Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)(45)
Words to make her heart beat faster, she thought, knowing giving in to emotional temptation would be a really bad thing.
“Raoul…”
Before she could say anything else, he pressed his mouth to hers.
The kiss was soft and tender, more caring than passionate. He didn’t try to deepen it or even touch her anywhere else. Yet the feel of his lips against hers was devastating. Not from wanting in a sexual way, but because the gentleness ignited a longing she rarely allowed herself to experience. The kiss made her dream about what it would be like to fall in love, to risk her heart, to believe she could have someone to care about. Someone who wouldn’t leave.
Unexpected tears burned in her eyes. She pulled back, dug her keys out of her pocket and opened the door.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said, doing her best to keep her tone light. “Especially for the last egg roll.”
“All part of the full-service plan. You’ll let me know when you’re going to pee on the stick?”
Despite the emptiness inside of her, she laughed. “No one’s ever asked me that before, so I have to say yes.”
“Good. Night, Pia.”
“Good night.”
She waited until he started down the stairs, then she closed the door, locked it and leaned back against the sturdy surface.
“Don’t go there,” she whispered into the quiet room. “Don’t believe in him. You know what will happen if you do.”
What always happened. He would leave. She had a feeling that telling herself she was used to being on her own wouldn’t make dealing without him any easier to take.
CHAPTER TEN
“IT WAS THE WEIRDEST THING,” Pia said as she and Montana sat in Pia’s office, going over details for the bachelor auction. Technically now an auction/talent show.
“I don’t understand,” Montana said, frowning slightly. “Isn’t the auction enough?”
“Apparently not. Nearly thirty women will be getting up onstage and performing in one way or another. They have a three-minute limit.” Pia told her about the woman who bragged about a lack of cavities. “I grew up here. When did the women in town get so distressed about the lack of men?”
“Some women want to be in a relationship.”
“I agree, but not like this.” Pia looked at her friend. “Have you noticed all the extra men in town?”
Montana nodded. “Three guys in a car whistled at me yesterday. It was strange. But kind of nice.”
Pia winced. “Tell me you’re not going to be there, meeting the bus.”
Montana laughed. “I can barely hold down a job, let alone find and keep a man.”
“Tell me about it,” Pia grumbled. “I’ve never had a guy stay. And I can’t figure out why. Is it me? Do I give off the leave-me vibe? Is there something fundamentally wrong with me?”
“No. You’re great. Smart, funny.”
“Well, so are you.”
Montana wrinkled her nose. “No, I’m scattered. I feel like it’s been harder for me to grow up than for everyone else. Maybe that’s why I haven’t found the one.”
“I don’t have an excuse,” Pia told her. Not that it would matter now, what with the implantation and all.
Without meaning to, she found herself thinking about Raoul. She appreciated the pregnancy-buddy support, but she was going to have a serious talk with him about the kissing. They couldn’t keep doing it. She was finding it confusing. Not the kissing itself—that was easy. But the wanting that followed. She was fine wanting sex. But wanting more…that was the real danger.
“I want to find where I belong,” Montana said, then sighed. “Don’t laugh, but I have an interview for a job.”
“Why would I laugh at that?”
“Okay—not laugh exactly. I’m really excited, but just, I’m nervous.”
Pia patted Montana’s arm. “As long as it’s not starring in p**n , I’m good with it.”
Montana’s mouth twisted. “Well, crap.”
Pia stared at her. “Oh, God. You’re seriously going to be in a p**n movie?”
Montana laughed. “I’m kidding.”
“Very funny. What is it?”
“There’s this guy named Max. He lives outside of town and he trains therapy dogs. They’re the ones who go into hospitals and nursing homes. Being around them makes people feel better. He also trains dogs for a reading program. They’ve done studies and kids who have trouble reading do a lot better reading to a dog rather than a person. I guess they feel they’re not being judged. Anyway, he’s looking for someone to help him run the kennel and help with the training and take the dogs to their various programs.”
Montana drew in a breath. “There’s a lot to learn. When I spoke to Max, he said I would have to take a couple of classes online and get certified as a dog trainer. While I was doing that, I would work in the kennel and get to know the dogs. He’s giving me a four-month trial period. If that goes well, he’ll start me actually working with the therapy dogs. I have an interview in a couple of days.”
Pia was still reeling from the p**n joke. “You sound excited.”
“I am. I like the idea of working with the dogs and helping people. I want to make a difference, but I still don’t know if this job is the right one. Dakota and Nevada both just knew what they wanted to do with their lives. I’m an identical triplet. Shouldn’t I be like them?”