Someone Like You

Adam smiled. “Comfortable?”

She nodded. “Tell me about her?”

“I told you the story before.”

“And there’s nothing more?”

“Nothing.”

“But she’s back now. More than likely you’ll run into her from time to time.”

“She’s a decorator. She’s opening a business in Philly. Probably more of her clients will be in that area than here.”

Teddy felt he was giving her excuses, rationalizations that could boil over and change at any given moment.

“Was she The One, Adam? Did you think the two of you would have the forever kind of love?”

He hesitated a long time. He took a drink of his wine but didn’t move away from Teddy. She felt for a change in his body, a stiffening of muscles that indicated an increased heartbeat or a rush of blood to the head, even a raised eyebrow. None of the cues were present.

“My brother Quinn says there comes a time when you have to risk your heart. I thought I was doing that with Veronica. I thought she felt the same about me. That proved not to be the case.”

“So you’re no longer willing to risk your heart?” Teddy asked. “I guess that makes me perfect for you.”

His head snapped up. “How so?”

“Your plan. The Marriage Pact. It’s perfect. There’s no chance of you risking anything. You can satisfy your inner logic of never letting a woman entangle you the way Veronica did without the burden of complications.”

“That’s not what this is about,” he protested.

“Are you sure?” Teddy raised her eyebrows, giving him an inquiring look. Her heart was beating so fast, she didn’t know if she could speak, but she understood everything now. She knew there was more to this deception than just eluding his mother’s attempts to have him find a bride. He’d built a wall around his heart and Teddy was the temporary guard who would keep the wall intact for a while. Then he’d move on to the next guard or retreat into his overseas connections as a method of keeping himself free of risks.

“What do you think this is about?” he asked.

“That’s a loaded question. Are you sure you want the answer?”

His face wasn’t exactly blank, but Teddy could see he was trying to keep it free of expression. He nodded. “I’m a big boy. I can take it.”

Teddy uncurled her feet and stood up. Taking her wineglass, she walked about the room. “A decorator did this room, didn’t she?”

Adam frowned. She knew he didn’t understand the question.

“Veronica has never been here,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was her,” Teddy told him. “It’s a beautiful room. I could see it in one of the glossy magazines.”

“But,” he prompted.

She came back to him. Faced him. She sat on the huge coffee table that held only a glass vase of flowers, her knees only an inch from his.

“There’s nothing of you in this room. There’s nothing of you in the entire house. Not even in the bedroom.” She paused, giving him a long look. “Maybe the flowers are your reflection, which are surprising since most men would never think of flowers, especially fresh ones. Few would buy them or replace them when they died.”

“Or drive home to get a single red rose?”

Teddy smiled remembering the mug on her kitchen table the first time they made love. The thought nearly undid her. That warm blanket began to settle, but she pushed it aside. She needed to stay on track. Allowing thoughts of their lovemaking would send her soaring in a different, although wonderful, direction.

“That, too,” she said. “Only the flowers say you have a heart, much less want to risk it.” She took his hand. He didn’t pull it away, but it had gone from warm to slightly cold. “I’m sorry your don’t like what I’m saying, but you did ask. I hope you see that, like your brother said, without risk there is no love, and without love, you’ll have a very lonely existence.”

Adam pulled her up from the table and onto his lap. “So you believe I should let go of the past and open my heart?”

Her own heart was beating a drum in his ears. She nodded.