that again. I wouldn’t fall head over heels for some guy and end up right back in the place where I lost me.”
“That’s what you think I’ll be like? Shit, Red. You don’t know anything about me, and you’re already judging me.”
“I’m not.”
His nod was as definite as his words. “You most certainly are.”
“I’m not. I’m judging
me
. I have terrible taste in men and—”
This time, he was the one to halt words. “Stop. Just stop. You’re talking and talking and saying nothing. I’m tired of running around in circles.” He leaned in closer and then waited.
Tentatively, Juliana put her hands on the table and copied his action, giving their discussion more privacy, more intimacy.
“Let me see if I can translate everything you said, okay?” Connor asked.
“Go for it.” Since she wasn’t even sure what she was babbling about any longer, perhaps he could figure out what she was trying to say.
“Here goes. You had an ex who treated you like garbage. Didn’t smack you around, but he was psychologically abusive. Right so far?”
She nodded.
“You decided being single’s the best way to live. You’ve been that way since your divorce, which means you’re really used to doing things alone, making your own decisions, planning everything without answering to anyone else.”
“Keep going.”
“Then we met. We connected in a way that frightened you.”
“Wow. You’re a man of many talents.”
He quirked an ebony brow.
“You’re a real estate salesman
and
a psychiatrist.”
* * *
Connor let the sarcasm slide, mostly because he enjoyed using it as much as she seemed to. While he might not be trained in psychology, being a salesman meant he knew people very, very well. “Now you’re worried if you let me in, even just a little, that I’ll end up being like your ex.”
“Not exactly. But…” Her shoulders rose and fell in a delicate shrug.
Since Juliana had found the guts to be honest, he gave her equal measure. “Would it help you to know I’m terrified, too?”
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “I am. You scared the shit outta me. I don’t need a relationship right now. Maybe ever. I’ve got enough on my plate. I’m trying to set up a new business and keep from… Look, you scared me because what happened between us wasn’t just sex. At least not to me. It was like we had a connection. Something pretty special.”
“Very special.”
“Then the question is, what do we do about it now that we’re partners?”
Having given that dilemma a lot of thought from the moment the Ryans’ signatures were drying on the contracts, Connor was no closer to an answer. From the way Juliana kept giving her head small shakes, she had nothing to offer, either.
The waiter delivered their dinners, and instead of addressing the weighty question, they ate in relative silence. The only true conversation was about what a great find the Ryans’ house was and the things they both thought would help with staging. Things between them were light and easy until the waiter put the little black folder with the check on the table.
Connor snatched it up and tugged his wallet from his jacket pocket.
Juliana plucked her wallet from her purse, pulled out a credit card, and held it up between two fingers. “We agreed to pay for our own.”
The gentleman in him didn’t want to give in. He slid some bills into the folder. “How about I get it this once?”
“Nope. Rule number one for our partnership, that’s exactly what we are. Partners. Each pulls his or her weight.”
When the waiter came over, she handed him her card. “Please put my bill on this.”
No way she’ll give in.
He might not know her too well yet, but the determined expression on her face said it all. She’d already admitted to a stubborn streak, and she was giving him a peek at it now.
Connor picked up one of the twenties and put it back in his wallet. “Anything the lady
“That’s what you think I’ll be like? Shit, Red. You don’t know anything about me, and you’re already judging me.”
“I’m not.”
His nod was as definite as his words. “You most certainly are.”
“I’m not. I’m judging
me
. I have terrible taste in men and—”
This time, he was the one to halt words. “Stop. Just stop. You’re talking and talking and saying nothing. I’m tired of running around in circles.” He leaned in closer and then waited.
Tentatively, Juliana put her hands on the table and copied his action, giving their discussion more privacy, more intimacy.
“Let me see if I can translate everything you said, okay?” Connor asked.
“Go for it.” Since she wasn’t even sure what she was babbling about any longer, perhaps he could figure out what she was trying to say.
“Here goes. You had an ex who treated you like garbage. Didn’t smack you around, but he was psychologically abusive. Right so far?”
She nodded.
“You decided being single’s the best way to live. You’ve been that way since your divorce, which means you’re really used to doing things alone, making your own decisions, planning everything without answering to anyone else.”
“Keep going.”
“Then we met. We connected in a way that frightened you.”
“Wow. You’re a man of many talents.”
He quirked an ebony brow.
“You’re a real estate salesman
and
a psychiatrist.”
* * *
Connor let the sarcasm slide, mostly because he enjoyed using it as much as she seemed to. While he might not be trained in psychology, being a salesman meant he knew people very, very well. “Now you’re worried if you let me in, even just a little, that I’ll end up being like your ex.”
“Not exactly. But…” Her shoulders rose and fell in a delicate shrug.
Since Juliana had found the guts to be honest, he gave her equal measure. “Would it help you to know I’m terrified, too?”
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “I am. You scared the shit outta me. I don’t need a relationship right now. Maybe ever. I’ve got enough on my plate. I’m trying to set up a new business and keep from… Look, you scared me because what happened between us wasn’t just sex. At least not to me. It was like we had a connection. Something pretty special.”
“Very special.”
“Then the question is, what do we do about it now that we’re partners?”
Having given that dilemma a lot of thought from the moment the Ryans’ signatures were drying on the contracts, Connor was no closer to an answer. From the way Juliana kept giving her head small shakes, she had nothing to offer, either.
The waiter delivered their dinners, and instead of addressing the weighty question, they ate in relative silence. The only true conversation was about what a great find the Ryans’ house was and the things they both thought would help with staging. Things between them were light and easy until the waiter put the little black folder with the check on the table.
Connor snatched it up and tugged his wallet from his jacket pocket.
Juliana plucked her wallet from her purse, pulled out a credit card, and held it up between two fingers. “We agreed to pay for our own.”
The gentleman in him didn’t want to give in. He slid some bills into the folder. “How about I get it this once?”
“Nope. Rule number one for our partnership, that’s exactly what we are. Partners. Each pulls his or her weight.”
When the waiter came over, she handed him her card. “Please put my bill on this.”
No way she’ll give in.
He might not know her too well yet, but the determined expression on her face said it all. She’d already admitted to a stubborn streak, and she was giving him a peek at it now.
Connor picked up one of the twenties and put it back in his wallet. “Anything the lady
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