Read Online Thrill Me by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

put us more in the public eye. I didn’t love those, either.” He shrugged. “Relationships are all about compromise.”
    There was something in his tone. “You say that like it’s not a good thing.”
    â€œOh, it can be. Until one person needs the other to go too far.”
    Interesting
, she thought. Not that she had a clue what it meant. She’d heard that Del and Hyacinth had broken up, then gotten back together for a short period of time before ending things a year or so back. What she didn’t know was why.
    There had been speculation that one or the other had cheated. She would put her money on Del staying faithful. Despite his traveling lifestyle, he was a traditionalist at heart. A one-man, one-woman kind of guy. She couldn’t say for sure how she knew that, but believed it down to her bones.
    â€œWhat about you?” he asked. “You had the luxury of a private life. Who do you want to trash over dinner?”
    â€œNo one,” she said with a smile. “There were relationships and they didn’t work out.”
    â€œOr there’d be a Mr. Farlow?”
    â€œExactly.”
    She’d dated, but had never gotten serious with anyone. Not since Del. She’d figured out the reason. She’d learned early that she couldn’t trust anyone to rescue her. She was going to have to take care of herself. While that wasn’t inherently a bad thing, it had kept her at an emotional distance from the men in her life. The ones who had wanted more had been frustrated by her reluctance to risk getting more involved.
    Unfortunately, knowing the problem didn’t seem to make it easier to solve. As long as she wasn’t willing to take the chance, she would never have that elusive happily ever after ending. A part of her genuinely didn’t think she had it in her to love anyone, so why try? But without trying, she would never get there. An emotional paradox.
    â€œSo what festival are you looking forward to the most, now that you’re back?” Del asked.
    â€œA tidy change of subject? Is this to ensure I don’t pry into your reasons for not being married?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    She laughed. “An honest man.”
    â€œI try.”
    She thought for a second. “I think the Book Fair is my favorite.”
    â€œAn unexpected choice. I would have thought something at the holidays.”
    â€œNo. The Book Fair.”
    Because that summer they’d spent together, Del had first told her he loved her during the Book Fair. They’d made love in her bedroom. She’d been a virgin and he couldn’t have been more considerate and careful. Not to mention quiet, what with everyone else in her family sleeping on the same floor.
    They’d been so young, she thought wistfully. So confident in their feelings for each other. So sure of their future. Even though she knew exactly what had happened and why, she couldn’t help wishing it had been different. That
she
had been different.
    Not that she regretted going to college. That had been the right choice, and Del had obviously needed to leave Fool’s Gold. She’d unexpectedly provided the catalyst. But if she could take back the words, she would.
    â€œI like the Tulip Festival best,” he said.
    She stared at him. “Seriously?”
    â€œSure. They’re pretty. It’s a sign of spring coming. The changing of the season.”
    â€œTulips?”
    â€œWhat? You’re saying a real man doesn’t like flowers?”
    â€œI’m saying you surprise me.”
    â€œThat’s me. A constant mystery. Chicks dig mystery guys.”
    â€œIf only you had a cool scar.”
    â€œI know. I kept hoping for some scar-inducing injury, but it never happened. I’m just that good.”
    She laughed, and the opportunity to discuss the past and maybe apologize was over. But she could get there, she told herself. This new version of Del