“Listen, women analyze every action, every comment. They drive us, and themselves, crazy trying to interpret our actions and words, instead of accepting them for what they are. The longer you’re with them, the worse it gets. That’s why I don’t stick around long.”
“You do realize you’re messing it up for the next guy when you do that to these women?”
“His problem, not mine.” Tomas took a large gulp of beer. “As I said, women focus on the wrong things, so you have to get Shawna refocused. You have to make her feel the same way she felt when she met you in Chicago. Take the focus off the negative part of your relationship—the bad ending—and remind her of the positive. While men get comfortable in a relationship, women are always trying to get back to that initial feeling—the excitement of when they first fell for you. That’s why being with them is so much work.” He muttered in Spanish again. “If you can get her back to that feeling, she’ll be eating out of your hand.”
Easier said than done, but it did make a little bit of sense. “You might be right.” Ryan looked at his friend with new eyes. Maybe he really did know what he was talking about.
“Of course I’m right. Think back to what you did to make her fall for you.”
Tomas had a point. Somehow he had to make Shawna feel comfortable with him again and set aside her reservations.
“Did you love her?” she’d asked, wanting to know if he’d been in love with Holly and still capable of making love to her.
“Excuse me,” Tomas said to the bartender. “I’ll take another beer, and I’d like to buy the lady at the end another glass of whatever she’s having.”
Ryan shook his head. Definitely a gold medalist.
He watched the television monitor above the bar. The combustible chemistry between him and Shawna made him feel he needed to wear heat resistant coveralls around her. He guessed that was part of the problem. He needed to prove to her more than just sex existed between them, even though it consisted of a mind-blowing variety he’d never experienced before her.
Although the speed at which their relationship had progressed suited him, if she felt they were moving too fast, he could slow down to match her pace. A little self-control could go a long way toward proving to her that they had something special, and she didn’t have to worry about being hurt by him again.
The bartender placed Tomas’s beer on the counter and handed him a folded napkin. “She gave you her number.”
Tomas frowned when he unfolded it. “There are two numbers on here.”
“The second one is mine.” She winked and walked away to tend to another patron.
Smiling, Tomas tucked the napkin into his shirt pocket and turned to Ryan. “I love this country.”
Chapter Seventeen
Outside her boutique, La Petite Robe, Shawna checked the window displays on either side of the door and made a mental note to have Erin switch out a few items to showcase more of the seasonal picks.
She employed Erin, one of two full-time employees, and a part-timer. All her staff trained as personal shoppers, a key component to helping her build her business. She kept an extensive file on regular customers she referred to as clients. Staff noted their style, color preferences, and sizes, and each salesperson called the client assigned to them whenever items arrived in the store that might be of interest.
They’d been open a couple of hours and a few customers browsed inside the store. Shawna pointed out items on clearance before she continued to the back.
Erin looked up from dressing a mannequin. “Good morning. How’s the car?”
Shawna had purchased a Camry over the weekend. “I love it. I don’t know why I took so long to get a new one, but I’m glad I finally did it. It’s a relief not having to worry about whether or not my car will start when I turn the key.”
“It’s a major purchase. I understand why you took your time.”