His First Choice

“Why, because I ruined your little tryst with your whore friend?”

Every nerve in his body tightened. “I had dinner with a woman, period. That was all I had intended and all I did. You are the one who made it seem like something more.”

“Wait...” she said before he mustered the composure to hang up. “I didn’t mean that. You know I didn’t mean that.”

He took a deep breath. He needed peace more than he needed to be right.

“I’m sorry. I’m guessing you didn’t get much sleep last night.”

He hadn’t.

“I’m not saying that as a dig or an innuendo. I know that my drama unsettles you. I really do try to rein it in for you, Jem. We’re jus

t so different, you and I.”

“That we are.”

“But that’s not my fault.”

“I never said it was.”

“I know. You’re so good to me, Jem. And I...just need you to know that I know that. And that...I appreciate you so much.”

He started to relax. “I need you to stay away from my house.”

“I know. And I will. I promise. Amelia and I are going to the city tonight. She’s got tickets to a Broadway play. We’re going to spend the night in Beverly Hills and treat ourselves like queens.”

Thank God. Amelia was back in the picture. And Tressa was going to be a hundred miles away. A double gift. He could relax and give himself completely to his night with Lacey. Without worrying that he’d be bringing the wrath of Tressa down on her.

“What about work tomorrow?” He wasn’t going to keep supporting her. Alimony was up and he was done.

“I took a vacation day. But I do want to talk to you about that,” she said. “But not today. I’ve got to get packed and...”

“I have a question for you.” He was just curious.

“What’s that?”

“Did you call Amelia or did she call you?”

“She called me. And apologized, too.”

Tressa used to make him apologize for everything that happened between them, too. Until he’d finally refused to do so.

“So now I have a question for you,” she said.

And he wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

“This woman from last night...are you going to see her again?”

“Considering what she overheard last night, what do you think?” He could have out and out denied that he had another date. But the words stuck in his throat—as though they were somehow disloyal to Lacey. With his luck, fate would sic karma on him for the lie and take Lacey away from him.

“She was a little upset with you, huh?”

“It was a first date, Tressa. Wouldn’t you have been?”

Which made it doubly miraculous that Lacey had taken the whole thing in stride.

“I’m sorry,” she said again.