“So, what do you think?” He raised his brow at me, and I realized he’d meant the view of the water, but I was watching him.
I forced myself to look away from the way his biceps bulged in that position and how sexy his thighs filled out his worn jeans. He smelled faintly of sawdust and soap. “It’s beautiful but busy.”
“Friday night in Annapolis attracts tourists, locals, and families visiting the midshipmen. The Naval Academy is right there.” He gestured behind us. “You can take a tour.”
“That would be nice.”
“Relax.” His eyes traveled over me and his lip twitched.
I was perched on the edge of the bench, feet flat on the ground, and spine straight with my fingers folded in my lap.
“I don’t bite.” His voice was teasing, but it was so unexpected my eyes darted to his. He usually seemed haunted by something or someone, but now his face was relaxed, his eyes bright, and his lips tilted up in humor.
“You’re so beautiful when you smile.” The words came out on a sigh as I relaxed back on the bench next to him. I felt him tense. When I realized what I’d said, my face heated. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re my client.”
“It’s okay.” But his voice was tighter.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re usually sad and when you smile it’s—”
“Unexpected.”
“Yes.” He didn’t deny he was sad or that there was a reason for it.
He was silent for a long time. I wondered if it was a mistake to come here with him when we should only have a professional relationship.
We watched the water lap against the dock, the tourists slowly dissipating the later it got.
“There are things you don’t know.”
His voice was so quiet I shifted subtly closer to him to hear. I didn’t want to say anything to stop him from talking.
“I can’t talk about it yet. You’re right. I was sad for a long time. I’m trying something different.” His tone was wistful.
“Not being sad?” I asked softly, wanting to reach out to him and comfort him. To tell him I was proud of him for saying anything.
“Exactly. I thought I’d moved on, but I realized I hadn’t moved on in every aspect of my life and I’d like to.”
My heart clenched at the depth of his emotion. His words were rare and beautiful. He was beautiful. Did he want to move on in a relationship?
“I can’t remember the last time I came down here to watch the water and just be.” His expression changed from melancholy to serene.
“I’ve never been here, so thank you for showing this to me.” He hadn’t revealed his past, but the fact he’d opened up to me, admitting he was struggling with something was telling. He thought I was someone he could talk to in the future. I held that close to my chest.
“My apartment is located near the little park with the geese statues. Do you know the one?”
“I do. Your apartment is in a better location. You have a view of the water, but not all the tourists that come with it.”
“Yes, it is nice.” It was more than nice—it was what I needed to escape my family.
“You want to tell me what you’re running from?” I felt rather than saw his body shift toward me, his crossed arms falling to his sides.
“Excuse me?” I leaned away from him.
“Why did you move here? Who’s in New Orleans that you’re running from?” As elusive as he was with questions, I got the impression he wouldn’t let me off easy. Maybe if I opened up to him, he’d feel more comfortable about opening up to me in the future.
I was a little ashamed to tell him that my father’s control went far beyond my nonprofit. “I’m not running from anyone.”
“I don’t believe you.” He arched one brow, not saying anything else. The pressure to speak weighed heavily on me.
“I’m not running.” I chewed my lip. The catalyst for leaving was Layton’s proposal. “My boyfriend proposed to me at this charity event. It sounded ridiculous each time I tell the story.”
He tensed and his eyes flashed to my hand. “I don’t see a ring. You must have said no.”
I laughed without any humor. “He proposed in front of everyone at a charity event. It was the wrong time and place.”
“And the wrong person,” Cade offered gently.
“Yes. We’d only been dating for three months—not long enough to even know each other much less decide to spend the rest of our lives together. The proposal made everything clear to me.”
“Why the distance? Why did you feel the need to move so far away from him?”
“I didn’t move because of him. The opportunity to open the firm came up. It was something I wanted to explore.” I debated telling him about my dad and his manipulation. All of my issues were tied up in him. “My father dictated most of my decisions. I wanted to do something for myself and figure out who I was without his pressure.”
“You don’t get along with your family?” He tilted his head.
“It’s more than that. He was angry I didn’t say yes to Layton’s proposal because he’s trying to close a business deal with Layton’s father. One that will save his company.”
His forehead wrinkled. “At the end of the day, it’s your life. You have to be happy with your decisions—not your dad.”
“He’s guilt-tripping me. He paid for my tuition and everything else. It’s time for me to come back and work for him. To smooth things over with Layton so his father will sign the deal. If I don’t come back, he’s refusing to fund the expansion for Kids Speak.”
“I wondered why you’d said he wouldn’t back the expansion at dinner. Look, you’re already brainstorming ways for the nonprofit to continue without his money. It’s not as easy as having his financial backing, but in the end, you’ll be happier having complete control and you’ll
