“Oh, Harry,” his wife said, then tapped his arm. “That’s ridiculous and you know it. You believe in God.”
“That’s different.” Harry stiffened slightly. “A man’s supposed to believe in God. It’s in the Bible.”
“My point exactly.”
“Not the same thing at all,” Harry told her.
“You believe in love,” Arizona said. “You love your wife and your children.”
“Of course.” Harry narrowed his eyes. “What kind of man would I be if I didn’t love them?”
“But you can’t see, taste, touch or smell love,” Arizona pointed out.
“Touché, Dr. Smith,” Harry’s wife said, then linked her arm through her husband’s and led him away.
Arizona stared after them. He’d met many men like Harry in the course of his travels. Men who wouldn’t believe in what they couldn’t prove. But magic and the unexplainable were everywhere. One only had to be open to the idea.
How can you claim to believe in magic, when you ignore the biggest magic of all—the love people have for each other?
He tried to dismiss the voice in his head along with the question. That was different, he told himself, and knew he sounded just like Harry.
He sucked in a breath. Was that what this came down to? His belief in love? Was that what was happening with Chloe? Was the reason he couldn’t forget about her and always wanted to be with her because he cared about her? Was it growing into more than caring?
The reception line finally ended. Arizona headed over to the bar and got himself a drink. As he sipped, he looked for Chloe. But instead of seeing her, he saw the people in the room and realized most of them were couples. What was it that bound two people together for a lifetime? The concept of marriage was as old as man. He’d traveled enough to know it was fairly universal. He’d seen dozens of couples who had faced great odds to be together, who were still together after several years.
“You’re looking pensive about something,” Cassie said as she, Chloe and Charity joined him.
“I’m fine.”
“Good.” She gave him her pretty, open smile. “The lecture tonight was even better than last night, and I didn’t think that was possible. You’re really gifted. Do you ever speak at schools?”
“Frequently. Kids are the best. They always have at least one question to stump me.”
Cassie giggled. “I know what you mean. At the preschool where I work, every kid’s favorite question is ‘why?’ Sometimes I can’t think of an answer. I don’t know why water is wet or dogs aren’t bendy when you pick them up like cats are.”
“Cats are superior animals,” Charity said.
Cassie shook her head. “They are not. Dogs love people, cats tolerate them.”
Arizona turned toward Chloe and found her watching him. He wanted to get lost in her dark eyes and never find his way out again. He wanted to tell her all he’d been thinking and find a solution together. Which was crazy. He refused to get seriously involved, and Chloe didn’t want to put herself on the line again. So there was no need to talk about anything.
Except when he thought about leaving Bradley, he thought about a beautiful woman with a giving soul and a stately Victorian house that one could easily call home.
* * *
THEY WERE THE only people in the elevator. Even though Chloe had been to Arizona’s room dozens of times, she found herself oddly nervous. Which was crazy.
“Come here,” he said when the door closed and they started their ascent.
She stepped into his embrace and welcomed the feel of his mouth on hers. Instantly, her body was ready for him. Heat filled her as her breasts swelled and that secret place between her legs dampened in readiness.
“You’re amazing,” he murmured as the door opened on his floor and they broke apart. “I can’t get enough of you.”
If only that were true, she thought. Then he wouldn’t leave. But there was no point in wishing for what could never be.
“Cassie was right,” Chloe said as she stepped into his suite. “Tonight’s lecture was better than last night’s. I don’t know how you come up with so many entertaining stories.”
“It’s a gift,” he said as he turned on several lights. “I don’t think I can take credit for it. I’ve always told stories. The difference is this time I’m at a podium instead of sitting around a campfire.”
His description matched what she’d been thinking earlier that night. They had much in common—they even thought alike at times. In many ways, she knew him better than she’d ever known anyone before.