Just The Way You Are(15)

"Maybe you don't listen. Maybe you don't want to hear me, because it would upset all your fantasies and illusions."

"I don't have any more fantasies. They died from lack of interest. So let me go, Sam, because we both know you've been trying to get away from me for most of your life."

Sam's hand fell from her arm. "Maybe you're right," he said. "Maybe it's time we both let go. Because I don't know what we're trying to hold on to."

Alli swallowed hard. She didn't really want him to let her go. But it was too late to take back her words. And it was better this way. Despite what Sam said, she knew his feelings for Tessa were unresolved. And now that Tessa was back, maybe it was time to resolve them.

"I'm out of here," Sam said, leaving her alone in the kitchen.

When she finally got up her nerve to return to the living room, she found Megan sitting all alone in the big armchair with her backpack on and her hair done up in a beautiful French braid.

"You look terrific," Alli said.

Megan's face blossomed into a smile as she moved her head from side to side. "Do you like it?"#p#分页标题#e#

"Like it? I love it. Are you ready for summer school?"

Megan nodded and got to her feet. "Are you going to take me, Mommy? I like it when you take me to school."

"You do?" Alli said.

"Yes, because Daddy always listens to the sports station and you listen to music."

It was the best compliment she'd gotten all morning. "You can listen to whatever you want, sweetie."

"Aunt Tessa is nice," Megan said.

Alli felt her body go tense. She couldn't come up with a response to save her life.

"How come you never talk about her? She's really pretty." Megan paused. "But you're way prettier, Mommy."

Alli swept Megan up into her arms and gave her a big hug. "I love you, baby."

"I love you, too, Mommy. But I'm not a baby anymore."

Alli gave her a teary smile. "I know, but you'll always be my baby."

* * *

Tessa tried to relax, but sitting next to Sam in the front seat of his Ford Explorer felt awkward and uncomfortable.

Sam had barely spoken to her, barely looked at her since they'd left the house.

She suspected he and Alli had had an argument in the kitchen, probably over her. No doubt Alli had not liked the fact that she was here, or that Megan wanted her aunt to do her hair. Well, big deal. Alli was acting like a child.

Tessa cleared her throat. Sam didn't even glance at her. "Sam," she said pointedly.

"What?" He didn't sound at all happy to be speaking to her.

"Do you still have the T-Bird?"

"Yeah."

"But you don't drive it?"

"Once in a while. It's not exactly a family car." And he was a family man. How strange to think of him that way.

"Are you and Alli really getting a divorce?" she asked.

"It looks that way."

"Mind if I ask why?"

"Alli wasn't happy."

"Were you?"

He didn't say anything for a long moment. "Maybe not every second of every day, but who is?"

"That's an evasive answer."

He shrugged. "What about you? Are you happy?"

"Me? Of course I'm happy. My career is great. I travel all over the world. I make a lot of money." She cleared her throat, wondering why it didn't sound that good. She had a fantastic life, everyone said so. "I have two apartments, one in L.A. and one in New York," she added.

"Can't decide which city you like better?"

"It's convenient to have a place on each coast."

"Life in the fast lane," he murmured.

"There's a lot to see and do," she said, feeling defensive. She couldn't tell if he was impressed or critical of her lifestyle. "It's a big world out there."

"You don't get tired of the traveling?"

"No. Well, sometimes." She let out a breath, feeling especially weary today. She turned her head to look at him and was reassured by the familiarity of his profile. This was Sam. Why was she pretending? "It's hard to stay ahead of the pack," she said. "There are so many pretty young girls chasing me, I'm beginning to feel hunted."

"I doubt anyone can catch you."

Then Sam sent her a smile that took her right back to where they'd once been, when his every look could make her palms sweat and her heart race. There were better looking men in the world. She'd posed with many of them. But there was something about Sam that stirred her. Even now, dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, he was far too appealing.#p#分页标题#e#

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," she said lightly.

"It sounds like you've got everything you wanted."