Page 42 of Fierce-Colson

He smiled this time with his shrug. “I guess. I did love her. Thought I did. We got along. She knew what happened with Stephanie and why. I was very clear and upfront there. If that was an issue with her, she needed to know.”

“The smart thing to do.”

“I thought so. So we got married and two years in, she told me she thought she could handle it, but really couldn’t. With my job and all the hours I worked, she was missing out on too much. I’d told her to go out and do things with her friends.”

“Did she?”

“She did and said that if she was going to act like she was single, that she might as well be and asked for a divorce.”

Her jaw dropped. “Just like that?”

“There was more to it, but no reason to bore you. We didn’t fight like Stephanie and me. It was more like a gradual drift. I saw it happening. I asked what I could do to help, but I was moving my way up to be a detective. I didn’t want to cut back and lose my chance.”

“I guess I know something about putting my career first.”

“And don’t think we won’t get to your side. Why don’t we do that now before I talk about Bella?”

“Sure,” she said. “Though nothing as dramatic as you. No engagements. No marriages or divorces. I’ve had a few serious relationships, but nothing more than a year. The truth is, men don’t always like being with a woman who gets so much attention while they are out. That was a big one. Or the big thing in my last relationship.”

“How long ago was that?”

“What, you haven’t been listening to gossip about me?” she asked, feigning hurt.

“Have you about me?”

Her fingers moved up on a pinch. “Maybe a little. I knew you were divorced. I had heard about another engagement before, but that was it. I didn’t know about Bella.”

“I haven’t heard much about you,” he said. “Though I tried to listen. I’m not the type to come out and ask.”

She always knew that about him back in school also. “I like to hear the information from the source.”

“The same. So what, it’s just your career?”

“That’s mainly it. If it’s not being out in public and getting the attention, it’s the time on the job. It’s very demanding.”

“I guess that’s one thing we’ve got in common.”

“Is it a problem for you?” she asked. Might as well get this out in the open.

“It can’t be one for me if I’m having the same issue. Maybe that has been part of my problem. I can’t find someone who understands it because they’ve always had a nine-to-five job.”

“I understand. I’m good with it. Sometimes, it might even be better since I’ve got so much pulling me in that direction.”

“That’s a good point. But I want to be with someone and feel as if I’m in a partnership when I’m with them. I guess, to me, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “I lacked that with Stephanie and Jill.”

Her bare foot came out, her toe moving along his hip, just where she could reach. “That’s important to me too.”

His hand moved and grabbed her foot. Not hard. Not tight. Just to drag his thumb over her arch, causing her to jump and giggle, almost spilling her wine before she yanked her foot back under her hip.

“Sounds like we agree there,” she said. “If we decide to move forward.”

“I already know where I’m leaning. You?”

“I do. Tell me about Bella.”

“The short version: my father remarried someone half his age. When he was fifty, Bella was born. Holly, Bella’s mom, was twenty-five.”

“So just two years older than you. Ick.”