“Crazy,” he said, with a smile. And it was genuine, something she hadn’t realized until this moment. He’d been sort of smiling at her during lunch, but this time the expression went all the way to his eyes. “She’s always thinking of ways to save me money, even though I don’t need to any more.”
“So you’re a self-made millionaire?” she asked.
“Definitely,” he said. “My dad’s a gym teacher and my mom, as I mentioned, is an accountant. I grew up solidly middle class. What about you?”
“Well, my mom is a model and my dad, as you know, has his own fashion house, but he started out with nothing. So did my mom. She said if she’d been born with average looks she’d still be poor, but my father swears he’d love her anyway. Everyone adores her because she's...I don't know how to describe her but she is just guileless, she is interested in everyone and everything. She makes everyone feel like what they do is the most important job in the world.”
“I wonder,” Alex said. “Did they meet through his job?”
“Yes, they did. She showed up for a runway show and my father knew immediately that she was going to be the face of his newest line. It’s all very . . . romantic. Dad says he loved her at first sight,” Fiona said.
“Is that important to you?” he asked as they walked down the street toward a park that Fiona had been to before.
“Romance?” she asked, not sure what he meant.
“Yes,” he said, crowding closer to her as a group of teens walked past them on the sidewalk. He put his arm around her waist, sending a little tingle through her body from where he touched her.
“It is important to me. Otherwise couples end up just sort of existing together like roommates, and I want something more. My parents kind of spoiled me for relationships. They’re devoted to each other and have worked to keep the romance alive between them.”
He ran a hand through his thick hair, disrupting one of his curls, but it fell back over his forehead. “That’s not always possible in real life.”
“My parents make it work,” she said. “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll help you out with the romance part.”
“Geez, thanks,” he said sardonically.
They got to the park and ambled along the main tree-lined path, dappled sunlight falling over them. She couldn’t help but notice that he stared at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.
“Was I what you were expecting?” she teased.
“No. Though I did specify I wanted someone who was attractive,” he said.
“You did?”
“Of course. I might be a geek, but I’m not interested in someone who’s as brainy as me.”
“Um, what are you trying to say here, buddy?” she asked, stopping the stroller and turning to face him.
“Just that I wanted someone who was my opposite,” he said. “I’ve tried dating women who are in my field. We just bore each other with our work details or argue about software fixes. I don’t want to date someone who's just like me.
“Arrogant,” she said. “And I thought you were just a nice guy.”
“I am a nice guy,” he said. “It doesn’t mean I’m a pushover. I know where my strengths are.”
“I do, too. Being pretty isn’t one of them,” she said. “My mother is the great beauty in our family.”
He just arched one eyebrow at her. “You think you’re not attractive.”
She shook her head and laughed. “I didn’t say that. I’m just not breathtaking, like my mom is.”
“I’d argue that,” he said.
“Did I steal your breath when you first saw me?” she asked.
“Maybe,” he said.
“Maybe?”
“I think you’re fishing for a compliment,” he said.
