Page 43 of Dreaming of You

His expression was uncertain and fearful, and that terrified her. Ever since she'd been a little girl, her grandpa had been the male hero figure in her life. He'd been the one to bandage her up after a fall, comfort her with an ice cream sundae after some boy broke her heart, and the only one who could make her smile when she'd waited in vain for her mother to come home and keep whatever promise she'd made her.

But it wasn't just her grandfather who had been there for her; it was her grandmother, too. They were her real parents. They were the people she loved most in the world and she couldn't imagine losing one of them. She kind of wished Barrett hadn't gone to the cafeteria. The man who had annoyed her beyond belief only a few days ago now seemed like a raft in a storm. She missed his strength, his confidence. Although, that seemed crazy, because he certainly wasn't the most optimistic person she'd ever met.

"Did Barrett leave?" her grandfather asked.

"He went to get you some tea."

"That was thoughtful. He seems like a good man. I just about talked his ear off. But he was a good listener."

"He can be," she said.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"No. He's my landlord. His family company owns my office building, and he moved in downstairs. We barely know each other."

"But you were out to dinner."

"He was making up for something he'd done. We don't need to talk about him."

"It keeps my mind off your grandmother. Tell me about him. What does he do?"

"He's a divorce attorney, which makes our working situation difficult. This evening, he had a screaming couple in his office, and their argument spilled into the hall, and scared off one of my brides. That's why he took me to dinner—to apologize. I told him when he moved in last week that it wasn't going to work to have our opposing businesses in the same building, but apparently his previous office is under construction or something, and he's not planning on leaving any time soon."

"I'm sure you can find a way to get along. You're good at figuring out what people need and making sure they get it."

She thought about his words. He wasn't wrong. But she wasn't sure she wanted to know what Barrett needed, because if it was anything close to what she was thinking she needed…well, that would definitely not be a need she should try to fulfill.

"I think it's better if we keep our distance," she said.

"Then why is he getting us tea?"

She let out a small, helpless sigh. "I don't really know. He doesn't seem to want to leave."

Her grandfather gave her a compassionate smile. "That's because he likes you, too."

"I never said I liked him."

"I know you well, Katie. And you've been watching that door since he left."

"I'm watching for the doctor."

"You're a very bad liar."

She gave up. "Fine. I do like him, but we don't have much in common. He's cynical, especially when it comes to love, and I'm the eternal optimist."

"You don't have to think exactly the same to fall in love. Your grandmother and I are not the same person. She loves a party and thinks highly of just about everyone she meets. I'd rather sit in my recliner and watch a basketball game, and there are a lot of people I don't care for. Like that guy you used to date, Jimmy something. He always honked the horn for you, and you went running."

"I was seventeen and I thought he was cool."

"He wasn't."

"No, he wasn't," she admitted. "I'd like to think I've gotten a little better at picking out potential boyfriends."

"Or maybe you've just gotten gun-shy. When's the last time you introduced anyone to us? I'm thinking it's been a few years."

"I've been busy building my business, Grandpa."

"You know what they say about all work and no play…"

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