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"But she didn’t offer you a loan to do what you really wanted to do?" Mia asked. "To travel?"
Drew studied her silently. "No, she didn’t," he murmured, sitting back to put space between them. "But I don’t resent her for that. Not at all. She raised me. She did more for me than any sister should be expected to do. I owe her everything. And it’s not like I hate my life. I like what I do. I like where I am. But—"
"You still wonder what it’d be like to photograph the four corners of the world," Mia finished for him.
His smile was slow but warm. "Exactly." Glancing down at his hand, he gave a soft laugh. "I always worried I was selfish for that. For wondering what if."
"I don’t think you are."
He lifted his eyes. His booth shook, telling her he was nervously jiggling his knee under the table. There was a tormented glint in his gaze like he wanted to believe her but couldn’t bring himself to forgive himself for his imperfection, though she didn’t see it as such.
"Anyone need a refill?"
Mia jumped at the server’s voice.
"I’m good," Drew answered and glanced across the table toward her. "How about you?"
"I’m fine," she answered, smiling up at the woman and wishing she’d leave already so she could talk more with Drew. He denied resenting his sister too vehemently. She wondered if he did hold something against Mandy. It made sense, since he felt so guilty about wondering what if.
But the mood had broken and his demeanor changed, telling her the subject was officially closed.
Grinning again, he said, "Enough about me. I want to know about you."
Walls went up immediately. Her gaze grew shuttered and she glanced down at her hands. "There’s not much to tell."
"Well … " He wasn’t going to let her off that easy. "Where’re you from? That’s a good place to explore next. Do you have any family?"
She grinned, relieved and delighted to get another easy question. "I’m from Chicago," she said. "I have both parents. They’re still married and living there. No siblings."
He winced. "An only child, huh? You know what they say about them, don’t you?"
She quirked a brow. "What? That we’re all well-adjusted whiz kids?"
He chuckled. "That’s not quite what I’ve heard."
Grinning, she retorted. "Then you’ve been listening to the wrong sources."
Obviously liking this flirtatious side of her, Drew moved closer. "I guess I have," he murmured and reached across the table to tuck a stray piece of honey blond hair behind her ear.
She sucked in a breath and her smile faltered. Her gaze skidded to his. His blue eyes showed disappointment at her withdraw, but he casually dropped his hand and slid back into relaxed mode.
"When did you move here?"
She blinked, gathering her scattered senses, and wondered if he was purposely trying to throw her off guard by abruptly changing subjects.
"About a year ago," she answered. "Piper invited me to come live with her. We’d been friends since second grade. She tried the college here, but dropped out and entered cosmetology school instead. Now, she styles hair."
He frowned. "You’ve been friends with her since grade school?" At her nod, the perplexity on his face deepened. "Really? Hmm. You guys don’t seem like the same type at all."
Not wanting to talk about her roommate with him, her eyes coated and the blockade went up. He seemed to realize he’d brought up a prohibited topic, though, because he dropped it just as suddenly and sent her an ornery look.
"Okay, one last question." Ignoring her leery frown, he asked, "Have you ever dated anyone as amazing as me?"
For a moment, she merely gaped, thinking he was serious. Then she threw her head back and laughed. "Why, of course not," she gave him the answer she knew he wanted. "I’ve never even met anyone as amazing as you."
He sat back in the booth, looking smug. "That’s what I thought."
Chapter Nine
