AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She made a sound of disgust. “That’s a pathetic stereotype.”
He handed her a glass, his eyes quietly watchful of her face. “I speak from experience.”
“Then you have experienced a very shallow pool of women.”
He shrugged. “Perhaps.”
Curiosity sparked in her gut. “What are they like? The women you usually see?”
He put an arm around her waist and gently ushered her to the terrace. It had sweeping views of Manhattan in one direction, and the inky vista of Central Park in the other. “Why do you want to know?”
Morbid curiosity. How far out of her depth was she? “Why don’t you want to tell me?”
“On the contrary, I’m very happy to tell you. It’s pretty much a matter of public record anyway,” he said coldly, holding a chair out for her to sit opposite him. She winced a little as she sat, her body still getting used to the sensation of his invasion.
It did not escape his attention. “Are you okay?” He queried solicitously, something like guilt spearing him.
“Fine.” She sipped her wine and leaned back in the chair. He propped his bottom on the table, reclining with his ankles crossed, beside her.
“What sort of thing are you looking for?”
She regarded him contemplatively. “What do you mean?”
He sighed. “Physical parameters. Educational background. Career. What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Nothing.” She furrowed her brow, forming a little crease between her eyes. She took a deep gulp. “I guess I want to know how different I am.”
His smile was slow to spread across his face. “You’re worlds apart.”
She nodded, her features tight. She knew that she was, but his confirmation still hurt.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Jane. You’re different. This is new to me. For a start, I usually go for blondes.”
“Blondes?” Her eyebrows flew skyward. “I wasn’t expecting something so superficial.”
He shrugged. “Tall blondes. Long legs. Skinny. You’re pretty much the exact opposite of my ‘type’.”
“Right.” She sipped her drink and focussed on the view. Her insides felt mushy. Pained in a way she couldn’t comprehend.
“What about you?”
“Boyfriends?”
“Yeah.”
“My work didn’t leave a lot of time for boyfriends.” Her smile was contemplative.
“Ah, yes. Your work.” He shifted in his seat. When he spoke, it was w
ith a low mutter. “I can only imagine how many men tried what I did.”
She arched a brow as she regarded him quietly. “You were amongst the first.”
He looked out at the skyline. “I’m not that naïve.”
“No. You are that offensive though. In all the years I worked for the agency, you and your father were the first to call me a prostitute.”
He sipped his wine. “I just don’t see how that’s possible.”
