Page 7 of Eat Your Heart Out
She waved her hands in the air. “You’ll admit it soon enough.”
We stood, and I introduced her to my brothers- and sisters-in-law. She repeated their names but seemed lost. Once we finished, we found a corner, and she put her hand on her hip.
“So, tonight is about you?”
I glanced around the room, hoping no one had told her anything else. “I made a deal and sold my business for a profit. We’re really here for the engagement party tomorrow.”
She crossed her arms and tilted her head up to look at me. “What kind of business did you run?”
I motioned toward the wine then held out a glass. She nodded.
I poured as I said, “Oil. I had my own company, but it was taking too much of my time. I realized this when my ex decided, since I was never home, she could just stay rent-free in my penthouse. I was away all the time, so Ashley got away with it for six months. I decided to sell and haven't looked back.”
She took the glass and clinked it with mine. A tremble rushed through me, and we hadn’t even touched.
Then she said, “Wow. When John, my ex as of twelve hours ago, changed the locks on me and tossed me in the dumpster, I didn’t ask for my tea bags.”
I winced. “He left you in the trash?”
She finished her sip. “He threw me in there and said it was where I belonged since I didn’t help him steal. I was raised to be respectful of other people’s property. And while I’ve had to take care of myself and made bad choices, there are lines I don’t cross.”
My heart thundered with the need to keep her safe. “Well, no one should treat you like that.”
She put the glass down and widened her stance. “I… look, niceness isn’t necessary with me. I’m still waiting for the curtain to draw back so I see what I’ve gotten myself into.”
I stepped away from her to avoid provoking her. “You believe that I’d… hurt you?”
She lowered her head then spoke more softly. “No. Not really. You’re clearly from a successful family. You’re nice to me. And the truth is I’m looking for holes in your story because you’re too good to be true.”
Whatever had happened to her was in the past. Her sense of humor and how she asked direct questions showed she had a spark of something interesting.
I stilled. “Well, I hope in time, I earn your trust.”
“Why?”
“Because maybe then we’ll both be saved.”
She snapped her fingers. “I knew it.” Then she picked up her glass. “Why do you need saving?”
“I’m a heartless, soulless business man who’s only cared about my bottom line for years now.”
“So?”
The simple question made me blink. Then I directed her to glance around the room. “I have a wonderful family who are all amazing people and happy, and I wish I could figure out a way to be more like them. Maybe then I could be content and appreciate more.”
She picked up her glass and clinked it with mine again. “You’ve got to be who you are. If you’re a shark, be a shark.”
I sipped with her. Having her next to me was nice. It was like I had someone who had my back, even for a second. “What if I’m a shark because I’m afraid to look in the mirror?”
The corners of her eyes wrinkled. “Is that why we’re shipping off? You want to find yourself?” Then she snorted out her laugh.
I blinked, and heat rose in my face. “Why are you laughing?”
She dabbed her eyes. “I know I sound rude—I think it’s probably why I have no friends—but it sounds like a rich man’s life. Hit a rough patch and take off for a world tour.”
“You don’t need to support it. Sailing is the only calming thing I know.”
“Oh no, I’m in and happy you’re taking me with you. Taking a year off sounds fun. If you need me to pee in a cup for a drug test, just tell me where. I want the job.”
Interesting. She accepted the policies of companies so easily. I finished my glass of wine. “So you’re not afraid of me anymore?”
She finished hers, put it down, then stared at me. “I was never afraid.”
My lips tingled with the desire to kiss her. She was so different than anyone I’d ever met, but I only nodded. “Now, that I believe.”
We continued to look around the room, but then she yawned. She’d had a horrible day, so I would not keep her up. Soon enough, she would tell me her story, as long as I stayed patient.
