Page 41 of One Hot Deal

After lunch, I need a break from all this revelry.So I sneak away to the summer house.

The garden insulates this spot from the house and the guests having a party on the lawn, giving me a nice quiet place to kick back and relax.I lie down on the bench inside the summer house, linking my hands under my head, and close my eyes.The only sounds I hear are birds chirping.

Ahhh, this is perfect.

Footsteps draw closer.

Oh, no.I was into the solitude, but now somebody probably wants to drag me back to the big hoedown.I push myself up into a sitting position and set my feet on the floor.I still have my eyes closed as I yawn and stretch.

"Did I disturb you?"

My lids fly open, and my gaze veers to Diana.She stands on the top step of the summer house.My pulse speeds up."Hey, Diana."

She shuffles a little closer."Mind if I join you?"

"It's a free bench.Come on over."

Diana settles in beside me.Right beside me.Her leg brushes against mine.She clasps her hands on her lap."You wanted to say something this morning."

"Yeah, I did."

"Would you tell me now?"

I fidget on the bench.It's dumb, but I feel anxious about telling her the truth."Maybe we should talk about it another time.Today has been a whirlwind, and we're both wiped out."

"Yes, it has been quite a day."She studies me for a moment."I'm only a guest for the wedding, but your sister is getting married.That must be stressful for you, especially since your mother and father passed away years ago.Avery told me about that."

"Women gab about everything, don't you?"

"I like Avery.We've become friends, and I'm sure that's why she felt comfortable sharing something from her past with me."

"She hasn't had many friends.Her job used to take her around the world, so she was always too busy to have a social life.All of that changed when she met Hugh."I move my hand toward Diana's leg, instinctively wanting to hold her hand, but I stop short of doing it.I doubt she would want that."I'm happy for Avery and Hugh, but the wedding stuff has made me reflect on my life.I've never been married or engaged.Had serious girlfriends, but those relationships always fizzled out.Maybe I'm the problem."

Why the hell did I just spill my guts to Diana?I must be "barmy," as the Brits would say.Or maybe I'm a "bampot," as the Scots would say.

Diana stares blankly at me for several seconds.Then she clasps my hand."I've had similar troubles with men, though I was married once."

"Seriously?Nobody mentioned that."

"Why would they?It was a long time ago, and I haven't talked about that with anyone since the divorce."

She chose to tell me, after keeping it to herself for years.I want to know more about her marriage, but I can't decide if I should ask any questions.Though I've never been afraid to speak my mind, this is the first time in my life that I've found a woman who makes me feel like we could have something that lasts more than a while, something that lasts forever.

Yeah, I'm barmy for sure.

Diana squeezes my hand."You are not the problem.Those women must have been idiots to let you get away."

"Uh, thanks.It's weird to hear you say that since you only want my body."Time to man up and just say it."I want more than that with you, Diana.A lot more."

She doesn't rip her hand away like I'd expected.She doesn't seem horrified either."You are the first man who ever made me wish I were capable of more, of what you want from me.But my marriage changed me, and I can't erase those scars."

"Maybe you can't erase them, but scars can heal."

Diana releases my hand, folding hers on her lap as she gazes down at them."Has Pippa told you how she came to be in my care?"

"No.I've wondered, but it's not my place to ask.You never mentioned having a ward when you hired my company to protect you."

"Pippa is not my ward.Legally, she is my daughter.I adopted her after her father died.He was my younger brother."She bows her head and says nothing for a moment."Fifteen years ago, Roger met and impulsively married a woman who had a history of addiction.He desperately wanted to help her recover from that, and she did try, but only while she was pregnant with Pippa.Once the baby was born, Amanda ran away.Roger eventually found her.She had died of an overdose."

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