The Summer of Sunshine and Margot - Susan Mallery Page 0,59

You were, though, right?” She remembered he’d mentioned something about being divorced when they’d first met.

“Divorced. Nothing dramatic. We just weren’t really right for each other. It’s been a couple of years. I dated a lot and then that got old. These days I’m looking for something different.”

He stared at her intently as he spoke, as if delivering an important message. The problem was, she had no idea what he was trying to convey.

“And you’re in finance?” she asked.

“I am. People don’t know anything about money, which is bad for them and good for me. I give them a plan and suddenly they’re growing their portfolio. I get to be the hero.”

“Then it’s a win-win.”

“It is. You’re a nanny?”

“Uh-huh. I love working with kids. I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. I sort of fell into the nanny thing and discovered I had a knack for it. Now I’m working on getting my degree in child psychology.”

Which sounded so much grander than it was, she thought, not sure why she’d said it like that. She was taking her first class and had yet to figure out what she was doing. Was this what dating was? Telling half-truths to look better to the other person?

Before she could correct what she’d told him, he spoke.

“So you live with a family for a couple of years, then move on? Is that hard?”

“It can be. I don’t mind leaving the parents, but a lot of times, I really miss the kids.” Especially when she’d simply taken off because of some guy. That was her original sin—leaving her kids behind without a word.

She often wondered if they eventually forgot her, as she’d told herself they would, or if they carried that scar of being abandoned with them. She’d been close to a lot of her charges, especially a set of twins. Did they remember her? Hate her? Wish she’d never been part of their lives? Regardless, she had simply disappeared. Yet another pattern in her past she was determined not to repeat. She was going to be more responsible.

“Do you like the symphony?” Norris asked, changing the subject. “A lot of people don’t like that kind of music anymore, but it’s one of my favorites.”

“I’ve never been to the symphony,” she admitted. “But I do like classical music. Connor—he’s the boy I take care of—and I play a lot of music. We alternate who picks and he really loves classical music.”

“Good. I have season tickets and I’d love to take you.”

“That’s perfect because I’d love to go.”

“I’m glad.”

There it was, she thought happily. The normal date. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Norris or if under her agitated nerves there was anything close to attraction, but at least this was what other people did.

Norris leaned close. “So here’s the thing. I was thinking we could get dinner and continue the conversation. Or, if you’re up for it, we could just go back to my place and take things to the next level.”

The words were so unexpected that at first she didn’t understand what he was saying. She went cold all over as her stomach sank to her toes and all hope died.

“You want me to go back to your place and have sex with you,” she said, wanting to confirm she hadn’t misunderstood him. Or maybe hoping he would be shocked and tell her that wasn’t what he’d meant at all.

He gave her what she assumed he thought of as a slow, sexy smile. “Absolutely. Jesus, Sunshine, you’re a walking, breathing fantasy. How could I not want to have sex with you? It’s all I can think about.”

Tears burned, but she blinked them away. She pulled twenty dollars out of her small bag and placed it on the table.

“No,” she said, her voice firm despite the fact she was shaking. “No. I don’t want that.”

She rose and headed for the door. Norris came after her and grabbed her by her arm.

“Wait. Look, I’m sorry if I read the signals wrong. I’ll buy you dinner first if that’s what you want.”

Because that was what she was worth? The cost of a salad and an entrée?

She freed herself and walked out. The valet brought around her car. As she got in, she felt the first tear leak out. It was followed by another and another.

She brushed them away so she could see to drive. Once she pulled into traffic, she looked for a safe place to stop. She saw a grocery