“You want to date?”
“Yes.” Harriet was honest. “I do. I’d like to meet someone. I want a home and a family.” She caught the puppy before it could wriggle off her lap. “Don’t you?”
“I’m too busy having the time of my life to let a man mess it up. See you later.” Fliss strode to the door with a long, loping stride, and as the door slammed behind her the puppy in Harriet’s lap gave a startled jump.
“She only knows one way to close a door,” Harriet soothed. “You’ll get used to her.” And then she realized he wouldn’t be getting used to her because he wouldn’t be staying. He was a puppy, and a cute one at that. It wouldn’t take long for them to find him a family. “We need to find you a perfect match. People you’ll be happy with.”
And maybe she should do the same for herself.
It was no good saying she wanted to date and then doing nothing about it.
She transferred the puppy from her lap to the sofa. “Maybe I should put myself up for adoption.”
* * *
Molly sprawled on the sofa and watched while Mark slowly added hot stock to the risotto. “So I’ve seen him in the park every day for the past two weeks walking his dog, and we’ve chatted a bit. Well, a lot in fact. And then he asked me to dinner. Dinner isn’t an accident. Dinner isn’t a casual meet-up. It’s a decision. It’s a step. And I said no. Do you think I’m a coward?” She decided there was nothing more relaxing than watching Mark cook. His movements were smooth and unhurried, nothing like the panic that occurred when she was in the kitchen. Mark was as much an artist with food as he was with a pencil and paper. “When you know you’re bad at something, should you simply give up? Or should you practice? If you fall off a horse because you’re a truly terrible rider surely it’s better to decide that horseback riding isn’t for you and take up swimming instead?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.” He added another ladle of bubbling stock. “It’s what you think that matters.”
“There’s only room for one psychologist in this friendship and I’ve already nabbed that position.”
“So you don’t need me to explain your behavior. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a coward. There’s nothing wrong with protecting yourself, Molly.”
“I know but—” She bit her lip. “My dad said I was a hypocrite. I made him get back out there after Mum left and he says I’m refusing to do the same after Rupert.”
“From what you’ve told me, Rupert was a dick.”
Molly felt her face heat. She’d only told him a small portion of what had happened. “He was, but it was complicated.” You have no idea how to be in a relationship. She swallowed. “I have a few issues.”
“Everyone has issues, Molly.”
“Mine impair my ability to engage in healthy relationships.”
“Listen to yourself, Dr. Parker. If you can diagnose it, why can’t you fix it?”
“I’m not sure I want to fix it. Love is a risk. I’m wary for a reason.”
“Big risk comes with big reward.”
“I’m not sure I see it is a reward.” She took a deep breath. “It isn’t only about protecting my heart, it’s about professional security. I’ve rebuilt my life and I’m happy. I don’t want to mess with that. It’s important to play to your strengths in life. Relationships aren’t my strength.”
“That’s not true. You’re a great friend.?
?
She thought about all the people she’d lost touch with. People who had cut her out when her life had fallen apart. “Friendship is different.”
“What’s a partnership if you don’t have friendship?” He tilted the pan slightly and stirred again to stop the rice sticking. “I think being happy and fulfilled is the goal. Maybe you don’t need another person. It’s not as if you don’t have plenty of friends. Good friends.” He stopped stirring and sent her a look. “Friends who are going to be there for you through thick and thin.”
She’d told him that part. How when her life had fallen apart in a very public way, her friends had distanced themselves.
“You’d trend on Twitter for me?”
He smiled. “For you, honey, anything.”
Her insides warmed. “That’s good, but I’ve had as much thick and thin as I can handle in one lifetime. And I agree with everything you say. So why does part of me wish I’d said yes to him?”
Mark lowered the heat under the pan. “Blame it on hormones.”