Free The Millionaire's Wish by Abigail Strom Page B

pain becomes an excuse, too. I don’t want to get out of bed because so-and-so left me. I can’t go to work today because I saw him out with another girl, boo-hoo, boo-hoo. And meanwhile, there are people out there with real problems, really hurting. And—” She paused suddenly and took a breath. “And anyway, that’s why I don’t date.”
    He’d forgotten to eat, watching and listening to her. If he’d hoped that getting an answer to his question would take the edge off his curiosity, that hope was now shot to hell.
    â€œSo love is just an escape?”
    She lifted her chin slightly, as if sensing a challenge. “I think it can be an illusion. And I think people can indulge in it like a drug, because it’s just as addictive and distracting.”
    â€œSo people in love are just deluding themselves? What about married couples?”
    She bit her lip. “See? That’s why I don’t talk about this. I know I come off sounding like I’m looking down on people or something, and I don’t mean to. Of course I don’t think all married people are deluding themselves. My parents have a good marriage. But it’s not romantic. They work too hard for that. They’re farmers, and they’ve worked hard all their lives. I know they love each other, but they’re not indulgent about it. They don’t make a fuss.”
    â€œSo it’s okay to be in love if you don’t make a fuss?”
    She sighed. “Let’s just forget it, okay? I’m sorry I ever answered your question.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œI suppose you think you have some kind of insight into me now.”
    â€œI don’t know about that. But it’s obvious you’ve been on some lousy dates—and that whatever happened with your high school boyfriend hit you pretty hard.”
    She frowned. “The way I feel about romance isn’t because of one experience.”
    â€œBut he was a factor, wasn’t he?”
    â€œI think he was just a catalyst.”
    â€œA catalyst for what?”
    â€œFor deciding that I wanted to put my energies into something more meaningful.”
    â€œUnlike love.”
    â€œUnlike romantic love, yes. But there’s plenty of love in my life. My family, my friends…and my work is all about love. I love the kids I work with. I care about their families. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t do what I do.”
    Rick drained his glass and refilled it, topping off Allison’s afterward. “So it’s only romance you don’t believe in.”
    â€œI’m willing to believe romantic love exists. I’m just not interested in it, at least at this point in my life. And what about you?” she countered. “That night at the coffee shop, I got the impression you’re less interested in romance than I am. Are you telling me I was wrong? That you do believe in love?”
    He was glad she asked. It was good to be reminded of the fact that he didn’t believe in much of anything, before he let himself get too drawn in by Allison’s beguiling eyes and her warm heart and most of all her fascinatingprickly side, the side that said I won’t, I won’t …and made a man want to persuade her to say I will.
    He shrugged. “My parents had a rotten marriage, which made it hard to believe in romance. And I let go of the illusion completely in my twenties, when I found out the girl I’d fallen for was a con artist in training. The only difference now is that I actually seek out mercenary women. That way there aren’t any unpleasant surprises, and I never feel guilty about ending things.”
    She stared at him, her hand frozen on her wineglass. “You’re really that cynical?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou can’t honestly believe a woman would only be with you because of money.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Tell me again why you’re here