Did she think feelings were planned? Scheduled and carried out like entries on her color-coded calendar? “There’s never been another you and me. You can’t compare us to some couple you counseled in your office.”

“I don’t have to look any further than my parents to strike a comparison.”

Something in her tone alerted him. “What about your parents?”

“They argued constantly. Good grief, they were like hot and cold, hard and soft, and whatever other opposites you can think of. I can still close my eyes at night and hear their bickering.”

It was starting to make sense now. Her passion for helping others find a compatible mate. Her parents had divorced, possibly damaging her greatly, and now she was out to save the world. “Is that why you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Counsel others. Help people find their soul mate.”

She rolled her eyes. “Huh. I don’t believe in soul mates. I believe in helping women find a compatible mate whose values and personality line up with hers.”

“All neat and tidy.”

“We can’t all live a messy, jumbled life.”

Is that the way she saw his life? Like a chaotic heap of garbage?

“It might not be pretty to look at, but I found love nonetheless.”

It was out before he could stop it. His heart skipped a beat.

The look on Kate’s face made him glad he’d risked it. The way her eyes widened ever so slightly before she looked down at her fingers curled around the sofa’s cushion. Was it awe or joy he’d seen before she looked away?

“I didn’t mean to disregard what you had with Emily. I’m sorry.”

Emily. She thought he was talking about Emily. The disappointment was keen. Hadn’t he shown her his feelings these weeks they’d had together? Even if he hadn’t said them. Apparently, he’d been too subtle. Or she just didn’t want to see the truth.

She was waiting for his response. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, feeling like a fool. She didn’t want anything between them; she’d made that clear. Maybe he wasn’t the kind of man she wanted. Maybe she was waiting to be with Bryan.

For the first time he wondered if he’d ever be able to change her mind.

Twenty-One

Twenty-One

Don’t expect your man to change. If you want something different, find it elsewhere.

—Excerpt from Finding Mr. Right-for-You by Dr. Kate

The phone on Kate’s desk rang. She saved her column before answering.

“How’s my favorite author?” Pam, Kate’s publicist, greeted her.

“Pam! How are you?”