Page 25 of Lost Without You
“They are. Did you also enjoy dancing with me?” she asked as she met his gaze directly.
A flash of desire and something like regret passed in his eyes.
“I did, but I don’t think we should do that again. At least, not until the investigation is over.”
Rachel sighed. Was it bad timing or hesitation on Ethan’s part?
“As you’ve mentioned many times, I may not get answers.” She paused. “Look, I’m not shy and I’m not one to play coy games. If I see something I want, I go for it. And I can’t deny that I’m attracted to you. I want more than friendship. Unless I’m misreading the situation, it seems like you feel the same way.”
Ethan’s dark gaze turned molten, and it was all she could do to sit still and not reach for him.
He nodded. “I’m very attracted to you, Rachel, but given your father’s case, I’m not sure the time is right. Even though I’m not crossing any ethical boundary, it feels like we’re walking on a high wire without a net. Maybe you’re feeling things for me because I’m standing on that wire with you. But I don’t know if we’re both ready to risk a fall if things go sideways.”
Before Rachel could respond, Ethan’s phone rang.
“Shit, I better get it. It’s my ex-wife. Excuse me,” Ethan mumbled and rolled his eyes.
She heard a tersely worded “Lara” from Ethan as he strolled out into the lobby.
Leaving her alone with her thoughts, Rachel felt like the timing of the call may have been fortuitous. She wasn’t going to push Ethan. She’d stated how she felt and if he was hesitant, for whatever reason, that was that. A painful kind of pressure bloomed in her chest, the sting of rejection, no doubt, but she ignored it as the waitress dropped off their breakfast plates. She was mature enough to handle Ethan’s decision.
She checked her phone for messages and her email again. She was halfway through her eggs when Ethan returned, a scowl gracing his usually upbeat face. He sat down and stared at his plate, shaking his head.
“My temper is hot, and my omelet is cold. This is starting out to be a craptastic morning.”
“I’m all ears if you need to vent,” Rachel offered as she continued eating.
Ethan cut into his breakfast and began shoveling it in quickly, then took a large sip of coffee and winced. Rachel knew that was cold, too.
“Lara loves to call me up for no reason other than to tell me how wonderful her current husband is, the trips he takes her on, the time he spends with her,” Ethan paused and took another bite. “She loves to remind me what a shit husband I was, too consumed with my job. Some of that is true and I accept the part I played in the downfall of our marriage. At the time, I thought I was doing the best I could. Anyway, we’ve been divorced for years now, but this routine of hers is annoying.”
“Have you told her not to call you anymore?” Rachel finally met Ethan’s eyes. “I mean, you don’t have any children, and I assume nothing else in common at this point so, so why bother? She’s obviously trying to get your attention and you keep giving her the opportunity to run you down instead of confronting her and putting your relationship to ground.”
“Are you a therapist, too?” Ethan bit out as his face flushed.
Rachel was pretty sure she was right on target.
“No, but I’m considering becoming an aerialist. I don’t mind heights or walking high wires and I’m pretty sure I’ll land on my own two feet if I fall,” she murmured as Ethan raised one eyebrow in response.
“Clever.”
“Honest. And you know I’m right about your ex. You’re allowing Lara to continue to treat you poorly. Why would you do that?”
Ethan dropped his napkin on the table and stood up. “I need to go back to my room. I’ll meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes. Can you ask the server to put breakfast on my room number?”
Rachel nodded and sat silently as Ethan dashed out of the restaurant.
“Well, Rach, you’ve done it again.” She raised her coffee cup in a mock toast to herself.
Ethan was obviously still guilty over the demise of his marriage, but he couldn’t go on that way forever. Sometimes people needed to hear the truth, even if it’s not pretty. Maybe she’d avoided a complication with him she didn’t need. Then again, she told Ethan she was attracted to him, not that she wanted an exclusive relationship. She wasn’t asking for roses and promises.
After taking care of the bill, she waited in the lobby as Ethan suggested. After twenty minutes she sent him a text to ensure they were still ready to go. No reply, but about a minute later, Ethan appeared.
“Sorry for the delay. My agent called me to remind me of the December deadline for the first draft of my next book, and he never knows how to have a five-minute conversation. And he knows how much I hate talking on the phone,” Ethan murmured as he stared down at his phone.
“Did you get my text?”
“I did, but I was already on my way down. Ready to go?” Ethan was still avoiding her gaze and it sparked her temper.