Page 52 of Beautiful Dreamer

Elizabeth appreciated that adjustment. “I like you, too.”

Devyn sighed and met Elizabeth’s eyes. There was a softness abouther that Elizabeth hadn’t seen before, as if she were totally and completelyrelaxed. “What do you want for yourself in life?” Devyn asked. “It can beanything.”

“I’ve always wanted a family. Always, always.” She hadn’t had tothink about her answer. “I want to do things like little league, and backyardbarbecues with friends, and then sneak off with the love of my life to haveamazing sex and do it all again the next week. In other words, I’m a walkingcliché.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. If that’s what you want, youshould have it.”

She sighed. “I’m not sure it’s up to me, ya know? It hasn’thappened for me yet. But who knows? It’s what I hope I find one day.” Sheunthreaded their hands and touched Devyn’s chin. “What about you?”

Devyn slid down and rested her head on her arm and smiled. “Alegacy. I want my name to mean something.”

“And how do you plan to make that happen?” Devyn’s ambition waswildly sexy to Elizabeth, and prior to this, she didn’t realize it was aquality that mattered much to her at all in another person. She continued tolearn more about the world and her place in it. What she liked. What shedidn’t. She wasn’t as boring or predictable as she once thought.

“Set commercial real estate records in Philadelphia. Start my ownfirm with my name on the door, and build my brand from there.”

“That simple?”

“Yes. That’s what I want.”

“I have a strong suspicion you’re going to do just that.”Elizabeth traced the outline of Devyn’s hip until it disappeared beneath thesheet. Her naked body was unreal. If she didn’t work out religiously, God hadbeen more than kind. “What about after work?”

“A strong old fashioned with a cherry would be nice, right beforeI crash for the night.”

“You and a drink? That’s all?” She frowned. “That’s—”

“Not terribly romantic, is it? But it’s my kind of day. Doingdeals, coming home exhausted, celebrating with a cocktail and collapsing into bed,unable to keep my eyes open until I get up and do it all again the next day.”

“Our ideals are so different.”

“Not wildly. I actually think your version sounds really nice.”

“Just not for you.”

Devyn hesitated. “Not what I ever imagined, you know? That’s all.”

Elizabeth couldn’t identify with finding satisfaction in the kindof grind Devyn described. No. In fact, she couldn’t let it go unchallenged. Nowit was she who propped her head up on her hand. “Devyn?”

“Yes?”

“What about the larger world? The people in it? Where’s the timein that kind of schedule for you to enjoy yourself? Sit at a café and reada book?”

“I haven’t read a book in a café…ever.”

“Oh.” A pause. “And that’s okay with you?” It wasn’t judgment somuch as it was curiosity about a life so vastly different from what Elizabethknew and valued.

Devyn sat up and faced her. “I haven’t missed it yet. I like myfaster pace.”

“Which is why it’s killing you to be here.”

“Actually, right now it’s not bad at all.” Devyn wrapped one armaround Elizabeth’s waist and pulled her on top. She reached up and held herhair back and just studied her face.

“What?” Elizabeth asked, self-conscious.

“You’re so beautiful. It’s staggering to me.”

“Oh.”

“What?” Devyn asked, narrowing her eyes. “You have a hard timehearing that?”

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