“When the other family members found out, they tried to contest it, but it was too late. The cook booted everyone out of the house and lived happily ever after.”
Alex finished his wine without taking his eyes off her. “That’s quite a story. Are you assuming I have ulterior motives for feeding your fancy?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
WHAT an odd question.
“Of course not, Alex. I was using it as an illustration to compliment you. Obviously the author understood the effect of the perfect meal on the senses and made a fascinating tale out of it.”
He wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “With adulation like that, am I to presume you’re ready for dessert? It was my grandfather’s favorite.”
“Not yet!” Reese cried. “I couldn’t. There’s no room. Maybe when your girlfriend gets here.”
“I expected her before now. It appears she’s not coming after all.”
“Because of me?”
He nodded slowly.
“But that’s absurd, Alex!”
“Not really. The truth is, she’s a lot like Carly, too timid and hesitant to fight for what she wants. I’m afraid our relationship is over.”
Aghast, Reese pushed herself away from the table and stood up. “If she’s jealous of me, she shouldn’t be. I’d be happy to call her and tell her that nothing has ever gone on between us.”
“She doesn’t see it that way,” Alex explained. “You’d never convince her otherwise. Frankly, neither does anyone else who knows you or me.”
Her heart thudded sickeningly. “It doesn’t matter what other people think. It’s human nature to gossip. But I wouldn’t hurt your girlfriend for anything in the world. We should never have spent this day together, Alex. It’s only made matters worse for you.” Her voice shook.
“You’re wrong. The break had to come. Today was the right time to call it quits.”
She clung to the chair back. “But earlier you told me it was very serious between you two.”
“It was. However there’s a big difference between serious, and doing something about it.”
“Like what?”
“Like getting married.”
“You don’t want to marry her?”
“No.”
“I thought she was going to help you run the restaurant.”
“I thought so, too, but obviously things have changed.”
Reese started clearing the table. At the doorway to the kitchen she paused. “How long have you known her?”
“As long as I’ve known you.”
“If you didn’t want to marry her, why have you stayed in the relationship?”
“We’d both made a commitment and didn’t want to go back on it.”
“A-are you devastated that it’s over?” she stammered.
“Not at all. If you want to know the truth, I’m relieved. Which brings me to the question I’ve been wanting to ask you since you ran into my truck.”
At the mention of the accident, her pulse rate picked up speed. “Just a minute while I put these plates in the dishwasher.”
“I’ll finish clearing.”
The moment he got to his feet, she darted into the kitchen and started loading. With several trips he’d brought everything in from the dining room. He put the remaining food in the fridge. Soon she’d started the machine.
In the act of wiping off the counter, she turned her head toward him. “What did you want to ask me?”
He studied her features for a moment. “Since you have a week before your school starts, how would you like to spend it with me?”
She blinked. “You mean like help you pick out things for your restaurant?”
“We could do that. I could help you find someone to rent this condo. If you need a mover to transport some things to La Jolla, I’m your man. I’ve got a truck and am ready to go.”
“Aren’t you being a little impetuous? Your girlfriend must be shattered to think things are over between you.”
“If she is, someone else is already waiting in the wings.”
Reese stared at him. “Are you implying she was unfaithful to you?”
“No.”
“Then maybe if you gave it a little more time-”
He shook his head. “It’s finished, Reese. I’m ready to move on. You and I have both severed ties with the studio. Something tells me you are as much at a loose end as I am right now.”
His comment was so patently true, there was no point in denying it.
She drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to be honest with you about something, Alex.”
He’d propped himself against the counter. “What’s that?”
“I don’t think we should see each other again after tonight.”
“Give me a reason.”
She folded the dishcloth. “Because it’s not a good idea.”
“That’s not specific enough.”
“For one thing, you’re just coming out of a relationship.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning you’re feeling vulnerable and…lonely.”
“So I’ve turned to you because you’re the most handy female around, is that what you think?” He smoothed a strand of her hair off her forehead. It caused her to tremble.
“It’s true.”
“What’s so bad about two lonely, vulnerable people seeking each other out? We’ve been friends for a long time.”
In a panic, she backed away from him. “That’s the whole point. We’re friends. Nothing more.”
“Would you like it to be more?”
“Stop using Fabio’s lines!”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
Heat suffused her face. “Except for the part about him feeling alone because he left the monastery, it’s
“Like I said. I related to Fabio in a lot of ways. The part was perfect for me. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fantasy from reality.”
She folded her arms. “Well, in our case you’re going to have to. If Alex Kieris and Reese Bringhurst were meant to have had an off-screen love affair, it would have happened long before now.
“The fact that you waited until breaking up with your girlfriend before turning to me proves that what you felt for her was what you
“I don’t want to be a woman you’ve decided to spend time with because you can’t have the one you really wanted. A year’s a long time to devote to one person, Alex. You can’t tell me you didn’t have hopes of marrying her when you first met her.”
He cocked his head. “You’re right. She changed my world.”
“You see?” Reese cried. “That’s what I’m talking about. Even if it didn’t work out in the end, you felt that way about her when you first met.”
“That’s true.”
“Thank you for being honest about that at least.”
