But when the door opened, Casey stood in the threshold.Jacqueline swept a glance over Casey’s tight jeans, black tuxedo-style vest,and white button-down shirt but didn’t let her gaze linger.
“Sorry, I’m a little late. And I know I said I’d help you getthings ready. So put me to work.” She followed Casey in, looking at the gentlewaves of her casually styled hair instead of the way her jeans hugged her ass.Damn it, even after so many years, Jacqueline didn’t have to think very hard torecall the way that ass felt in her hands. She shook her head, chastising heridiot brain, which had apparently lost a purposely constructed filter or two inthe midst of that kiss several weeks ago.
Casey turned around and caught her shaking her head. “What’swrong?”
“Hmm? Nothing.”
Casey led her to her studio. “I figured we’d play poker in herebecause it required the least amount of rearranging to make room for the pokertable. I told the caterers to set up over there.” She pointed to the far wall,where two long tables already held a row of chafing dishes. “They’re in thekitchen, and I’m trying to stay out of the way. Kendra’s in my bedroom touchingup her face.”
Casey turned quickly, and Jacqueline stopped right in front ofher. This close, she could tell that Casey had put on a little bit of eyemakeup, and her lips shone with lip gloss. Jacqueline managed to stifle theurge to ask if it was peppermint-flavored.
“Casey, I—”
“Kendra’s so excited about this party.” Casey’s tone soundedforced, but her intention was clear—distance.
“I prefer to think of it as a wedding shower.” Jacqueline wentalong, thinking avoidance was probably better than bringing up their kiss rightbefore being forced to spend several hours with each other.
“I told you to stop calling it that,” Kendra said as she enteredthe room. The atmosphere between them lightened just a little with theintroduction of a neutral party. “A van with a party-rental logo is in thedriveway.”
Jacqueline grinned at Casey, and they wordlessly agreed to letKendra in on the plan for the party. “That’ll be the poker table and the dealerwe hired.”
“No way!” Kendra flung an arm around each of them and yanked themclose. “You two rock.”
Casey reached out to steady herself and grasped Jacqueline’sforearm. Without meaning to, Jacqueline, off-balance herself, had grabbedCasey’s hip. Jacqueline looked at her own hand, then met Casey’s eyes and foundconfusion and panic. No doubt she worried Nina would come in and see them likethis.
Jacqueline jerked free of Kendra and stepped back. “I’ll go showthem in here.”
She reached the driveway just as an older woman pulled a largealuminum briefcase from the van. The woman couldn’t have been more than fivefeet tall, and that included her salon-set, snow-white hair.
“Hey, let me get that for you.” Jacqueline reached for the case.
“Oh, it’s no problem.” She set it on the ground and extended ahandle. “It’s got wheels.” She left the case near the van door. “But you canhelp me wrestle out this table.” She indicated a folded poker table stowed inthe back of the vehicle.
“No problem.”
“I’m Mabel. I’ll be your dealer.”
“I’m Jacqueline, the host of the party.” She grasped Mabel’shand, finding a strong, sure grip. “Let’s get this inside and I’ll introduceyou to the guest of honor.”
Together they managed to carry the table into the studio. Aftershe introduced Mabel to Casey and Kendra, they offered to help. Mabel sent themout to the van for folding chairs while she and Jacqueline set up the table.Then, while Mabel directed the placement of the chairs, Jacqueline ran back outfor the aluminum case.
She brought Mabel the case and hovered for a moment, awaitingfurther instructions. Mabel opened it and unpacked a deck of cards and a dealerbutton. She started removing chips of varying denominations and colors.
Mabel waved her away. “I’m all set until you girls are ready tostart playing.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know when the rest of the guests arrive.”Jacqueline found Casey and Kendra in the living room. Casey, her back toJacqueline, lit a candle on one end of the mantle.
“Where’s Nina?” Kendra asked at the exact moment Jacquelineapproached. Jacqueline almost turned around and walked away, but Casey’sresponse stopped her.
“She’s not coming.”
“Really? She’s taking this jealousy thing a bit too far, isn’tshe?” Kendra propped her hands on her hips.
Casey turned toward Kendra and her eyes met Jacqueline’s instead.Something flashed in them, but before Jacqueline could figure out what it was,she’d jerked her gaze back to Kendra’s face. “That’s not—”
“Today’s not really about her. You’d think she could just suck itup and—”
“We broke up.” Casey cut off the tirade that Jacqueline knewKendra was winding up for. Casey’s abrupt statement kicked Jacqueline in thechest, and she might have gasped out loud.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Kendra pulled Casey into a hug so tightthat her chin rested on Kendra’s shoulder and she physically couldn’t turn awayfrom Jacqueline.
Jacqueline looked at the floor, wishing now that she’d walkedaway at the beginning of this conversation. She hated the look of unhappinesson Casey’s face and felt guilty for the part of her that was glad Nina was outof Casey’s life.
Kendra released Casey so quickly that she practically stumbledforward. “I’m going to get us some drinks. We’ll have more fun without heranyway.”
“Hey, I’m sorry about Nina.” Jacqueline filled the awkwardsilence left by Kendra’s departure.
“You looked surprised. I thought Sean would have told you.”
Jacqueline shook her head. “You didn’t break up because we—”
“No.”
“Because it was my fault, and if she couldn’t forgive you forsomething you had no—”
“I didn’t tell her.”
“Oh. Do we need to talk about—”
“I’d really rather not.”
“Okay.”
“Anyway, that wasn’t the reason.”
“Okay. Was it recent?”
Casey shrugged. “A few weeks ago.”
“Are you—”
“I’m okay.”
“I know we’re not really friends, but if you need to talk, I’mhere.”
Casey laughed. “Talk to my ex about another ex. Sure. Maybe youguys can form a little support group or something.”
“I’m just trying to—”
“I said I’m fine. It was basically mutual and long overdue.”
“All right. Got it.” Jacqueline held up her hands and
