Now her gaze sharpened on his, and he thought he’d hit right on it. But then she said, “You say that with utter confidence and more understanding than simply being a compassionate person would imply. So…I take it that you know whereof you speak.”
Ah. He was in such a hurry to help take that stark hollowness away, so used to his ability to see into others, to intuit more than the average person, that he hadn’t taken into consideration that he might leave himself vulnerable. He never showed his hand. That was more than a little unnerving. But trust had to be gained somehow. He supposed it wasn’t too big a risk to take. So he took the bet. “You could say that. Maybe more than a little.”
“You’re right, but you know that. I don’t lean. Not anymore anyway.”
“It’s not always a sign of weakness, you know.”
Now her eyes crinkled at the corners and her lips quirked. “Where did you read that? I have a hard time believing you actually practice what you just preached.”
“You might be surprised about that. I certainly didn’t get to where I did all by myself.”
“Me, either.”
“So, you have a support network? Is there someone you want to go call, to talk with, someone you can trust with whatever it is? Dinner can wait.”
“I heard you talking when I was coming through the foyer. You sounded…animated. Your support system?”
He smiled more fully this time. “You’d make a good promoter.”
She lifted one brow. “But not a player, I take it?”
“You’d have to work on your poker face a little.” He grinned. “Okay, a lot.”
To her credit, she smiled, too. “So, why a good promoter?”
“You are good at keeping the focus where you want it, which is usually not on you but on what you want.”
“And what do I want in this instance?”
“To keep whatever just happened on that phone call to yourself.”
Her expression turned considering. “You’re very…formidable. When it comes to reading people. It shouldn’t be a surprise that people might be uncomfortable confiding in you.”
“Why is that?”
“You already know too much as it is. See too much. It would be hard to know exactly how much you’d be handing over, even with the smallest of revelations.”
“And what is it, exactly, that you think I’m going to do with whatever information I’m able to ferret out? I’m harmless.”
She laughed outright at that. “You’ve been under my roof less than forty-eight hours and you’ve already gotten me naked. Hardly harmless.”
He stroked her cheek again, touched her lips. “I haven’t done harm, have I?”
She shuddered under his touch, and his body sprang more fully to life.
“Maybe just to my peace of mind.”
He appreciated the honesty, but it didn’t keep him from pushing. “So, what else then? You share details, whether tedious or important, and you’re afraid I’ll…what, exactly?”
“Play Good Samaritan again. You’re very good at that.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It can be, to a person who maybe doesn’t want to be rescued every time a problem crops up. Falling out of trees notwithstanding.”
“Rescue is something a person does for someone in a situation beyond their control. Like the tree. Otherwise, it’s just called help. We all need that from time to time. It’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t signify failure. Sometimes it’s even a good thing. You learn who you can count on, who is really there for you.”
“And just how often are you the one on the receiving end?”
“Often enough to know it’s there for me when I need it.”
“So, what, are you like the Yoda of poker?”
“Hardly. Just trying to make you feel better about bending an ear or using a shoulder if you need to.”
“You think it should be easier. Or is easy. Asking for help, I mean. Even if a willing ear is all that is needed.”
“That’s what friends, family, are for. I guess I don’t understand what there is to gain from persevering alone if help is available.”
“You gain the peace of mind and security from knowing you can be self-reliant when things get tough. That you can take care of business, no matter what. That’s not a small thing. In fact, it can be everything.”
“So, once you’ve figured that out…is that still the only way it goes?”
“If there are no shoulders to lean on and ears to bend, then sometimes that isn’t a choice.”
He let his hands fall to her shoulders and squeezed gently. “You have that choice at the moment,” he said quietly. “Is that good enough?”
Her lips curved a bit, but her expression remained mostly shuttered. “You sure you’re not an event promoter? You’re pretty good at being focused yourself.”
“It’s a wonder we get anywhere in conversation, I suppose.”
“Actually, I think I’ve had deeper, more thought-provoking conversations with you in the short time I’ve known you than I’ve had with anyone in a long time.”
He tilted his head, searched her face. “But, at least from where you sit, that’s not entirely a good thing, is it?”
“It can be a disconcerting thing. I haven’t quite decided on whether or not it’s good for me.” She straightened and took a step back.
He toyed with the ends of her hair, then reluctantly let her go.
“And, for a guy who didn’t want to talk about himself much, you sure don’t seem to mind nosing in my business.”
“I don’t think I’d mind. Anymore. If it was you asking the questions.’” He was surprised by how easily that truth just popped up. But now that he’d said it, he knew that he meant it. “If you think it would help, or just distract you from whatever it is that’s worrying you-” He spread his arms. “Ask away. Open book.”
She smiled easily then, and it almost reached her eyes. “One night only?”
“We can figure that part out later.”
Her smile faded. “See, that’s the part that trips me up.” She held up her hand when he started to speak. “I hate to renege on dinner; I really do. It smells amazing. But there are some things that require my immediate attention. I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check.”
For once, he didn’t push. Knowing when to fold was just as important when it came to winning the bigger prize. “I’ll put some aside for you. You can heat it up later, if you want.”
She nodded. “Thanks, I appreciate that. And…thanks for the rest, too. It’s not that I don’t want the help, or even the ear. I appreciate the offer of both, I do. No insult intended.”
He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. “None taken.”
“Good. It’s just…it’s complicated.”
“Most trying things are.”
She ducked her chin, then looked back at him, and some of her defenses were clearly wavering. But he still didn’t push. That wouldn’t be fair. To either of them. If and when she wanted his help, or just a sounding board, she’d ask.
“You’re almost too good to be true. Maybe that’s part of it. Things that are too good to be true rarely are. Or rarely last.”
“I’m just sincere. And honest. The offer stands, okay?”
She nodded, and the defenses crumbled a bit further when she folded her arms in front of her chest, tucking her hands tightly under them and against her sides, as if giving herself comfort and support. She stood there a moment longer, and he was just about to go against instinct and reach for her again, when she turned on her heel and walked away. “Don’t worry with cleaning up,” she called back. “I’ll take care of it later.”
“Just like you take care of everything else,” he said under his breath as he heard her bedroom door close on the other side of the front foyer. “Including yourself.”