Worth Waiting For by Delaney Diamond Page A

“I have callouses on my hands, and my idea of a manicure is taking an old toothbrush to scrub the dirt from under my nails at the end of the day.” He looked down at his clothes and pointed. “This is what I wear to work. Every day. Can you handle that? Can you handle having your friends comment about what your man does for a living? You won’t be able to say I’m a banker or an investor. I work construction. Will you be okay telling people what I do in polite conversation at your dinner parties?”
      “Of course! I don’t know a single person who would make a negative comment about your work, and I certainly don’t care about what you do for a living.”
    “Come on, Julia.” He shook his head. “We had a good time, and maybe we can go dancing some other night when you’re free, but we both know this isn’t going anywhere. Thanks for your help on my business plan.” He turned toward the doorway.
      She said the first thing that came to her mind. “No!”
      Freddie stopped and turned slowly toward her. “No?”
      “No,” Julia said in a calmer voice. “You’re doing what I did. You’re rejecting me because you’re afraid of getting hurt. You think a relationship between us won’t last because I’ll compare you to my ex or—or because I’ll be embarrassed—really?—to tell my friends about you. That will never happen.”
      “You’re certain?”
      “Yes.”
      His face changed into a stony mask. Freddie took two steps forward and slammed the folder on the island. His actions made her jump and her eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve lived it. I want to believe you’re different, and I did at one point, but I’m not so sure. Let’s say I believe you really don’t have a problem dating a blue collar man, we still have to deal with the baggage from our previous relationships. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a better handle on mine than you do. You don’t want to waste your time and neither do I. So let me ask you, what happens the next time you run into that guy? Are you going to fall apart again? Are you going to allow him to control your feelings and make you feel bad about yourself so that you take it out on me?”
      “No.” She spoke in a strong voice, to reassure him.
      “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” he demanded. His eyes flashed down at her. “You believe it now, but what happens when you’re face to face with your past and what could have been?’
      “I’ll feel exactly the same way I feel now. I’ll feel relieved that I got away from him and didn’t waste any more time on a dead relationship.”
    His expression let her know he still had doubts.
    “I’m willing to start over if you are,” she said. She had to convince him she was worth the risk. “We both have issues, but that doesn’t mean we can’t move forward and help each other heal.” Time for Plan B. “Wait right here.”
    Julia whizzed past him and hurried into her bedroom. When she returned, she carried an empty, but complete, set of luggage. She held a suitcase in each hand, a duffle bag tucked under her left arm, and she had thrown an overnight bag over her right shoulder. She stepped into the kitchen and dropped all of them onto the floor.
    “What—”
    “I don’t know how much baggage you come with, but this doesn’t even begin to represent all the baggage I come with.” Be brave , she coaxed herself. Stop being afraid .
    Freddie stopped staring down at the bags and looked up at her.
    “I’m not perfect. I’ll probably put my foot in my mouth again like I’ve done before, but that doesn’t mean I care about you any less. You said we could go as slow as I wanted. Did you mean it? I just need a little time to get my act together, but I know we’re right for each other. I see it now. Let’s start over.” Her lips curled into a tentative smile. “I’m Julia Newman. I like a man who can make me laugh. I like a man who’s honest and goal-oriented—and muscles