IZZY STARED at the blurry shape that was Aaron and did her best to keep her mouth from hanging open. “Are you serious? They attacked you?”
Nick had disappeared in the afternoon and hadn’t returned for dinner. Norma had decided two people weren’t worth cooking for and had gone home, leaving them to find food in the packed refrigerator.Aaron moved around the kitchen, dumping things into bowls and sticking them in the microwave.
“I’m from New York, I’m obviously gay, I was in a cowboy bar in a tough part of Dallas. It happens.”
Not in her world. People didn’t just get beat up for being different. “I hope you pressed charges.”
Aaron patted her shoulder as he walked past her. “You’re surprisingly naive, but sweet, which is why I like you. I wasn’t worried about anything but getting out of there alive. If Nick hadn’t come to my rescue, I’d be dead now.” He sighed. “He was magnificent. He seriously kicked some straight-boy ass. In the movies he would have realized he’d been playing for the wrong team all along and fallen passionately in love with me.”
Izzy hid a smile. “Maybe next time.”
“Don’t tease me. Anyway, he brought me here to heal. Norma fed me until I begged for mercy. And that’s the story of how Nick and I met.”
“What was he doing in a cowboy bar?”
“An interesting question. You’ll have to ask him.”
“What were you doing there?”
From the change in his voice, she knew he was grinning. “I saw the hats. I thought it was a gay cowboy bar. My bad.” He got plates down from the cupboard. “Make yourself useful and put these out, please.”
She grabbed the plates.
“I was tired of New York,” he continued. “The same guys, the same work.”
“What did you do there?”
“I was a party planner. It was fun and I made a lot of money, but it just wasn’t me. One day instead of looking through the singles ads in the paper, I found myself looking at used cars. I bought one and then I ended up here. I like Texas. Now if I could just find a cute boy.”
“Me, too.”
“You have Nick.”
If only.
Izzy stood by the table, turning the thought over in her head. If only? As in she wanted Nick? As in sex? Did blind girls have sex? Stupid question. Of course they did, but did she? If she couldn’t see his face, how could she know what he was thinking? Or know that he really wanted her?
“Izzy, I’m talking,” Aaron told her. “At least pretend to pay attention.”
“Oh. Sorry. I was just…”
“Thinking about Nick.”
“Maybe.”
“Uh-huh.”
She smiled. “Back to you.”
“Finally.”
“You bought a car and drove to Texas, where Nick saved you.”
“From certain death.” He sighed dramatically. “While I was recovering, I found out about his business. Or what he called a business. He doesn’t really have the right personality to schmooze with the corporate types, so he wasn’t getting as many bookings as he wanted. I took over as soon as I could hold a phone. We doubled our income in six months. Now we have a reputation, I’m adored by millions. It works.”
“Don’t you love it when the universe gets it right?”
“I do. It’s really the perfect relationship. Nick focuses on his kids and I run everything else.”
She’d heard about the kids before. “What kids? How does he find them? Why here?”
“Because he’s good and it’s free. If you ask me, he has a dark, dangerous secret from his past he doesn’t want to talk about. I can tell. He’s a man who carries guilt, and does it look good on him. Anyway, he’s atoning.”
“For what?”
There was silence.
“Are you giving me a look?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I don’t know. You can ask him if you want. God knows I’ve tried.”
He went on to talk about the last corporate retreat and what had happened. Izzy only half listened. She kept glancing out the window, not that she could see anything. Not only was there the whole lack-of-sight thing, it was already dark. Where was Nick and when was he coming back? And why did his being away bother her so much?
AFTER DINNER Aaron wanted to watch Project Runway, but Izzy was too restless. She tried listening to a book on tape, but it wasn’t enough of a distraction, so she went upstairs and changed into shorts and a T-shirt, then returned to the living room.
“I’m going to work out,” she said.“Sweat?” Aaron asked, sounding horrified. “On purpose?”