Frowning, he drew back. “What did you…never mind. None of my business.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I had an ectopic pregnancy that landed me in the ER for emergency surgery. No baby, tube saved, thank God. The real damage was to my pride. Also, I disappointed my dad, but he was utterly amazing despite my grand and glorious failure on so many levels it pains me to count them.”
“Bad judgment and an accident can happen to anyone.” He lifted his broken wrist. “I should have stayed in Gainesville for the Fourth of July and driven to the party with my dad.”
It wasn’t the same and they both knew it, but she liked that he tried to make her feel better.
“Afterward, I stayed here in Destin to, you know, heal. And help Dad with Lakeside.”
The heron fluttered and spread impressive wings, gliding off, giving up on the fake lake.
“Thank you for telling me,” Connor said finally. “Not easy, I’m sure.”
“I wanted you to understand why I’m…” She searched for the right word. “Careful.”
“Careful is smart. Careful is what kept you from making a bad decision in that meeting today when Vance was practically begging you to lose your composure.” He paused. “Closed off is different from careful, though.”
She looked at him, and he met her gaze steadily.
“I’m working on it,” she said.
“I know you are.” He turned to her, looking right into her eyes, his own so deep and dark and bottomless. “I’d like to help.”
“Well, you are my secretary, as you like to say.” She gave a soft laugh, trying to lighten the intensity before it made her dizzy.
But he didn’t laugh. He just kept looking at her. “It’s not a nice story, but if you thought it was going to make me run screaming into the retention pond, you’re wrong.”
“Connor…”
He leaned just close enough for her to think he might kiss her. But he only took a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “I don’t give up. Ever.”
She nodded. “I noticed. I like that about you.”
“Good, because I like just about everything about you,” he countered. “So…”
“So…” she echoed.
“I just want you to know that. And despite my parents’ divorce—maybe because of it—I’m kind of a hopeless romantic.”
Chills danced over her skin at the bold admission. He was relentless, fearless, protective, gorgeous,andromantic.
“So…now what?” he asked.
“Now…” She took a step back, lightheaded from the unexpected direction the conversation had taken. “I need time to…”
To think. To fantasize. To crush on him in private and not under the setting sun surrounded by birds and water and a few Dumpsters.
“To finish that clubhouse design,” she said, sliding her hands into her pockets before she did something really stupid and wrapped them around his broad shoulders. “Tonight. And you can’t stop me.”
“Wouldn’t try,” he said lightly, letting the moment pass. “In fact, I’m meeting my dad for dinner in…” He pulled out his phone and checked the time. “Ten minutes ago.”
“Oh, you better go. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you so long.”
He just smiled. “Worth it. Don’t work too late, Mer.”
Work. As if she was going to get any of that done. “I won’t.”
July 20, 1994
