The car had already arrived, and he was holding it open, waiting for her.
Everything he did spoke of control.She realized that, even if he was angry, he wouldn’t show it.He was a difficult man to read.
She moved past him and stood at the back of the elevator.When the doors closed, she said, “I’ll choose my words with more care in the future.”
“It’s over.Forgotten.”
“Is that it?”She searched his features.“Are you that able to compartmentalize?”
“Yes.I rarely take anything personally.When it comes to you, doubly so.We’ll get along much better through the years if we don’t harbor resentment.Do you agree?”
“That’s a great theory,” she replied.“I’m afraid I’m a little more likely to hold onto things, though.It can take me a while to think things through and move on.I should probably try to be more like you.”
He swept his gaze over her.“Don’t change a single thing.”
In response to his perusal, his words, her thought process slowed.
The elevator dinged, signaling that they’d reached his floor.The ride had been less than a minute, and in just that small amount of time, he’d managed to take an awkward-feeling situation and turn it around in a way that made her feel really good about herself.
She reminded herself that she’d never had much luck in the love area, and when she did commit, it would be to a man who was more spontaneous, less emotionally distant, a man capable of giving as much as she was.
Once they were inside his loft, he said, “Feel free to make yourself comfortable.The built-in drawers on your side of the closet are empty.You’ll find empty drawers and cupboards in the bathroom for your toiletries.We’ll take the weekend to figure out whose house we’ll live in.Can I pour you a glass of wine?”
“Please.”She hesitated.“Back to my mother for a minute.”
He gave her his attention.
“I’d prefer just to tell her myself.”
“I said I was willing to meet her.”
In frustration, she sighed.“Do you ever relent?”
“I already have.”
He probably believed that.
“Originally,” he reminded her, “I said you couldn’t talk about it to anyone.I’m willing to consider that perhaps that’s unreasonable.So I need more information.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“I don’t like letting anyone else know.”
“Fine.I’ll message her and set up a time to see her.Is there anything on your schedule I need to know about?”
“I’ll rearrange things if I need to in order to make time.I’ll also have Thompson add you as an administrator on my calendar so you’ll always know where I am.”
Every step made the whole thing seem more real.“I…uhm…I’ll put my things away if that’s okay?”
He nodded.While he went to the kitchen, she sent her mother a message then walked toward his bedroom.If he had his way, it would be their room.
The place was so masculine, from the forest-green bedspread to the dark furnishings.Being in his closet was even more disquieting.
Everything was organized.On the far left were his suits, ranging in color from black to charcoal to light gray.His dress shirts were hung next to them.All were starched, all were white.Even from a distance she saw they were monogramed.
In the center of the closet, a few blazers divided the casual clothes from the business ones.His chinos were either khaki or navy.He’d hung the polo shirts together, grouped by color.Golf shirts were next.Off to the side were a handful of long-sleeved, soft-looking T-shirts.She noticed that every garment and hanger faced the same direction.
Connor joined her.She’d been so fixated on his level of order and precision that she hadn’t started to unpack her bag.“Did you have a professional help you organize the closet?”
