Cat stared at him, whether in admiration or utter bewilderment he wasn’t quite sure. “Fine.”
Living with five women had taught him that fine pretty much meant the opposite. “Why does it even matter to you, Cat? You’re a hotshot model with plenty of money, so why fuss around with a little furniture shop?”
She fingered a chisel and worried her lower lip. “When I was young, my dad always bragged about David’s IQ and Jackson’s athleticism. He even acknowledged Vivi’s artistic talent, but apparently all I had to offer was this,” she swept her hand from head to toe.
Her sheepish expression kicked him in the gut, but he refrained from interrupting her. Cat St. James had chosen to confide in him. His heart thumped at the realization.
“When I was ‘discovered,’ I grabbed the opportunity to prove I could be as successful as my brothers, even if my only asset was my face. But after the initial thrill of it all, I’ve never gotten any real satisfaction from modeling.” She sighed before continuing.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m appreciative of my career, and it’s important to me. Still, I regret dropping out of college, especially now, when I’m on the downside of the industry. I want—need—a chance to reinvent myself. To discover whether there’s more to me than the way I look. I assumed you’d jump at the chance to be your own boss, and figured we could help each other fulfill these needs.” Cat glanced up, her expression chagrined. “You probably think I’m a whiny brat complaining about my life when, compared to yours, it’s so easy.”
“Quit thinking for me, Cat. You’re never right.” He searched her face, but she kept her gaze averted. Why couldn’t she see he found this woman—soft, honest, thoughtful—far more appealing than the aloof “cover girl”? He stepped closer, yearning to comfort her. “You don’t sound whiny. Wistful, maybe.”
The heavy pulsing of his heart charged the atmosphere in the garage. As if drawn to him by the invisible thread of his need, Cat drifted within inches of his body.
“You said earlier that all I do is play games.” She met his gaze, her wide eyes filled with resolve. “Well, I’m serious about this business idea, Hank. My gut is telling me this could be a great change for both of us. Before you say no, could you at least give it some thought?”
“When I accused you of playing games, I meant the personal kind. And frankly, I’m more interested in that kind of relationship than a business one.” Holy shit, he said that out loud. He watched her chew on the inside of her cheek.
“Although it may not seem like it,” she said, “I’ve always been attracted to you.”
Heart in his throat now, Hank clasped her hand and stepped even closer. “Is that a yes?”
A dark shadow clouded her features. Then, as if in reflex, she regained her composure. “I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“Why not?” He wondered about her ex. “Are you . . . do you miss Justin despite what happened?”
“God, no.” She scowled. “I’m over him, and I hope he’s over me.”
“Is there a reason to think he’s not?”
She hesitated long enough to rouse his suspicion. “Not exactly.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, actually.” She looked away.
Instinct urged him to push, but he respected her privacy. “Okay, but you’d go to Jackson or David if he bothered you, right?”
“He won’t bother me,” she stated, sounding like she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
He let it go in order to steer the conversation back to the possibility of them. “So if there’s no another guy, what’s the problem? Don’t you trust me?”
Her eyes grew misty, but maybe they were reacting to the dusty environment. “It’s not that, Hank.” She blinked twice. “I’m grateful that you’re willing to overlook our past, and I’m flattered by your attention, but you don’t really know me. I’m not who people think I am, and anyway, I think we should keep things platonic if there’s any chance we could be business partners.”
When he didn’t answer, she chuckled. “Ah, so that’s off the table, too. Don’t worry. I didn’t really think you’d go for it. You don’t need me to do this someday. Still, I had to try.”
He grabbed her hand. “Listen, Cat. No matter what your dad or anyone else thinks, I can see there’s more to you than that gorgeous face. No one succeeds at your level without grit, determination, and smarts. You’ll make a great business partner for someone. The timing just isn’t right for me.”