Page 11 of Dangerous December
He belatedly realized that he hadn’t answered her when her smile wobbled and her gaze slid away from his.
“I...didn’t mean to interrupt,” she murmured. “We can talk another time.”
She wore gleaming gold hoops in her ears and a long denim skirt, topped with an oversized ruby sweater that looked soft as rabbit’s fur.
Despite the casual clothes, she had an air of sophistication and reserve far different from the girl she’d been years ago.
It was something he needed to remember.
They’d both changed so much. There was no going back. All they needed was to be businesslike. Polite. Focused.
“But I do think we need to talk, Dev,” she added. “When you have some time.”
He winced. “Uh...yeah. Some time.”
She ignored his dismissal. “Maybe now rather than later, come to think of it.” Her mouth flattened. “Because I think we need to make something perfectly clear.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Maybe Beth hadn’t much personal experience, given her former, perpetually absentee husband, but she’d certainly read enough of the pop-psychology books in her store to know that most guys cringed at the thought of discussing feelings.
If she’d ever doubted that bit of wisdom, she only had to look at Dev’s guarded expression to know it was true.
But standing here alone with him, with no other distractions, was probably the perfect place to set things straight.
“We need to talk,” she said briskly, “because we need to put the past to rest, once and for all. Otherwise, this situation will be unbelievably awkward.”
He studied her, his eyes wary, as if he expected her to dissolve into a tearful, wretched mess.
But she’d die before she allowed him to catch even a glimpse of the damage he’d caused...or the pain she’d felt, every single day, since her life had been shattered. No matter what her mother claimed, he had relinquished that right.
“I admit...” She hesitated, searching for an innocuous word that would betray nothing of how she truly felt. “That it was a shock when you insisted on a divorce. But you have your life in the service and other relationships to pursue, I’m sure. The last thing you needed were bothersome ties to a wife back home. Right?”
His eyebrows drew together.
“It didn’t take long for me to get over it, really.” She managed a smile, even though her heart was pounding against her ribs and the half-truth now lodged in her throat like a chunk of granite. “So don’t worry about having to deal with any big scenes from me. I have no regrets.”
His jaw tightened. “That’s...good.”
“So with that cleared up, it shouldn’t be hard to maintain a business relationship with each other, right?”
She fluttered a dismissive hand. “The other thing I need to clarify is that your mother’s will was a complete surprise. I had no idea she’d included me, and I certainly didn’t try to finagle my way into her good graces.”
“I never said—”
“But you might have thought it. Just so you know, your mother was polite but distant with me after the divorce. Even before that, we were never chummy during all the times you were away in the service. There were no little chats, no invitations for coffee. So if you’re imagining any sort of collusion regarding you, her will, or my bookstore building, you couldn’t be more wrong.”
A muscle ticked at the side of his jaw. “I didn’t suggest anything of the sort.”
“She stayed in your corner,” Beth added for emphasis. “And I didn’t expect or seek anything more. Now it’s your turn.”
“What?”
“If you have any concerns or questions, go for it.”
He fell silent, his intense gaze locked on hers, as if he were examining her very soul. “I...guess not,” he said at last.
“Good. So now we can try to be friendly business associates, at least. No other expectations.”
