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“It couldn’t have beenallyour fault.”
“It wasn’t. I picked the wrong kind of guy for me, too. But I’ve had some good relationships with guys who were right for me at the right time. But I haven’t dated anyone since last year because I’ve been busy and I made a huge mistake that kind of made me gun-shy to try again.” She felt good about putting it out there, even without naming Marc as her mistake.
“Until me.”
“You are too compelling to pass up. So far,” she added with a flirty smile to let him know she was teasing.
“I’m glad to hear it. And even though you’re best friends with the woman who is marrying my cousin, and this could get awkward down the road, I couldn’t pass on a chance to get to know you better. I’ve been looking for someone like you who is also looking for the right one to come into their life, because that’s what I want, too.” He studied her. “Unless I’m wrong.”
“No. I do want something real and deep and that’s why I’ve kind of been sitting on the sidelines waiting for it to happen.”
“What happened a year ago that turned you off dating?”
She didn’t know if she should tell him, but she also didn’t want to say nothing or to lie. “I was out at a bar, celebrating someone from work’s birthday. Just a fun night out, blowing off some steam after I’d also finished a big project that took months and turned me into an all-work-no-play hermit. I wanted to have some fun. I met a guy at the bar, we danced and talked and flirted. He seemed great. One drink led to four and led to me going home with him. We had a great night.” She eyed him to see if he had anything to say.
“I’m with you so far. Sounds like you two were on the same page, things got hot, clothes came off.”
She let her initial worry that he’d judge her wash away. “Exactly. I woke up the next morning and thought that was fun, maybe I’ll see him again. But probably not. We hadn’t made any promises and that was okay with me. I’m not usually the one-night-stand kind of person, though I had done it a couple times before in college, so I was okay with walking out the door without any expectations of a phone call or a repeat.”
“Sounds fair.”
“And then his phone lit up with a text and I was furious.”
Gray sat back. “Oh, shit. Wife?”
“Girlfriend. If I’d known, I would have gone home alone. And I asked if he was married or attached when he offered to buy me the first drink. He said no. I thought I’d made myself clear, and he made me the other woman.”
Gray’s eyes narrowed. “It really pissed you off.”
“Big time. I’ve been cheated on. I know how it feels, and I’d never do that to anyone.”
“I know what you mean. I’d been seeing someone going on a year when I found her with another guy.”
“What did you do? Did you hit him?”
He shook his head. “I wanted to, but what you feel and what you do are two different things.”
That simple yet telling statement resonated through her.
“But more than seeing him with her, it was the look in her eyes that really made me angry. She looked smug, like she’d pulled one over on me and I deserved it. We hadn’t been getting along for weeks. Things were getting to the point where we either had to have a long talk about how to fix it or cut our losses and get out. She chose the third path just to hurt me.”
Rose reached over and put her hand over his. “I’m really sorry that happened to you.”
He turned his hand, linked his fingers with hers, and squeezed. “I’m sorry that guy lied to you, just so he could be with you. I’d do just about anything to have you, but that’s not one of them.”
She gasped at his bold statement.
“I don’t play games, Rose. I’ll always be honest with you.”
“I think that’s what I like most about you. You’ve been up front and open since the moment we met.”
“Because I want this to be real.”
“So do I.”
“Then let’s get something to eat and spend more time together.”
She stood with him and they walked hand-in-hand to the buffet line. She missed his touch the second he released herhand to offer her a plate and take one for himself. They walked along the buffet, picking out many of the same items.
