“How did it happen?”
“I bought new mats for the studio. I piled them up in my trunk and took them inside. When I pulled one off the rest of them toppled over on me. Turns out the boxes were defective. They had some kind of slits in them.”
“That’s odd. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Because you worry too much about me already.”
“So, how are things with you?”
Juliet frowned. She didn’t want to lay too much on this man. He was so sweet, he’d listen all night. “The boys are glad to be on summer vacation. Thank God for our pool.”
“Fiona feels the same way.”
She smiled at the thought of his twin. “I adore your sister. Our kids played together last week.”
“How sweet. She’s a doll.”
“A lot like her brother.”
Finn knew she meant that platonically. Widowed, she wasn’t interested in him romantically and vice versa. Their friendship was too important to them.
“Any guys on the scene?” he asked.
She sighed. He kept prodding her in this direction. “No. When would I have time?”
“Make time. I’ll babysit.”
“I--I’m not ready.” She sounded so needy. She hated when she got that way.
“Michael’s been gone two years, honey.”
“He has.” She leaned back in her chair. “Truthfully, I don’t do anything to meet anyone.”
“How about online?”
Juliet shuddered. She couldn’t think of anything worse. “No, that’s not me.”
“I have some male friends.”
“Thank you, Finn. But if the guy doesn’t work out it might affect our friendship.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Can we table this? Let’s have a pleasant meal.”
“Just know that I’m here for you.”
“I do. And it means the world to me.”
* * *
During dinner, Finn took surreptitious glances at Elise. She looked absolutely miserable, so different from when she left him yesterday. He’d have a lot of work to do in the next session tomorrow.
He and Juliet had a pleasant meal. They were very companionable and she was a sweetheart with a gentle sense of humor. Elise and Max left first and Juliet and Finn went to their respective cars not long after.
He’d just gotten to his car when he saw the light go on in a snazzy red Camero across the parking lot. Elise was in the driver’s seat. She was alone in the car, so on impulse he walked across the parking lot to her. The window was down on her side. She was wildly taking things out of her big purse and throwing them on the seat next to her.
“Elise,” he said softly so not to startle her. “Are you all right?”
