Read Online License to Date by Susan Hatler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Hatler
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you?”
His grin deepened. “Virna? We’re still friends. Do you want to call and ask her?”
“No, I don’t want to call Virna.” What kind of name was that, anyway? The only Virna I’d ever heard of was the one who had won an Oscar last year for her role in that blockbuster flick about the domestically abused woman. “You must have done something wrong with Virna. Why else would you two break-up?”
His face sobered. “She wanted a ring, but I couldn’t marry her. She’s a wonderful person, just not who I saw spending my life with.”
“Oh.” That sounded so . . . reasonable. I removed a speck of lint on my pants, then lifted my lashes.
He tilted his head. “Why did you and your ex break-up?”
My spine stiffened, but it was a fair question since I’d asked the same about him.
I took a deep breath. “Paul cheated on me. With my sister. But she didn’t know he and I were together. I found out about them at my bachelorette party.” To maintain my composure, I forced a small chuckle, then lifted my glass. “Not exactly the fairytale ending I’d imagined.”
“I’m sorry.” He watched me sip my drink, but didn’t laugh at my joke. “How long has it been?”
I swallowed, staring at the sliver of wine left in my glass. “Four and a half months.”
His gaze held mine and his voice softened. “I can see how that would make you adverse to dating again.”
My throat tightened and the understanding apparent in his deep, blue eyes caused the block around my heart to wiggle. Not good. “Yeah, well. Three more dates and I’m done.”
My voice sounded resolute, but my mind whispered that Paul could be different.
No way. He had to be hiding something. Hmm. . . Mother-in-laws were notoriously scary. “Was your mom disappointed you didn’t marry Virna?”
He ran his fingers over a loose strand of hair that had fallen along my cheek, then tapped my nose playfully. “My mom understood and they still keep in touch.”
“Really?” His mom must be seriously sweet to keep in contact with his ex. Huh.
“You sound surprised.” He set his empty glass down then leaned across the table, his knuckles brushing my elbow. “Like you were hoping to find dark skeletons.”
Tingles prickled up my arm. “Hoping is a strong word.”
Yet, an accurate one.
He smiled, then his face grew serious. “When I commit myself to a woman for the rest of my life, it’s going to be for the right reasons. I’ll spend every day proving to her I know how lucky I am to have her.”
A zing zipped through me.
He tucked the loose strand behind my ear. “My parents were in love their entire marriage. I won’t settle for anything less.”
I could see passion in his eyes when he spoke. I could feel the solid heat, too. But he’d said “were.” “Your parents aren’t together anymore?”
Divorced like mine. And half the other marriages out there. Figured.
“My dad died three months ago.” Emotion filled his voice and he stood, holding out his hand. “I moved up here to be close to my mom. To take care of her.”
“I’m so sorry.” My throat tightened and I slipped my hand into his. My mind raced as we walked slowly toward the water. “Was there . . . an accident?”
“Heart failure as a result of his diabetes.” He stopped at the water’s edge, laced his fingers through mine, then turned to me. “It meant a lot to me to rappel down that building with you. In more ways than one.”
I squeezed my hand against his. “It meant a lot to me, too.”
Standing close together, we gazed into each other’s eyes, and my heart ached for his loss. He’d so clearly loved his dad. Guilt flooded through me over keeping my dad at a distance since he and my mom divorced. Even if he lived out of state, I was lucky to still have him and should appreciate that each and every day.
Paul rocked our hands gently back and forth. “So you like the tile?”
I nodded. “Love it. Thanks for
His grin deepened. “Virna? We’re still friends. Do you want to call and ask her?”
“No, I don’t want to call Virna.” What kind of name was that, anyway? The only Virna I’d ever heard of was the one who had won an Oscar last year for her role in that blockbuster flick about the domestically abused woman. “You must have done something wrong with Virna. Why else would you two break-up?”
His face sobered. “She wanted a ring, but I couldn’t marry her. She’s a wonderful person, just not who I saw spending my life with.”
“Oh.” That sounded so . . . reasonable. I removed a speck of lint on my pants, then lifted my lashes.
He tilted his head. “Why did you and your ex break-up?”
My spine stiffened, but it was a fair question since I’d asked the same about him.
I took a deep breath. “Paul cheated on me. With my sister. But she didn’t know he and I were together. I found out about them at my bachelorette party.” To maintain my composure, I forced a small chuckle, then lifted my glass. “Not exactly the fairytale ending I’d imagined.”
“I’m sorry.” He watched me sip my drink, but didn’t laugh at my joke. “How long has it been?”
I swallowed, staring at the sliver of wine left in my glass. “Four and a half months.”
His gaze held mine and his voice softened. “I can see how that would make you adverse to dating again.”
My throat tightened and the understanding apparent in his deep, blue eyes caused the block around my heart to wiggle. Not good. “Yeah, well. Three more dates and I’m done.”
My voice sounded resolute, but my mind whispered that Paul could be different.
No way. He had to be hiding something. Hmm. . . Mother-in-laws were notoriously scary. “Was your mom disappointed you didn’t marry Virna?”
He ran his fingers over a loose strand of hair that had fallen along my cheek, then tapped my nose playfully. “My mom understood and they still keep in touch.”
“Really?” His mom must be seriously sweet to keep in contact with his ex. Huh.
“You sound surprised.” He set his empty glass down then leaned across the table, his knuckles brushing my elbow. “Like you were hoping to find dark skeletons.”
Tingles prickled up my arm. “Hoping is a strong word.”
Yet, an accurate one.
He smiled, then his face grew serious. “When I commit myself to a woman for the rest of my life, it’s going to be for the right reasons. I’ll spend every day proving to her I know how lucky I am to have her.”
A zing zipped through me.
He tucked the loose strand behind my ear. “My parents were in love their entire marriage. I won’t settle for anything less.”
I could see passion in his eyes when he spoke. I could feel the solid heat, too. But he’d said “were.” “Your parents aren’t together anymore?”
Divorced like mine. And half the other marriages out there. Figured.
“My dad died three months ago.” Emotion filled his voice and he stood, holding out his hand. “I moved up here to be close to my mom. To take care of her.”
“I’m so sorry.” My throat tightened and I slipped my hand into his. My mind raced as we walked slowly toward the water. “Was there . . . an accident?”
“Heart failure as a result of his diabetes.” He stopped at the water’s edge, laced his fingers through mine, then turned to me. “It meant a lot to me to rappel down that building with you. In more ways than one.”
I squeezed my hand against his. “It meant a lot to me, too.”
Standing close together, we gazed into each other’s eyes, and my heart ached for his loss. He’d so clearly loved his dad. Guilt flooded through me over keeping my dad at a distance since he and my mom divorced. Even if he lived out of state, I was lucky to still have him and should appreciate that each and every day.
Paul rocked our hands gently back and forth. “So you like the tile?”
I nodded. “Love it. Thanks for
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