Leverage (Part Three)(5)
Yeah, Miles agreed. But there was something else. As much as he hated to see it, he voiced his private fear. “But you love him don’t you?”
“Love?” She glanced up, suddenly very vulnerable. “What makes you say that?”
He sighed. “Because even though he’s treated you terribly, you’re about ready to cry over him,” he said gently. When her eyes welled even more, he said with a sigh, “Don’t beat yourself up over it.” Adding with earnest as he squeezed her hand. “Sometimes we have to fall in love with the wrong person so that when we meet the right person, we know what’s real.”
She sniffed and withdrew her hand as she wiped her eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never imagined I’d be one of those pathetic women weeping over some jerk who treats me badly after knocking me up. I’m a cliché.”
“You’re hardly a cliché,” he assured her with a chuckle, loving the way the light danced around her crown, creating a halo. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Julianna needed him. “You’re a sweet person who gave your heart to the wrong guy. Simple as that.”
“It’s not that simple,” she murmured, blinking back more tears. “I can’t tell you why it’s more complicated than that but trust me, when I say that it is.”
A warning bell went off in his head, ringing with the echo of Boston’s taunt. What did that guy have on her? He was perplexed but seeing as talking about it seemed to upset her more, he tried to change the subject. “How about we go do something fun today?” he suggested.
“What do you mean? Don’t you have to go to work? I don’t want to complicate your life more than I already have.”
“That’s the best part about being a traveling doctor…I’m part of a rotating service. Today is my day off.”
“Oh,” she said, breaking a tiny smile. “And you want to spend it with me?”
“I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather spend it with.”
“You’re good for a girl’s ego,” she said, risking a bigger smile. “I mean, how can I say no?”
“You can’t. I engineered it that way,” he said with what he hoped was a charming grin. “How about this…a ride to other side of the island. It’s a great scenic drive and it’ll give you a chance to get out of your head for a little while.”
“That sounds wonderful,” she admitted but hesitated. “Are you sure? I feel like a toad for monopolizing your only day off.”
“Have you forgotten that I have ulterior motives?” He gestured toward her bathing suit and she blushed. “See? I’m not entirely a gentleman. You have a rocking body and a wonderful personality. I don’t see how spending a day with you would be a hardship. If anything, it might be a hardship on you putting up with my tour guide mentality.”
“Tour guide mentality?” She arched a brow in question. “What does that mean or do I want to know?”
“It means I can’t help myself when I move some place…I have to find out everything there is to know so I can speak like a know-it-all at dinner parties.”
She laughed, her mouth curving in a sweet smile. “Oh, you’re one of those guys.”
“Totally guilty. I know just enough to be dangerous.”
“Well, thanks for the warning but I like the idea of the driver knowing a bit about the area. So I think we’re safe. What time do you want to leave?”
“I do need to call in, double check I’m not on call, and then if all is good, we can leave around eleven. I’ll even pack a picnic.”
“A picnic? That sounds fun. Should I bring anything?”
“Sunscreen and that gorgeous smile. I will handle everything else.”
“Well, sounds like you have this all figured out.” She grinned. “Meet you in the lobby at eleven?”
“Sounds good. Now,” he gestured to her plate. “Eat up. Don’t starve that baby.”
Julianna laughed as if there was very little threat of that but took a bite for his benefit. “Good girl,” he said, excusing himself. “See you in a bit.” He grabbed an apple on the way out, the only blemish on his thoughts was the lingering knowledge that joking aside, Julianna, for all her bluster, was suffering from a broken heart. He could read the anguish in her stare, even as she tried hard to hide it, and he could sense it in the way the corners of her mouth turned down in the most subtle, nearly hidden manner. All the signs pointed to disaster, so why was he patently ignoring the big, yellow caution sign warning him of the broken bridge up ahead?