Page 30 of The Confidentiality Clause
She rolls her eyes. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. But come on, you and me?” She gestures between us with her plastic spoon. “We’re like oil and water. You’d run away after a week.”
“I don’t know,” I hedge. “Shaw and Sutton have a whole fire-and-ice quality about them, yet they’re married.”
“They’re the exception to every rule. Besides, it’s not like you’re Mr. Commitment anyway.”
Her words shouldn’t sting, but they do. I’m not a player, but I don’t make time for any relationships–serious or otherwise.
“And that’s what you’re looking for?”
She pokes at her ice cream. “Yes. Not that it’s any of your business.” Her eyes flick up, then back down. “But I want marriage and a family.”
“And two dogs wearing sweater vests?” I ask with a smirk.
She gapes. “You were eavesdropping!”
I shrug. “Just a little.”
“If this ice cream wasn’t delicious, I’d dump it on your head.”
“I’m glad you like it, then.”
“You’re terrible! See, this is why we wouldn’t work. I shouldn’t want to strangle you as much as I do. That wouldn’t make for a healthy marriage.”
I laugh again. “Certainly not.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a bite of ice cream. I wonder what it would be like if we were together. I’ve never allowed myself that thought before. She annoyed me far too much for that when we were in school, plus she was Sutton’s best friend. It always felt weird thinking of her as anything other than that. But now, as I sit across from her in this quaint ice cream parlor, I can’t help but consider it.
Ariel’s beautiful, to be sure. She’s feisty, smart, and ambitious. All characteristics I’d look for–if I was looking. Which I’m not. Because I’m too busy.
I mentally shake myself. This time away from work is getting to my head. I need to refocus.
Ariel looks up and catches me staring.
“What?” She wipes at her mouth with a napkin.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
Because that’s what I need to feel when it comes to her:nothing.
Chapter fourteen
Ariel Cambridge
I wrap a burgundy towel around my body, then slide my feet into a pair of sandals. After dealing with Brock’s antics this evening, I need to de-stress. I waited until midnight before shimmying into my swimsuit. Surely, he’s asleep by now. I haven’t heard him moving around in a while.
All I want is to go out there, pour a glass of wine, and melt the day away surrounded by bubbles and the scent of the forest. My phone lights up in the dark of my bedroom, making me smile. I also might send a few flirty texts to my new doctor friend. Cohen is sweet and funny. We share the same values. Sutton might think he has a few red flags, but she thought her own husband was a walking red flag. Her judgement is impaired when it comes to men.
I pick up my phone.
Cohen: I love that you run every day. Maybe we could go on a running date sometime soon?
My mind flashes to me and Brock racing each other.Ugh. I’m spending too much time with him. He’s infiltrating my mind.
Ariel: That sounds like fun! Though I don’t know if I could keep up with you and your sub-three-hour marathon times.
The man has got marathon medals for days. He sent a picture of his closet where he hangs them, and it was overwhelming. I’m more of a casual runner, but it would be fun to train for a race, especially if I was doing it with someone as cute as Cohen.
Cohen: You’d have an advantage since I’ll be distracted by how beautiful you are.
