Page 12 of Be My Valentine

Her sister grew unusually quiet.

“You really like her.” She said softly.

“Yes, I think I do. I don’t know how the hell this happened! There’s nothing logical about this.”

“There’s very little that’s logical about love.”

“We’re not there yet, we’re not talking about love. I’m interested, okay, but I don’t even know her.”

“You don’t want to know her! That’s the problem.”

“She’s too young.”

“You just called her a grown woman.”

“I don’t feel like it, all right? I think I might end up…” He froze, but to no avail.

“Falling in love? Oh, how awful!”

“I scare her, Emma. She won’t say a word to me.”

“What on earth is she supposed to say if all you do is rant at her? You’re not like that! Try talking to her!”

“And about what? About the weather?” He hypothesized bitterly.

“You could ask her why she doesn’t do a course to become a specialized secretary, ask if she works in a pub because she’d like to open one. Try to figure out what she’s interested in. Invite her to dinner! Of course! That’s a fantastic move. Ask her out and see how it goes. Very traditional but effective. Phil asked me out the day after he met me.” She said proudly.

“Phil is a saint.”

“You’re not bad yourself.”

“What if I find out we have nothing in common? That I’m only attracted to her looks?”

“How did she act when those idiots provoked her?”

“She didn’t say a word. Somehow, she defended herself, coming out with her head held high.”

“So, she’s brave. And when Carson made the remarks about her clothes?”

“She ignored her.” Mark replied, remembering her coming out of that lion’s den.

“Self-control. Another quality. Did she cry in the office? I know you watch her all the time…”

“No. That’s why I was surprised to see her break down like that. She kept it all inside.”

“She must be very lonely.”

“I don’t know, maybe she has a boyfriend somewhere.”

Emma shook her head.

“If she had a boyfriend, she would have called him in a hurry. If she has one and hasn’t called him, it’s like she doesn’t have one.”

“It’s not always easy to follow your logic, do you realize that?”

“Stop it, I know you get it!”

Mark nodded silently. Yes, he understood perfectly, and that was trouble.