“I didn’t either.” Jacqueline chose the chair across the roominstead. “I need to apologize for the last time we saw each other.”
“You really don’t.” Marti’s gaze flickered as if searchingJacqueline’s expression. “It’s Casey, isn’t it?”
“No. Yes. Kind of.” Ending a previously satisfying casual sexualrelationship over a woman she had little chance at getting back with could godown as the stupidest thing she’d ever done.
Marti uncrossed, then recrossed her legs. “I hope you’re notexpecting me to be honorable and tell you that you should be with her.”
“I’m not.”
“Good. Because I’m not that woman. I know you guys were togetherfor a while, but that was ages ago and it didn’t work out for a reason, right?”
Jacqueline nodded.
“This—what we have—it works for me. It’s easy, and we both knowwhat it is. I’m not looking for more. But I don’t want to give it up either.”
Though she thought she knew the answer, she let herself considerwhether she could continue to sleep with Marti. They’d never had anyexpectation of commitment, and Marti said she didn’t want one now.Unfortunately, Jacqueline did. And not with Marti. “I think I have to.”
“For her?”
She shook her head. “For me.”
“And when she doesn’t take you back, will you be calling meagain?”
“No. I respect you too much to do that.”
Marti raised her brows. “And if I’m not looking for yourrespect?”
Jacqueline stood and paced to the window. Shit, Marti didn’t playfair with that sexy little growl. She could try to lose herself in sex withMarti, but she’d be lying if she said she wouldn’t think about Casey. “Thisisn’t about you. It’s about what I need.”
“We’ve never been monogamous. Why does anything have to change?”
“Maybe you’re right. It is about her—a little bit, at least.Casey and I may not be together, but I’m realizing that nothing less isacceptable to me.” Before Marti could respond, Jacqueline’s phone vibratedagainst the nightstand. Jacqueline grabbed it and read the display. “I’m sorry.I need to call Sean. He says it’s important.”
“Of course.”
She dialed and stepped over by the window. Sean answered rightaway. “What’s up?” she asked.
“Don’t freak out. Everyone’s okay.”
A jolt of fear jumped into her throat. “What’s going on?”
“I’m at the hospital with Mom—”
“What happened? Is she okay?” The alarm grew, nearly taking herbreath away.
“Yes. It’s Poppa. He burned himself pretty bad, and Mom, too.” Hespoke quickly and started to sound panicky himself.
“Slow down. Tell me what happened.” She forced herself to staysilent while he explained that he and Casey had been at her father’s fordinner. Her father was trying to move a pot of boiling water from the stove tothe sink when he spilled it, splashing his arms and chest.
Before Jacqueline could ask why Sean and Casey had let him tendto boiling water, he said, “Mom said she only turned her back for a secondbefore he grabbed the pot. She’s pretty upset. And when he got burned hedropped it, and water splashed on Mom’s legs. She’s got some burns, too. Thedoctor said hers are minor.”
Jacqueline paced across the room. “Okay, I’m still in Atlanta.I’ll make a few calls and see if someone can cover my meeting tomorrow, and then—”
“Don’t worry about it, Mama.” Sean sounded more confident. “Ijust wanted to let you know about Poppa. They’ll probably be released beforeyou can get here anyway. I’ll take them home, and if they need someone withthem tomorrow, I can skip class.”
Numbly, Jacqueline mumbled a response that Sean seemed satisfiedwith, since he then said good-bye and hung up. Jacqueline lowered her phone andsank onto the edge of the bed.
“Is everything okay?” Marti scooted closer and rubbed her back.
“Yeah.” Sean hadn’t even hesitated. They didn’t need her. Herfamily expectedto handle things without her. Casey had covered for her for years, and nowapparently Sean was taking responsibility, too. “I have to go.”
“Now?” Marti reached for her hand, but Jacqueline jerked it awayand stood. “I’d hoped at least for a chance to change your mind.”
“I’m sorry. That’s not going to happen.”
“You said everything was okay. Maybe you should stay for thenight and drive in the morning.”
“I have to go now.” She finally looked at Marti and felt badlyfor how she’d treated her. They’d said again and again that they didn’t expectanything from their relationship, but she could see from Marti’s disappointmentthat she’d thought they would at least continue as they were. “I really am sorry.”
Marti seemed to understand her apology wasn’t about today’sdeparture. She shook her head stiffly. “I have no regrets. And hey, justbecause we’re not sleeping together doesn’t mean we can’t have dinner whenyou’re in town. I wasn’t just using you for your body, you know.”
Jacqueline laughed. “Of course. I’ll keep in touch.”
“Okay. You have some packing to do. I’ll get out of your way.”
After she’d seen Marti out, Jacqueline hastily got ready andheaded for her car. Thankfully, she’d taken only a couple sips from her drinkand could make the trip with a clear head. She’d call Owen while she drove andexplain that she’d be unavailable for her meetings tomorrow.
*
Jacqueline pulled into her father’s driveway just after midnight.She hadn’t gone to her condo first, instead driving straight from the hotel.The house was dark, so she tried to be as quiet as possible as she let herselfin the front door. The groan of the hinges and the slide of the deadbolt as shelocked it behind her echoed through the silence.
She turned toward the living room and found Sean stretched out onthe couch across the darkened room. She slipped out of her shoes before shewalked farther in. Sean stirred and lifted his head.
“Hey, sorry if I woke you,” she whispered.
“That’s okay. Poppa’s couch sucks anyway.” He sat up and maderoom for her next to him, his legs bridging the space from the couch to thecoffee table.
“Why aren’t you in the guest room?”
“Mom’s in there. I told her to go home, but she insisted onstaying with Poppa.”
Jacqueline nodded. Casey wouldn’t leave her father’s care all onSean. But she apparently didn’t need Jacqueline either. She hadn’t even calledher.
“I told her I talked to you.” Apparently, Sean could read herbetter than
