Chapter 80: Opening Up

"Oh, well…it doesn't matter."

"Being wealthy doesn't matter?" he asked.

"Of course it doesn't. A plumber has a wife who loves him, just as a wealthy man does. I suppose what truly matters is how they feel about each other."

He couldn't help but think she was perfect.

"I'm sure you'll find someone who loves you for who you are," she reassured him.

"I want you to," he whispered to himself.

"I hope the same for you," he replied.

"Don't. I'm a lost cause. Love is not in the cards for me again," she chuckled.

"Don't say that," he said, feeling a twinge of sympathy.

Her emotions presented a significant obstacle to the progress of her love life. Adrian desperately wished for her to be able to move forward with him, more than anything else.

She fell silent, taking a sip of her wine.

Adrian gazed at her with fascination. She appeared innocent, as if she had been shielding herself from the harsh realities of the world.

She had once opened up and placed her complete trust in a man, marrying him, only to have her heart shattered, which led her to retreat back into seclusion, away from the complexities of the world.

"We should talk about ourselves, and get to know each other better," he suggested.

"Yeah, about that…" she said.

She was resolute in her decision to avoid catching feelings. If she had any knowledge about him, she might be tempted to conduct an online search to learn more about him.

"I don't want to know anything about you," she started. "I don't want to know what you do for a living or even your last name. But you can share your past and experiences if you want to talk about it."

He couldn't believe his ears.

"I just want to know Adrian, just you."

"Okay," he said. "If that's what you want."

"There is something else I need to know though," she said, feeling a little ashamed. She ought to have asked before she went to him the other night.

"You're…not married, are you?" she asked. She would hate herself if he was. She cannot destroy another woman's home the way Nicole aided in destroying hers.

"No," he said with a grin.

"No fiancée...or anyone waiting for you?" she asked.

"Nah, no one. I just asked you to be mine," he said.

"How is that possible?" she asked, surprised.

"Sh*t happens. I'll tell you about it later…that's if you want me to," he said.

"Of course."

"How about you? What are the rules? Can you tell me about yourself?" he asked.

Sharon chuckled.

"There isn't much to tell, really. There's Thomas, my son, and Fannie, my angel. She's like a mother figure to me. I'm an extreme introvert, it's bad, I know."

Her humor brightened the mood once more.

"I run an online jewelry store, and my workspace is a shed at the back of my house. My ex-husband left me the house after our separation," she added, a hint of sadness creeping in at the mention of her past.

It was disheartening how her ex-husband seemed to intrude into her thoughts and conversations, casting a shadow on her day or her moments of enjoyment.

"That's about it," she concluded, finishing the wine in her glass.

"That can't be all," he reassured her. "There's definitely more, and I'd love to hear about it another time."

He signaled for the waiter to settle the bill.

Exiting the restaurant and comfortably settled in the back seat of his car, he reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.

She looked at him, a question in her eyes.

"What?" he said. "Friends hold hands."

Her response was a warm smile.

As Adrian walked Sharon to her doorstep at her house, he refused to let go of her hand, a silent gesture that spoke volumes about his feelings.

He couldn't deny the deep connection he felt with her, the way his heart seemed to flutter whenever she was near him. It was a sensation he had longed for, a longing he had carried with him for so long.

He had accepted these feelings, embracing them as a sign that maybe, just maybe, they were meant to be. The warmth of her hand in his, the laughter they enjoyed together, and the vulnerability they had shown each other had created a bond that was impossible for him to ignore.

However, as they reached her front door, he couldn't help but notice the pain in her eyes, a lingering scar from her painful divorce. She was resisting the feelings, definitely out of fear of being hurt again.

Adrian wanted to tell her that it was okay to feel, to let herself be open to the possibility of something beautiful. But he knew that healing took time, and he respected her need to tread carefully.

As they exchanged a lingering gaze, their unspoken emotions hung in the air, a silent understanding between two individuals at different stages of emotional readiness. Adrian was willing to accept whatever pace Sharon needed, hoping that in time, she might come to see that their connection was worth exploring.

"Do you need to pick Thomas up from Fannie?" he asked, breaking his gaze from hers. He had to, it was the only way he could stop himself from grabbing and kissing her.

She wouldn't like that. Would she?