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He shook the other woman’s hand. She was gorgeous, obviously smart, and he felt absolutely nothing for her.
All he could think about was Juliet’s sweet smile.
“Your parents said you’re considering moving here,” Yvonne said as they all sat for before-dinner drinks.
“They’re wrong,” he said with a tight smile. “I’m happy where I am.”
His mother let out a nervous laugh as Yvonne gave him a startled look.
“Xavier feels some loyalty to the town where he grew up. But his talent is wasted there.”
“There are sick people in Wishingbone, Mother,” he replied tightly.
“Wishingbone, what a funny name.” Yvonne laughed, his parents joining her.
Xavier tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, unamused.
When they went through for dinner, his mother pulled him aside. “You could make an effort, Yvonne is a lovely woman.”
“I’m not interested in a relationship with a stranger, Mother,” he said coldly. “Or in moving here.”
She sniffed. “You can’t stay in that awful town.”
“I can and I want to. I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon and I’d like to speak to your Doctor about the biopsy results.”
“The results aren’t back yet.”
He noticed she couldn’t meet his gaze.
“They should be by tomorrow, or I’ll call the lab myself.”
“Don’t do that,” she said sharply.
“All right,” he agreed. “But I’m leaving tomorrow and if they’re not back by then, you’ll have to send it to me.”
“Xavier, you cannot just leave.” She put her hand on his arm, her nails digging into his forearm.
“I have to go home, Mother. I have responsibilities.”
She made a scoffing noise. “I cannot believe you’re wasting Yvonne’s time by not getting to know her.”
“I’m not interested in Yvonne. I have someone else I care about.”
He hadn’t realized how much he cared about her until now. His head hadn’t been in the right space. He still didn’t fully believe he deserved to be happy, deserved her.
And he wasn’t certain she could handle his need for control. Juliet was delicate and sweet. She wasn’t going to want to be tied up and spanked. To have him torture her with pleasure without letting her come for hours. To get down on her knees and suck him off.
But if he had to suppress those needs in order to have her? Wasn’t she worth that?
“Someone else? Who?”
No way was he telling his mother. He had to protect Juliet from her. From anyone who might harm her.
“I’m sorry you’re ill, mother. And that you’re not happy with me. But my life is my business.”
Tension eased from her as Brick returned to the table, she set her phone down after texting Xavier.
It wasn’t that Sterling wasn’t a nice guy. He seemed fine. But she didn’t know him well. Not like Brick or Elias. And he was so pretty that he was kind of intimidating.
