Page 33 of Trophy
“Nothing. I’m just not used to someone being supportive and giving such good advice.”
His face relaxed, and his eyes grew warm and soft. “That’s what I’m here for. But what about your friends?”
“I only really have one good one. The rest were pretty superficial. Vicki, my good friend, has actually told me something similar more than once. She wants me back in Charlotte, though, so she’d love for the jewelry-shop idea to happen.” She sighed.
“Well, you’re here now. You’re not in Charlotte. So you might as well do something else with your jewelry.”
“How do I find out about those craft fairs?”
“I don’t actually know, but I know a few folks who do them, so I’ll ask.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at him, suddenly realizing her hand was still on his thigh. She’d been rubbing it idly as they talked. Very quickly she pulled her hand away.
“I wasn’t complaining,” Rob murmured rather thickly, obviously noticing her quick move.
“I know. I just didn’t realize…” She cleared her throat.
“I know you didn’t.”
They fell into silence, both of them staring at the television for a few minutes. Then she finally couldn’t resist the urge any longer, and she turned to look at him again. “What happened with Dee? Earlier, I mean.”
Rob had looked relaxed and comfortable, slouched down in the corner of the couch. But at this he straightened up slightly. “Just…” He wasn’t meeting her eyes. “Just her normal stuff.”
“Which is what? Does she normally come over to your house drunk to scream at you?”
“More often than you’d expect.” His voice was dust dry. “She doesn’t do it all the time. She goes through phases where she drinks too much, and this is one of them.”
“What does she want?”
He shook his head slowly, staring at the television screen with eyes that obviously didn’t see it. “Attention? I really don’t know. I never did.”
“Why did you get divorced?” She’d always wanted to know more details about his marriages, and it felt like the right time to ask.
“I was too… tired. It was one thing after another, and I couldn’t make her happy. We did nothing but fight. I tried to hold out. I really did. I thought if I could just help her, she might change. But it was beyond my power to do.”
Allison thought a minute before she replied. “If people don’t want to be fixed, there’s not really anything you can do.”
He rubbed his head with his fingertips, like he was trying to shake off dust. “All I ever wanted…” His voice was no more than a breath, and he just trailed off, staring at that same spot in the air.
“All you wanted was what?”
He blinked and turned back to her, as if he had just realized what he was saying. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to whine.”
“You weren’t whining.” When he turned away again, she used her hand to make him look at her. “I told you what I want. Now tell me what you always wanted.”
He released a breath that looked like surrender. “My parents got married when they were teenagers, and they’re still together—more than fifty years now.”
“Really? That’s amazing. Do they live in town?”
“About a half hour away—on their dairy farm. Anyway, all I ever wanted was a marriage like theirs. One that’s solid. One thatlasts. I never wanted to go through a bunch of women. I only wanted one. Who would stick with me.” He’d been holding her gaze, but now he lowered his eyes. “I always pick the ones who’ll never stay.”
The words touched Allison more than they should have. Opened up his heart in a way she hadn’t seen in him before. She was filled with appreciation and understanding and affection and an attraction so powerful there was no way she could resist it.
She leaned forward and stroked his cheek with her hand. When he looked up again, she leaned in to kiss him.
He responded immediately, making a hoarse sound in his throat and taking her face in both of his hands. His touch was hot and hungry—almost needy—and it fired up the softer feelings in Allison.
Filled with pleasure and excitement, she leaned into him even more, pushing him back against the arm of the couch. He slid his hands down to her thighs and pulled them apart so she was straddling his lap, and his tongue made insistent advances until her mouth opened all the way for him.
