Page 26 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

“No. It’s not that, it’s more … tradition based. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it.”

“Understandable, each family has its own ‘thing.’ Some are worse than others.”

“Is that why you live with your aunt?”

“Yes, and no … It’s a bit of a story,” she whispered, blinking at her hands.

“You’re upset,” he observed. “I’m sorry, we can talk about something else. Let’s go with fluffy. What movies are your favorite, books that kept you up all night reading?”

Snorting, she grasped at the change in conversation. “I remember when I first read The Glass Castle and The Jungle, I stayed up all night because I was crying.”

“Sounds like you need some happier books.”

She laughed darkly. “I haven’t been to the library in a while. I’ll put it on my list of things to do. For movies, I usually watch whatever my aunt picks. She likes those cheesy rom-coms from the nineties, the more ridiculous the better. Sometimes we watch them and laugh.”

“What do you watch when it’s your choice?” he asked.

“Batman,” she admitted, and he laughed.

“A specific one?”

“Just any Batman really, it’s a bit of a problem, to be honest.”

“There are worse things to be obsessed with than The Caped Crusader. Seriously, I know a grown man who watches My Little Pony every day.”

“That’s rough.”

“You’re telling me, I have to hear about it.”

“It’s you, isn’t it?” she asked.

“You caught me.” He held his hands up in surrender.

She laughed too loud. With a pang, she realized it felt good. She was enjoying his company a little too much. She should get up and leave, but she really didn’t want to. How long had it been since she had a pleasant conversation for the sake of it?

Outside of work, of Rachel, when was the last time she talked to anyone? This little tryst was curing the pit of loneliness that’d been eating away at her. Maybe talking with him wasn’t nefarious after all.

“What about you, what movies or books do you enjoy?” she asked.

“Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie. It might have been a Christmas movie my sister made us all watch.”

“She made you?”

“Maria’s professionally trained in how to argue. I pick my battles wisely,” he admitted.

“Smart man.”

“It happens occasionally.”

Chuckling, she allowed herself to get lost in his gaze. When was the last time she laughed so easily or felt so much like herself?

“Are you still close with your siblings? You mentioned doing business with them.”

“We’re close with business and personal. Although my youngest brother doesn’t come home much. It’s … complicated for him.”

“The old-fashioned traditions?”

Tom nodded. “In a way, we bonded over them, but he still prefers to keep his distance from Fairville.”