Aaron raked his hand across his hair. Yeah, if he couldn’t get past who Juliette was and the people she associated with, then letting their relationship continue wasn’t fair to her. While it might be the right thing, it sure as hell wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. Or one he ever expected to have.
Maybe I should have dropped off the wood. If he’d brought in the firewood and showed her how to use the woodstove that Saturday afternoon back in March, perhaps he wouldn’t be sitting here this morning. “A little late now.” He dropped his head back against the sofa.
“Hey, have you been up long?”
Counting to five, Aaron reminded himself he was only doing what was best for both of them and looked at her. Last night, wearing a dress that looked as if it’d been made just for her and probably cost more than he made in a month, it’d been easy to remember people everywhere knew who she was and that her family owned one of the largest hotel chains in the world. Right now, wearing shorts and a top that read Not Until After Coffee, she could have easily been someone he’d met while eating lunch at George’s Diner or bowling.
“Yeah, I’ve been up since about three o’clock.”
“You’re going to be exhausted later.”
He knew it wasn’t the only problem he’d have later.
“I’m going to make myself some coffee. Do you want some?”
Caffeine wouldn’t make what he needed to say any easier, but it wouldn’t hurt anything either. Plus, it’d buy him a little more time. Coward.
“Yes, please.” He watched her walk into the kitchenette and switch on the single-serve coffee maker.
“Looks like we have dark roast and a breakfast blend. Do you have a preference?”
As long as it wasn’t decaf, which in his opinion was just a step above dirty water, he’d drink anything. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
Sooner than he wanted, Juliette handed him a coffee cup and sat down next to him.
“Have you ever been to Emilia in the North End?”
Aaron sipped his coffee before he answered. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s up to you, but I thought we could eat breakfast here and then make reservations there for dinner.” She didn’t wait for him to comment before opening the room service menu. “What do you think you want to eat this morning?”
Stop stalling. Waiting until he finished his coffee or ate breakfast wouldn’t change what he needed to say. He took one last gulp of coffee and set his cup down. “We need to talk.”
Pressing her lips together, she set aside the menu. “About last night? Aaron—”
He tried never to interrupt a person, but he did it now anyway. “Last night, I realized how different our lives are.” Since he didn’t know how to explain without sounding like the biggest ass, he’d do the best he could as he went along. “Your family owns one of the biggest hotel chains in the world. You have one uncle who lives in the White House, and another who hires valets to park cars at his private house party. I don’t know your address in Manhattan, but it’s probably somewhere on Billionaire’s Row.”
“What you said about my family is true, and I can’t change it. But soon I’ll be living and working in Avon. So the other stuff doesn’t matter.”
For how long? The question popped up in his head again. Like in the past, he pushed it aside. “I know, and I’m not asking you to change. But last night’s fundraiser won’t be the last event like that you’ll need to attend. In June you’ve got your cousin’s wedding. I can only imagine the names on the guest list. And I doubt any of them work as a cybersecurity engineer while sharing a house with their sister and eleven-year-old niece.”
“My cousin’s fiancé is one of Addie’s older brothers and a Marine. Their three older brothers are also in the military, so I think the guest list will be more diverse than you think, Aaron.”
Perhaps he deserved her slightly sarcastic tone. “I didn’t know that.” Hoping to dislodge the baseball stuck in his throat, Aaron swallowed.
“Not—”
“Not everyone is like the Casellas. I know, but it doesn’t change the fact you and your family are used to a very different lifestyle than I am. And I’m not sure it’s right for me.” The baseball in his throat turned into a softball. “Believe me. This isn’t easy. Part of me wants to lock us in the suite and not come out again until tomorrow. But I need time to figure out if—”
This time she cut him off. “You want me in your life.”
He loved having her in his life. “No, if I can fit into yours. There’s a huge difference there.”
Juliette sighed and brushed away the moisture gathering in her eyes. “Fair enough. I’ll change and leave. Maybe I’ll stay at my parents’ house for the rest of the weekend.” Standing, she picked up her coffee. “I’ll be gone in a few minutes.”
She walked past him, and the unshed tears in her eyes tugged at his heart.
“Juliette, I….” He stopped before he told her to forget everything he’d said. Before he told her he loved having her in his life. Maybe even loved her. If he uttered any of those words, perhaps she’d sit back down and kiss him. And at least for the weekend, they’d both be happy. But it wouldn’t solve the problem of whether or not he could fit into her life.