Ramona frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. You’ve signed a one-year rental agreement with your town house, and you’ve started your own practice. Why would she think you’re not staying?”
“It doesn’t make sense to me, either.”
“Well, you’re just going to have to prove it to her.” Ramona stood and crossed to the coatrack.
“What more can I do?”
“You’ll figure it out. But it’s going to have to be big, since the town house and practice didn’t work.” She slipped into her coat and put the hat back on her head. “Good luck. I’m rooting for both of you.”
Ean watched Ramona walk out of his office. Their conversation had been surreal. She suggested that he prove his love to Megan. But how?
Doreen opened her front door to a tired-looking Leonard Thursday night. According to her silver-and-pearl Movado wristwatch, it was almost eight o’clock.
“Practice run late?” Doreen crossed her arms and leaned against the doorjamb. Hopefully, her body language conveyed, You’ll have to work for this.
“It was a tough practice. I don’t know if the team’s ready for tomorrow night’s game.”
More than cold air and a front step separated them. Doreen hadn’t seen or heard from Leonard in a week, since the night he’d mistakenly thought he had the right to tell her not to run for mayor. No phone call, no e-mail, not even a sighting at Books & Bakery. Had her grown lover been pouting like a spoiled child? Oh, yeah. He’d have to work for this.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with me.” Doreen straightened from the doorjamb and started to close the door.
“Dorie, wait.” Leonard sighed. “We need to talk.”
Doreen raised her eyebrows in a silent question. “About what?”
“Us.”
Now, after a week of having me cool my heels, he wants to talk?
Doreen hesitated before stepping back and pulling the door wider. “Fine.”
Leonard crossed her threshold and took off his winter coat. Doreen closed and locked her door as she watched him hang his coat in her front closet. She pulled her fluffy brown sweater closer around her and led him into her great room.
Doreen settled onto her thick rose-colored armchair and crossed her arms and legs. “I’m listening.”
Leonard dropped onto the matching sofa
. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t get cute with me, Leo. You’re on thin ice.”
“OK.” Leonard rested his forearms on his thighs. “I reacted badly when you told me you were running for mayor.”
“Is that supposed to be an apology?”
“No—”
“You owe me an apology. And it had better be good.”
“I’m trying to explain.” Leonard stood and wandered to the other side of the room. His movements were stiff and uncertain.
Doreen squashed a sense of concern and held on to her mad. “Explain what? Your temporary insanity? Go ahead. I’m all ears.”
Leonard spoke with his back to her. “You and I have been dating for five months now. But we’ve known each other for forever. We’ve been there for each other through joys and sorrows.”
It was getting harder to stay angry. “We’ve been friends for years. I think that’s why it was so easy for us to slip into a relationship.”
Leonard turned. “But this is more than just a simple relationship to me. Dorie, I’m in love with you.”