“How’d you get through it?”
“By daydreaming about living in a castle or fantasy house where everyone catered to what I wanted. Especially my parents who couldn’t bear to be separated from their only daughter.” She let out a cynical laugh. “As if.”
His gut clenched in her defense. As if anything he felt on her behalf could chase away the truth of that awful time in her life. He hated that anyone could make her feel so isolated and alone.
“And now? You mentioned a heart scare to Lederman. Did you get through it okay?”
She leaned her head back against the seat. “It was easy enough to get through the incident itself considering they never called me until after he was released from the hospital and only then because they were returning my call. As usual they forgot all about me.”
Jack winced. He had wanted to protect her from the pain, not dig into old wounds. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
She laughed, easing the tension. “Sure you did, but that’s okay. I didn’t mean to bore you with my life story.”
“You could never bore me.” Anything that gave him an inkling as to what made her the woman she’d become was a fascination for him.
“Yeah, and I own some of this beachfront property I could sell you dirt cheap.” She grinned and the arousal he’d somehow held at bay for the entire drive came rushing back in full force.
H
e could see the sparkle in her eyes even behind the dark glasses and her easy smile seemed meant for him alone. Even if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t mind deluding himself for a while longer. But at least her quick comeback told him she underestimated the effect she had on him—which was a good thing, since it afforded him some protection against falling too hard.
And maybe he had some beachfront property he could sell himself, he thought wryly. He eased the car into a slow crawl. “Any more dreams you want to share? Like the ones for your future?”
“You mean, do I have the American dream of being someone’s wife with the house, the white picket fence, kids and a dog? Or do I dream of being barefoot and pregnant running around the kitchen baking cake and organizing PTA meetings?” She let out an ineloquent snort. “Not hardly.”
He propped one arm over the wheel and studied the woman beside him. Sarcasm aside, he caught a wistful quality in her voice and the longing in her expression told him she wanted some of those things more than she let on. Maybe even more than she admitted to herself.
And despite all good intentions, he could envision her in either of those roles she’d mentioned because Mallory was a woman who could accomplish anything she chose. When it came to the barefoot and pregnant part, well he was certain she’d excel at the getting pregnant part.
The driving need to test his theory grew stronger. So did the erection inside his shorts. It was a wonder she hadn’t called him on it already.
“What, no comment? The Terminator has nothing to say on my feelings about the American family?” she asked.
He felt sure she didn’t want to know what he was thinking at the moment. He donned a grin. “The Terminator doesn’t believe in the American dream either.”
She clucked her tongue. “I didn’t say I don’t believe, I said it won’t be happening for me. I’m the dreamer, remember?”
He nodded. “Dreams are for people who haven’t experienced reality.” Not wanting to get caught up in the fantasy, he brushed it off as easily as she’d pretended to.
“What’s your reality, Jack? It seems to me I’ve exposed my soul while yours is still hidden.”
Knowing she had a point, he said, “My parents’ marriage was, or should I say is, the opposite of your folks’.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “Nothing to apologize for. It is what it is.”
“Doesn’t sound that simple to me. Take it from someone who knows. These things stay with you.”
His chest constricted, knowing she’d unintentionally struck him where it hurt. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“Does your choice in careers have anything to do with what you saw growing up?”
He shook his head. “I fell into family law.” He started to give her the same rehearsed speech he’d given many times before when he suddenly changed his mind. “Actually, it has everything to do with it.” He reached out and stroked one finger down her thigh, toying with the fringe on her cut-off shorts.
She covered his hand with hers, stilling his intentionally distracting movements. Her warmth soothed him and he was able to continue. “At first I figured I’d become a lawyer and get my father out of the hell his marriage had become.”
“And then?” she asked quietly.