She’d ask him if her suspicions were true.
And he wouldn’t be able to deny them, because, at some point in the future, they might be.
She’d already ordered their tea. It was sitting on the table as he slid into his side of the booth. Not able to meet her eyes, his gaze dropped to the table and met her breasts just above it. They looked fabulous in a purple shirt. Just fabulous.
“I ordered you a grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries,” she told him. “Sorry, but I need to get back.”
“No, that’s great.” Lifting his gaze, he smiled at her. She looked radiant and for a second his penis came more fully to life. Was she that happy to see him?
Then he caught himself.
She’d just been inseminated again, so of course she looked radiant.
What was with all of his overreaction around this woman? Was her emotional approach to life contagious? Something he’d caught when they’d been married, like some disease he couldn’t shake?
It had been three years, and now he’d suddenly had a relapse?
“Look, I know we don’t have much time, so I just need to tell you right away. I can’t do the L.A. daycare thing, Braden. I appreciate the offer so much. And you’re right, it could be a great thing, but I’ve decided to pass on your offer.”
Everything settled inside him. He was calm. Analytical. Himself again.
“Why? Other than the initial investment for start-up, which I told you I’d loan you at today’s rate minus a percent due to the fact that I stand to benefit from the deal, this won’t be a drain on you. Especially if you let someone else manage the place for you, with cameras installed so you don’t keep feeling like you have to run up and check on things. And it will ensure your future security.”
He thought it had all been worked out. The idea made sense. He was going to do the daycare. The business plan had already shown itself highly successful in San Diego. Someone was going to benefit. Might as well be someone he cared about.
“Bes
ides, with your philosophies, your hiring of employees, your oversight, I know that the daycare will be the asset I need it to be so my future tenants feel comfortable leaving their kids there. And you have no problem offering the lower rates for tenants because you’ve already seen how, in the end, you benefit financially from the built-in clients.
“Added to that, we’ve got the success of The Bouncing Ball in San Diego to show them. Prospective tenants who would be daycare clients can drive down and visit you there to see the great environment you have to offer them.”
He might have kept right on talking if their food hadn’t been delivered.
She’d ordered half a grilled chicken sandwich with a cup of soup and dug right in.
“So?” he asked after he’d taken the edge off with a couple of bites.
She shook her head. “It sounds good, Bray, but I can’t.”
The woman wasn’t budging. Studying her, he didn’t get it.
Which was probably why they were divorced.
He wanted her to get it.
He wanted her to be part of the L.A. venture. It made practical, financial sense.
She’d be taken care of. And he could move on more easily.
“I’ll be there to check on things,” he told her. “You know I wouldn’t let anything untoward happen. I’ve got your back. I always have.”
Her smile made him hungry for sex again.
“I know, and that’s why I can’t do it.”
Throwing a hand up he said, “I don’t get it.”
“The whole point of your move to L.A. was to start your own life. To move on. We both know that means moving on from me. From us. How are you going to do that if I follow along with you?”