LITMIR.BIZ

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gaze swept over her, and her discomfort increased. Words were lost in the jumble of thoughts running through her head. He’d grown more handsome. His boyish features had matured and strengthened. His sandy-colored hair had darkened to saddle brown, worn in a typical executive style with a fresh-cut look. He wore a sport coat with his shirt open at the neck and had the air of a man who’d just come from a business meeting.

      Erik’s eyes searched hers. “You look healthy.”

      Did he mean fat? Flushed? She probably was. Her face burned, as their past reeled into her mind. “Thanks. You look well, too, Erik.” Though her pulse raged, she managed to keep an even tone. Why did he have to approach her when she was alone?

      A waitress shifted beside Erik with a tray. “Would you like a drink?”

      Erik grasped a wineglass while she eyed the tray for a soft drink. “Is that cola?”

      “It is.” The woman smiled and handed her the glass, then moved away to offer drinks to other guests.

      Neely watched her go, wishing the woman would stay and chat. She scanned the guests hoping to catch Jonny’s attention but he’d vanished. She wished Erik would. She sipped her drink before focusing on him.

      He swirled the red wine in the stemware, and sniffed the scent before he spoke. “Sorry about your dad. I heard he had quite a time.”

      Surprised he’d mentioned her father, she took a second to respond. “Thanks. His health is one reason I came home. I knew he’d need watching, and Ashley has her hands full.”

      “Yes, I heard about your sister’s loss, too.” He rested his hand on hers. “So you’re here to stay?”

      “That depends.” She pressed her lips together and stepped back, hoping he’d withdraw his hand. He didn’t.

      A grin stole to his mouth. “Depends on what?”

      “On my dad’s health and the job market.”

      His gaze slipped to her left hand. “You’re still single?”

      Her chest constricted, and a response clung to her throat. Finally she found her words. “Yes, and very happy about that.”

      “Really?” His head flew back so hard, she feared he gave himself a whiplash. “I always pictured you with the country-club crowd. Remember our plans.”

      “Country club? I don’t think so. The lady said she’s happy.”

      Jonny’s voice rolled through her, and she sent a thank-you to heaven. “Jonny, where have you been?”

      “I was trapped by a football fan.” He shifted his attention to Erik. “How’s business?” Jonny’s question salved the uncomfortable situation, and she relaxed, grateful he’d come to her rescue.

      She listened to them talk about their work while her mind weighed the burden of having Erik come back into her life. She’d hoped he’d moved away to a big city somewhere. At the moment, she wanted to move away from him. She scanned the room until she spotted Rainie, remembering she’d flagged her down minutes earlier. She had her excuse to say goodbye, and leave the men with their conversation.

      While she waited for a break to cut in, Jonny slipped his arm around her waist, and gave her a gorgeous smile. Her heart flew to her throat. She hadn’t asked him to protect her, but that’s what he was doing.

      Erik didn’t miss the move. His face flickered with question as tension tightened his jaw. “What are you two doing together?”

      She had no idea what to say, and searched Jonny’s face waiting for him to reply, but he didn’t. He only grinned.

      Neely grinned, too, waiting.

      Erik’s gaze dropped to Jonny’s arm around her waist, and when he looked up, he managed a chuckle tinged with sarcasm. “I assume you’ve let bygones be bygones.”

      Jonny arched his brow. “We’re not kids anymore, Erik. We put childish behaviors behind us.”

      Neely wondered if Erik recognized the scripture reference. He’d never talked about faith. She was a believer, and she cringed again, knowing that she’d allowed him to manipulate her into ignoring her morals and upbringing for his pleasure.

      Erik appeared to have gotten grip of his emotions. He gave her a wink, and lifted his wineglass. “It’s good to see you again, Neely. Let’s toast a new beginning.”

      She studied him wanting to walk away, but this wasn’t the time for a confrontation. She lifted her soda glass while Erik held his drink posed until Jonny joined the toast. They clinked their glasses together, and when Erik lowered his, he captured her gaze with a coy grin. “I’ll let you two enjoy yourselves, and, Neely, tell your sister I’m sorry about her loss. She’s way too attractive to be alone, isn’t she? That’s too bad.”

      His comment seemed a little glib. She flinched as he turned away, but Jonny’s hold on her waist soothed her, and when she turned her focus to him, the sight of his beautiful eyes washed away the tension.

      Jonny chucked her chin. “That’s over. Let’s have some fun.”

      She tiptoed up, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

      As they walked toward Rainie, Jonny almost gave the impression that this was a date, and she didn’t care. His protective nature nestled around her, and tonight she tried to forget the old Jonny. As Erik had said, she would toast a new Jonny and a new beginning.

      * * *

      Jon listened to girl talk between his sister and Neely for a few minutes, and then ambled away, unnoticed. He stood closer to the hall entrance and surveyed the crowd, seeing a few high school friends of Rainie’s but also people he really didn’t know. He spotted Erik who seemed to be charming a young woman Jon didn’t recognize. He wondered if Neely fell for the new-beginning toast. He wanted to gag, but what right did he have to interfere? Dreams didn’t count in the scheme of things. To be a winner meant developing a game plan by setting up plays, and then moving into action. He taught his boys how to play on the field, and now he wondered if the same skills could be used in relationships.

      The whole situation plagued him. The best parts of the evening were Neely’s kiss on his check and Erik’s expression when he slipped his arm around Neely’s waist. He would have never had the courage except he knew she wanted nothing to do with Erik. He figured a flash of possession might thwart his obvious plans to hook Neely back into his arms.

      He still wasn’t sure what caused her to be turned off by Erik, but whatever it was, he was glad.

      An appetizer table he hadn’t noticed earlier appeared, and he wandered closer, eyeing the tidbits of food that were on the menu. Shrimp, cheeses, crackers, a series of chaffing dishes that promised tiny kabobs of meat, mushrooms with filling, and some he couldn’t make out, but the scent of herbs and spices rose from the table. He forked a couple of unknowns on the plate and carried it and his soft drink to a small empty table.

      He savored one of the mystery items, thinking he’d go back and try another—maybe even learn its name, and as he reached for a meatball in sauce, a hand swept a sausage wrapped in a dough from his plate. He recognized the bracelet and grinned. “You’re welcome, Neely.”

      She settled into the chair beside him, and took a bite of the appetizer. “Yummy.” She licked her lips, and then slipped his napkin from beneath the plate to wipe her fingers. “Thanks.” She motioned to the table. “I suppose I could get my own.”

      “Here, finish mine.” He slid the plate in front of her. “I’ll load up another plate for both of us.”

      She chuckled and delved into the stuffed mushroom. He hurried back and selected hors d’oeuvres for two plates, checked to make sure Erik was still preoccupied and carried the dishes back to the table. Erik’s country-club comment bothered him. He didn’t understand how that reference had entered the conversation. Neely had never seemed interested

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