four years younger than him, but she’d been cool, sophisticated and confident. He’d been a former boxer, over-muscled and accustomed to using his size to get his way. She was all about the subtle win.
“Is she beautiful?” Annie asked, not quite meeting his gaze.
“Yes. Blond hair, blue eyes.” He studied the woman in front of him. Technically the description fit Annie as well, but the two women had nothing in common. Annie was soft and approachable. She trusted the world and thought the best of people. Valentina played to win and didn’t care who got hurt in the process.
She’d smoothed his rough edges, had taught him what it meant to be a gentleman. Through her he’d learned about wine and the right clothes and which topics of conversation were safe for polite conversation. She was all about doing the right thing—until the bedroom door closed. There she preferred him as uncivilized as possible.
“How long were you married?”
“Three years.”
“Did you…” Annie cleared her throat. “I assume you were in love with her. It wasn’t a business arrangement.”
“I loved her,” he said curtly. As much as anyone could love a woman who kept her heart firmly protected in a case of ice. “Until I walked in on her screwing one of my business partners.”
Not even in their bed, Duncan thought, still more angry than hurt at the memory. On his desk.
“I threw her out and borrowed enough money to buy off all my partners,” he said, looking past her but not seeing anything around them. Instead he saw a naked Valentina tossing her long hair over her shoulder.
“You weren’t foolish enough to think I really loved you,” she’d said in answer to his unspoken question.
He had been that foolish. All the time he’d been growing up he’d known he had to be strong to stay safe. With Valentina, he’d allowed himself to forget the painful lessons he learned in his youth. He never would again.
Annie touched his arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why she would do something like that.”
“Why, because in your world marriage is forever?”
“Of course.” She looked shocked that he would even ask. “My dad died when I was really young. My mom talked about him all the time. She made him so real to me and Tim. It was like he wasn’t dead—he’d just gone on a long trip. When she died, she told me not to be sad because when she was gone, she got to be with him again. That’s what I want.”
“It doesn’t exist.”
“Not every woman is like Valentina.”
“You find anyone worthy of those dreams of yours?”
“No.” She shrugged. “I keep falling for the wrong guy. I’m not sure why, but I’ll figure it out.”
She was optimistic beyond reason. “How many times have you had your heart broken?”
“Twice.”
“What makes you think the next time will be different?”
“What makes you think it won’t be?”
Because being in love meant being vulnerable. “You would give a guy everything. Only for him to use you for what he can get, then walk away? Life is a fight—better to win than lose.”
“Are those the only two options?” she asked. “What happened to a win-win scenario? Don’t they teach that in business school?”
“Maybe. But not in the school of hard knocks.”
She reached for his hands and curled his fingers into fists. “It must have been frustrating to learn you couldn’t use these to battle your way out of every situation.”
“It was.”
Annie hadn’t known much about Duncan’s ex-wife beyond what Cameron had told her. Now she had a clearer understanding of what had happened. Valentina had hurt Duncan more than he would admit. She’d broken his trust and battered his feelings. For a man who was used to using physical strength when backed into a corner, the situation had to have been devastating. He’d allowed himself to lead with his heart, only to have it beaten up and returned to him.
“There hasn’t been anyone important since Valentina?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“There have been those who tried,” he said lightly.
“You’re going to have to trust one of them. Don’t you want a family?”
“I haven’t decided.”
She shook her head. “You have to admire the irony of life,” she said. “I would love to find someone and settle down, have a houseful of kids and live happily ever after. The challenge is that I can’t find anyone who sees me as the least bit interesting in the romantic department. You, on the other hand, have women throwing themselves at you, begging to be taken, but you’re not interested.” She stared into his gray eyes. “You shouldn’t give up on love.”
“I don’t need your advice.”
“I owe you something for the freezer.”
“The pizza is enough.”
“Okay. Want to go find something violent on television while I put this in the oven?”
“Sure.”
She watched him walk out of the kitchen.
Knowing about his past explained a lot. What Duncan didn’t realize was that under that tough exterior was a really nice guy, which he wouldn’t want to hear anyway. Guys hated to be called nice. But he was. She couldn’t turn around without tripping over the proof.
What had he been like before he’d met Valentina? A strong man, willing to trust and give his heart. Did it get any better than that? The oven beeped. She opened the pizza box, then slid the contents onto a cookie sheet and put it in the oven.
Did Duncan’s ex have any regrets? Had she figured out everything she’d lost and wished for a second chance? Annie didn’t know her, so she couldn’t say. She only knew that if she were ever given a shot at a man like Duncan, she would hold on with both hands and never let go.
The office Christmas party was a complete disaster. Annie hated to be critical, but there was no escaping the uncomfortable silence, the uneasy glances being exchanged and the unnaturally loud bursts of laughter from nervous attendees. She could feel the fear of those around her. No one was eating or drinking, and nearly everyone kept checking the time as if desperate to make an escape.
“Interesting party,” she murmured to Duncan as they stood by the main entrance to the hotel ballroom. While she thought it was nice Duncan wanted to greet everyone who attended, his presence wasn’t helping the situation. He was big and powerful, which made relaxing even more difficult.
“These things are always tedious.”
“Maybe if there’d
