the last time she was here.”

Oh, he totally had sex with her. I can tell by the way he grips the steering wheel, his gaze focused back on the road.

“No repeats with…Camilla’s friend?” I don’t know why I keep torturing myself with this line of conversation, but I’m compelled to find out everything while he’s talking.

“She calls occasionally, but she lives in New York.” He shrugs. “I think she’ll be out soon for her annual ski trip though.”

“Ahh. Are you gonna ask her out again? What’s her name?”

“Gwyneth. I don’t know. Haven’t really thought about it.” He lifts his shoulder again and then smirks over at me. “Your turn. When’s the last time you…went out?”

My mouth parts and I gulp, caught off guard when his grin grows.Is he asking me the last time I had sex?

No way.

Right?

“Wait, I still don’t know your favorite color,” I hedge.

“Purple.”

That makes me smile. Unexpected. “Purple, I like it. So…would a night out with Gwyneth be purple in your calendar?”

He glances at me, his eyebrows lifted. “You’ll answermyquestion now, Miss Shaw.”

His commanding tone makes me shift in my seat, certain Icannothandle Judge Sutton in such close quarters.

“Yes, sir,” I say breathlessly.

His nose flares and he turns back to the road. I feel the sudden need to stick my head out the window and get some air.

“Uh, it’s been about a month and a half since I—” I’m not sure what I’d call what I did with Drew. More of a drunk groping session than a date, and far less satisfying than getting dinner.

“Your boyfriend?” he asks.

“No. I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He glances over at me, eyebrows going up higher than before.

“You seem surprised?” I ask.

“Well, yes. I guess I am. You’re a…nurturing person and—yeah, it does surprise me.” His features are hard to read as he stares at the road.

“Thank you,” I say. “The guys at school just weren’t my type, I guess. I went out plenty, but I knew I didn’t want to get serious about anyone there.”

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