If this man didn’t stop trying to prove he was a Godsend, I was going to seriously lose it.
Because how am I supposed to turn away?
“So, I promised I wouldn’t ask about your business-life. But can I ask about family?” Scott asked casually as he sat beside me.
Safe subject. There was not much to tell. Nothing about my life stuck out as extraordinary. I was very close with my father, but avoided my cynical mother like the plague. Conversations with the woman always left a bad taste in my mouth that required weeks of self-motivation and reassurance from close friends to move on.
I. Am. Enough.
“Not much excitement here, I’m afraid. I grew up on the west coast. Moved to the city for school and never went back.”
Scott frowned. “Like ever?”
I blinked. “Well, of course for the holidays—” I lied. “But most of the time I’m too busy with work.”
Scott nodded. “Sounds like an excuse.”
“Why? Does it sound familiar?”
He stirred the last of his coffee in his cup. “You could say that I guess. My parents live in London. I suppose I use distance as an excuse more often than not, but work really does get in the way. And unfortunately, it takes priority.”
“You’re not British.” I noted, barely posing a question.
“No. My mother moved there with Philip years ago.”
I wanted to know more but wouldn’t pry since he hadn’t.
“We’re actually from Chicago originally. I moved here for grad school and…” he looked at me thoughtfully, “never went back.”
“I guess we’re both the types to put our work before anything else.”
Something caused his eyes to turn cold. “There were a few times I lost focus of my goals after moving to the city, and I vowed to never let that happen again. Not with family or anyone else.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, but every other part of me wanted to hear what happened to him. “Sounds like there’s a story.”
“Perhaps,” he took the last sip of his coffee and smirked at me.
23
SCOTT
I ledIsabel through the hotel lobby and into the main dining hall. The host must have remembered me from a few weeks ago since she didn’t bother asking for my party and led us straight to the table.
I thought I was ready for another round with the man, but it turned out, I wasn’t. Heck I never was, but especially not today, not when I hadherwith me. It was safe to say I’d never woken up with a woman and wanted to spend time with her, keep her for as long as she’d stay. I wanted to know her, everything and anything she was willing to share.
And all the things she wasn’t.
The woman certainly had trust issues. I was well aware of moments she’d chosen to keep details to a minimum but her eyes seemed to say so much more at times.
I just hoped anything she witnessed today wouldn’t dissuade her even more.
Second guessing myself, I stopped short, turning to the host. “We can take it from here. I know where he usually sits. Thank you.”
The young woman nodded and turned back to her station.
I looked down at Isabel. “Listen, I don’t want you to be surprised or make you feel uncomfortable in any way. Sometimes this man and I get into heated discussions and if either he or I make you uncomfortable in any way please let me know and we’ll leave.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I know how things can get heated in business meetings” she waved a hand. “In fact, I can probably referee it,” she laughed and walked past me.
