Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3) by Miranda P. Charles
Authors: Miranda P. Charles
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no worries," Lisa answered. "We really have to go, Pete. Mum just texted. Aaron's screaming again."
With hasty goodbyes, the couple left them to await dessert.
"Steve, I think we need to continue the conversation we were having before Pete and Lisa got here," Faye said after another discussion about nothing in particular as they had their dessert.
"Yeah. I was waiting for you to bring it up. Frankly, I'm a little nervous. You didn't seem very excited about the idea of getting back together."
She reached up to cup a hand on his cheek. "I care about you. You know that. We've had some really good times together. But I'm afraid I've moved on. I'm interested in someone else."
Steve frowned as he grasped the hand on his face, bringing it to his lips. "Are you sure, Faye? We get along really well. We have great chemistry in bed. We've already lived with each other and know each other's quirks …"
She gave him a half-smile and pulled her hand away gently. After comprehending the intensity of her feelings for Ray, she knew that what she and Steve had for a year paled in comparison to it. Steve was a good man. But what they had wasn't strong enough. Not for her.
"Steve, we've been honest with each other so far. I know you think I'm what you want but I'm also sure you're not ready to see yourself with me ten, twenty, thirty years into the future," she reasoned with him.
Steve shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Faye, I love you. I know we've lived together for a year but I've been busy with my career and I travelled a lot then. While I've thought about a future with you, I'm not yet ready for a permanent commitment. But that doesn't mean I couldn't, or wouldn't go there. Just give me a little bit more time to be absolutely sure about - you know - forever. But right now, I know I want to be with you. Isn't that a good start?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God he's not that crazy about me.
She looked directly in his eyes. "This other guy I'm interested in, I see us there. In the future. Together," she told him quietly.
He gaped at her for a long moment. "You're in love with him."
She gave him a confirming, conciliatory smile, hoping he wouldn't be too upset.
He looked down on his plate. "I guess I missed my chance."
"You'll find her. Someone you'll love more than me."
He glanced at her with sad eyes. "I hope so."
"I'm sure you meet lots of women during your travels."
"I do. But since I travel so much, there's not much chance of developing a relationship with anyone."
"Well, when you meet 'the one', I'm sure you'll work it out."
His lips curled up, looking resigned. "I'm really happy for you, Faye," he said, holding her hand. "We can still be friends, yes?"
"Of course."
"Will you go with to me Pete and Lisa's before I go back to Adelaide?"
"Um, my relationship with Ray is a little bit complicated at the moment and that won't go down well. Can I let you know later?"
"Sure. Everything okay with the two of you?" Steve sounded suspiciously hopeful.
"We've had a little bit of a misunderstanding but we'll work it out," was all she wanted to divulge to him.
"Ray, huh? Where did you two meet?"
"I've known him for a while. He's Clarise, Jessa and Victor's boss."
Steve's mouth formed an 'O'. "Oh, that Ray."
"Yes."
"Let me pay for my share," Faye insisted.
"No, Faye. Let me get this."
Steve was almost pleading so she gave in. After that, they stood up and got ready to go.
"Thank you for dinner. Hope you enjoy your three weeks back here," she said to him graciously.
"Thanks. Maybe we can catch up again soon. I'd really like for us to stay friends."
"Me too, Steve."
They looked at each other awkwardly for a couple of seconds before Steve enveloped her in a warm hug.
"See you, Faye," he murmured against her hair.
"Bye, Steve," she said, returning his hug.
On their way out of the restaurant, Faye didn't notice the woman who was waving at her, trying to attract her attention. She would have recognised her if
With hasty goodbyes, the couple left them to await dessert.
"Steve, I think we need to continue the conversation we were having before Pete and Lisa got here," Faye said after another discussion about nothing in particular as they had their dessert.
"Yeah. I was waiting for you to bring it up. Frankly, I'm a little nervous. You didn't seem very excited about the idea of getting back together."
She reached up to cup a hand on his cheek. "I care about you. You know that. We've had some really good times together. But I'm afraid I've moved on. I'm interested in someone else."
Steve frowned as he grasped the hand on his face, bringing it to his lips. "Are you sure, Faye? We get along really well. We have great chemistry in bed. We've already lived with each other and know each other's quirks …"
She gave him a half-smile and pulled her hand away gently. After comprehending the intensity of her feelings for Ray, she knew that what she and Steve had for a year paled in comparison to it. Steve was a good man. But what they had wasn't strong enough. Not for her.
"Steve, we've been honest with each other so far. I know you think I'm what you want but I'm also sure you're not ready to see yourself with me ten, twenty, thirty years into the future," she reasoned with him.
Steve shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Faye, I love you. I know we've lived together for a year but I've been busy with my career and I travelled a lot then. While I've thought about a future with you, I'm not yet ready for a permanent commitment. But that doesn't mean I couldn't, or wouldn't go there. Just give me a little bit more time to be absolutely sure about - you know - forever. But right now, I know I want to be with you. Isn't that a good start?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God he's not that crazy about me.
She looked directly in his eyes. "This other guy I'm interested in, I see us there. In the future. Together," she told him quietly.
He gaped at her for a long moment. "You're in love with him."
She gave him a confirming, conciliatory smile, hoping he wouldn't be too upset.
He looked down on his plate. "I guess I missed my chance."
"You'll find her. Someone you'll love more than me."
He glanced at her with sad eyes. "I hope so."
"I'm sure you meet lots of women during your travels."
"I do. But since I travel so much, there's not much chance of developing a relationship with anyone."
"Well, when you meet 'the one', I'm sure you'll work it out."
His lips curled up, looking resigned. "I'm really happy for you, Faye," he said, holding her hand. "We can still be friends, yes?"
"Of course."
"Will you go with to me Pete and Lisa's before I go back to Adelaide?"
"Um, my relationship with Ray is a little bit complicated at the moment and that won't go down well. Can I let you know later?"
"Sure. Everything okay with the two of you?" Steve sounded suspiciously hopeful.
"We've had a little bit of a misunderstanding but we'll work it out," was all she wanted to divulge to him.
"Ray, huh? Where did you two meet?"
"I've known him for a while. He's Clarise, Jessa and Victor's boss."
Steve's mouth formed an 'O'. "Oh, that Ray."
"Yes."
"Let me pay for my share," Faye insisted.
"No, Faye. Let me get this."
Steve was almost pleading so she gave in. After that, they stood up and got ready to go.
"Thank you for dinner. Hope you enjoy your three weeks back here," she said to him graciously.
"Thanks. Maybe we can catch up again soon. I'd really like for us to stay friends."
"Me too, Steve."
They looked at each other awkwardly for a couple of seconds before Steve enveloped her in a warm hug.
"See you, Faye," he murmured against her hair.
"Bye, Steve," she said, returning his hug.
On their way out of the restaurant, Faye didn't notice the woman who was waving at her, trying to attract her attention. She would have recognised her if
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