The men’s room was quiet and nicer than anything he’d ever seen. He splashed some water on his face then took a deep breath. What the fuck was he doing here? He was a blue-collar worker, an ex-military man, who worked with his hands and liked a cold beer when he watched sports on TV. This wasn’t his ideaof a good time.
When he went back into the large hall with the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Waterbury, Heather stood gazing out, only a few other people milling around. The view of her gorgeous back was better than the one out the window. She’d come to mean a lot to him in the last few months. Heck, if he was being honest, the last few years as they’d been pretending to be together. But now he had to think about this.
Would she be happy with him? They seemed okay now, but what about if he wanted to get serious? Like marriage serious? He and Patrice had been going along well enough until he’d mentioned marriage. Then she’d ripped his heart out and left him bleeding allover the floor.
Would Heather do the same thing? Did he want to give her the opportunity? Watching her tonight, he’d realized she truly did belong in this world. She understood it, knew how to manipulate it. Thrived on the give and take, the back scratching and deal making. It wasn’t his world. It never would be. This type of environment would make him crazy in no time and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stomach it, even for her. Was it time to bow out gracefully? Before either one of them gothurt. Further.
As she turned around he almost lost his nerve. The smile she gave him lifted his heart, warming him all over. Until he thought of her insisting he wear suits and ties that she’d bought for him. Expensive ties that cost hundreds of dollars. Having her style his hair to her liking so he didn’t embarrass her. Demanding he accompany her to these shindigs and kowtow to the high and mighty old money folks. Until she dismissed him from her life because he didn’t fit in. That image stabbed through his lungs so much he couldn’t breathe. But if he waited it out and stayed with her, loving her more, it would be far worse.
“I saw you leave and wanted to make sure you were all right.” Her long manicured nails stroked up his arm. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he took a step back. Not a big one, but enough to put a little distance between them. Her smile faded.
“This place makesmy skin crawl.”
Looking around, she said, “Why?What happened?”
“Nothing specific. I came out here so I wouldn’t embarrass you anymore.”
The hurt expression that crossed her face dug into his soul and he faltered. He was doing this for her too, though.
“Embarrass me? What are you talking about? I’m not embarrassed by you.”
“Maybe you should be. I’m hardly of the same quality as most of theseother people.”
“Listen, Scott, I don’t give a shit what these people think. Of you or me. I brought you here because I wanted you here.”
Lifting his hand, he caressed her soft cheek. He shouldn’t since he didn’t want to let go. “That’s a great thought, princess, but let’s face it, I don’t fit in with these people. They’re all a bunch of rich snobs, and I’m only a carpenter.”
“Where is all this coming from?” The crack in her voice let him know she wasgetting upset.
“These people here, Heather, I’m nothing like them. They wheel and deal and backstab and manipulate. All in the name of business. As long as it’s for a good cause, it’s okay to do whatever it takes toget your way.”
“They aren’tall that bad.”
“I’ve been listening to quite a few conversations tonight.”
Glancing away, her shoulders rose and fell. Yeah, try and deny what he’d heard.
“And you introduced me asyourpartner.”
Her head whipped around, her eyes glowing fiercely. “What did you want me to say? ‘This is Scott Holland. He and I are having hot monkey sex in his kitchen.’ Would that have been lessembarrassing?”
“So, you are embarrassed that we’re sleeping together?”
“Of course not, but it’s hardly the place to announce it to the world.” Her gaze flew around the hall, relief apparent when no one seemed to be focused on them.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Guess this is more proof I don’t belong here with all of these beautiful people.”
Tipping her head, she frowned. “I’m not like most of them.” She stared at him as if looking for an answer. He didn’t have one. “But you still think I am. Don’t you?” Her voice squeaked at thelast two words.
Eyeing her expensive dress, he let his mind wander to everything he’d seen and heard tonight. “Well, aren’t you?”
“You can ask me that? Seriously?” The pain in her tone ripped him apart but this wasn’t something that would go away. She’d always be the rich little girl of a megamillionaire and he’d always be the sonof a carpenter.
“Letting that guy touch your ass as you got his business card, or the other one who tried to slip his fingers into your dress, that’s all part of anormal world?”
Her lower lip trembled and she clamped her mouth together. Turning slightly away, she took a deep breath in. When it came out it shook. She took a few more breaths and he could see her trying to get her expression under control. Her profile was strong and her jaw tight then she faced him again. “I’ll stay with my sister tonight,” she whispered, “and send someone for my things in the morning.”
Damn, he wanted to pull her close and kiss her sadness away, but it would only hurt worse for both of them if their feelings grew any stronger before they realized their relationship wouldn’t work. Because it couldn’t.
