Why he had such a strong reaction to his landlady talking about marriage, he had no idea.
Well… maybe he had some idea.
Of course, he found her attractive. That much was undeniable. Even on her worst hair day, she was a solid ten. He doubted there was another woman in the world as beautiful as her. But beauty paled in comparison to everything else she was—kind, strong, smart, and graceful.
How could someone be all that and more?
Wait…
JD rubbed his chest, unsettled by the sudden, inexplicable tightness there.
What he had for her was respect, right? That's all it was. It couldn't be—
His spiraling thoughts were cut short as Joanne pulled out a chair and sat down.
"I do want to marry soon," she admitted, her voice carrying the quiet certainty of someone who had long made peace with the idea. "I'm twenty-seven, and I've always pictured myself settling down by now."
She always wanted to marry. The death of her grandfather and everything that followed had forced her to put that dream on hold, but it had always been there, waiting. Maybe that was why she had agreed to marry Jeffrey Winchester all those years ago—because marriage had always been part of her plan.
JD barely managed to swallow against the dry knot forming in his throat. "You're not that old," JD said, though the words felt hollow.
A strange, unwelcome jolt ran through him. He had no doubt that if she put her mind to it, she could have any man she wanted. It was almost absurd that she didn't already. If she so much as gave a signal, men would line up at her doorstep.
"What kind of man do you prefer?" he asked, reaching for his whiskey and downing it in one go. The burning liquid did nothing to ease the sinking feeling in his chest.
Joanne smiled and turned her gaze away, covering her mouth with her hand—more to hide the blush rising to her cheeks than anything else. She had no idea she was sending a storm crashing through the heart of the man sitting across from her.
She was really thinking about it.
Four years ago, she would have answered without hesitation—"A charming prince." That had been her dream once. But life had changed her, reshaped her. She wasn't Cinderella, and no Prince Charming was coming to save her. She had learned to save herself.
Here's a refined version of your prose with improved flow, emotional depth, and natural dialogue:
"I want a man who's a strong oak," Joanne finally said, her voice softer now, thoughtful. "Someone I can lean on, knowing he'll stand firm against any storm. A shield, a protector… a knight, if you will. A man who understands me and knows the value of family."
Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, she turned back to JD and smiled.
"He should also be able to carry me up those stairs." She added the last part lightly, as if to brush off the weight of her own words. Truthfully, she wasn't sure why she was opening up her heart to someone who was, for all intents and purposes, almost a stranger.
JD didn't even breathe.
He had spent his life hearing women list their ideal man—wealth, power, charm, height, looks, sexual compatibility. And every time, he had smiled, knowing he checked every box.
But Joanne…
For the first time in his life, he felt like he wasn't enough.
And it shook him to his core.
But the feeling only lasted a few seconds. After all, it wasn't like he was planning on dating her.
"So, what do you think of him?" JD asked, forcing his voice to remain casual.
"Him?" Joanne blinked, pulling herself from her thoughts. "Oh—Jonathan Meyer?" Her smile softened as she tried to rein in her drifting mind.
JD already regretted asking. Meyer. That name carried weight. If he wasn't mistaken, Jonathan Meyer was the owner of the biggest steel company in the state.
"I've never thought about him that way," Joanne admitted, pressing her lips together. "He's helped me a lot in the past. He even paid for my tuition. He's a good man. A really, really good man." She hesitated, tilting her head. "He lost his wife and never dated again… He runs a company and—" she exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't know. He's from around here, and I suppose our thoughts would align. Also, he comes with cute Charlotte… But he wouldn't be interested in me."
She cleared her throat and stood, heading into the kitchen. The thought of Jonathan Meyer as a potential partner hadn't seriously crossed her mind before, but when she considered it… he did seem like a perfect match. He was nearing forty, older than her, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Mature men had their own kind of charm.
There is Charlotte too…
Still, it was pointless to even think about it.
She turned to grab a pan, but in her distraction, she misjudged the open shutter of the counter. Pain bloomed across her temple as she let out a sharp breath, rubbing the sore spot.
No, she told herself firmly. He would be the last person interested in her. That much she was certain of.
She repeated it over and over in her mind, forcing herself to believe it. The last time she dreamed of a happy life with someone, she was met with a cruel heartbreak.
She couldn't afford to entertain needless affections. Not when she knew exactly how people in this town saw her.
JD, on the other hand, sat frozen.
She'd said Jonathan Meyer would be perfect for her. He was everything she wanted—a strong oak, a protector, someone dependable. On top of that, he was rich. Wealth wasn't a priority for her, but it was certainly a bonus.
JD let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down his face.
Even after a cold shower, the sinking feeling in his chest refused to leave. He told himself not to care. What she did with her life had nothing to do with him.
But he couldn't rid of that sinking feeling in his chest. Although the aroma of her cooking filled the house, he wasn't hungry.
She was preparing it for Charlotte. He knew she would pack enough for Jonathan too. He didn't feel good about it. But what else could he do other than keep his silence?
As he sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone in a futile attempt to clear his mind, an email notification popped up.
[Hope you're doing well, Jeffrey. Don't you think it's time to return home?]
JD stared at the screen, his grip tightening. It should be Sebastian. He must have found out his location.
Returning home.
Should he?