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He sighed “Yes, but I would have thought you would have at least considered the possibility”

She just shrugged, not knohat to say They’d already been over the whole sex thing and their vieere polar opposites She’d been sure he wasn’t ready for a deeper relationship because he hadn’t pursued that angle and he’d assumed she’d realize he wouldn’t pursue it until she was committed to him

“And you cannotwhat you know of me, of yourself?”

“No” Because if she did, it would have to beno And her heart both demanded and rejected that answer

“Is it round?”

She stared at hiround for it even to be a consideration and I hope you aren’t i I’m some sort of snob ould only e I was”

“I a refusal to judge others based on where they coreatly”

“I’e that part of me”

“But you are willing to change in other ways?”

“People grow…change is inevitable, but that’s with me to stay”

“I alad”

“But you are annoyed I won’t accept your proposal right now”

“Not annoyed…disappointed I would think you could see the advantages to a e between us”

He was disappointed, but not hurt Which meant his emotions were not involved at all That did not bode well She bit her lip, realizing she must have done so before because it felt tender It was a bad habit, but she had enough to think about without trying to break it at the moment

“I’m sorry I’m not like you and my father I don’t ic”

“What do you base them on?”

“Emotion”

His lips twisted with distaste just as she knew they would He and her father had a lot in common Maybe too much She suspected he would be no more impressed with an emotional commitment from her than her father was

She took a fortifying sip of water “I know That’s a dirty word to you and men like ive me some time to think”

Silence pulsed between the box across the table “Put it in your bag We’ll discuss the proposal again later”