Page 64 of Making Over Maris

“From the romance novels.”

“What romance novels?”

“The ones Sara gave me. To study.”

“Oh, Jack.” Kat collapsed in her seat.

“I did a systematic analysis. Of all the heroes. I created an algorithm.” It was a damn good algorithm too.

“I’m sure you did.”

“And a spreadsheet outlining all the desirable traits. Women like dominant, alpha heroes with dark hair and lots of money. And the guy has to be hard to get.”

He had dark hair. And lots of money. The other two criteria, however, needed work. Hence his plan.

“Jack. That’s fiction. Women don’t really want some bossy misogynist who thinks he’s too hot for her.”

“Of course they do.” He wished his voice weren’t so small. But he felt kind of small. He’d thought he had it all figured out. He’d thought he’d get all chummy with Jenny or maybe Lynn in accounting and Sara would realize what she could be losing. Then she’d realize what a good thing she had.

Now Kat was making him question all his assumptions.

“Women want a guy who loves them.” Oh. He did. “Someone who will be faithful and caring and kind. Someone who will meet their needs and make sacrifices for them and be a good partner.”

“I can be that.”

“Not if you’re flirting with other women. Jack, I have to ask you this question. I know it sounds weird coming from me but there’s no one else to ask it.”

“Um, okay?”

“What are your intentions?”

“My what?” His heart thudded. Something prickled at his nape.

“What are your intentions with Sara? Because if you’re just fucking around—”

Oh. “I love her.”

That shut Kat right up.

“I’ve always loved her. Always.”

“You… Always?”

“Yep.” Since high school. Since that day she’d stepped in and saved him from Billy Brandt’s wedgie. No one had ever stepped in and saved him before. Sara had been the first. He’d fallen like a ton of bricks and never been able to recover. Didn’t want to. “I never thought I had a shot, but now…”

“Now you do. You do.” Her expression went kind of feral. “Don’t blow it, Jack. Don’t play stupid games. Be honest with her. Be fair with her. Don’t flirt with other women. Especially not when she can see. Every man she’s ever loved has hurt her. Every man she’s ever known has disappointed her terribly. Do you want to be one of those guys, Jack?”

“No.” He didn’t. He wanted Sara to see him as her shining knight. Like the hero in Passion’s Crusade.

He wanted her to love him.

“Then fix it.”

“F-fix it?”

“Apologize.”

Panic trickled through him. Apologize? Shit. That meant admitting what he’d done. Or tried to do.

That in itself wasn’t so bad. But then he might have to explain why. That thought was horrifying.

“Shouldn’t I wait? You know, until she calms down?”

“No. Jack,” Kat growled. “Do it now.” She stood and pranced to the door, threw it open and glanced back at him, huffing “Men” under her breath before she stormed from the room.

Jack stared at nothing for a long time after Kat left, thinking about what she’d said, what she’d suggested, balancing it with the meticulous study he’d done of the female psyche.

And while he could see her point of view, Kat was wrong.

He had to show Sara he was attractive to other women. It was an integral part of his five-step plan.

And apologizing would only make him appear weak. If he knew one thing about Sara, it was that she had nothing but revulsion for a weak man.

Hell, no.

He couldn’t apologize.

And as far as flirting with Jenny—it was time to move into phase two.