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When she’d told him about her situation growing up, almost everything had changed. He still found her incredibly desirable, he still loved being with her, laughing with her, making love to her.
But...
Her revelation underscored how little they knew each other. How much she’d been holding back. How little she trusted him or his reaction. How little she understood what his life was about, and how little he understood hers.
It was time to put on the brakes. Time to stop thinking he’d found true love and start thinking with his rational brain. The fact that he’d been considering changing his life for her or asking her to change her life for him after such a short time together had been crazy, irrational, something his brother would do.
And so damn thrilling. He’d felt alive, without having realized he’d been half dead; he felt the life ahead of him was newly full of possibilities, that with Allie beside him, he could conquer mountains, move armies. Or was that the other way around?
God, he missed her.
He picked up a report and scanned the first page, felt his irritation rising. Same old ineffective solutions to the same old problems. Cut management. Freeze wages. Come into work. Leave work. Go home alone.
Jonas closed the report and tossed it onto his desk, shoved back his chair, and strode to the window, yanking his tie loose. Head close to the glass, he peered up at the sliver of gray sky the view afforded him.
He couldn’t stay here. Not when he had tasted the joy and freedom Allie brought him, even for such a short time.
The rest of the weekend with her had been dismal. Neither of them had recovered from her revelation. He was hurt, she felt rejected, and though they’d tried to rehash the subject a few times, their conversations were too accusing, too emotional, the gap too wide. No matter how many times he reassured her that he couldn’t care less where she came from, that her real self was what mattered to him, she didn’t buy it. Because he had money she assumed he looked down on her, that he was unable to judge her as a whole person.
And no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t get over the way she’d judged him, or the way he’d fallen for someone who wasn’t what he thought. Again.
Ironically, they both wanted the same thing: someone who would love them for who they were.
His phone rang. Sandra. Perfect example. Sandra was from humble beginnings, but at least she’d been honest, and was proud of being that person. He didn’t know many people who were more comfortable in their own skin, more sure of who they were.
He picked up the phone eagerly. “Hey, there.”
“You hungry, baby?”
“Only for you.”
Her laughter sounded forced. “Can you meet for lunch? I can be at your building in ten minutes.”
Jonas looked at his watch. “It’s not even eleven.”
“Oh, right, I forgot, we’re not allowed to eat until noon because that’s when lunchtime starts.”
He rolled his eyes at her sarcasm. She knew him too well. “Okay, okay, I’ll meet you in ten minutes. Sandwich place across the street?”
“See ya there.”
She was waiting when he walked into the small, cheerful café, looking tired but beautiful as ever in a hot-pink top with her hair loosely pinned up. He kissed her cheek and sat opposite, wondering what was on her mind, guessing it had something to do with his brother. If Erik had hurt her...
“How was your weekend?”
“Oh, fine, fine. Let’s see.” She tapped her cheek, looking thoughtful. “Friday I had a quiet afternoon, did a show, came home, took a shower, poured wine...oh, and then your brother came over and told me he loved me.”
Jonas grinned. “Yeah?”
She stared at him, her lips parted in surprise. “You knew.”
“He told me.”
“He told you?”
Jonas reached for his water and shrugged nonchalantly. “Hey, I’m his brother. He tells me everything.”
Sandra snorted. “Since when?”
“Since he told me he’s in love with you and I told him to get his ass to Boston and tell you.” He reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “He means it, Sandra.”
“He certainly thinks he—”
“Hey, there!” A young waitress came beaming over to their table. “How are you two doing on this sunny Monday?”
“We’re fine.” Sandra shot Jonas a look. She loathed hyper-cheerful waitresses.
“Oka-a-y! My name is Amanda, and I’ll be taking care of you today!”
“I can take care of myself, Amanda.” Sandra accepted her menu wearily. “From you, I just need lunch.”
“Oh. Well, okay, sure, no problem, I can do that.” She giggled nervously, took their orders for iced tea and fled.
