Page 56 of Over the Line
“I see.”
“It turns out”—painful as it was to admit—“she wanted the security that came along with marrying me.” He took a drink, then slammed the mug down with more force than he’d intended, and coffee sloshed onto the table.
Without a word, Sydney blotted the spill with a napkin.
“Not me, specifically. Any man of means would have done.”
She winced. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” Still, the painful lessons lingered. “One night, after a couple of glasses of wine, I tried to kiss her. She turned away.” That memory burned. “She finally said we wouldn’t be having sex ever again, and I wanted children.” He looked out the window, surveying a tiny portion of the holdings. “It’s a great place to grow up.”
“I’m sure it is.” So different from the way she was raised.
When he looked back, she was still considering him, head tipped to one side.
“She hadn’t told you this before?”
“No. The ending of the relationship was devastating, but she tried to get half of the ranch. It took a lot of skillful financial moves to hold on to it.”
Her mouth fell open.
“I believe she was having an affair.” He shrugged. “Never proved it, and she denied it. Not that it mattered in the end.” But his next relationship would have an ironclad prenuptial agreement. “Mine was the first marriage in family history to crash and burn.”
Quietly, she waited for him to go on.
“Last I heard, she has two children.”
“With the other guy?”
He shrugged. “Since I never knew whether or not she was cheating, I can’t say.”
“But she lied about the kids part.”
“Maybe not. Perhaps she didn’t want children with me.”
On his behalf, Sydney winced.
“Are you sorry you asked?”
“No. And I appreciate you telling me. It had to hurt.”
“Like you, I’m no longer idealistic. I still want a family, but I’ll be a whole lot more careful about my choice in women.”
As if a chill had gone through her, she shivered.
“You were honest with me. You deserved to hear the unvarnished truth from me.”
She nodded and pushed back her chair. “In that case, this arrangement could be successful for both of us. I’m looking for a Top. You’re being cautious about who you get involved with.”
Her statement pissed him off, though he was loath to admit why.
Together, they cleaned the kitchen. He loaded the dishwasher while she cleared the table.
“This has been a wonderful experience,” she said, drying her hands on a dishtowel. “Thanks for having me out to your ranch.”
“You’re welcome anytime.”
Though she smiled, it seemed more forced than genuine. “And, ah…I need to get going.”