Greek for Beginners by Jackie Braun

for her son. Tad’s quite the catch. A doctor ,you know.” She emphasized the word in a way that Nick imagined other people had in speaking to Darcie. “But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a world-class mama’s boy.”
    â€œObviously, I do not know Tad or his mother, but my guess is that no one would have been good enough for her son, even a woman as wonderful as you.”
    â€œThanks.” Darcie smiled. “And I know what you mean.”
    Did she? If so, Nick thought that might have been a recent development. Her uncertainty would explain why Darcie had been flustered by a simple compliment when he first met her.
    She was saying, “Evelyn’s fault-finding might not have been such a big issue if we hadn’t spent so much time with her. Dinner practically every evening, church on Sundays. The last straw was when Tad started talking about adding another master suite on to her house instead of continuing to look for a house of our own after we got married.”
    â€œPieter and Selene will live down the street from my parents, who, as you know, live next door to my grandmother.”
    â€œNext door and down the street are not the same as under one roof with shared main living spaces. I always felt on guard around Evelyn. I couldn’t slouch without hearing her comment on my poor posture.”
    â€œTad allowed this?”
    â€œHe has a blind spot a mile wide where his mother is concerned.”
    â€œThen he got what he deserved,” Nick said. “He lost you, but gets to keep his mother.”
    Her lips twitched. “And don’t forget Rufus. He’s keeping the cat, too.”
    â€œGood riddance, spawn of Satan.”
    Darcie laughed.
    They were both quiet for a moment. Then Nick said, “I am sorry that things didn’t work out.”
    Sympathy was expected, though Nick actually felt no such thing. If Darcie were now a married woman, they never would have met, and he still would be dodging his family’s matchmaking attempts. His relief was selfish, his reasons rooted in his current situation, he assured himself. They had nothing to do with that tug of attraction and something less definable that he felt when he was with Darcie.
    â€œWell, I’m not sorry. I mean, I’m sorry that I let things go on for so long and that Becky wound up shelling out good money for a tangerine gown that she isn’t going to be able to wear anyplace except maybe a costume party.” Darcie shook her head on a laugh. “God, I must sound so cold.”
    â€œNot at all. More like honest,” Nick said.
    He appreciated honesty. And he appreciated her situation. A woman who had recently ended her engagement would not be looking for another relationship so soon. But...
    â€œGetting back to our possible fling, in addition to honesty, what else would you expect?”
    â€œI don’t know. This is an awkward conversation.”
    â€œIt is all hypothetical, remember?”
    â€œHypothetical or not, it’s still awkward. As worldly and sophisticated as I’d like you to think I am, I’m...just not.” She shrugged.
    When she said things like that, his protective instincts kicked into high gear. For all of her bravado and flippant comments, she was vulnerable and uncertain. She could be hurt. Hell, she already had been by a man who claimed to love her, but had allowed his own mother to belittle her.
    Darcie shifted in her seat. “Maybe you should tell me what you would expect.”
    â€œFair enough.” He picked up his glass and took a drink, allowing the crisp white wine to bathe his tongue as he searched for the right words. “I would expect to have more dinners such as this one. I enjoy our conversations.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œWell, like you, I would expect honesty.”
    â€œOf course.” She nodded. “And?”
    â€œWhatever were to happen naturally between us, it would be mutually