Read Online Confessions of a Girl-Next-Door by Jackie Braun - Free Book Online
Authors: Jackie Braun
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“How about you? From what you said earlier, I know you attended university and aftergraduation lived in Chicago for a time. What else?”
That was broad enough to keep him talking for hours. Nate would much rather rehash her life. God knew, he wanted some of the blanks filled in, blanks that the tabloids couldn’t possibly know or get right. Had she really been in love with him all those years ago? Had she hoped, as much as he had, that they could find a way to be together? Did she love this guy she was supposedly going to marry?
Instead of asking any of those questions, he nodded.
He wasn’t completely comfortable talking about himself, especially since his life, even what he considered the highlights, might not be all that exciting from her point of view. But she smiled, nodded encouragingly, as he told her about the summer internship he’d had between his junior and senior years of college at a hotel in New York’s Times Square.
“New York is something,” Holly said. “So much energy and so much to do. It’s my mother’s favorite city, though she wouldn’t admit to that publicly for obvious reasons.”
“It’s something,” he agreed. Though hehad a feeling she’d enjoyed a bird’s-eye view from some penthouse apartment, where he’d shared a tiny walk-up with four other interns in a section of the city that wouldn’t make it on any tourist maps.
“Anyway, after graduation from the University of Michigan, I took a job in Chicago and attended Northwestern in the evenings to earn my MBA.”
“I’m impressed.”
He shrugged, but damn if he wasn’t warmed by her compliment.
“And now I’m here.”
“Doing what you love.”
She’d summed it up perfectly. All he could do was nod.
“I envy you that,” she said softly.
“You envy me.” He realized as soon as he said it that he’d insulted her.
“My apologies. I forgot. I have the world by its tail. I have no cares, no concerns, no worries whatsoever beyond which silver spoon to select to eat my next meal. I’m not allowed to envy anyone anything.”
She started to rise to her feet. Nate put a hand on her arm to stop her. “I didn’t mean—”
She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly,as if reaching deep inside herself for patience. Apparently, she found it. When she opened her eyes, she looked calm and only the slightest bit weary. She straightened her shoulders, tilted her chin up. She was the polar opposite of the woman he’d come across mere minutes ago, legs pulled to her chest and lost in thought.
If Nate had to pick one word to describe her it would be
regal
. And he meant it as a compliment, even if he also knew what it was costing her.
I’m always on display
, she’d said earlier. Which meant she knew how to play the part of princess.
“Of course you didn’t. It’s all right. I’m tired and being insufferably rude, especially after all you’ve done for me.”
He’d offered her a place to stay for the night—a little begrudgingly at first—showed her how to operate the ancient shower in the guest bath, shared a beer and allowed her the use of his phone. He’d hardly been put out. He said as much.
“But I do appreciate it, especially since my visit was so unexpected.”
Nate rose to his feet. He felt like a champion heel. Holly was apologizing, but he was the one who was sorry. Not only for thethoughtless comment he’d made, but also for the effect his words had had on her mood. It was as if a light had been doused. He didn’t like knowing he’d done the dousing.
“It’s no problem, you being here. If I’ve seemed, well, a little brusque, it’s just that I’m not good with surprises,” he said. “I like to know what’s coming next.”
“I’d rather enjoy a few surprises now and again. Part of the problem for me is I know exactly what to expect. The script has been written. I’m just acting out the scenes.”
He’d never thought of it that way.
“I think I’ll retire now.”
“It’s been
That was broad enough to keep him talking for hours. Nate would much rather rehash her life. God knew, he wanted some of the blanks filled in, blanks that the tabloids couldn’t possibly know or get right. Had she really been in love with him all those years ago? Had she hoped, as much as he had, that they could find a way to be together? Did she love this guy she was supposedly going to marry?
Instead of asking any of those questions, he nodded.
He wasn’t completely comfortable talking about himself, especially since his life, even what he considered the highlights, might not be all that exciting from her point of view. But she smiled, nodded encouragingly, as he told her about the summer internship he’d had between his junior and senior years of college at a hotel in New York’s Times Square.
“New York is something,” Holly said. “So much energy and so much to do. It’s my mother’s favorite city, though she wouldn’t admit to that publicly for obvious reasons.”
“It’s something,” he agreed. Though hehad a feeling she’d enjoyed a bird’s-eye view from some penthouse apartment, where he’d shared a tiny walk-up with four other interns in a section of the city that wouldn’t make it on any tourist maps.
“Anyway, after graduation from the University of Michigan, I took a job in Chicago and attended Northwestern in the evenings to earn my MBA.”
“I’m impressed.”
He shrugged, but damn if he wasn’t warmed by her compliment.
“And now I’m here.”
“Doing what you love.”
She’d summed it up perfectly. All he could do was nod.
“I envy you that,” she said softly.
“You envy me.” He realized as soon as he said it that he’d insulted her.
“My apologies. I forgot. I have the world by its tail. I have no cares, no concerns, no worries whatsoever beyond which silver spoon to select to eat my next meal. I’m not allowed to envy anyone anything.”
She started to rise to her feet. Nate put a hand on her arm to stop her. “I didn’t mean—”
She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly,as if reaching deep inside herself for patience. Apparently, she found it. When she opened her eyes, she looked calm and only the slightest bit weary. She straightened her shoulders, tilted her chin up. She was the polar opposite of the woman he’d come across mere minutes ago, legs pulled to her chest and lost in thought.
If Nate had to pick one word to describe her it would be
regal
. And he meant it as a compliment, even if he also knew what it was costing her.
I’m always on display
, she’d said earlier. Which meant she knew how to play the part of princess.
“Of course you didn’t. It’s all right. I’m tired and being insufferably rude, especially after all you’ve done for me.”
He’d offered her a place to stay for the night—a little begrudgingly at first—showed her how to operate the ancient shower in the guest bath, shared a beer and allowed her the use of his phone. He’d hardly been put out. He said as much.
“But I do appreciate it, especially since my visit was so unexpected.”
Nate rose to his feet. He felt like a champion heel. Holly was apologizing, but he was the one who was sorry. Not only for thethoughtless comment he’d made, but also for the effect his words had had on her mood. It was as if a light had been doused. He didn’t like knowing he’d done the dousing.
“It’s no problem, you being here. If I’ve seemed, well, a little brusque, it’s just that I’m not good with surprises,” he said. “I like to know what’s coming next.”
“I’d rather enjoy a few surprises now and again. Part of the problem for me is I know exactly what to expect. The script has been written. I’m just acting out the scenes.”
He’d never thought of it that way.
“I think I’ll retire now.”
“It’s been
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