of criminal. Was she anorexic?
Or just screwed up by one too many magazine covers?
Kent eyed the piece of toast that she was nibbling, contemplating his next words carefully because he wanted to say them, to get involved in this juvenile silliness, about as much as he wanted to saw off the top of his head. But maybe she was like this because no one in her life had ever sat her down and told her that she had a smoking-hot body.
Although God alone knew what was wrong with men of her age today—were they blind or just incredibly stupid?
‘Look, this is nothing to do with me and you can eat...or not eat...whatever you want but—and I say this with absolutely no disrespect or sexual harassment or icky older-man creepiness in mind—your body is fine.’
Sadie blinked. If that was a compliment it could sure do with some work. And gave her an opportunity to steer the conversation away from what she was and wasn’t eating.
‘Wow. You really are rusty,’ she murmured.
Kent shot her an impatient look. ‘I’m not here to stroke your ego, Sadie Bliss.’ Or land himself in the middle of a lawsuit.
Or something else entirely inappropriate.
‘Well, that’s just as well because you’d be failing, Kent Nelson. You do know when you tell a woman her body is fine she interprets that as you’re okay but you could look better , right? Unless, of course, you prefix it. Mighty fine or damn fine work quite well.’
The sad truth was Sadie knew that none of those prefixes applied. A few years back, when she’d been with Leo, mighty fine had fitted the bill. Now she was just struggling to keep back the tide.
Kent stared at her. Did she really think he gave a rat’s arse about the female interpretation of fine? He shook his head. ‘I don’t suppose you have a clue how very much I don’t care about the word fine? You do know that there’s a whole heap of bad things happening out there in the world, right?’ he growled.
‘Really?’ she snapped, tired of his paternalistic carry-on. ‘I hadn’t noticed, being a journalist and all.’
Kent glared, feeling exasperation rising in his throat threatening to choke him. Why couldn’t women just take a compliment in the spirit it was intended?
‘All I’m trying to say,’ he said, swallowing hard against the lump, trying to get the conversation back on track, ‘is you really need to eat better. You could get sick.’
Sadie wasn’t prepared for such a left-field comment. For a man who obviously thought her figure concerns didn’t rate compared to bigger global issues—which of course they didn’t—his apparent concern for her was unexpected.
And he did look concerned. It softened the beautiful harshness of his mouth and her mind went blank for a moment as she tried to remember why she was so het up.
She sighed as her brain came back on line. ‘Look, I’m fine. I promise. It’s just...complicated, okay? And it’s really none of your business. So can we please drop it?’
She did not want to get into this with a man as accomplished as Kent. How could he possibly understand what was personally at stake for her over seeing Leo again? How much she had to prove.
Kent held her gaze, the appeal luminous in her large grey eyes. Her back the hell off polite considering their recent exchange.
Complicated he understood.
And she was right, it wasn’t his business. And what did he care if some crazy chick in well-to-do Australia chose to forgo food that millions of women would lay down their lives for just so they could feed their children for a few more days?
‘Sure,’ he agreed, pulling the metal covering off his cooked breakfast as he inhaled the rich aroma of meat and onions. Sadie Bliss was a transient connection in his life. If she chose to starve, then so be it. He sure as hell wasn’t.
He’d been in too many places where food was scarce to not appreciate the bounty in front of him.
He picked up his fork and tucked in.
Sadie resolutely tried to ignore Kent
Or just screwed up by one too many magazine covers?
Kent eyed the piece of toast that she was nibbling, contemplating his next words carefully because he wanted to say them, to get involved in this juvenile silliness, about as much as he wanted to saw off the top of his head. But maybe she was like this because no one in her life had ever sat her down and told her that she had a smoking-hot body.
Although God alone knew what was wrong with men of her age today—were they blind or just incredibly stupid?
‘Look, this is nothing to do with me and you can eat...or not eat...whatever you want but—and I say this with absolutely no disrespect or sexual harassment or icky older-man creepiness in mind—your body is fine.’
Sadie blinked. If that was a compliment it could sure do with some work. And gave her an opportunity to steer the conversation away from what she was and wasn’t eating.
‘Wow. You really are rusty,’ she murmured.
Kent shot her an impatient look. ‘I’m not here to stroke your ego, Sadie Bliss.’ Or land himself in the middle of a lawsuit.
Or something else entirely inappropriate.
‘Well, that’s just as well because you’d be failing, Kent Nelson. You do know when you tell a woman her body is fine she interprets that as you’re okay but you could look better , right? Unless, of course, you prefix it. Mighty fine or damn fine work quite well.’
The sad truth was Sadie knew that none of those prefixes applied. A few years back, when she’d been with Leo, mighty fine had fitted the bill. Now she was just struggling to keep back the tide.
Kent stared at her. Did she really think he gave a rat’s arse about the female interpretation of fine? He shook his head. ‘I don’t suppose you have a clue how very much I don’t care about the word fine? You do know that there’s a whole heap of bad things happening out there in the world, right?’ he growled.
‘Really?’ she snapped, tired of his paternalistic carry-on. ‘I hadn’t noticed, being a journalist and all.’
Kent glared, feeling exasperation rising in his throat threatening to choke him. Why couldn’t women just take a compliment in the spirit it was intended?
‘All I’m trying to say,’ he said, swallowing hard against the lump, trying to get the conversation back on track, ‘is you really need to eat better. You could get sick.’
Sadie wasn’t prepared for such a left-field comment. For a man who obviously thought her figure concerns didn’t rate compared to bigger global issues—which of course they didn’t—his apparent concern for her was unexpected.
And he did look concerned. It softened the beautiful harshness of his mouth and her mind went blank for a moment as she tried to remember why she was so het up.
She sighed as her brain came back on line. ‘Look, I’m fine. I promise. It’s just...complicated, okay? And it’s really none of your business. So can we please drop it?’
She did not want to get into this with a man as accomplished as Kent. How could he possibly understand what was personally at stake for her over seeing Leo again? How much she had to prove.
Kent held her gaze, the appeal luminous in her large grey eyes. Her back the hell off polite considering their recent exchange.
Complicated he understood.
And she was right, it wasn’t his business. And what did he care if some crazy chick in well-to-do Australia chose to forgo food that millions of women would lay down their lives for just so they could feed their children for a few more days?
‘Sure,’ he agreed, pulling the metal covering off his cooked breakfast as he inhaled the rich aroma of meat and onions. Sadie Bliss was a transient connection in his life. If she chose to starve, then so be it. He sure as hell wasn’t.
He’d been in too many places where food was scarce to not appreciate the bounty in front of him.
He picked up his fork and tucked in.
Sadie resolutely tried to ignore Kent
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