Page 49 of Worth Loving
In a way, he actually found comfort inthat.
“You can get another. So, what are you saying orreallyasking?”
“I guess I wanted you first and foremost to know I wasn’t blowing you off. That I enjoyed our time together and I wasn’t just using you for sex. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we ended up there and had hoped we would have eventually, but it wasn’t planned. And sure the hell not that soon. I really thought it’d take some time.”
“Okay. I understand what you are saying. I guess it’s new for me. And maybe the fact I had sex with you so quickly when I don’t is part of why I’m coming off defensive. I’m sorry if I am, but you know…no one enjoys getting ghosted either.”
He wasn’t sure what to make of her comment with that, but let it slide. She’d seemed so sure of herself when he first met her. Even on their date and definitely when he was here last.
Until they were done screwing each other’s brains out. Then he saw the vulnerable side of her.
Then and now.
He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go to work in a few hours. I have Mondays off. You know that, I’ve got time while Jonah is in school, but Carly can watch him more. I just try not to take advantage either.”
Which was stupid with how much he paid her. Not to mention giving her free living quarters.
“I work on Monday,” she said.
“But maybe we can do dinner?” he asked.
“Dinner could work. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“If it’s days again without communication or without some kind of agreement where this is going, I’m not giving you another chance.”
He laughed. “I can agree to that.” He walked closer and grabbed another cookie. “Maybe it was fate for me to show uptoday. Hot chocolate chip cookies out of the oven are one of my favorite things ever. Could be the universe was pushing this to happen today.”
“Trust me, the universe wasn’t working for me. I didn’t even think I’d ever see you again after that first night until I walked back into the bar and I had no intention of that until the last minute.”
He ignored her words about not being sure she’d return after that first night. “So I didn’t mess up that badly by those words? Or by having no communication for days.”
“We all get one strike, but I stop at two,” she said grinning. “You get to have the same rules.”
17
IN A RUT
“Why do you seem so out of sorts today?” Tonya asked.
She turned and looked at her coworker.
The one who got her spinning in this crazy vortex dating world that she was trying to navigate.
Not that she was doing that great a job at it either, but she was damn well trying.
“I’m not,” she argued.
“You’ve been quieter than normal,” Tonya said. “You’ve been that way for a week. Normally you’re all geeked out about things going on here.”
She wouldn’t take offense to that comment. There was no reason to.
She loved her job and if she got excited over it, then she did.
Her employers loved her commitment and enthusiasm.
“We all have days,” she said, her head down looking through the microscope again. She wanted to have some time to herself. She had a plan to make something and didn’t want a lot of questions.
