I bit my cheek, hating that I’d hurt him, vowing again to do better,bebetter, for my family.
Which meant steering clear of Jasmine and her new soon-to-be-boyfriend, that jackass Malcom.
I scowled as I dropped the potatoes in the skillet.The sizzle and steam rose quickly, not unlike my temper at the idea of Malcom touching Jasmine’s lovely, smooth skin.
Chapter7
Jasmine
Itugged at my skirt, annoyed with the tightness across my derriere.The girls’ dating plans for me had been causing me stress, and as a result, it didn’t fit me as well.Over the past four months, I’d met a multitude of men.None caught my attention.Worse, the more dates I went on and struck out in the chemistry department, the more demoralized I became.
This plan the girls had concocted wasn’t working, and I wasn’t happy.
I hadn’t heard a word from Steve since Christmas Eve dinner.Now, here we were, in April, and I’d caved to yet another date with a man I didn’t like…all hoping to lure the one I did.
I was tired of games, and I didn’t want to continue playing them.It was time to give up and admit defeat.I was lonely and would remain so, especially in the company of these high-powered, boring, often self-absorbed men who seemed to think they were doing me a favor by taking me out to fancy dinners I didn’t want.
I just…missed Steve, what we could have, but I had to respect the fact he didn’t feel the same.I sighed, tugging again.
“I can’t wear this,” I exclaimed.I strode across my living room, heading toward the stairs, thankful I’d refused the heels the girls had wanted me to wear for the more sensible half-inch pumps.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Kate said, slipping between the stairs and me.My daughter clucked her tongue and wagged a finger.Atme.My mouth dropped open.She giggled.
The air conditioner kicked on, humming as cool air bathed my overheated skin.It wasn’t just nerves about tonight—even though those had kicked in when I realized this was the fourth time in as many weeks that I’d see Frank.
“You look lovely, Mama.”Kate blushed, not uncommon with her fiery hair and pale skin.“And that skirt fits you just right for getting some action.”
Much as I loved her and the nod of approval she’d given to my outfit, I wasn’t wearing this tight a skirt.No siree.Its tightness would give Frank the wrong idea, and I did not want action with that man.
I should have said no to this date.I didn’t like him enough to want to pursue anything more with him.I didn’t even want to see him enough to offer him a lame excuse, but I would because that was the right thing to do.
I made a face, wishing I wasn’t so inclined to do right.
“I’m not comfortable with him seeing me in this, and I don’t wantanykind of action with that man.I need to change.”
I headed toward the stairs, the knot in my stomach worsening.Dammit.I wanted this awkwardness over.Really, all I wanted was to sit out on my porch and sip whiskey and mourn my last attempt at love.
“He’s here,” Kate said.
I groaned.“I don’t want to go.”
Kate studied me.She must have seen the misery in my expression because she said, “Then, don’t.”
I blinked at her.“You won’t make me?”
She laid her hands on my shoulders.“Never.I don’t want you unhappy, Mama.”She shook her head.“The whole point ofthiswas to make you happier.”
I smiled as I hugged her.“Thanks, sweetie.I’ll tell Frank to take a hike, and we can invite Jenna up for a glass of wine.”
“I’ll just walk down and grab her,” Kate said.“It’s nice out, and I can use the exercise.Plus, that’ll give you a minute with Frank—to make sure you don’t want more with him.”She waggled her brows.
“No, ma’am.I most certainly do not.”He wasn’t Steve, and I was too old, too set in my ways to do something casual, even if it would ease my loneliness for a night.
Penance.I’d thought about my paying a continued price often as I cleared Jensen’s grave on Christmas Eve, but I was absolutely positive I was still paying it now.
Maybe I’d never meet my quota.What a dismal thought.
Kate pressed a kiss to my cheek and headed out the back door, calling back over her shoulder, “I’ll grab a bottle of Cam’s whiskey.”
