Duke’s eyes widened. He tilted his head to one side. “Why what?”
Yep, it was anger all right. A lot of it. “What makes you regret it even to this day? It’s not like you know me anymore. You didn’t even know I was Veritå.” Her mind zeroed in on his wry comment. “You have no idea how I changed after seeing such an ugly side to your society,” she said pointedly.
“Mysociety?”
Viv considered that. “Well, the other side ofyou.”
“That’s not fair, Viv.” He stopped there, seeming to cut his words short and turned his gaze out the window. The sight of blue sky and puffy clouds reminded Viv that they were, in fact, in an aircraft, not some posh country club in LA.
“Maybe itisfair,” he said under his breath.
Viv turned her gaze back on him, surprised.
Duke’s brow tensed up as he met her eye once more. “I won’t deny that I made a stupid choice. I did. But everything I told you about that decision was true. I was never ashamed to be seen with you. I was just…focused on proving myself and…”
He glanced down at the table where he rubbed a thumb along the edge. He shrugged. “If I’d have known that I was choosing that dumb award over you, I would never have done it.”
“You thought you could have both,” Viv said. “That I’d just see past it like it was no big deal?”
“Of course,” he admitted. “No one outside of my own family had stood up to me like that. I should have known you were different though.”
She couldn’t help but get stuck on the way Duke said he’d chosen the award—not Sylvia—over her. It gave her a great deal of satisfaction.
Duke picked up his glass, took a sip, then set it back down with his eyes locked on her. “I learned from that. I really did. And as much as I wish I could undo it, I’m better for it. I hope you’ll be able to see that for yourself.”
Sincerity. Viv had learned to spot it, and that’s just what she saw on Duke’s handsome face.
An inner voice pleaded with her to put him at ease. To give him just enough to smooth the crease from his brow. A nod. A half-smile.
Instead, she settled on the truth. “I’m a single mother, Duke. I have two boys.”
The shock on his face was as priceless as it was painful. Eyes wide, almost amused, Duke shook his head.
“You do?” A smile spread over his lips. “But youaresingle,” he said, leveling a serious look at her.
“Yes.” Somehow, despite the wild rush of adrenaline coursing through her limbs at the unplanned confession, Viv felt a grin sneaking onto her lips as well.
“Two?” He put emphasis on the word. “How old?”
“Eight. Both of them. Well,” she added with a shrug. “Almost nine.”
“Twins?” The way his face lit up reminded Viv of the old days. His genuine interest and delight at topics they’d discuss into the late night hours.
She nodded as the grin won out. “Identical.”
“Vivi, that’s amazing.” At once, he was on his feet and shuffling around the table to give her a hug.
She couldn’t deny him the embrace, but inwardly Viv was shocked by Duke’s reaction. Scents of his spicy cologne hit her just as his solid arms wrapped around her back. “I can’t believe you have twins,” he said under his breath.
Viv returned his warm embrace, tingles washing over her at his touch. “I know. It’s crazy.”
Duke pulled back and looked at her, seeming to assess her with new eyes. “I bet you’re a great mom.”
A second dose of heat rushed to her face. Viv managed a shrug. “I try. They’re really great kids.”
“Wow,” he said while making his way back to his seat. Viv sat in hers as well.
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to turn the tables on the interview here. I have a million questions for you.”
