Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
She narrowed her eyes and studied me. “I see things have developed since the other night. I got that sense from him, but he’s a little better at hiding it.”
What if she told him? “Please don’t—”
“He knows my suspicions, and believe me, I don’t intend to be talking about this to anyone but the two of you.”
“Why were you talking about me? I mean no disrespect, but why does anything that happens between us matter to you?
“Miles means a lot to me. You know he was engaged to my daughter?”
“What?” I was shocked. I would never have guessed he’d been engaged before. I’d assumed he’d always just enjoyed whoever he wanted in the moment.
“I see you didn’t know.”
“No, ma’am.” I wanted to ask what happened, but I held my tongue, waiting to see what she would say next.
“His mother and I have been friends for a very long time. She’d had it in her head that Miles and Emily should marry since they were kids. The fact that they had very different visions for their futures and had never been more than friends didn’t matter. Miles grew so tired of his mother’s pestering him that, despite have a huge romantic streak and wanting to find true love, he proposed to Emily, and she accepted to help him keep the peace.”
“Oh wow. What happened?”
“Emily fell in love with someone else, and they had to confess the truth to Mrs. Montgomery. She’s never forgiven Miles.”
I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to meet this woman. “Oh, God. That’s awful.”
“Miles and his mother had never fully seen eye-to-eye, so he could have gotten over that, but the man Emily fell for cheated on her at their engagement party. It destroyed her, and Miles was the one who helped her pick up the pieces. From that point on, he’s sworn to never fall in love or marry.”
The thought of what they both went through made my stomach churn. “I’m so sorry. About all of it.”
She nodded. “Me too, but I haven’t seen him look at anyone the way he looked at you. I think he’s finally realized falling for someone could be worth the risk, and I’m so excited for him.”
“That’s…. Are you sure?”
“I’m very sure. He’s proud of his achievements. He has good friends and a good life, but I wouldn’t say he was truly happy. Not the kind of relaxed, easy-going happiness I saw on him when he was younger. The other night, when he was with you, I saw true happiness on his face.”
“How long have you known him?”
“All his life.”
I wanted so badly to ask questions. A lot more questions. What had he been like as a child? Instead, all I asked was, “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I want to ask that you be gentle with him. I would never try to push you to get involved with him. I would never want you to do anything you were uncomfortable with, but if you’re not interested him seriously, don’t lead him on.”
“I would never—”
She laid a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry that sounded insulting. I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that, he’ll act like everything is casual, but I don’t think it is this time, and I don’t want either one of you to be hurt.”
“What would you like?”
“I’d like to see you both happy.”
“Together?”
“If that’s what you want.”
I shook my head. “I don’t belong in his world.”
“We have to make a place for ourselves in the world. If you want something, go for it.”
I started to say something else, but she made a dramatic yawn that I was sure was faked. “It is well past my bedtime. I’ll have my driver take you home.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“It is for me. I like you, and I’d like to spoil you. So let me.”
17
MILES
I missed Ben being there for the rest of the afternoon and I considered calling him and insisting he meet me somewhere for dinner or just asking him to come to my place. I hadn’t had anyone there in a while. Everyone I’ve been with since my disastrous and short-lived dalliance with April had been a quick and dirty hook up, nothing that lasted all night.
But when I thought of waking up with Ben in my bed…when I thought of him there over breakfast, sipping coffee and looking out at the city, lounging around while I read up on the news of the day…when I thought of him soaking in my giant tub after a long day at work…I wanted all of that.
This was moving too fast. I was feeling too much. I’d promised myself after Emily that I wasn’t going to let anything be serious, that I was better off just enjoying myself, but Ben…he made me feel so much more. I should try to hold more of myself back, but I didn’t want to.