Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,105
you made the right decision.”
Jeez, Ted knew it wasn’t his fight, and that Veronica didn’t need his help, but he wished he could meet her ex in a dark alley and explain a few things to him. . . .
“His new girlfriend, Marissa, moved in with him two days after I left.” Veronica searched the drawers for the pizza cutter and brought it over to the counter where Ted had placed the boxes. “She kind of reminded me of myself when I first met him and was so dazzled by his charm that I wouldn’t have believed anything bad about him.”
“She’ll probably work it out eventually.” Ted passed Veronica a paper plate. “Or, when he meets wife number four.”
“Who will be even younger than Marissa if he stays true to form.” Her smile was sad. “I wasted ten years of my life on that jerk, so in a weird way she did me a favor by turning up on my doorstep.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re rid of him.” Ted held her gaze. “He didn’t deserve you.”
“Totally agree.” She picked up her beer and clinked it against his. “Now, what about you? Why aren’t you married and settled down?”
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, after Ted had done everything possible to avoid answering her original question, Veronica finally had him cornered and sitting opposite her at the table.
“So why aren’t you in a relationship?”
He blew out a breath and slowly shook his head. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope. You’re a good-looking guy, you run a successful family business, and from what I can tell, you’re not afraid of talking to women. So what is it?”
“I live in an apartment with my dad.”
“So you can’t bring anyone back here?” Veronica frowned. “Don’t the women in Morgan Valley have their own homes?”
“Of course they do.” He looked down at his pizza and started on another slice. “I just haven’t met anyone who’s made me want to get serious with them, and in a small town, if I mess up, I still get to see them every day and that could get awkward.”
“You have dated though, right?”
His head came up. “I’m not a complete loser.”
“I didn’t think you were—in fact I’m surprised you haven’t been inundated.” She chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “I seem to remember you were like that at school, totally oblivious to any hints us girls put out to you.”
“Oh, I noticed.” He took a swig of beer. “Hard not to when you come back to your truck after a football game and there are two half-naked cheerleaders in your back seat.”
Veronica’s mouth fell open. “Who was it?”
“The Hardcastle twins. They always did everything together.”
She leaned forward. “Did you—”
“Dude, no!” He looked revolted. “I wasn’t into that. I sent them HW Morgan’s way.” He set his pizza down. “Maybe I wasn’t the only one who didn’t get the hints.”
Veronica wrinkled her nose. “How so?”
“Maybe the girl I wanted to look back at me only saw me as a friend.”
“Who did you like?” Veronica asked. “Because if she’s still in town, and I know her, maybe—”
He suddenly stood up, picked up his plate, and headed for the kitchen. “Do you want any more pizza? Or shall I put on some more coffee?”
She stared at the back of his head as her brain finally caught up with her mouth.
“Ted?”
“What?” He didn’t turn around.
“Were you talking about me?”
“Might have been.” He shrugged, still keeping his back to her. “But it was a long time ago.”
Veronica picked up her plate and joined him in the kitchen. “It never occurred to me that—”
“Of course it didn’t. You were one of the popular kids, and I was just one of the crowd. That’s why I didn’t say anything. You probably would’ve laughed at me.”
Instinctively, she reached out and touched his back. “I wouldn’t have laughed. You were always so kind to me.”
“Kind, yeah, but not boyfriend material.” He finally turned to look at her, and slowly grinned. “I bet you wish you hadn’t started this conversation now. And for the record, I haven’t spent the last ten years pining over you.”
“I would hope not,” Veronica rallied. “Because that would’ve been stupid, and you’re not that kind of guy. And, considering the choices I did make when I was a teenager, you should probably be relieved you weren’t my type.”
He got down two mugs and leaned back against the countertop, his arms crossed, and a thoughtful look on his face.