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He’d seemed almost angry when she called their kissing nice. It had been a bad choice of words; she knew it the second it flew out of her mouth. And his reaction had only proven it. That last kiss he’d given her, it had been as if he was trying to prove something. Like he wasn’t as nice as she thought he might be.

And oh boy, it had been a doozy. Left her weak in the knees and mind, unable to make out the words he’d spoken to her as they’d left the theater.

Who knew a kiss could leave you weak and incoherent? She’d never experienced anything like it.

She wanted to experience it again.

Despite her earlier speech, despite the fact that she was worried about her children. She knew she should feel guilty. That she should put them first, as she’d been doing since she got out of the hospital. Working so feverishly to attend to their needs, forgetting about herself in the process.

She’d never felt as alive as she had when she’d been in Chris’s arms, his mouth on hers. Until he’d touched her face, her scars. That had freaked her out, almost caused her to ruin the moment. She needed to realize the scars were a permanent part of her. But it was so hard.

“Jane? Is that you?”

Jane whirled around to see a woman around her age standing before her, a black down coat engulfing her body. Jane squinted, knew the woman’s face was familiar, but the name wasn’t coming to her.

“Jane, that is you. It’s me, Audrey Daniels! How are you?”

Audrey wrapped her arms around Jane and hugged her tightly, and Jane had no choice but to hug her back. She remembered Audrey dimly from school—she’d been two years ahead of Jane and hadn’t paid much attention to her, really more a part of Mindy’s crowd. Jane had always been just the pesky little sister.

“I’m good,” Jane finally said once Audrey released her. “How are you?”

“Oh, you know. Life’s okay. I’m in the middle of a divorce.” Audrey scrunched up her face. “I’ve had some custody trouble with the ex, but we’re going back to court next month, so we’ll work it out, I’m sure.”

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That’s right. Jane forgot how big a gossip Audrey was. And how she had no problem airing her own dirty laundry, either.

“I’m sorry about that. It must be tough.”

“Oh, not as tough as what you’ve gone through, I’m sure.” Audrey waved her hand as if to dismiss her troubles. “I’m so sorry to hear about your husband and what happened to you.”

“I’m okay; it was almost two years ago, and we’re getting through it.” Jane stood straighter, not in the mood for pity tonight. Not in the mood for reminders of Stephen, either. “It’s been hard, but I’m doing much better.”

“I’m sure.” Audrey tsked her tongue against her teeth, the look on her face clearly stating she didn’t believe Jane whatsoever. “I bet your children have suffered so, so much.”

Why did Jane get the sense that Audrey wanted her children to suffer? So strange. “My children have been doing wonderful thanks to the support from my family.”

Audrey nodded. “You guys have always been so close. How’s Mindy, by the way? I haven’t seen her in forever. I’ve heard rumors about her and Marty not doing so well.”

Jane forced a smile. “She and Marty are doing great.”

“Uh huh, I’m sure. So did you just come out of the movies? Who are you here with?”

Jane’s heart dropped to her feet. She didn’t want Audrey to spread the news around town of her date with Christian. “Um…I came with a friend.”

Wow. When push came to shove, she could evade pretty well.

“Sometimes it’s nice to go out and get some time without the kids, huh?” Audrey smiled. “We should all get together sometime. You, Mindy, and me. We could have dinner, some drinks?”

“Um, sure. I’ll talk to my sister and maybe we could work something out.” Yet another evasion.

Audrey’s smile faded as she scrutinized Jane carefully. “Wow, Jane, why is your coat so big? You’re drowning in that thing.”

“Oh, um…”

Just at that moment, Chris pulled up his truck to the curb. Jane turned at the sound of the engine, her eyes closing briefly when she saw him flick his head at her.

Audrey stepped up beside her, staring into the cab of the truck. “Is that Chris Nelson?”


Tags: Karen Erickson Lone Pine Lake Romance