page9 (1/2)

If he was sn to stay away and not become involved, but he’d never claimed brilliance

She’d changed into nothing lamorous than a pair of sweatpants and a San Francisco Tide jersey

Odd, but she hadn’t struck him as a baseball fan

Her shoes had long since been shed, and her toenails, painted a delicate shade of pink, teased him Hell,

he was even attracted to her feet Small and dainty

He was officially losing his mind Never before had he lusted after a woman’s feet

She forked another bite into herher plate down on the coffee table

“That was fabulous I’ve eaten so ht for the wedding”

That stateht a whole host of splendid ideas toand stay in bed where clothing was entirely optional

He shifted in his seat and wondered for the sixth ti himself

“So tell , Evan,” she said as she leaned farther into the sofa cushions Her eyelids lowered and she tucked those pink toes underneath a throw pillow “What made you walk away from your family’s business and start your own in a field that was so different from the jewelry trade?”

It didn’t surprise hiround She would have researched him tirelessly Still, he debated how much to tell her

Their gazes locked, and he saw only simple curiosity No ulterior motive, just interest

“There were several reasons,” he finally said “E emotional decisions”

Her eyebrows rose “I’, bad, ruthless businessman persona”

He smiled ruefully “Okay, so part of it was ee years ago and he was in flat denial He saw no reason to change the way he ran things since it had worked for decades before

“The other reason was I don’t exactly get along that ith him and Mitchell”

“You don’t say,” she said drily

He chuckled “Yeah, I know, hard to believe Mitchell…there are lots of o with the fact that he’s a lazy, unmotivated brown noser All his life, because he was the baby, he’s never had to actually work for anything He’s been handed everything since he was a child

As a result, his sense of entitle and he would hat I had worked for Dad would give it to him”

“Ah, I think I’ more now”

He nodded “Yes, I don’t harbor any illusion that Mitchell and Bettina are soreat love match I had Bettina, so Mitchell decided he wanted her Bettina saw Mitchell’s appointlamour”

“And were you and Bettina? A love ently

He pursed his lips and blew out a long breath “This is where I look like the jerk”

Celia chuckled “Jerk? You? Surely you jest”

“All right, don’t rub it in,” he grus”

“Do continue I’ to hear all about what a toad you are”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief and aht now Instead he found hi her stuff he’d never tell a woman he planned to take to bed

“Bettina didn’t pose a challenge That sounds bad but when II exceeded even my wildest expectations

Everything was falling into place at the speed of light All that was e of perfection I had built up was a wife and a family Perfect house in the suburbs I’d co The kids would all be bathed and well behaved Even the dog would be the epitoood behavior I wanted—still want—a woman who’ll put me first”

Celia snorted, covered her hter

He regarded her dubiously “I do believe you’reme”

“Mocking you?” She wheezed betords and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes “Oh , don’t you?”

“Well, it was a good fantasy while it lasted,” he grumbled “I looked around and there was Bettina I didn’t have tiure out what my ideal woman was I wanted my perfect life then and I didn’t want to wait So I asked her toand that was that”

“And yet here you are With me The fake fiancée”

He scowled ferociously at her only for her to dissolve into laughter again

“Okay, so what happened? Other than Mitchell stepping in and being an overindulged twit”

He liked this wo it down

“Bettina wanted to set an i planned Even had the honeymoon destination picked out She littered my office with brochures Hell, she even had our children’s names picked out”

“I would have thought given your fantasy that you would have eaten that up with a spoon,” she pointed out

“Yeah, so did I Only I found ement I was busy This deal had to take priority That deal needed ied a year with a wedding scheduled another year beyond that And moreover I was content with that”

“Did you never love her?” Celia asked quietly

“No No, I didn’t Which is why I can’t really blae would have been a disaster just as soon as I figured out the reality didn’t live up to the fantasy I’d created in my mind I just didn’t think she’d du on my territory”