Unexpected Chances

“Tonight must feel like a high-school reunion for you,” John said, understanding in a way that surprised Dylan.

He grimaced. “Worse. I think you’re one of the first people who’s happy to see me for the right reasons.” Friendship, not awe, he thought.

“As soon as they all realize you’re still the same, the fame thing’ll pass.”

Dylan shrugged. “I hope you’re right. So what’ve you been up to?”

“I work at an investment firm in downtown Boston,” John said, propping one shoulder against the wall.

“That suits you. Married?”

“Not yet, but I’m trying to get the woman I’ve been seeing to settle down.”

“Anyone I know?” Dylan asked.

John studied Dylan in pointed silence. “Actually—” John’s cell phone rang, cutting him off. He glanced at the incoming number. “Hang on, and we’ll pick this up in a few minutes,” he said to Dylan. He answered the call, walking off to talk in private, leaving Dylan to watch the door some more and hope Holly would show up after all.

* * *

After heading home for a nap, a shower and some serious primping, Holly met up with Nicole on the steps outside Whipporwill’s. The chill in the air and impending snow signaled Christmas was coming soon. Holly loved the holiday season. She was suddenly glad she’d come tonight, and the festivities weren’t the only reason. Neither was the challenge Dylan had issued earlier. Dylan, himself, was the man motivating her actions.

“I still think you should have surprised John instead of calling him and telling him you’d decided to come tonight,” Nicole said, interrupting Holly’s thoughts. “Spontaneity is good for relationships, and from what you’ve told me, John could use some good old-fashioned surprises in his life.”

Holly couldn’t deny that comment. “I just thought he deserved to know I’d changed my mind.” She’d show up at the party, spend time with both the past and present men in her life and hopefully leave Whipporwill’s with a clear mind, ready to move on.

“I bet you were afraid he’d think you came just to see Dylan,” Nicole said knowingly.

With a groan, Holly pulled open the door and entered the festive party. Red and silver velvet bows adorned the walls, and tinsel fell enticingly from each potted plant and fern, while poinsettias were strategically placed around the room, their beauty enhancing the holiday atmosphere.

“Do you want to stick with me?” she asked Nicole, knowing her friend was still fairly new to town and didn’t know everyone yet.

Nicole shook her head. “Actually, I see someone I want to talk to,” she said and, with a brief wave, disappeared into the crowd.

So much for needing a guiding hand, Holly thought wryly. She paused to hand her jacket to the coatcheck girl before heading inside.

No sooner had she glanced around than her first challenge came to greet her. “Holly, I’m so glad you changed your mind and decided to come,” John said, grasping her hand in his. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She took in his polished look, the pressed chinos and collared shirt paired with a polo sweater, and smiled. “You look pretty good yourself.” She kissed his clean-shaven cheek, his familiar aftershave surrounding her.

“Well, well, look who decided to show up after all.”

Dylan’s deep voice sent sizzling awareness shooting through her veins, leaving no part of her body unaffected. While John’s scent had been warm, Dylan’s cologne caused a distinct path of heat to travel along her nerve endings and settle in the pit of her stomach.

“I thought you said you’d be missing this shindig.” He cocked his head and pinned her with a knowing grin.

“You two have seen each other already?” John asked, obviously surprised.

Dylan was the one subject John never broached with Holly. He knew the history. He’d been through school along with them, but John and Holly had begun dating once they’d returned home as adults. As if by mutual agreement, they’d left Dylan behind and started fresh. But Holly realized that Dylan had always been with her even when she wasn’t aware of it.

She wondered if Dylan had heard she and John were an item. She wondered if he’d even care. After clearing her throat, she tackled John’s comment. “Dylan stopped by the office this afternoon.”

“I wanted her to promise me a dance tonight,” Dylan said with that sexy look back in his gaze.

Obviously he hadn’t heard anything about her and John being a couple. She winced and jumped to explain his comment to John. “Actually, Dylan came by for a flu shot.”

She didn’t want John to get the wrong idea. Or was it the right one? Holly wondered, her traitorous heart beating hard in her chest because Dylan was near. Obviously the old feelings weren’t gone. Not even the anger or sense of betrayal, which still lay in her heart like lead, could dilute the spike of desire he caused.

“The good doctor didn’t mind giving me one, either.” Dylan grinned and rubbed the affected spot just below