Page 20 of Burning Love
Nope.
Did he have deep-rooted feelings of betrayal from the first woman in his life?
He sure the hell did and wasn’t afraid to admit it.
He also wasn’t going to put himself out there.
If his mother, who was the most important person in his life, could lie to him for seventeen years, what was to stop any other woman he barely knew from also doing that?
“I could ask the same of you,” she said. “I told you why most men do. But you haven’t said why you’re asking me that question.”
She’d been honest, he’d be the same.
“I’m not looking for any type of long-term commitment. I don’t think it’s in my DNA. I’m not a cheater, don’t get me wrong. If I’m with someone, I’m only with them.”
“Agreed,” she said.
“So you have to decide if you want that. We could have a lot of fun together, no doubt there.”
She laughed. “Never in question. I’m assuming that’s all it’s going to be for you though?”
He thought he was clear. “Yes.”
She nodded her head. “I figured. DoIhave to decide today?”
“No.” As long as she knew where he stood. “Do you believe I’m not after you to get to your family?”
“I have no choice but to believe you since you’re not playing the long game. You’re not making a secret of it.”
“I’m not keen on lying. You have my word. I’ll always be upfront and honest. It might hurt to hear at the time, but it’s better in the long run.”
“You’re right,” she said. “It is. You mentioned you worked construction and that you wanted something of your own. Can you explain that more?”
“My father owns a construction company. I went to college for two years and it didn’t interest me.”
“You had a place to land too,” she said. “And here you made that comment about me and my brother. I cry no fair.”
He snorted over the way she was wiggling her eyebrows. “Not nearly the same. I didn’t know my father until I was seventeen. My mother died and I had to live with him.”
Her jaw dropped. “That’s horrible. I mean, horrible about your mother and I’m so sorry. If anyone understands being raised by a single parent, it’s me.”
Which was why he volunteered that information when he didn’t normally.
“I figured as much. We were strangers, but I couldn’t fault him. He didn’t know about me either.”
She picked her wine up and almost downed it. “Wow. This is a crazy story.”
“Don’t expect me to say much more. You’re getting more than most ever do.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea.” He was going with his gut and something told him that she wouldn’t judge and he could trust her.
“Okay,” she said. “Did you want to continue or should we change the topic again?”
“You wouldn’t be bothered if we changed it?”
“I’m not forcing you to give me your life’s story. We are having dinner and a drink and I’ll decide if we are going to do it again. You have the right to make that decision too.”
