When she walked into the bathroom to change, it felt like she’d actually walked out of my life. Talia had been so preoccupied by her brother’s call, she hadn’t even really paid attention to me. While I dressed, I worked to process what I knew. As I added it up, I felt better… and worse.

“You’re not who I thought you were,” I commented as she wandered out of the bathroom.

“I believe you established that earlier. Can you just zip me please?” She turned around and stood patiently, her hair thrown over one shoulder.

I didn’t want to be distracted by her smooth skin, or her gorgeous neck. I tried to ignore all of this as I slowly pulled the black metal slider up her back, closing her off from me a little more. “There,” I murmured when I was done.

Talia faced me and nodded. “Thank you.” Her shoulders slumped as she marched back to the bathroom.

“So, we’re back to being polite again?” I called after her.

She stiffened. Turning partway, she shrugged. “Sure. Why not? It’s better than wasting any energy on being angry.” She frowned. When I didn’t say anything else, she moved into the bathroom to finish getting ready.

This time, the door remained open. I didn’t know if it was meant as an invitation or simply happened by accident, but she didn’t seem to mind when I showed up behind her. I reached around her to the Tiffany’s boxes on the vanity. “Let me help.” Slightly, almost imperceptibly, she nodded. After opening the box and the leather pouch, I let the necklace pour out into my hand.

Her eyes were wide as I reached around and draped the pearls around her neck. Then she touched them ever so lovingly with her fingers. “I’ve never owned anything so beautiful. Thank you, Drew.”

“You’re more than welcome.” As I hooked the clasp in the back, I leaned in and kissed her shoulder. I watched in the mirror as her eyelids fluttered. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were attracted to me,” I commented absently.

“You have no idea.” Talia closed her lips tightly and shook her head.

“Tell me. I want to understand. You share with me, and I’ll share with you.” I spoke as serenely as possible, as if I were trying to tame a savage beast instead of regain the trust of the most attractive woman I’d ever spent time with.

She glanced at the time on her cellphone and showed me the screen. “Not now. The wedding starts in about forty-five minutes. We still have to get down there.”

I could tell she had a string of excuses at the ready. Luckily, I had years of experience with slaying them. I could’ve been a lawyer, the way I’d turned arguing into an art form. “We’d better make time. I need to know where you stand, where we stand, so I can mentally prepare for the big event.”

“The wedding will be beautiful, quiet. You’ll love it.” Talia laid a reassuring hand on my wrist.

The warmth penetrated the cuff and I melted under her touch. “It’s not the wedding. For me, the reception is the big event.” I blew out a breath. “Help me understand you, Talia. I need this more than you can possibly understand.”

She hesitated and bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

“Okay, but I’m not leaving this room until we figure things out.” I stalked out of the bedroom and sat in the armchair with my back to her. For a few minutes, I began to doubt my ploy had worked, then she appeared at my side, wearing the earrings, her hair up in a messy bun, makeup done, holding the bracelet out to me.

“If you’re going to insist on this discussion, we need to be ready to bolt as soon as it’s done.” She frowned. “Can you help me, please?”

“Sure.” I stood and offered her my seat. When she’d made herself comfortable, I managed to begin the conversation again. “Are you an illegal immigrant?”

Her shoulders slouched. “I’ve been here since I was a kid. This wasn’t my choice,” Talia explained.

“I understand. The same thing happened to my maid in L.A. She was a DREAMer too. She applied for citizenship.” I shook my head. “She was deported before it could be finalized.”

She stared at me and I watched as a single tear rolled down her face. “I know no one in Poland. My parents immigrated to Canada. They have citizenship there now. Me, I’ve been on a waiting list.”

I pulled a handkerchief from my inside jacket pocket and then positioned it to absorb her tear. “I wish I could take all your sadness away, but at least now I understand.”

Talia’s head tilted. “Do you? Do you really?”

“You don’t want the money, you need it, so you can hire lawyers and fight an unfair system. That’s it, right?” I squatted in front of her and held her hands, too scared to even attempt hiding my emotions.

“Yes. For my brother, too. He stayed with me so I could finish school after our parents left.” She brought her hand to her mouth, and I had the sense she was trying to calm down.

“Why would they leave behind two kids?” I frowned. After the nannies, my parents sent me off to boarding school. In some ways, I felt left behind too.

“Because their first kid died in a horrific car accident she caused with her drunk driving.” Then Talia hiccupped and I knew she was trying hard not to sob.

There was a huge lump in my throat. “Was she an alcoholic?” I closed my eyes while I waited for the answer, even though in my heart I already knew.

“Yes. For years. It started in high school. Then she didn’t, or couldn’t, go to college. She never moved out. My parents were classic enablers. They wanted it to be a phase. Unfortunately, she never tried to overcome it.” For a moment, she sat silently and I watched her pull her emotions together. Calm and serene once more, Talia laid her hands on my shoulders. “But you can. I know you can. I believe in you. You’re so…strong-willed.”

I leaned my forehead against her knee. “What if the urge to drink is stronger?” Looking up, I read the concern in her eyes and it crushed me. “I don’t know how to do this reception without drinking. Hell, I don’t know how to do much of anything without drinking.”

For the first time since we’d arrived at the hotel, Talia smiled. Her entire face lit up and I gloried in it, like plants do the sun. “I’ll teach you. Let’s have fun together, Drew. Let’s dance.”

“I’ve never danced sober.” I stiffened. “The idea actually horrifies me.”

She giggled and I could feel my fears melting. “I’ll be the best date. I’ll hold your hand and tell everyone pretty things about you. They’ll love you more when they see you through my eyes.”

I stared into her eyes and I actually began to believe her. I could see how anything was possible with Talia by my side. She reached out and held my hand. “You’re already the best date I’ve ever had,” I admitted. Then I shook my head at the honesty of my statement.

“Because you’re sober,” she coached.

I laughed. “No, because you’re you.”

“So, help me understand you,” Talia whispered as if she were afraid to ruin the mood.

I picked up my phone and showed her the screen. “Oh, will you look at the time?” I started to stand, but instead, Talia slid off the chair, hiking her skirt up in the process, and somehow managed to land straddling my lap, thereby successfully pinning me to the floor. My brow rose. “You did this on purpose.”

She grinned coyly and shrugged. “Maybe I did.”

When she rocked on my groin, I could feel my cock grow. “Stop,” I groaned. “Now I have two reasons I can’t get up.”

She snickered. “My bad.” Talia leaned close. “Tell me.”

“I was so much more fun when I could drink.” I sighed.

She shook her head. “No, you weren’t. You only think you were. I saw you that one time and you were straight up sloppy.”

I frowned as I struggled to remember. “Casino.”

“Yeah. The three of you made a bet. Looks like two out of three of you managed to make good. What’s your story?” She teased.

Without thinking, I pulled her close and pressed my lips to hers before pulling back. “How much truth do you want?” I murmured against her cheek before burrowing into her neck.

“All of it, otherwise, why bother saying anything at all?” Then she shivered as I nibbled on her skin.

“I didn’t think anyone could compete with the alcohol and drugs.” I blew out a breath and smiled as her grip on my shoulders tightened. “You make me forget I ever needed them.” I pushed her back so I could look her in the eye. “I mean it.”

Talia bit her cheek and nodded. “I believe you. Now date me already.”