An After-Hours Affair

scare her off.”

Seven

Jenny was still stunned from Mitch’s words as she blindly followed Emily and Cole into Cole’s front foyer. The terra-cotta tiles were smooth and cool under her bare feet. Clearly, there was something wrong with her. Otherwise, she would simply walk away from Mitch and be done with it.

“What is the matter with you people?” Emily demanded of Cole as he secured the door behind them.

“Don’t lump me in with him.” Cole strode through a plaster archway and into the living room of his large, airy house. He swept an arm toward a curving staircase, looking at Jenny. “There are three bedrooms up there. Take whichever one you want. But you’re not going anywhere near a hotel tonight or any other night.”

Jenny was nearly overcome with gratitude. She just wanted everything to stop for tonight. She was tired, battered and bruised.

“He was a colossal jerk,” Emily stated, stomping her way behind Cole as he moved farther into the house.

“You won’t get an argument from me,” Cole tossed over his shoulder.

“Maybe I should quit my job?” Jenny ventured, bringing up the rear, struggling to keep her feelings in some semblance of order. Mitch had hurt her, there was no doubt about that. But he’d also outlined the bald truth in no uncertain terms. There was absolutely no future for the two of them.

“No,” was Emily’s quick response.

“You’ll outlast him,” said Cole. “Wine, anyone? Whiskey? Beer?”

The more Jenny thought about it, the more handing in her resignation made sense. Mitch had made it as plain as possible that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. But despite her vows to both herself and Emily, she couldn’t seem to get him out of her head. Seeing him every day would only make things worse.

“I don’t think I can face him,” she told Emily.

“It’s him that shouldn’t be able to face you,” Emily put in with staunch loyalty.

Maybe that was fair, but it wasn’t reality. “Do you suppose he’d give me a reference?”

Cole chose a crystal bottle filled with amber liquid from the bar situated between the two walls of glass that showed off his backyard. “I’d give you a reference. Hell, I’ll give you a job. You just say the word, Jenny. Tell me what kind of career you want, and I’ll make it happen.”

Jenny couldn’t help but smile at Cole’s generous offer. She felt immeasurably better being around such loyal friends. “You know any nice guys, Cole? Are there any nice guys left in the world?”

“I’m a nice guy.” Cole splashed some whiskey into a heavy crystal tumbler.

“Would you date me?”

“You bet.” But his glance flicked to Emily.

Jenny smiled at the telltale action. “Or maybe you have a nice friend?” she amended her request. “The four of us could double.”

“Excuse me?” Emily put in.

Jenny ignored her. “Anybody but Mitch.”

Cole grunted at that. “You want me to fix you up?”

“I want you to fix me up.”

“Don’t count me in on this plan,” said Emily.

Cole placed the tumbler in her hand, his fingers lingering against hers for a moment. “Nobody asked for your opinion.”

“You’re getting it anyway.”

His gaze bore into hers. “You pick the time, the date and the location. We’ll do anything you want.”

Emily glared back. “It’s not the location that’s the problem.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You’re the problem,” Emily stated bluntly.

“You barely know me,” Cole countered.

“You’re short.”

“I’m taller than you.”

“Ha.”

“I’m five-eleven. What are you? Five-six? Five-seven?”

“Five-six,” Emily admitted.

“There you go. As long as you keep your heels below five inches, we’re good. Now, where do you want to go?”

“Nowhere.”

Jenny watched the battle of wills with fascination, wondering who’d come out on top. Emily was self-assured and very determined, but Cole seemed to be holding his own against her.

He cocked his head toward Jenny. “You’d abandon your best friend in her time of need?”

“Jenny has nothing to do with this.”

“I’m fixing her up, helping mend her broken heart.”

“My heart’s not broken,” Jenny felt compelled to add. Bruised, maybe. And definitely the worse for wear. But she wasn’t about to let some silly schoolgirl crush incapacitate her.

“Her heart’s not broken,” Emily repeated, staring pointedly into Cole’s eyes.

“She asked me to fix her up.”

“Her, not me.”

“She needs moral support. Now, where do you want to go?”

Emily pressed her lips mulishly together and, despite everything that had happened over this hellish day, Jenny fought an urge to laugh.

“I have tickets to the Longhorn Banquet in Austin next weekend,” Cole offered with a sly smile.

Jenny silently awarded him a point for that one. The Longhorn Banquet was the hottest ticket of the year. Held in the state capital, it included the who’s who, and celebrated prominent Texas citizens’ annual accomplishments. The governor would attend, as would business, arts and sports notables from around the state.

“Wait ’til you see my jet,” Cole added. “And I’ve rented a house on Lake Austin. Waterfront, six bedrooms, spa, pool and a full staff. Jenny can stay with us. And, I’ll get her a date.”

“I’m in,” said Jenny. In her books, anticipating a luxurious weekend away was definitely better than wallowing in self-pity for the next week.

Emily turned to her. “You’re not buying this,” she exclaimed. “He’s bribing us with staff, and a spa, and a private jet.” Then her words trailed away.

“If I’m going to get bribed,” Jenny put in philosophically. “It might as well be by the best.”

Emily stared at Jenny for a long moment. Then her hand went to Cole’s chest. “She’s smiling. You made her smile.”

“I did.” Cole accepted the credit, leaning ever so imperceptibly toward Emily.

Then while Emily crossed the big room to Jenny, Cole’s hungry gaze stayed glued to her every move.

“You really want to do this?” Emily asked her. “You think it’ll make you feel better?”

“I sure don’t want to sit on my butt and pine away for Mitch.”

“He’s a jerk.”

“He truly is.” But even as she voiced her agreement, Jenny couldn’t help remembering the expression on his face when he’d told her about his father. She’d never have imagined all-American Mitch Hayward was hiding a crappy childhood. They had that in common.

“Okay.” Emily nodded.

“So, it’s a go?” Cole asked hopefully.

Emily shot him a warning glare. “This weekend is all about Jenny, not about you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cole grinned. “You ladies just tell me what you’d like. Meal suggestions for the chef, preferences