suppressing her baser instincts. So why hadnât she then?
She gulped, tearing her gaze from him to stare out at the ocean. Coming here with him had been a horrible mistake. One sheâd likely live to regret.
âWhat about you?â
âMe?â She knew his gaze was on her, but she didnât dare look at him. Heâd see too much in her eyes, would instantly realize that sheâd met the man she wanted for all time during a job interview eighteen months ago.
No! She hadnât met the man she wanted for all time. Vale was not that man. There was no that man . All she felt for Vale was physical attraction and professional admiration. That was it. Nothing more.
âWhy havenât you married?â he clarified, his wordsnipping at her soul as surely as the tide tugged at her feet.
âI imagine someday Iâll meet someone whoâll sweep me off my feet.â Someone whoâd make her forget how Valeâs lips had felt against hers, how even now thoughts of him pushing her back onto the sand and kissing her danced through her mind. Not that she thought things would last with that man either. She didnât.
Men left. It was what they did best.
âAnd give you babies to take to soccer practice?â
She tried not to let images of blue-eyed imps dribbling the ball toward the goal take over her mind. She did not want to have Valeâs babies. She didnât want babies period. Sure, the making them might be fun, but then sheâd be like her mother, alone, raising a child.
Only her mother hadnât been able to stand being alone and had flitted from one loveless marriage to another, from one man whoâd eventually leave her to another.
âIâm in no hurry at this point in my life to meet someone or even think about marriage and babies. My career is whatâs most important.â
âUntil you achieve your career goals?â he teased, but his eyes held a steely quality.
âItâs not as if Iâm going to reach a certain point, mark my career off my life to-do list, then move on to marriage and children, Vale.â She glanced out at the horizon, spotting the silhouette of a ferry off in the distance. âJust that at some point down the line Iâd like to believe I can have all the things I want.â
She wouldnât remind him that what she wanted was a real house with a real yard for her dog to play in. No man required.
âYouâre a special woman, Faith. If anyone can ever have it all, Iâm sure itâs you.â
She glanced at him, saw the sincerity on his face, and smiled. âThank you, Vale. That quite simply might be the nicest thing youâve ever said to me.â
âYou jest.â His forehead wrinkled. âIâve complimented you before.â
âAbout my work, yes. Me? No.â
He stopped walking, turned to face her. His hand squeezed hers reassuringly. âJust tonight I told you what a beautiful woman you are.â
âTthatâs d-different,â she stammered, wondering at the light in his eyes. Was it the reflection of the last golden rays dancing across the sky? Or was Vale looking at her as if she really was beautiful?
His brow lifted. âBecause you donât believe me when I say that you are beautiful?â
âIâve seen the women you date. Iâm not even in the same league.â Models, actresses, heiresses, he went through them all.
âTrue,â he agreed, twisting the knife in her gut. He could at least have been polite and not said anything.
Sheâd never have him, knew she never would, and was foolish to have these momentary lapses where she dreamed she might.
âNone of the women Iâve known hold a candle to you, Faith. Not a single one.â
She wanted to look away, wanted to shield her eyes from his, but she couldnât. Not when he looked at her as if he believed what he said, as if he really did believe she was more
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