“Then how does he know about it?”
“He came to me a while back, and we were discussing business. He knows better than most how much it takes to run a place like Hedera. The start-up cost for a private venture is prohibitive, which is why a lot of research is done at universities.”
“So he asked you about the money?” Gil was looking at her like her answer could be the secret to world peace, immortality, and ending poverty—all with one word.
“Not specifically. He was asking for advice. There was no way for me to give him what he needed without being honest about myfinancial situation. He swore he wouldn’t share that information, and I trusted him not to.”
“I would think he would have had to back you into a corner to make you give that info up.” Gil ran a hand through his hair, and it stood up all over his head like a porcupine. It would have been funny if the conversation hadn’t been so serious.
“He didn’t back me into a corner. Ab’s a nice guy. Gentle. Sweet. He’s funny and smart. And he cares about me. He’s not pushy or bossy, and he’s not intimidating or unkind.”
Gil’s expression shifted from one of hostility to one of speculation. “Sounds like a great guy.”
“He is.” Ab was great. Although it did bother her to think he might have been at church today and didn’t speak to her. That wasn’t like Ab.
“If he’s so great, why aren’t you still together?”
Ivy found this question enlightening on several levels. One, Gil wasn’t hiding that he didn’t like Ab, but he had no reason for his dislike, which had already made her consider the possibility that Gil was jealous. Two, the way the question was worded left it clear that Gil didn’t know who had ended the relationship. Which led her to the third, and possibly most fascinating, scenario—that Gil was worried she might still be into Ab.
“He’s a nice guy. That doesn’t mean we made a good couple.”
“That’s a partial answer. How about you give me the full one?”
“Have I mentioned you can be bossy and intimidating?”
“No, although I did notice you mentioned thatAb”—he put heavy emphasis on the name—“wasn’t.”
Definitely jealous. She couldn’t stop herself from grinning.
“I’m not sure there’s much funny about this, Buttercup.”
“No. I wouldn’t think you would see the humor,” Ivy fired back. “But I think it’s hilarious.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Why?”
She wasn’t about to answer that question, but she could give him a more complete explanation. Ivy waved a hand to indicate her body. “People look at me and think I’m a pushover. I’ve fought that my entire academic career. I’m a blonde female with a PhD in engineering. We aren’t unicorn rare, but we aren’t as common as pennies either. I worked hard to get where I am, and along the way I met Ab. He wasn’t intimidated by me. He also didn’t patronize me. We were compatible in every imaginable way. He understood my work. I understood his. We had similar tastes in almost everything, even the stuff that shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Music, vacation destinations, food, houses. But there was one thing about which we were not on equal footing. And that one thing was enough for me to end it.”
She could still see Ab’s face the night she broke up with him. It still seared through her, the pain she’d caused. “He was more into me than I was into him. It wasn’t fair to him.”
Gil rubbed his hands over his thighs. “I’m guessing he didn’t appreciate you making that decision for him. A guy might be willing to be more into a girl than she is into him. Especially if she’s the right girl.”
“Ab made that argument.”
“Why didn’t it work?”
“Because it wasn’t fair to me either.” She lowered her voice. “I’m not interested in settling. I’m a realist in almost every part of my life, Gil. Logical. Practical. Careful. But when it comes to my heart, that’s a different story. My heart got a taste of something pure and beautiful when I was young, and it has refused to settle for anything less.”
“Buttercup.” The name wrenched out of Gil, but Ivy had gone as far as she was willing to go. For tonight at least. So she retreatedand left no room for Gil to do anything but follow her where she was leading their conversation. Away from the heart and her dreams. Back toward the mind and the painful realities they had to deal with before they could be free to explore whatever was happening between them.
“Ab is a good man. I don’t believe he would harm me or attempt to get the money for himself. I can appreciate that you won’t see it that way, but you should know if you want to change my mind, you’ll need to provide hard facts.”
Gil still hadn’t recovered. She wasn’t even sure if he’d heard what she said. She pressed on. “As for this week, I need to know what the plan is. I cancelled the painters, but unless I get on the phone and tell them to take the day off, my team will be back at work bright and early tomorrow. I need to know what to tell them. I also need to know if I should look into hiring security or if I can go about my business. And finally, I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality and kindness, but at some point, I’m going to have to go home, and I’d like to know when that is happening.”
To his credit, Gil had pulled it together. Mostly. He rubbed his temples with his fingertips before muttering, “Don’t hold back, Buttercup.”
“I usually don’t.”
GIL DIDN’T TRY TO HIDEhis amusement. “Fine as china. Tough as nails.”
