The doorbell rang and she ushered Charles into the house. “Where’s Lexie?” he asked, glancing about the living room. He looked comfortable and relaxed in a pair of chinos and a white polo shirt. The light brush of gray at his temples lent dignity to his handsome face.
“I put her to bed.”
Charles smiled and placed his hands on the sides of Georgeanne’s face. He gave her a long, gentle kiss. A kiss that offered more than hot passion. More than a one-night stand.
The kiss ended and Charles looked into her eyes. “You sounded worried on the phone.”
“I am, a little,” she confessed. She took his hand and sat next to him on the couch. “Do you remember when I told you Lexie’s daddy was dead?”
“Sure, his F-16 was shot down during the Gulf War.”
“Well, I may have embellished a bit-actually, a lot.” She took a deep breath and told him about John. She told him about their meeting seven years ago, and she told him about the picnic that afternoon. When she was finished, Charles didn’t look pleased, and she was afraid she’d damaged their relationship.
“You could have told me the truth the first time,” he said.
“Maybe, but I’ve just gotten so used to lying about it that I never really stopped to think about the truth after a while. Then when John walked back into my life, I thought he’d hurry and grow tired of playing daddy, and I wouldn’t have to tell her or anyone.”
“You don’t think he’ll grow tired of Lexie now?”
“No. Today in the park he was very attentive to her, and he made a date to take her to the exhibit at the Pacific Science Center next week.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he’s going away.”
“How will seeing him affect you?”
“Me?” she asked as she looked into his gray eyes.
“He’s in your life. You’ll see him from time to time.”
“That’s right. And your ex-wife is in your life.”
He looked down. “It’s not the same.”
“Why not?”
He smiled slightly. “Because I find Margaret extremely unappealing.”
He wasn’t angry. He was jealous, just as Mae had predicted.
“And John Kowalsky,” he continued, “is a good-looking guy.”
“So are you.”
He reached for her hand. “You have to tell me if I’m competing with a hockey player.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Georgeanne laughed at such absurdity. “John and I hate each oth
er. On a scale from one to ten, he’s a negative thirty. I find him as appealing as gum disease.”
He smiled and pulled her close to his side. “You have a unique way of expressing yourself. It’s one of the many things I like about you.”
Georgeanne laid her head on his shoulder and sighed with relief. “I was afraid I’d lose your friendship.”
“Is that all I am to you? A friend?”
She looked up at him. “No.”
“Good. I want more than friendship.” His lips brushed her forehead. “I could fall in love with you.”
Georgeanne smiled and ran her palm up his chest to his neck. “I could maybe fall in love with you, too,” she said, then she kissed him. Charles was exactly the kind of man she needed. Reliable and sane. Because of their hectic careers and busy lives, they didn’t get to spend a lot of time together completely alone. Georgeanne worked weekends, and if she had a free night, she spent it with Lexie. Charles usually didn’t work evenings or weekends, and as a result of their conflicting schedules, they met most often for lunch. Maybe it was time to change that. Maybe it was time to meet for breakfast. Alone. At the Hilton. Suite 231.