I Do…. Dani Wade

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       Chapter Five

      Sam stared at Julia. Her blond hair curled around her shoulders and fell forward, covering one high cheekbone. His fingers itched to smooth it back from her face, to touch her skin and wipe the pain from those large gray eyes. She looked so alone sitting in the oversized stylist’s chair.

      Sam knew what it felt like to be alone. Hell, he’d courted solitude for most of his life. He’d learned early on only to depend on himself, because when he relied on other people for his happiness he got hurt. First when his mother died and his dad had almost lost it. Then, later, in the relationship that had ended with his fiancée cheating on him.

      He’d come to believe that happiness was overrated. He wanted to work hard and make a difference—the only way he knew to chase the demons away for a little peace.

      When he’d heard Julia defending his character, something tight in his gut unwound. He was used to making things happen and having people depend on him. He prided himself on not needing anyone. It bothered him to know that women were spreading rumors about him, but he would have soldiered through with his head held high. Hearing Julia take on those ladies had made him realize he liked not feeling totally alone.

      Her declaration that they couldn’t make it work made no sense. “Why the change of heart?” He moved closer to her. “You convinced Annabeth and Diane.”

      “How old are you?”

      “Thirty-three.”

      “Why do you only date younger women?”

      He stopped short. “I don’t.”

      “Are you sure? I’ve heard you average women at least four years younger. I’m thirty-two. My birthday’s in two months.”

      “I don’t ask a woman about her age before we go out. If there’s a connection, that’s what I go on.”

      “You never asked me out.”

      “I asked you to marry me,” he said, blowing out a frustrated breath. “Doesn’t that count?”

      She shook her head. “I mean when you first came to town. When you were making the rounds.”

      “I didn’t make the rounds. Besides, you were pregnant.”

      “I haven’t been pregnant for a while.”

      “Did you want me to ask you out?” The attraction he’d denied since the first time he saw her roared to life again.

      She shook her head again. “I’m just curious, like most of the town is now. We’ve barely spoken to each other in the last two years.”

      “I thought the idea was that we were keeping the relationship under wraps.”

      “What’s your favorite color?”

      “Green,” he answered automatically then held up a hand. “What’s going on? I don’t understand why you think this won’t work. You made a believer of Annabeth Sullivan, the town’s main gossip funnel.”

      Julia stood and glanced at her watch. “The girls will start coming in any minute. I don’t know, Sam. This is complicated.”

      “Only if you make it complicated.”

      “What’s my favorite food?”

      “How the heck am I supposed to know?”

      “If we were in love, you’d know.”

      Sam thought about his ex-fiancée and tried to conjure a memory of what she’d like to eat. “Salad?” he guessed.

      Julia rolled her eyes. “Nobody’s favorite food is salad. Mine is lobster bisque.”

      Sam tapped one finger on the side of his head. “Got it.”

      “There’s more to it than that.”

      “Come to dinner tonight,” he countered.

      “Where?”

      “My place. Five-thirty. I talked to my dad this morning. He didn’t mention delving into my emotions once. Huge progress СКАЧАТЬ