Page 8 of Chance of Romance
She lifted her chin. “I’m a professional. I can handle myself.”
He took a drink, watching her over the rim. “You sure?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, okay.” His brown eyes held a hint of amusement. “Pretty mouthy for a shy girl.”
Grr…
He grinned. “Though your article was badass.”
She met his eyes and smiled. He smiled back so warmly that her entire body warmed. Maybe there was something there. Questions darted through her mind: you into me? You into committed relationships? Are you really still pining for your college girlfriend? Would you be willing to embrace a stable, no-risk lifestyle?
So like a total professional, she blurted, “With so many of our friends getting married, you ever think about it for yourself?”
He blew out a breath. “That was random.”
Her cheeks and neck were burning, but she still managed to say in a composed voice, “I’m a relationship counselor. It’s my special field of interest.”
He shook his head. “Most things don’t pan out, in my experience. Hard to imagine committing to forever when the odds of sticking together are stacked against you.” His lips quirked to the side in a wry expression. “Guess that’s why the world needs people like you to help them stick. No offense to your profession, but it seems to me if it’s that difficult to be together, then maybe they shouldn’t be.”
She suppressed a sigh of disappointment. How unromantic, how commitment-phobic, how honest. She did have to give him credit for being honest. And she had the answer she needed. Logan wasn’t a good fit for her relationship-wise. A committed relationship was something you had to work for. It was a choice, every day, to commit to the love of your life, even when that was difficult. It occurred to her he hadn’t mentioned his ex in all this relationship talk. Mad must’ve been way off base on that. He was definitely not pining.
Logan launched into a detailed rundown of his upcoming investor meetings out in California and what it could mean for Checkin. He’d built the business, valued at two hundred fifty million, with his honorary brother Ben, and now they were seeking investment to take it higher. The most important meeting was in two weeks.
She listened intently without interruption as he spoke passionately about the business and what he dreamed for it. At least they had this, a close friendship, where they could talk about important stuff. That had to be enough.
