Just then their server appeared with the rest of their dishes. Sage busied herself cutting up the tart and scooping some of the cauliflower onto her plate. She’d just taken a bite of a polenta fry when he said, “Sage?”
She grimaced. “I’m not the girl anyone wants to get pregnant. You can’t be beautiful arm candy when you’re pregnant.”
“That’s not true.”
“It’s very true. Ellery was the only one who wanted to have children with me and I just couldn’t go there with him. Not when I knew I was going to break his heart.”
She’d spoken without thinking and by the time she realized what she’d said, there was no grabbing back the words. Adam looked mildly confused.
“Who is Ellery?”
She took a large swallow of her drink. “My second husband.”
One eyebrow rose. “How many have there been?”
“Three. The race car driver, Ellery and the Italian count. Ellery’s a professor at the American University in Paris. We met at a market. His French was terrible and he was trying to buy—” She waved her hand. “I guess it doesn’t matter what he was trying to buy. I helped him and we started talking.”
Adam’s gaze was knowing. “Let me guess. It was love at first sight for him.”
She nodded.
“You were his princess.”
She nodded again. “He loved me. The others wanted me, but Ellery truly loved me. I could never understand why.”
“You don’t think you’re loveable?”
She pointed her fork at him. “Do you really think you’re in any position to talk about mental health?”
“No.”
“I thought not. Anyway, he was very good to me, but there was an unequal distribution of power in the relationship and that’s never good.”
“He worshiped you and you enjoyed being worshipped?”
“To quote you, bingo.” She managed a smile. “For a relationship to work, people have to care the same amount and it was never going to be that way between us.”
“But you married him anyway?”
“I did. I wasn’t feeling very good about myself and, as you said, Ellery thought I was his princess. Because of him, I went to college.”
His eyes widened. “You have a degree?”
She supposed she could have been annoyed at his obvious disbelief, but she decided to go with finding his reaction amusing.
“Yes, Adam. I do. I can read and do basic math. Some mornings, I manage to dress myself.”
“Sorry. That came out wrong.” He cleared his throat. “So, what did you study?”
“I have a degree in environmental studies and a minor in world history.”
“Damn, Sage, you’re the whole package. Smart, beautiful and well-educated. Tell me again why you’re not married.”
“I think we can both agree I need to let the marriage thing rest for a while.”
He slid a piece of mushroom tart onto his plate. “Why do you sell clothes if you have a college education? Couldn’t you get a—” He paused, as if not sure what to say.
“Real job?” she finished dryly.
“I didn’t want to say that.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what to do with my degree. I know retail and it was easy. I’m still considering my options.” Because she wasn’t ready to talk to him about her dream of being a teacher. She liked Adam too much to deal with him laughing at her.
“You’re a constant surprise,” he said, then smiled. “In a good way.”
“Then that’s how I’ll take it.”
* * *
Daisy stared at herself in the full-length mirror of the large private dressing room. The dark green cocktail dress flattered her in every way possible. The fit-and-flare style emphasized the good parts and covered up the less-good. The sheen of the fabric added a glow to her complexion. Honestly, she looked good—better than good. With makeup and her hair done, she would be able to hold her own at the reunion.
“Knock, knock,” Sage said from the hallway. “I want to see.”
Daisy opened the door. “I love it.”
Sage studied her critically, then motioned for her to turn around. She tugged on the shoulders, then checked the waist before nodding slowly.
“I thought this would be the one. The color is great on you and the plunging neckline is going to get a lot of attention. You have boobs, you should show them off.”
“You say that like you don’t have boobs.”
“Mine are tiny little flat things. Not impressive at all.” She met Daisy’s gaze in the mirror. “The other two dresses were okay. This one is dazzling. You have to buy it.”
Daisy admired the swaying skirt as she moved back and forth. “I do. It’s ridiculously expensive, but I don’t care. It’s