anyone, including his parents, the full story surrounding his wife’s death. Bobbie couldn’t know that he had been dealing with a great deal more than grief during the eleven months that had passed since the accident.
He had quickly realized that Washington, D.C., was no place for him to come to grips with what had happened—or for him to raise his children alone. He hadn’t wanted his kids to hear the gossip about Melanie, or to be told just what their mother had been doing when she’d supposedly been involved in all her charitable activities. He had needed his family, a change of scenery and the company of people who had barely known Melanie and hadn’t heard the rumors that had sped like wildfire through the ranks of his D.C. colleagues. He had found all of that here.
But he hadn’t expected to find Jamie Flaherty, or to be drawn to her as strongly as he had been in the past. This time, he’d decided, there weren’t as many reasons for him to try to resist her. As long as he was careful not to let himself get too deeply involved—as long as he made sure his children weren’t affected by his actions—there was no reason he couldn’t take Jamie up on some of the things she seemed to be offering. Things he had decided he wanted very badly.
They were both young, single, and had only recently moved back to town. He doubted that footloose Jamie was interested in a long-term commitment to a single father, which didn’t particularly disturb him since he wasn’t looking for that, either. At this point, he had no plans to marry again—to ever trust another woman with his heart and, most importantly, with his children. As for Jamie, he would actually be surprised if she stayed for the entire school year. As flighty as she seemed to be, she’d probably take off as soon as she had an acting offer. Either that, or she’d get bored again with small-town life and head back for the excitement of the Big Apple.
But in the meantime…
He parked his car and reached for the gift he had brought her on impulse.
Trevor had considered himself quite accomplished in the Washington social scene. He’d mingled with politicians, celebrities, business moguls, heads of state. He’d spent almost as much time in tuxedos as he had in casual wear and there had rarely been a time when he’d felt awkward or tongue-tied. But when Jamie Flaherty opened her door wearing a slim-fitting, shoulder-baring, leg-revealing, yellow sundress, he almost forgot his own name.
If she noticed his poleaxed expression, she gave no sign of it. “Hey, Trev. Nice tie.”
Since he had no idea whether she was serious or mocking his conservative tastes, he settled for a simple, “Thanks. You look…nice.”
“Why, thank you.” She slanted a look up at him that left little doubt that she was laughing at him.
Resigning himself to an evening of Jamie’s style of teasing, he held out the single pink rose he’d brought her. “I was going to wear this, but it clashed with my shirt.”
She accepted the perfect bloom with a smile. “Thank you again. It’s lovely. I’ll put it in a vase to keep it fresh. I would wear it, but it clashes with my hair.”
He glanced at her short, saucy cut. “When did you go red?”
“Last year—after my brunette stage, which came after my blond phase. I get bored easily.”
Which pretty much confirmed what he’d been thinking. “Red must be a popular color these days. My sister keeps her hair that color now, too—though it’s more of a strawberry blond than yours. It took me a while to get used to it, but I like it now.”
“Tara dyed her hair?” Jamie seemed surprised. “I can’t picture her as anything but blond.”
“She looks good either way.”
“I’m sure she does. Tara’s always been beautiful. Would you like a drink or something before we go?” she asked after placing the rose in a crystal bud vase.
Having a drink meant spending more time here with Jamie. In her house. Alone. With her in that body-skimming, flirty little dress. He didn’t think he could take that, yet. “No. If you’re ready, we’ll go.”
She reached for her purse. “Then I suppose I’m ready.”
At least it appeared he would keep her amused this evening. He supposed that was something.
TREVOR DIDN’T have to worry about making conversation during the hour-long drive to the restaurant he’d selected in Atlanta. Jamie talked the entire way, telling him about the acting roles she’d had in New York, and sharing stories about some of the celebrities she’d met. It was almost as if she was trying to fill the awkward silences between them.
He didn’t mind her chattering. Trying to keep up with her conversational gymnastics kept him from dwelling on the way her skirt had ridden up on her thighs. The way her seat belt pulled the top of her dress so tightly against her breasts. Her faint, intriguingly citrusy scent.
He shifted in his seat, annoyed with himself for letting his hormones run away with him. Just because he hadn’t been to bed with a woman during the past year didn’t mean he couldn’t control himself for an evening.
The rather one-sided conversation continued during the excellent dinner they were served at a cozily secluded table in a quiet corner of the elegant restaurant. Jamie seemed as comfortable in their posh surroundings as she did curled on the sofa at her house, making him wonder if she ever felt awkward. If she did, he certainly couldn’t tell.
“I’ve done enough gabbing,” she said when they had almost finished their meal. “Why don’t you tell me about your adventures in Washington? I bet you’ve met some very interesting people.”
“A few.”
“Tell me about some of the things you’ve seen,” she said, studying him across the tiny table. “Entertain me while I savor my dessert.”
Though he wasn’t sure exactly what it would take to entertain her, he managed to come up with a few anecdotes. Jamie seemed to find them amusing, though he was aware he could not quite match her flair for storytelling.
“Now tell me the latest cute things your kids have done,” she demanded when he’d run out of innocuous Washington stories. “You’ve hardly mentioned them this evening.”