He waited as she finished her fish and took a sip of water. "So how come no one’s managed to drag you up the aisle yet?" he asked her.
Laura spluttered. "What?"
Daniel loved the outraged expression on her face. "I don't see why all the private confessions should be limited to my side of the table," he said smoothly.
"I didn't ask you to confess!"
"I know. But I did anyway. So come on, fair's fair." He knew he was pushing her, but all of a sudden, he desperately wanted to know. His private life had been forced upon her from the minute he'd met her, but he realised now that he knew little about hers, except for what she'd said at that first dinner date about her father, and that she and her brother weren't keen on marriage as an institution.
She casually shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose I never met anyone I wanted to get that involved with."
"I get the impression you deliberately keep it that way," he said. When she glanced up sharply, he reminded her, "You told me this morning that you do your best to stay away from men."
"Well, I do date," Laura said defensively, "but I prefer to keep my distance, that's all. I enjoy my work, my friends. I don't need any . . . complications."
"You mean like your mother had when your dad left?" he asked her gently.
She inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Maybe. It didn't exactly help me believe in love ever after."
"Maybe you will if the right person comes along."
Laura curled her lip. "I doubt it. Maria's the only one with high hopes on that score."
Sensing she was trying to lighten the moment, Daniel agreed. "Looks like we're both eternal bachelors, then."
"Looks like." Laura's gaze was challenging. "In which case, we could do without a repetition of last night."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning you should keep your hands and lips to yourself from now on."
Daniel snorted. "I don't remember your hands and lips being too reticent, Laura Matheson!"
It pleased him that she blushed so furiously. "It was late. I was tired and overwrought."
"Not for long, you weren't!" Just the memory of their dance and their kiss sent his pulse rate soaring and brought a flush to his own cheeks. He covered the moment by stopping a passing waiter to ask for the bill.
"Anyway, that's not the point," she said sulkily.
"So what is the point?" he asked her, confused now.
"Exactly!" Her vehemence made him jump. "What is the point? You've just said yourself that you can't commit to anyone. That your work and your family prevent it. I've told you I don't want to commit to anyone. Nor do I believe in meaningless holiday flings."
Daniel's heart sank like a stone. He'd led himself right into this . . . this dead end. He had no smart comeback, no smooth way out.
"So what are you saying?" he asked her dully.
"I'm asking you to leave it alone, Daniel. For both our sakes."
He scrubbed at his tired eyes with his hand and swallowed his disappointment. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we should start again. As friends. Just friends. What do you think?" He was trying to go along with her wishes by offering her the only thing left to them. And yet friendship—appealing though it was—seemed so tame all of a sudden.
"I think that's . . . a sensible idea," she said.
Their gaze locked, and each of them smiled their agreement. But the smiles didn't reach their eyes.
****
While Daniel paid, Laura excused herself and headed off to the ladies' room, her heart heavy—which was ridiculous. She had what she wanted. Daniel had agreed to stop pushing the buttons on their mutual attraction. And yet the idea that she wouldn't feel his lips on hers again was a barren prospect she'd rather not think about.
Natalie walked into the sink area just as she was about to leave and, if her heart could have sunk any lower, it would have.
"Did you enjoy your lunch?" Natalie asked politely.
"Yes, thanks. And you?"
Natalie shrugged. "The food was okay. The company was better." She gave Laura a knowing look.
Laura gave her one right back. "A little young for you, isn't he?" It was out before she could stop it, but she'd had about as much of Natalie as she was going to take.
Natalie didn't blink at the jibe. "Maybe. But the advantage of youth is that Tony hasn't had time to build up a stack of unwanted baggage. Unlike Daniel."
Since Natalie made up a good part of Daniel's "baggage," Laura couldn't fail to be impressed by the woman's nerve.
"Well, I'd better be getting back to him, baggage and all," she said.
But Natalie was blocking the exit and didn't move. "You'll no doubt be pleased to hear I'm flying back tomorrow," she announced, much to Laura's surprise.
"Oh?"
Natalie gave a small shrug of her shoulders. "Despite what you may think, I do know when to quit—for now. But you see, I have an advantage you don't have. I know Daniel. I know why he thinks he can't commit. I work with him, I work with his brother. I can influence and I can manipulate, which is exactly what I intend to do. I'm regrouping, not retreating. Daniel will come back to me. With his lifestyle, he has no choice. No other woman wants that. His fiancée proved it." She gave Laura a sly look. "I expect you have no idea Daniel was once engaged, do you?"
"Actually, I know all about it." Laura enjoyed watching the smugness disappear from her unwanted companion's expression. "I've said this before and I'll say it again—there is nothing between Daniel and myself other than friendship. As such, you're welcome to him if you want him. But I think you should ask yourself whether he wants you. A relationship isn't a business deal built on manipulation and fizzled-out desire, a battle to be
