Yet sincerity alone wasn’t enough.Of course she cared about him.That part was never in question.But to call what they had deep, all-encompassing love would be a stretch.She needed more than long weekends carved out of packed calendars and phone calls squeezed between meetings.Claire wanted someone who would choose the relationship without it feeling like a negotiation.As much as she had once believed Calvin Butterworth to be her person, deep down she knew he wasn’t.
"You’re so beautiful, Claire.And you have no idea which makes you even more so.You’re unlike any woman I’ve ever known."His finger traced the line of her jaw.
"Don't…” She reached and pulled his hand down.
Claire fired a warning shot with her eyes.Calvin sighed and looked away.After a minute, he brought his face back to hers.This time, his eyes were understanding.Wounded, but understanding.
"You know,” he said after a beat.“I've always wondered what it would be like."
"What?"Claire asked warily.
"This."He gestured between them."I must say, it's not at all what I expected."
"What are you talking about?”
"The break-up scene.I thought there'd be quite a bit more drama about the whole thing.Crying.Hysteria."
Claire let out an exasperated breath and looked away.
"So, this is it,” he went on.“This is what it’s like when the All-American girl breaks up with the dreamy English bloke?Ending some decades-old schoolgirl Jane Austen fantasy or something?”
Calvin's light tone didn’t fool Claire.Humor was his weapon of choice when feelings and emotions got too close.Her eyes flicked back to his.
“I get it.You were only in it for my accent,” he added.
The joke fell flat.Claire's frustration grew.
"I'm taking the job,” she stated.
Calvin let out a soft whistle."Wow.That was fast.Two minutes ago, you didn't know what you wanted."
"Is it possible for you to stop behaving like some character out of a Noël Coward play for two seconds and listen to me?"
His eyes softened."I’m sorry, love."
Claire exhaled, steadying herself.“You’ve got to admit that up to this point our relationship has been based on convenience.”
Calvin frowned, but didn’t interrupt.
“In the beginning,” she continued.“I was relieved I didn't have to beon callfor you twenty-four hours a day.You had your work and I had mine.We understood the importance of our respective careers from the start.”
Claire held Calvin’s gaze, unblinking and determined to make her point.
“But that kind of freedom created a monster.”She paused.“We've gone from convenient to full-out lazy.And don't tell me things will change with a ring on my finger.We’re not that naive, are we?"
"Is that a rhetorical question?"he asked.
"Goddamn it, Calvin.”she snapped.“Forget it.I can’t do this anymore.”
"What if I quit?”he said suddenly.“What if I leave Hollywood for good?"
"You won't do it.”
Calvin gave a short laugh."You’re right, but I had to say it.It lends a certain tension, don't you think?"
She shook her head in disbelief.“Wow.You're always directing the goddamn shot."
Claire shifted to leave the bed, but Calvin caught her wrist and pulled her back.He tackled her with a playful grin and together they fell back, her shoulder-length hair fanning out across the pillow.
