Crisply dressed in his usual business suit, he set his jaw, squared his shoulders and crossed toward her.
She stood. Mitch?
I owe you an apology, he began without preamble, his focus settling somewhere beyond her left ear.
You dont-
My behavior last night was completely unforgivable.
What did he mean? That he hadnt danced with her, complimented her at the reception or that hed left in the middle of the night without a word? Whichever it was, he was already forgiven.
I took advantage of you, and I am profoundly sorry.
Now she was completely confused. Was he talking about their lovemaking? Because she had been as willing and eager as him.
I stepped way out of line, Mitch continued, still not looking her in the eye. You deserve better than that. You deserve better than me.
Wait a minute. She didnt want better than Mitch. She wanted Mitch.
He finally flicked a glance directly at her. I hope youll still be comfortable working here. Ill do everything in my power to make sure our professional relationship is not impacted. His dark eyes softened slightly. Can you forgive me, Jenny? Can we possibly forget it ever happened?
A lead weight pressed down on Jennys chest, and her knees nearly buckled from lack of breath. Forget it ever happened? He wanted to forget hed made love with her? Go on as if everything was normal, as if she waswassome kind of one-night stand?
Reality washed over her like ice water.
She was a one-night stand.
Mitch had thought she was pretty, sexy, desirable and available last night, period. The sophisticated dress, heavy makeup and fancy hairdo hadnt given him romantic thoughts. They had given him lustful thoughts.
A clipped laugh of embarrassment slipped out, and she quickly covered her lips with her fingers.
What a fool shed been.
His gaze narrowed. Jenny?
She scrambled to gather her emotions. This was one of those moments. Shed been stupid. Shed made a complete fool of herself. In the aftermath, she could pull it together and pretend she was as sophisticated and aloof as him, or she could break down altogether, and hed remember forever that she behaved like a gauche teenager the morning after.
She wouldnt let that happen. She was tough. She was controlled. She could do this.
No problem, she managed to assure him with a dismissive wave of her hand, sitting down and turning back to her computer. Business as usual. I get it. We slipped up. Hey, it happens.
Are you sure-
Im fine, she said with forced brightness. If you dont mind, Id really like to get through these emails before coffee. The auto club will be here- She stopped right there. No point in bringing up any reminders of their one-night fling. It was over and done, and she wasnt going to think about it ever again.
The desk phone rang, and she scooped it up, turning her back completely on Mitch. Texas Cattlemans Club.
What happened? It was Emilys voice.
A flush prickled Jennys scalp. Can I call you back?
Is he there?
Yes.
Roger. Got it. Call me back as soon as you can, okay?
I will. Just as soon as she went to the bathroom and threw up.
She hung up the phone and stared at her computer, the characters blurring in front of her eyes.
He was still standing behind her.
She could feel his heat and hear his breathing.
She schooled her features and turned. Is there anything else?
He looked lost, and a little confused-an unheard of state for Mitch Hayward. I really am sorry.
Jenny gathered every bit of dignity she could muster. So you said.
Maybe we could-
I dont think talking about it is going to help.
He paused for a moment. Right. I guess not.
Like you said. She turned and punched a couple of random computer keys. Well simply forget it ever happened. Carry on as usual. And she was absolutely, positively going to date other men. This silly fantasy of hers had gone on far too long. She was nearly thirty. Mitch was nowhere in her future, and she was ready to fully accept that reality.
When Jenny finally left the office at the end of the workday, Emily was there in the parking lot, leaning up against Jennys car, looking very impatient. Jennys steps faltered, but she knew she couldnt avoid Emily forever.
You didnt call me back, Emily accused, straightening away from the door panel.
You sabotaged my car, Jenny pointed out. The auto club guy had boosted it midmorning, and the battery was back in shape now.
For a good cause. Emily peered at Jennys expression. Seriously. What on earth happened last night?
My lifes not going to change, thats for sure. Jenny focused on unlocking the car door.
Did he insult you? Ignore you? What?
Though shed like nothing better than to take Mitchs advice and forget last night ever happened, Jenny knew she couldnt keep a secret like that from her best friend. It was too big, too devastating. It would eat her alive if she didnt share it. Though it might eat her alive even if she did.
Get in, she told Emily, hitting the unlock button for the passenger side.
Emily quickly rounded the car and hopped in, pulling her seat belt into place. Spill.
Jenny cranked the engine, putting the car into Reverse, swinging around to head for the parking lot exit. She needed to get clear of the TCC building and the feeling of having Mitch close by before she spoke.
She followed the curve of the road and put her mouth on automatic pilot, struggling to stay detached from the words she was uttering. She tried to pretend she was talking about someone else, some poor, hapless woman whod let her emotions rule her logic and who got exactly what shed deserved.
At first, she told Emily, it seemed like he didnt notice me at all. Nothing was different. Except he didnt ask me to dance. He always asks me to dance. As if he has to. Like its his duty. Since Im technically his date.
Jen? Youre babbling.
Right. Jennys moist hands slipped on the warm steering wheel. He didnt ask me to dance.
I got that.
I got ticked off and left. I mean, the hair, the dress, the makeup, the shoes. Do you blame me for being upset? Dont you think any normal, red-blooded guy would have asked me to dance?
I dont blame you for getting ticked off. And, for what its worth, I thought you looked hot.
Thank you. I agree. I felt like a fool. But I looked hot.
Emily smirked and snorted out a laugh.
So, I leave the reception. I head for my car.
Which Id incapacitated.
Jenny nodded her acknowledgment. Which youd incapacitated. Thank you very much, by the way.
Did it work?
Like a charm.
I knew it would.
He drove me home.
I knew he would.
And I slept with him.
I knew- Emily twisted in her seat. Wait a minute. What?
I slept with Mitch. Jenny was really quite proud of how detached she sounded as she went into the sordid details. I tore off my clothes. Or maybe I tore off his clothes, I cant quite remember the details. In any event, we were both naked.
Emilys voice rose to a squeal. You slept with Mitch Hayward?
Jenny glanced at her friends incredulous expression. Am I not saying this right?
On the first date?
Well, technically, it wasnt a date. Or I guess you could say it was our twelfth date, if you count dates that arent really dates. But, really, at this point, Im planning to take credit for them all. It makes me seem less slutty, dont you think?
Youre not slutty.
I slept with a guy on the first date.
Twelfth date. And I thought you said your life wasnt going to change?
Jenny missed a stop sign and sucked in a shocked breath when she realized what shed done. She was a careful, conscientious driver. Fortunately for her, there was no cross traffic.
Maybe you better pull over, Emily suggested in a worried tone.
Yeah, Jenny agreed. She eased her car into the gravel parking lot of the Royal Diner. She kept a death grip on the steering wheel until she came to a complete stop.
What happened? Emily asked gently. When Jenny didnt answer, she put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Jen?
This morning Jenny swallowed. She wasnt going to cry. She was an adult, and she would not cry over a cad like Mitch. When he got to the office. He told me he was sorry, and he hoped we could forget all about it, carry on as usual, as if nothing had happened.
I cant imagine Mitch-seriously?
Yes.
Did he say anything else?
That I deserved better than him.
It was Emilys turn to go silent. They both reflexively watched while a car pulled past them and turned into a spot near the diners front door. The car doors opened, and two teenagers hopped out.
Jenny was pretty sure she knew what Emily was thinking. It was what Jenny was thinking. It was what any reasonably intelligent adult would conclude.
Yeah, she voiced it out loud, her tone mocking. He gave me the old, its not you, its me, babe brush-off.
Ouch, Emily whispered.
I cant believe I was a one-night stand. Id have bet money against that ever happening. To me of all people. Im not stupid, Em.
Of course youre not stupid, Emily staunchly defended. I never would have guessed that Mitch of all people-
Of course youre not stupid, Emily staunchly defended. I never would have guessed that Mitch of all people-
Hes a football star, Jenny reminded her, feeling defeated. She wished shed remembered that important fact last night. Hes a celebrity, and the world is his oyster. I bet he does this kind of thing all the time.
But not with you.
He has now.
Emily gestured with a spread palm. But, youre not You know.
I am now.
Emily thwacked her head against the seatback. This is ridiculous.
Im over it.
You are not.
I am. I have no choice. What you told me last night was spot-on. And I promised myself if this didnt work out, Id date other men. Thats exactly what Im going to do. Pining away over Mitch Hayward has gotten me exactly nowhere in the past, and it will get me exactly nowhere in the future. I refuse to do something so illogical.
Emily sat up straighter, eyes narrowing, forehead creasing. Are you serious?
Absolutely. Jenny had never been more serious in her life.
Emily smacked the dashboard. Then lets get going.
Where?
Take Bainbridge to Payton for Harpers Boutique. Youre going to need a new wardrobe.
Three
After an excruciatingly long day at work, followed by a grueling physiotherapy session for his injured shoulder, Mitch pulled his Corvette in front of the garage of his rented, split-level house. The pain in his shoulder was bad enough, but then there were some of Jennys words that he couldnt seem to get out of his mind.