treat
this time. I’m not getting soaked twice in two days.”
Easier
said than done. The off and on drizzle of the day had reverted to a downpour,
and the cabstand near the Museum was empty. We would have to call for a cab,
and on a rainy Friday night, that meant a chilly, damp, half hour wait.
“Can
I give you a ride somewhere? My car’s waiting just around the corner.”
Recognizing
Craig Manning’s voice, I suppressed a groan. Waiting in the cold suddenly
seemed very attractive, at least in comparison to accepting a ride from the
very man I’d been trying to avoid all evening. I opened my mouth to deliver a
polite refusal, but Duncan beat me to the punch.
“If
it’s not too far out of your way, a ride would be great, Craig—thanks for
offering. We live in Davis Square.”
“Davis
Square is close to where I’m going. Come on. Here’s the car.”
Manning’s
limo pulled up, and we quickly piled in. Leaning back into the spacious leather
seat, I felt more than a little guilty. In all fairness, Craig had been nothing
but kind, and I hadn’t exactly been gracious toward him.
I
resolved to stop letting my fears get the best of me. Duncan was right; not all
men were like Matt. A date was just a date, not a long-term commitment. If
Craig asked me out again, I would say yes. But I felt sure that he wouldn’t.
I’d definitely blown it with him.
As
we drove across the river toward Cambridge, I half listened to Duncan and
Craig, who had clearly hit it off, exchanging camera geekery like a couple of
obsessed teenage boys. It had been an exhausting week, and I was looking
forward to getting home and taking a long, hot bath.
We
reached Davis Square, and Duncan directed Craig’s driver to our apartment. In
the rain, streets and buildings glistened against the night sky, reflecting
streetlights and neon signs.
The
driver opened the door for us, and as I prepared to step out, Craig surprised
me by taking my hand. Once again a spark of attraction traced its way between us,
and I was grateful for the darkness that, at least partially, concealed my
face.
“Since
your schedule seems to be full, let me suggest something different. Coffee and
a croissant in Kendall Square tomorrow morning, before you start work?”
Astonished
that he’d asked again, I agreed.
“Okay.
I have to work at 10, so how about 9:15?”
“9:15
it is, at Au Bon Pain. I’ll look forward to seeing you then. Good night,
Juliana.”
He
released my hand, and I stepped out of the limo. Duncan followed, and we made
our way upstairs to the apartment.
“Craig
seems really into you, Jules. I have a good feeling about him. He seems like a
great guy.”
“He’s
out of my league, Duncan. He lives in a different world than we do. I’m sure
that beautiful women throw themselves at him on a daily basis, and I’m worried
that I’m taking the first step toward a repeat of what happened with Matt.”
Duncan
sighed. “He’s not another Matt. Matt was a cynical, manipulative jerk who
believed that money could buy everything, that everyone has a price. He lied to
you and abused your trust. But you’re not that naïve girl anymore.”
“Maybe
not,” I replied. “And I know where you’re going, so I’ll just cut to the chase.
I don’t mind admitting this to you, because you’re the one person in my life
that I trust completely.” I sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid of being hurt again. It’s
not easy, now that I know what it means to risk my heart. Of course I want to
fall in love again. Someday. With the right man. With someone who gets me. But
I’ve learned my lesson, Dunc. It’s impossible for someone like Matt—or
Craig—to understand my life, or me his. We’re just too different—it
could never work out.”
“You’re
getting ahead of yourself,” Duncan said. “Have coffee with Craig. Go to a
concert together. Take your time.” He paused. “Where’s the risk? It’s just a
date. Two people getting to know each other. Once you
this time. I’m not getting soaked twice in two days.”
Easier
said than done. The off and on drizzle of the day had reverted to a downpour,
and the cabstand near the Museum was empty. We would have to call for a cab,
and on a rainy Friday night, that meant a chilly, damp, half hour wait.
“Can
I give you a ride somewhere? My car’s waiting just around the corner.”
Recognizing
Craig Manning’s voice, I suppressed a groan. Waiting in the cold suddenly
seemed very attractive, at least in comparison to accepting a ride from the
very man I’d been trying to avoid all evening. I opened my mouth to deliver a
polite refusal, but Duncan beat me to the punch.
“If
it’s not too far out of your way, a ride would be great, Craig—thanks for
offering. We live in Davis Square.”
“Davis
Square is close to where I’m going. Come on. Here’s the car.”
Manning’s
limo pulled up, and we quickly piled in. Leaning back into the spacious leather
seat, I felt more than a little guilty. In all fairness, Craig had been nothing
but kind, and I hadn’t exactly been gracious toward him.
I
resolved to stop letting my fears get the best of me. Duncan was right; not all
men were like Matt. A date was just a date, not a long-term commitment. If
Craig asked me out again, I would say yes. But I felt sure that he wouldn’t.
I’d definitely blown it with him.
As
we drove across the river toward Cambridge, I half listened to Duncan and
Craig, who had clearly hit it off, exchanging camera geekery like a couple of
obsessed teenage boys. It had been an exhausting week, and I was looking
forward to getting home and taking a long, hot bath.
We
reached Davis Square, and Duncan directed Craig’s driver to our apartment. In
the rain, streets and buildings glistened against the night sky, reflecting
streetlights and neon signs.
The
driver opened the door for us, and as I prepared to step out, Craig surprised
me by taking my hand. Once again a spark of attraction traced its way between us,
and I was grateful for the darkness that, at least partially, concealed my
face.
“Since
your schedule seems to be full, let me suggest something different. Coffee and
a croissant in Kendall Square tomorrow morning, before you start work?”
Astonished
that he’d asked again, I agreed.
“Okay.
I have to work at 10, so how about 9:15?”
“9:15
it is, at Au Bon Pain. I’ll look forward to seeing you then. Good night,
Juliana.”
He
released my hand, and I stepped out of the limo. Duncan followed, and we made
our way upstairs to the apartment.
“Craig
seems really into you, Jules. I have a good feeling about him. He seems like a
great guy.”
“He’s
out of my league, Duncan. He lives in a different world than we do. I’m sure
that beautiful women throw themselves at him on a daily basis, and I’m worried
that I’m taking the first step toward a repeat of what happened with Matt.”
Duncan
sighed. “He’s not another Matt. Matt was a cynical, manipulative jerk who
believed that money could buy everything, that everyone has a price. He lied to
you and abused your trust. But you’re not that naïve girl anymore.”
“Maybe
not,” I replied. “And I know where you’re going, so I’ll just cut to the chase.
I don’t mind admitting this to you, because you’re the one person in my life
that I trust completely.” I sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid of being hurt again. It’s
not easy, now that I know what it means to risk my heart. Of course I want to
fall in love again. Someday. With the right man. With someone who gets me. But
I’ve learned my lesson, Dunc. It’s impossible for someone like Matt—or
Craig—to understand my life, or me his. We’re just too different—it
could never work out.”
“You’re
getting ahead of yourself,” Duncan said. “Have coffee with Craig. Go to a
concert together. Take your time.” He paused. “Where’s the risk? It’s just a
date. Two people getting to know each other. Once you
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