“Loran has a temper. You know that. We’ve all seen it on the field when a call doesn’t go his way and he heads back to the dugout to smash a baseball bat to smithereens.” And it was that temper, not to mention his jealous streak that still made her a little nervous. As tough as she pretended to be, she knew she was no match for a guy like Loran… or her ex.
Ethan narrowed his eyes and Bella realized she’d said too much.
“You don’t really think he’d unleash on you, do you?”
“No, of course not!” She lowered her voice when the waiter shot her a curious look. “But I guess that’s why I went for Jeff. I was looking for someone a little more… passive, after my experience with Loran.”
“I’ve always wondered about that,” Ethan said, tossing his cell phone on the table. “Your taste in men. It doesn’t add up. You’re a strong woman, yet you seem to choose weak men, with the exception of Loran. Why is that?”
Because they’re less likely to hurt me.
She laughed lightly, trying to play it off as she continued eating. “I didn’t realize I had a type. I think you’re overanalyzing.”
“I always assumed it was because you didn’t want to get serious so you went for guys you weren’t really into, so there was no risk of you getting in too deep.”
“Seems logical.” If only he would let it go at that.
“But there’s more to it, isn’t there?” When she didn’t respond, he said, “Loran is the first guy you’ve been into… maybe forever. He’s antitheses of the kind of man you usually go for—”
“Thanks for the psychoanalysis, big brother. It’s been fun.” She reached into her wallet and extracted a few bills so she wouldn’t have to wait for the waiter to bring the credit card machine. “But I really have to run. I have a meeting across town in twenty minutes.”
Ethan grabbed her wrist before she could get away. “Give him a chance, sis.” His eyes locked with hers. “Forget everything I ever said about him and hear this: he cares about you. Don’t be afraid to care about him too.”
Too late. She already cared about him. Maybe too much.
