Why Not Tonight?

time.”

Instead of smiling and agreeing, a small frown furrowed between her brows. Then she flashed a quick smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Maybe,” she said in a tone that made the word sound more like I don’t think so. “But with all your traveling and the summer being my busiest time…”

Her voice trailed off and he swallowed a sensation that felt like disappointment but was surely really relief- especially as it irrevocably extinguished that ridiculous flame. He knew a kiss-off when he heard one-especially from this particular woman. Obviously he’d misread her and everything was fine between her and the boyfriend.

Really, he was relieved. Given his apparent strong attraction to her, seeing her again wouldn’t be wise.

“I understand,” he said, forcing a smile. “Here’s hoping you sell a bazillion houses.”

“That would be nice. Good luck with all your travels and finding a new career and a new place to live.”

“Thanks.” Unable to stop himself, he said, “And hey, if things don’t work out with George-”

“Greg.”

“Right. Give me a call.” He gave her a jaunty salute and shot her his best lighthearted wink. “I’ll treat you to another bacon cheeseburger.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She turned to go, and even though his inner voice warned him to remain silent, he found himself saying, “Six.”

She turned back, clearly puzzled. “Six? What does that mean?”

“That’s the number of times we made love that afternoon on the boat.”

She said nothing for several long seconds, the silence swelling between them, tense and thick. Then she murmured, “Goodbye, Adam,” and quickly wove her way through the labyrinth of tables.

He watched her walk away, his insides aching with a hollow sense of loss he wished like hell he didn’t feel.

When she reached the door, she glanced back over her shoulder. They stared at each other and he wondered if she could see the desire he suspected lingered in his eyes. Seconds later she exited, then turned the corner and was lost to his sight.

Yeah, she was gone.

Unfortunately, he suspected the memories of her would linger in his mind for a long, long time.

4

Saturday, 4:00 p.m.

MALLORY STOOD in the parking lot at her real-estate agent’s office and waved goodbye to her clients, the Langdons. The afternoon house showing had gone extremely well and the couple had made an offer on the Maple Drive split-level. Matching up the Langdons and their three school-age children with the spacious house with the big backyard situated on a quiet cul-de-sac had filled her with a deep sense of satisfaction.

For Mallory, uniting a buyer with the perfect place to live involved much more than just showing them a house-it was about finding them a home. In a neighborhood that suited their lifestyle. She accomplished that by talking in depth to her customers, asking them lots of questions, and really listening to their responses. The Langdons’ new home was only a short walk to the elementary school, and the school district was among the highest rated in the county. It was convenient to both shopping and the Long Island Railroad, which Mr. Langdon rode daily into Manhattan.

Entering the office, she spent some time trying to catch up on paperwork, but her efforts were thwarted when her mind kept wandering…to the same thing it had kept wandering to for the past week.

Adam Clayton.

She squeezed her eyes shut to banish him from her mind, but instead an image of him flashed behind her eyelids. And not just any image. No, a memory of him naked. In the shower. They’d driven to Philadelphia to attend a concert and had spent the night at a cheap motel. It was the first time they’d spent an entire night together. First time they’d made love in the shower. She could visualize him so clearly…rivulets of warm water meandering down his muscular and aroused body. His eyes dark with desire. Holding out his hand in an invitation to join him. Slick, soapy hands, wet bodies aroused, his slow glide deep inside her-

Her eyes popped open and a disgusted sound pushed past her lips. Good grief, what was wrong with her? This had to stop. Dwelling on thoughts of Adam, indulging in reliving memories of their affair, was accomplishing nothing except filling her with a deep sense of guilt. And unfulfilled sexual frustration.

Surely the only reason she couldn’t exorcise thoughts of Adam from her mind was that Greg had been away on a business trip to L.A. all week and she’d been lonely.

Hadn’t she been lonely?

“Yes, of course,” she said out loud to the empty room. “Loneliness, missing Greg-that’s been the source of my frustration and discontent.”

But the words roused her conscience, which forced her to admit that she’d actually enjoyed having a week to herself. Enjoyed not worrying about meshing her crowded schedule with Greg’s insane calendar. Enjoyed spending her evenings in peaceful silence, catching up on her reading. Cooking simple meals for herself or just ordering in. Hanging out in ratty old clothes.

Greg didn’t really enjoy quiet evenings at home. He preferred elegant meals at upscale restaurants. While Mallory definitely liked that once in a while, she also liked grabbing a pizza and popping a movie into the DVD player. Or just curling up with a good book. Greg liked being on the go. Driving into Manhattan to check out the latest club, bar or restaurant. Again-all fun, but she was definitely a girl who needed and enjoyed her downtime and beauty sleep, whereas Greg thrived on only four or five hours of shut-eye a night.

They usually got together two or three nights a week, then again on Saturday or Sunday evening. Greg complained that she worked all day on the weekends, but hey-she was a Realtor. Those were her two busiest days. Recently, on the odd evening she managed to talk him into staying in, he invariably ended up bored and channel surfing.

Of course, it hadn’t been that way when they’d first met. No, then he hadn’t minded so much staying in, and their sex life had been very good. Well, okay, it had been good. Oh, all right, it had been adequate. But Greg was a decent, intelligent, hardworking, attractive guy who’d persistently pursued her and she was willing to put in some time and effort to see where the relationship might-or might not-go. He was steady and stable. Dependable. He owned his own house. Had worked for the same law firm for the past ten years. Didn’t want to live anywhere other than Long Island. Wanted to raise a family here.

Not that they’d talked about marriage yet, but the subject would have to be addressed eventually. Not too long ago she’d considered broaching the future, but over the last few months, things hadn’t been going all that well. Greg hadn’t been as attentive, and quite frankly, neither had she. He’d been traveling to Los Angeles frequently, a couple of times spending the weekend there. Their sex life had, in her opinion, declined from adequate to perfunctory.

Which had led her to Picture This. Which had led her to Adam. Unfortunate timing as he was the guy who’d set the bar for her sexual expectations-set it so high, no other man had ever come close. Which had led to a really confusing week where the more she tried not to think of her former lover, the more he invaded her thoughts. Which surely would change as soon as she saw Greg again and showed him the photos. Yes, surely that would get them back on track and light a fire beneath both of them. She wasn’t a quitter and wasn’t about to give up on a decent guy without trying simply because they’d hit a rough spot.

She and Greg had spoken over the phone several times this past week, but the time difference to the West Coast made it difficult to keep in touch daily. He was flying home tomorrow and they were meeting for dinner. She couldn’t wait to show him his present…

Her gaze drifted to the manila envelope on her desk. Unable to stop herself, she reached out. After opening the envelope, she slid out the photos and studied them carefully. And with each photo her discomfort and guilt increased.