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Thwack.
The back of my neck went hot.
Daphne’s smile was all patience, but she was prying for something very particular; I could see it in her scheming eyes. “What else?”
“S-sweet,” I said. “Hardworking.”
Thwack.
Why was hechopping so fast? I couldn’t even get a word out before he was hitting another stupid piece of wood.
I pinched my eyes shut. “I’m sure he’s very academic,” I said in a rush.Thwack.“He’d read all the same books as me and probably be a bit of a book nerd. He definitely wears glasses, and he’s more, like ... approachably handsome. Where you might not notice it at first.”
“Hmm.”
Thwack.
When I opened my eyes, I glared directly at her. “Blond. He’s blond. And he never argues with me,” I said, my voice rising in volume. “And we have a peaceful, happy, calm marriage,” I yelled. Just a little.
Daphne had one eyebrow raised and a smug-ass smile on her smug-ass face.
“Much more specific answer than I expected, but I’ll take it.” She sipped her tea. “If I ever meet someone like that, I’ll be sure to grab his number.”
With a huff, I stood and snatched my purse. “Youwere the one who told me this was a good idea. I don’t know what you’re trying to prove.”
“I was merely curious if your tastes had changed now that you’vesampledsomething new. That’s all.” She tilted her head. “Maybe you’re the person who’s trying to prove a point.”
The entire conversation, with the stupid wood-chopping sound effects, had me feeling defensive and edgy. I left Daphne’s place and marched along the path back to the Campbell House.
As I made my very dramatic exit, I heard Burke call my name. But I didn’t stop.
Fine, I was acting a bit petulant, but I didn’t want to turn back around and face him. Face Daphne and her seemingly innocent questions.
“Innocent, my ass,” I muttered.
Daphne knew exactly what she was doing by asking that when she did.
She still didn’t think I could have this relationship with Burke without picturing myself marrying him. She thought I’d get hurt because I’d start putting his face and his body and his personality onto the list of things that I wanted for my future.
I wasn’t going to do that, though, because we’d agreed on the basis that our futures were taking us in very different directions.
My throat felt a little tight when I ruthlessly banished the image of Burke starting his own life after this.
The image of the person he’d find who fit his own ideal.
She was probably petite and blonde and agreeable. She would never argue with him either.
My hands tightened into fists.
She probably loved football and knew all the rules and terminology and simplyfawnedover his records and whatever else fangirls fawned over.
She’d pop out babies.
Little dark-haired babies with big, dark eyes and smiles that you had to work for.
My pace picked up.
When I got back to the carriage house about eighteen minutes later, my heart rate was no calmer, my embarrassment was acute, andmy body was very warm from the walk. Sweat pooled on my back underneath the white tank I was wearing.
