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Simon grunted.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“What I think shouldn’t matter. It’s how you feel that does.”
“And that doesn’t answer my question, either.” She pulled away from him and stared up into his handsome face. “With what you know about me, what would you say?”
He shrugged. “You’ve never really been interested in relationships with people around here. The only guy I remember you having a thing for was back in New York.”
She made a face. “Yeah, and we saw how that turned out. He was only dating me so he could take over my job.” Katrina groaned. “I should have seen it coming. I can’t believe I let him in like that.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Katrina frowned. No, it wasn’t her fault, but she should have known better than to open herself up to someone she worked with. Even she knew better than that and she’d let it happen anyway. That experience alone had shifted the way she viewed relationships. “Well, I guess if I have to go on a date with anyone, Jackson is a better fit. At least I don’t have to worry about him taking over my job—because I don’t have one to steal.”
CHAPTERTWO
Beneath the lighttone in Katrina’s voice, Simon could hear the sadness. It was an ache that he couldn’t fix, as much as he wished he could.
“Whatever you want to do, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”
Katrina shifted so she could rest her head on his shoulder again. “Yeah, I know. You’ve always been there for me when I needed you most.”
Nothing was truer than that statement right there. Ever since he was a kid, parentless and alone, Katrina had been there for him, too. They’d formed a bond so tight that not even Brianne could come between it.
Their little group was close, but not as close as he was with this woman who sat beside him. Sometimes he wondered if Brianne could sense it, and if she felt like they’d edged her out. If so, she didn’t show it.
“What do you think you’ll do on your date?”
He asked the question quietly, fully admitting to himself that he didn’t want to hear about it. Secretly, he didn’t want her dating anyone either. He had a feeling that the second she found someone to love, he would lose the only person he considered his family.
And at the same time, he couldn’t stand in her way. He had to be the support she needed without being the person who destroyed her future.
She took a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t care. Brianne is being ridiculous. I don’t need to spend time with a stranger to feel better.”
“Then what would make you feel better?”
Katrina peeked up at him from where her cheek rested against his shoulder. “I just want to get out of here, you know? I want to be in the city again where everything keeps moving faster and faster. I need to feel that electricity—it fills me with energy and a sense of purpose like nothing else.”
Once upon a time, that description would have hurt his feelings. He would have taken it personally that she didn’t want to stick around in the town where they grew up—in the town where they had become friends.
But he knew better than to believe she was talking about him when she called this place dull. Whenever something big happened at work, he was the first person she’d call. And the same went for him. They were still connected even when she was far away.
“Yeah, I get that. But you have to admit that Brianne made a good point. You need to find purpose before you can try to sell yourself. It’s like when you got that job in New York. You were confident and living life to the fullest. I think people can feel that in the emails you write and the phone interviews you take.”
“I guess. I just wish I didn’t have to fake it so much.”
“So don’t.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Her laugh was more sad than anything else.
“I mean that you need to get out of your head.” Simon gestured around the room. “To get out of this house. You need some fresh air and some vitamin D.”
Katrina laughed again, but this time it sounded more genuine. “Okay, Dr. Simon. What do you suggest?”
“How about we take a walk or go for a ride?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I spend enough time on those horses. But a walk sounds nice.”
