The Bottom Line by Sandy James Page A

Mallory’s personal life.”
    “Yes, you can. I have a right to know if she has cancer.”
    “A right?” She scoffed at him. A fiery temper accompanied the red hair. “What
right
do you have? You’re renovating her house. You barely even know her. Why would her health matter to you anyway? Why would
she
even matter?”
    “She matters. Okay?” He raked his trembling fingers through his hair. “Look… I just need to know for sure. I know what I… felt when I—” A frustrated shout was gathering in his throat. He wanted to hit something. Hard.
    “When you what?” Green eyes searched his face. “You felt her up!”
    “It wasn’t like that,” Ben insisted. “I like her, Julie.”
    “It’s Juliana or Jules. Not Julie. And I don’t give a shit if you declare your undying love. I still can’t tell you. If you want to know, ask Mallory. Or, better yet, just drop it.”
    “Why do you hate me?” he asked. “Hell, you don’t even know me.”
    She held her tongue.
    “Seriously… what have I ever done to you?”
    “This isn’t about you,” she insisted. “It’s about Mallory. She’s not ready for you.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You don’t know Mallory.” Julie glared at the men. “Not like I do. She copes by locking everything up inside in a deep, private place.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Ben said with a shake of his head.
    “You don’t know much about women, do you?” Jules worried her bottom lip. “She’s been hurt enough. Okay?”
    “You think I don’t know that?” He set his hands on his hips. “I’m at her house almost every day, fixing the messes her bastard ex made.”
    “I’m not talking about her house.”
    “Neither am I.” He waited, hoping he was getting through to her. Then his patience reached its limit. “You’re really the type of woman who’s going to make me beg?”
    “Had,” Robert blurted out.
    “What?” Ben shifted his gaze to his friend.
    “Had. She
had
cancer.”
    Juliana punched Robert’s upper arm. “Traitor.”
    “Why? Because I told him something he’d already figured out?” Robert inclined his head toward Ben. “The poor guy obviously likes her. He deserves to know the truth.”
    Had cancer.
The words were the closest thing to good news Ben had heard in a long time. “She’s cured? Did surgery cure her? Did she have chemotherapy? Radiation? How does she know the cancer’s gone?”
    “I don’t know all the particulars,” Robert replied. “Jules? What’s the latest?”
    She folded her arms under her breasts and dug in her heels. “What if she did?”
    This conversation was making Ben crazy. “If she did what? Still have cancer?”
    “Yeah. Would you like her if she still had cancer?”
    The insult cut deep. “What kind of guy do you think I am?”
    “I have no idea. That’s why I’m trying to figure you out. You could be a serial killer for all I know.”
    “He’s not a serial killer,” Robert insisted. “He’s a good guy. That’s why I sent him to help Mallory in the first place.”
    “Fine,” Juliana conceded. “He’s a good guy. But would he want her if she still had cancer?”
    “Of course I’d want her!” Ben lowered his volume when people began to stare. “I’m not that kind of guy, Juliana. My ex-wife’s a basket case, and I didn’t leave her.
She
divorced
me
.”
    Her eyes finally softened. “Tell me what happened with Mal.”
    Robert shook his head. “I’m bowing out now. You two don’t need me eavesdropping on something this personal.” His eyes shifted to a gaggle of women across the hall. “Besides, I see a rather attractive blonde in need of my handsome company.” He strode away, still shaking his head.
    “What happened?” Juliana asked again. “When you felt her up, I mean.”
    “I didn’t—” But that was exactly what he’d done, so he owned up to it. “She pushed herself away and got out of the truck. So left me so fast, I’m amazed she didn’t leave skid