Turning back to her, he grew more intrigued by the woman he knew next to nothing about.
“Tell me more about you,” she said.
Chapter Five
The personal questions unnerved her. She didn’t like talking about her past as that’s where she wanted her past to stay and never come out. Munching on the noodles, Lana waited for him to start talking.
“Why don’t you have any photos?” he asked, ignoring her question.
She finished eating and placed the carton back on the table. Why did this have to be so hard? This was why she kept to herself. The hours she worked stopped her from attaching herself to people. The diner was perfect as none of the staff had time to talk. Some of the girls tried to get her to go out, but she refused because of her second job. Working in Kent’s building took her late into the night when everyone was home. If anything, she talked to the security guard on the way out of the building, no interactions at all that left her feeling out of place.
“I don’t have any photos to put up,” she said. “I don’t like these questions, and I’d prefer to know about you.”
Her mother never owned a camera, and there were never any photos of the happy times when she lived with her mother. She didn’t own a single photo of her time growing up. Talking about growing up made people pity her. Lana had learned that lesson with past boyfriends, especially when they threw the guilt back in your face. Frank, her last boyfriend, was a prime example of him throwing her past in her face. His excuse for staying with her for so long was because he felt pity for her. He didn’t want to leave her after he found out about her past. How f**ked up was that? Not only that, he liked to slap her a little bit as well. The more Lana thought about her past with Frank, the happier she was to have gotten away from him.
She’d learned from her past mistakes. Men didn’t really want to know the truth unless it was sunshine and roses. Her past was anything but sunshine and roses. There was no way she’d be telling Kent about her past. Her past was for her to know and for no-one to find out.
“I’m not going to get past your walls, am I?” he asked.
“No,” she said not even pretending to not know what he meant.
“Okay, what do you want to know?” he asked, picking up another carton.
“Whatever you want to tell me.” She wasn’t lying. Lana liked the thought of Kent being her friend. He was funny and sweet. Their lives didn’t need to conflict. He was a businessman while she cleaned his building.
“I’m forty-five years old. I’m not married, and I run a successful business.”
“I know all this. I’ve read some stuff about you in the paper. Shouldn’t you be married with an heir or something to take over your growing fortune?” she asked, smiling.
Kent chuckled. She liked the sound as it made goose-bumps erupt all over her flesh.
“That’s very old-fashioned. No, no heir. My family are really happy for what I’ve achieved. My dad is proud of me forging my own way.”
“And there’s no woman on the scene?” she asked.
He shook his head, but his smile fell.
“Come on, tell me?” She touched his arm, and an answering spark of electricity worked its way up her arm.
“There was someone a long time ago.”
“What happened?” she asked. Her appetite vanished as he spoke. What was wrong with her? There was no way they could ever be an item. They were from different worlds, and she never wanted her life to be mixed with his. She’d never be the type of woman to mingle in high society.
Her education was lacking, and she didn’t come from money.
It doesn’t mean I can’t want him from a distance.
“Are we going to do this?”
“Do what?” She lifted her gaze to his.
“Be friends?”
“Haven’t you ever had a girl that’s a friend?” she asked.
“No, I f**k every woman I know.”
She swallowed down the food she’d been chewing. Fucking. Wow, Lana couldn’t believe her body responded at such a crass word. Her ni**les tightened, and her pu**y flooded with warmth.
“Then yes, we’re friends.”
He kept staring at her. His intense gaze made her uneasy. “Can I trust you?”
Lana frowned. “Why couldn’t you trust me?”
“There are people out there who want to see me fall. I’ve made a lot of enemies because of my success.”
She shrugged. “Tell me the people, and I’ll remember to cross them off my list. I’ll never be their friend. I promise, Kent, I’m being serious. I think it’ll be cool to be your friend.”
Bumping his shoulder, she grabbed the remote from the small table she kept by the sofa. Turning on the television she averted his attention to the small screen. “This is the biggest television you own?” he asked.
“Yes. I don’t watch a lot of television.” She flicked through the channels as he cursed.
“If we’re friends then this is not acceptable.”
“What’s not acceptable?” She paused in turning on the television.
“If we’re going to be friends then you need a bigger screen, and you’re going to need beer in the fridge.”
“Are you planning on invading my life now?” she asked. “I’m not accepting any gifts from you, Kent Anderson. You can keep your money in your bank account. I’m happy with everything I’ve got.”
Was she making a huge mistake? Kent was used to having one thing from the women he dated. She wasn’t that kind of woman, and she didn’t want to get involved with a man way out of her league.
Stop over-analysing. There is no way Kent could want you. Relax and enjoy this new friendship you’ve created.
****
Kent settled back on the sofa feeling a little out of place. Friends? They were going to be friends and nothing more.
You don’t just want to be her friend. You want to be more and have more with her.
He turned to stare at her. Her brown hair was tucked behind her ear, giving him a good view of her face. Her skin looked so soft and made him want to reach out and stroke it. The movie she’d picked filled the silence. Reaching his hand behind her head, he played with her hair. She didn’t stop him or slap his hand away. Kent twiddled the length of her hair between his fingers relishing the newfound closeness he’d discovered with her.
After a couple of hours Lana stood up and stretched. He gulped past the lump in his throat as her rounded stomach peeked from beneath the jeans and shirt she wore. Full women had never appealed to him until now.