Chapter 9

9

DIANNA

D ianna tossed her hat onto her bed and collapsed onto the mattress with a groan. Constance looked up from where she sat at her desk on the other side of the room, then returned her focus to the book she was flipping through.

An exaggerated groan escaped Dianna's lips and she rolled over onto her stomach to get a better view of her sister.

Without looking up, Constance said, "Let me guess. You need me to ask you how work went today with that hot guy and his kid."

"Their names are Tristan and Mathew."

"So I was right," she said dryly.

"Yeah."

"Okay. What happened?"

"You're not even paying attention," Dianna said, dropping her head onto her arms. "I listened to you complain and talk about James when you were sneaking around with him. Now you have to give me some advice."

Constance lifted a brow, her gaze darting to Dianna briefly. "From what I recall, you didn't like hearing me talk about my romantic exploits any more than you wanted to share yours."

"I didn't have romantic exploits," Dianna said, a groan following.

"And now you do?"

" No ," she drawled, lifting her head up to look at her sister. "I mean, I don't know. Yes?"

Finally, Constance snapped her book shut and the smile Dianna had been expecting filled Constance's face. "I knew it. I told James you weren't going to last long. Only I thought you might end up having a crush on Shane."

"Shane? Eww, no. He's my boss."

" Hey ," Constance said with mock offense. "Technically, James was my boss when I started to develop feelings for him."

Dianna smooshed her face into her blankets, her voice muffled by the duvet. "That's different." When she sat up, she found Constance eyeing her with an expression that wasn't easy to read. " What ?"

"You tell me. You're the one who wanted to talk about this. So talk. What's going on? Has he hit on you?"

"What? Of course not. Tristan is a gentleman."

"Gentlemen can hit on women."

"Not when there's a line of professionalism that needs to stay in place."

Constance rolled her eyes. "So that's what you're upset about? He's not hitting on you?"

" No ." Dianna groaned once more. "I've got these feelings and these thoughts flying around my head like bats."

"Halloween was two months ago, sis."

Dianna gave her sister a dirty look. "I'm being serious. I didn't think I was interested in anything romantic. But the more time I've been spending with Tristan and his son, the more I find myself fantasizing what it would be like to be part of their family."

Constance's mouth dropped open.

Clambering to her feet, Dianna reached into her back pocket where she'd painstakingly folded the picture that Mathew had drawn for her. She tossed it frisbee-style at her sister. "Look at that." The folded sheet of paper bounced off Constance's knee and fluttered to the floor.

She reached for it and carefully opened it, then met Dianna's eyes with a frown. "He's married?"

" No . That's a picture Mathew drew of me with his family."

"Aww, that's sweet."

"No, it's concerning," Dianna insisted. "I can't date Tristan. I can't let myself fall for him. And now Mathew is getting too attached far too early for it to be healthy."

"Why?"

"They're going to move back home after their therapy plan is over."

"So, why can't you date him while he's here?" Constance flung the folded sheet of paper toward Dianna. "Because I fail to see why that is something that can't be changed."

Dianna dug her fingers into her hair as she rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "Have you already forgotten that there's a degree of professionalism that needs to be maintained?"

"What does Shane say?"

Dianna stiffened. "Why would I ask him?"

"Because he's your boss and has the final word. Unless there's an HR department out there at the country club."

"I'm not going to date him, Constance."

"Then why are we having this conversation? You're really confusing me."

"Because I think I want to date him."

"So date him."

Dianna threw her hands down at her sides, allowing her fists to bounce against the mattress. "You're not being very helpful. You need to tell me what to do so I don't make a mess of everything. I don't want to lose my job, and I don't want to hurt Mathew."

"Then don't date the hot man."

She glowered, rolling over. "No offense, but I'm not going to ask your opinion after this. You don't have a clue what to do."

"Of course I don't. This is your life, Dianna. You have to go?—"

"Never mind," she muttered as she climbed off the bed. "I'm going to ask someone else."

"No one else is engaged," Constance called after her.

Maybe that was her problem. Constance had already found her man and she'd snagged him. The rest of her sisters, except Adeline, were single and actively dating. Maybe one of them would be able to tell her what she should do.

Okay, none of them would be able to give her the answer that she wanted. Or they would, but it wasn't the answer that she needed—and that was how to construct a wall between herself and Tristan so she didn't end up doing something stupid.

It was decided. She'd go to work and keep her mind off the handsome man who treated her like she was more important than just some therapist who was assigned to his kid. It was like she'd said. They could be friends.

She'd been telling the truth. Relationships made her wary. The fact that he could understand her reasoning had made it that much harder to compartmentalize the emotions stirring within her. She'd done harder things. By the time Mathew and Tristan were done with their therapeutic services, everything would be settled and she'd be better for it.