Page 13 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“Don’t try and flatter me, darling.”
“I’m not, I’m being honest. Your appearanceis … surprising perhaps, at first. But I think you’re quite easy tolook at.”
Jack stared at her with openfascination.
“I can’t tell if you’re sincere orattempting to make some sort of jest, but I intend to find out,Miss Taylor.”
“I wouldn’t jest about such things.”
“But you could lie,” he said,conversationally, as if they weren’t discussing him. “Most ladiesof your position refrain from commenting on people’s appearance andwhen they do, it’s always complimentary, but rarely honest.”
“I never lie,” she said, sticking up herchin.
“Don’t you?” he asked. “Then tell me, MissTaylor, is your sister aware of your wish to buy a cottage by thesea?”
Meredith’s own smiled faltered.
“That’s hardly lying.”
“Omission of the truth on purpose is thedefinition of lying. Tell me, does she know about it?”
“No, although I’m sure she knows now, sinceI told you.”
“Do you think I would betray yoursecret?”
“It’s hardly a secret.”
“Then why not tell her?”
Meredith felt stumped. It wasn’t a grandkind of secret. She had plenty of those, yet it was a privatething, a small, unknown thing she kept close to her heart. Mostlybecause it was the closest thing she had to a dream in a longtime.
“It’s private.”
“You told me,” he said, sounding from behindher. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” She turned and was surprisedto see that he had come close and was now within arm’s reach ofher. “I suppose you forced me to tell you.”
“That hardly paints me in a good light, doesit?”
“No, it does not,” she said honestly. “Butwhy didn’t you tell your brother?”
Jack’s mouth opened, but he seemed suddenlydistracted. Meredith was curious what he must see when he suddenlyshook his head.
“It wasn’t my secret to tell.” He shrugged.“But I do have some information for you. I’ve found a new venturefor your money. It will take only three months as opposed to thesix months I had originally estimated.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said, smiling.“Thank you, Mr. Archer.”
“But I will need payment before you cancollect.”
Her smile dropped.
“As I told you before, Mr. Archer. I willnot kiss you.”
“That’s not the payment anymore,” he saidand she felt her heart drop a little. “There’s something else Iwant.”
“What is it?”
“I want to know what you meant yesterday inmy office. When you said all men try to make fools of women.”
