Lessons Learned

already caught. After that, they’d negotiate the next step.
    Carlo lifted the rose he’d had sent up from the hotel florist out of its bud vase, sniffed its petals once, then walked down the hall to Juliet’s room.
    She was just drying off from a hot, steamy bath. If she’d heard the knock five minutes before, she’d have growled. As it was, she pulled on her robe and went to answer.
    She’d been expecting him. Juliet wasn’t foolish enough to believe a man like Carlo would take a door in the face as final. It had given her satisfaction to close it, just as it gave her satisfaction to open it again. When she was ready.
    She hadn’t been expecting the rose. Though she knew it wasn’t wise to be moved by a single long-stemmed flower with a bud the color of sunshine, she was moved nonetheless. Her plans to have a calm, serious discussion with him faltered.
    “You look rested.” Rather than giving her the rose, he took her hand. Before she could decide whether or not to let him in, he was there.
    A stand, Juliet reminded herself even as she closed the door behind him. If she didn’t take a stand now, she’d never find her footing. “Since you’re here, we’ll talk. We have an hour.”
    “Of course.” As was his habit, he took a survey of her room. Her suitcase sat on a stand, still packed, but with its top thrown open. It wasn’t practical to unpack and repack when you were bouncing around from city to city. Though they were starting their third week on the road, the contents of the case were still neat and organized. He’d have expected no less from her. Hernotebook and two pens were already beside the phone. The only things remotely out of place in the tidy, impersonal room were the Italian heels that sat in the middle of the rug where she’d stepped out of them. The inconsistency suited her perfectly.
    “I can discuss things better,” she began, “if you weren’t wandering around.”
    “Yes?” All cooperation, Carlo sat and waved the rose under his nose. “You want to talk about our schedule here in Chicago?”
    “No—yes.” She had at least a dozen things to go over with him. For once she let business take a back seat. “Later.” Deciding to take any advantage, Juliet remained standing. “First, I want to talk about that business down at the desk.”
    “Ah.” The sound was distinctly European and as friendly as a smile. She could have murdered him.
    “It was totally uncalled for.”
    “Was it?” He’d learned that strategy was best plotted with friendly questions or simple agreement. That way, you could swing the final result to your own ends without too much blood being shed.
    “Of course it was.” Forgetting her own strategy, Juliet dropped down on the edge of the bed. “Carlo, you had no right discussing our personal business in public.”
    “You’re quite right.”
    “I—” His calm agreement threw her off. The firm, moderately angry speech she’d prepared in the tub went out the window.
    “I must apologize,” he continued before she could balance herself. “It was thoughtless of me.”
    “Well, no.” As he’d planned, she came to his defense. “It wasn’t thoughtless, just inappropriate.”
    With the rose, he waved her defense away. “You’re too kind, Juliet. You see, I was thinking only of how practical you are. It’s one of the things I most admire about you.” In getting his way, Carlo had always felt it best to use as much truth as possible. “You see, besides my own family, I’ve known very few truly practical women. This trait in you appeals to me, as much as the color of your eyes, the texture of your skin.”
    Because she sensed she was losing ground, Juliet sat up straighter. “You don’t have to flatter me, Carlo. It’s simply a matter of establishing ground rules.”
    “You see.” As if she’d made his point, he sat forward to touch her fingertips. “You’re too practical to expect flattery or to be swayed by it. Is it any wonder I’m enchanted by you?”
    “Carlo—”
    “I haven’t made my point.” He retreated just enough to keep his attack in full gear. “You see, knowing you, I thought you would agree that it was foolish and impractical to book separate rooms when we want to be together. You do want to be with me, don’t you, Juliet?”
    Frustrated, she stared at him. He was turning the entire situation around. Certain of it, Juliet groped for a handhold. “Carlo, it has nothing to do with my wanting to be with