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“That bother you that I grew up there?”
“No, no, no.” She was protesting too much. “Not at all. Must have been wonderful.”
“My dad taught at the State University branch there, but yeah, Mom’s family owned a house there, big enough for three families.”
Three? Most houses she saw that day could have held twice that many. “Where did her family money come from?”
“Some early shipping magnate, we’re talking colonial days. Then Josephine’s husband, Walter, managed to save the family fortune from being lost to the Depression. Old Westbury is beautiful, but once I was old enough to realize life wasn’t like that for everyone, it got uncomfortable pretty quickly.”
“I can imagine.” She couldn’t. Not remotely. Once he realized life wasn’t like that for everyone? How old had he been, twenty-five? Her upbringing would seem sordid and pitiable to him.
Allie took a deep breath in the dark. Or maybe it wouldn’t. Projecting her own crap onto him wasn’t fair. And yet, she was more convinced than ever that he’d never be able to comprehend her life any more than she could comprehend his. So why bother telling him?
“You said you have five brothers. Are you close to them?”
Allie twisted her lips, wondering how it would sound to say no. He and Erik had their differences, but they were obviously family in a way Allie and her brothers weren’t, and probably never had been. “We don’t hang out all the time. We have pretty different lives.”
“Allie?”
“Mmm?”
“Why is this conversation making you so uncomfortable?”
His perceptiveness took her aback. With her last boyfriend, Raymond, she could have dumped gasoline on herself and been in the process of lighting a match, and he’d come into the room and ask if she’d seen his iPhone. “What makes you think I’m uncomfortable?”
“Your body is a brick wall.”
“Oh.” She sighed, moving restlessly, trying to relax. “Well, I don’t know, really. My childhood wasn’t that interesting. I’d rather hear about your career plans.”
The waves gurgled in and sighed out; crickets sang hymns to the night; trees whispered their secrets to the breeze.
“Hmmm. Okay. My career plans. Those really aren’t interesting. And they’re only dreams at this point. But...let me think how best to describe it.” His turn to fidget on the sand. “Workplace philosophies in this country are evolving and our company isn’t. That’s the sound-bite version.”
“And you’d like to be able to help clients cope with the future instead of the present or past.”
“Exactly. Let’s say you’re my client. My current company would examine this situation and say, hey, blanket, beach, darkness, very romantic, a good fit. However, as CEO of my new company, I’d say, okay, this is nice, but it could be better. Allie, why don’t you try lying closer to Jonas so he can put his arm around you and really hold you?”
“Interesting recommendation.” Ridiculously pleased, Allie moved closer and found herself enveloped comfortably in his arms, her head resting on his warm shoulder. “Wow. This is much better. You’ll be a huge success.”
“See? Now tell me, what would be your dream job?”
“Designing costumes for stage or screen. I majored in graphic design, because I figured well-paying jobs would be easier to find in that field. I did take some courses in apparel design, but in New York I’m competing against a bazillion people with full degrees.”
“Ah, Allie.” He sighed heavily. She could hear his heart thumping in his chest. “Maybe when we go home, we should both take a leap of faith. I keep telling myself to, but it’s still not happening.”
“Maybe we should.” Except he had a safety net that could support a 747 falling out of the sky. She’d be an immediate splat on the pavement. “But right now I’m going to enjoy my time here with you and Josephine.”
“You know, I was wondering...” He kissed the top of her head. “Are there any more good stories in that diary? Because I was thinking if you felt it very important to dress up and seduce me again, I would be glad to help.”
“Oh, Jonas.” She suppressed a giggle, sliding her hand to the center of his chest. “You are so sweet. Thank you. I might take you up on that.”
“Yeah? When? Now? Middle of the night? First thing in the morning?”
This time she couldn’t stifle her laughter. “Maybe tomorrow...”
“What time?”
She ran her hands down his chest, over his fly, then back up again. The awkwardness between them was forgotten now that talk had turned sexual again. She’d keep telling herself that was plenty until she believed it.
