Page 112 of Something Tattered
I didn't bother hiding my disbelief. "Sure you don't."
"I don't," he insisted.
I studied his face. To my surprise, he looked utterly sincere. I felt my brow wrinkle in confusion. "But why not?"
"It's complicated."
"Oh, come on," I said. "That's just a cop-out."
"Maybe." He moved forward, closing the gap between us. "But forget that. Ask me therightquestion."
There was a right question? Whatever it was, I had no idea. "What question is that?"
"Why I did 'something nice' for you."
"I already know why," I said. "It was because you felt guilty. You know, for how rude you were in the beginning."
He gave a low laugh. "Trust me. I can be a lot ruder than that."
Nowthis, I believed. But I still didn't know what that had to do with anything now. "So?"
"So, I don't normally make up for it."
"Why not?" I asked.
"You want the truth?"
"Definitely."
"Because those other people?" Again, his voice grew quiet. "They weren't you."
My breath caught. "What?"
He nodded. "From the moment I first saw you, it was different."
I would've called him crazy, except I could totally relate. The first time I'd seen him was in the boardroom. Even then, I'd been unable to look away. But still, I had to ask, "Different how?"
"I don't know. I can't explain it. But you've gotta remember something."
"What?"
"In that meeting, I wanted to knock Derek on his ass. But I didn't." His gaze met mine. "Because of you."
He'd already told me something similar, but I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at now. "So you're saying, you stopped yourself for my sake?"
Joel gave a slow nod. "Then. And now."
At last, everything clicked. "Sothat'swhy you're turning me down?"
"That's what you think? That I'm turning you down?"
"Aren't you?"
"No." His eyes warmed. "I'm just saying, you don't owe me anything." His gaze dipped to my lips. "I can wait."
"Me, too." I gave a nervous smile. "It's just that, well, I don't want to. I mean, I know what April told you, and actually, she was right. But with you, that's not the way I feel. And just so you know, this has nothing to do with the lawn. Or my car. Or whatever else I’m forgetting."
He smiled. "Yeah?"
