Page 72 of So Right
“Sort of,” she said softly. “I like him a lot. But I’m… I’m not sure I’m ready for a relationship.”
Gram clasped her hand over Kelsey’s on the counter. “I think it’s good that you’re cautious.”
“I don’t know,” George said, drawing both Kelsey and Gram to look at him. “If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that life is short. It took me over six decades to realize I wanted someone in my life. I never wanted to worry about someone else. I couldn’t, really, not in my profession.”
It made sense to Kelsey that he wouldn’t want to have relationships. But it wasn’t the same as her situation. She’d been abused. “I think it’s kind of apples and oranges, but I get what you’re saying about not having regrets.” She had plenty of them. And they were in the way of allowing someone else into her life.
“Sure, it’s a bit different, but maybe not in the way you think.” He leaned forward and set his elbows on the counter. “I was always kind of a loner—too smart for my own britches. Military life suited me, and the intelligence work was an even better fit.”
“Wasn’t it lonely?” Kelsey asked.
“I didn’t think so. Not until I decided to leave. Then I began to realize just how isolated I really was. The problem was, though, by then I was too far gone. I didn’t know how to open up. I got back to the real world, and I didn’t have a clue. Thankfully, I met Rob Archer. He sort of insisted we become friends.” He laughed again, that low, rumbly, feel-good chuckle. “Rob’s a great man. I owe him a lot. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have gained enough courage—or social skills—to ask your lovely grandma out.”
Kelsey could feel the warmth between them, and it gave her hope. For what, she wasn’t sure. She just wanted to feel that someday. “Well, that seems to be paying off for you.”
“On one of my assignments, I came into contact with a lot of women who’d been abused. They had one thing in common—they didn’t trust themselves anymore. Sure, they didn’t have much trust in other people either, but the fundamental thing they had to learn was how to forgive themselves and accept that none of it was their fault.” He frowned. “It’s a tough thing.”
Kelsey’s throat knotted, and she knew from experience that she was a heartbeat away from an avalanche of tears. He’d drilled right into the heart of things. She only nodded.
Gram moved her hand to Kelsey’s back, stroking her. “It’s all right,” she murmured. Then she looked to George. “You don’t have to make the poor girl cry.”
This made Kelsey laugh, for which she was grateful. “I’m okay. George, you’re an insightful man.”
“Well, all I’ll say to you—like you even want my advice, but you’re getting it anyway—is that Luke is a terrific guy. I don’t know the jackass who was in your life before, and I hope I never do.” His eyes glinted steel. “He’d better hope that too. Anyhow, you can’t do much better than Luke Westcott. His family is solid, he has a great work ethic, and he’s someone I trust.”
Kelsey recalled the hurt look in his eyes when she’d told him to burn his flowers. He couldn’t possibly know what they meant to her. How they’d upset her. He was just trying to make amends, and for something that wasn’t even his fault. So what if his ex showed up that morning? Had that really been the issue, or was it just that Kelsey didn’t trust herself not to make another mistake?
She was pretty sure she knew the answer. Shehadmade a mistake, but hopefully it was fixable.
She lifted her glass now in a toast of her own. “To unsolicited, awesome advice.”
George clinked his glass against hers, and Gram joined in. They all took a drink.
“All righty, then,” George said, rubbing his hands together, “who’s hungry for some steak?”
