"We could ask for a table and get something to eat and absorb all that we've been drinking if you'd like," Marci offered.

We ended up having a late dinner and joked that Friday night would have to be considered a second date since we'd shared a meal. After we ate, Marci gave me a ride to my car that was parked a block away. "I had a great time, and I'm really looking forward to Friday," I told her as she pulled up to the curb. And since it was a night for jumping out there, I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, which she returned.

On the way home, I thought about that kiss. It was sweet, and her lips were soft and willing, but there was no spark. I chastised myself, thinking we'd only just met. It was silly to expect fireworks, but I wanted them.

Chapter 9.

Revelations...the truth is a b.i.t.c.h.

"Have a good time?" Hailey asked as I entered the courtyard.

I jumped, surprised to find her sitting in the dark. The chimenea had burned down to embers, and Fuzzy was nowhere in sight.

"What are you doing out here in the dark alone?" I took a seat next to her.

"I was waiting for you. I wanted to see how your date went."

She wasn't her perky self and didn't look at me when she spoke.

"It went fine. She's a nice girl. We're gonna go out again Friday."

Hailey stared off into the darkness. "That's great," she said, but she didn't sound like she meant it.

"What's going on? Please don't tell me it's just work."

Hailey blew out a breath as she crossed her arms. "It's not you. I'm angry at myself."

"For what?"

"Have you ever been taken by someone you've only just met?"

She leaned her head against the bench and stared up at the sky.

"Yes, unfortunately, I have."

Hailey turned and looked at me. "Was it the girl you met tonight?"

"No, she's sweet and attractive, and I actually enjoyed her *company." I shook my head as I thought about Marci and the kiss.

"Even still, we just didn't have that click I was hoping for."

"Then why are you going out with her again?" Hailey asked with a tone that put me on the defensive. If she was angry with herself, she was sure directing it at me.

"Because I've only seen her once. Maybe I'll feel that connection, that spark when we get to know each other better.

Did the guy you're interested in lead you on or something?"

Hailey didn't reply. She swallowed hard and looked back up at the night sky.

"I'm not an expert on conversing, but I think in order to do it, we both have to talk."

"I just think I've read too much into the conversations we've been having. My interest is obviously one-sided." Hailey stood.

"I'm sorry that I've dropped all of this on you. It's probably the last thing you wanted to hear after a pleasant evening."

I stood and followed behind her as she walked toward the door with her shoulders slumped. "Hey." I tugged on her arm.

"I'm not full of dating advice, but I'm a pretty good listener."

Hailey turned and looked at me. The pain in her eyes was obvious even in the dim light. "I appreciate that, but right now, a good night's sleep is what I need."

"Whomever this chowder head is, he's missing out on a good thing," I said with a smile.

She shrugged. "I think I may be the one who's missed out."

We walked up the steps and into the building. "Good night,"

Hailey called over her shoulder as she bypa.s.sed the elevator and took the stairs.

I awoke early the next morning to the patter of rain against my window. It was one of those days that made me thankful that I worked from home. After I made myself a cup of coffee, I stood in front of my huge living room window and watched as a sea of umbrellas moved up and down the sidewalks. One moved around the courtyard behind a fluffy yellow dog in search of the perfect spot to do her business.

I thought back on my conversation with Kalen, mainly the *part when she asked me if I had a crush on Hailey. I did. There was no sense in denying it to myself. When Hailey asked me if I'd ever been taken by someone I just met, I understood too well what that felt like. It bothered me to think that she felt the same way about someone else.

And then I thought about Marci. She was everything I was looking for, but she wasn't the one I wanted. Was I leading her on by going out on a second date? My inner thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I answered as I watched Hailey and Fuzzy wander the courtyard.

"I'm not going in to work today." Kalen sounded miserable.

"Still queasy?" I asked.

"Downright nauseated."

"Want me to take you to the doctor?" I wrinkled my nose.

Just walking into one of those places made me feel like flypaper for germs.

"No, it's probably just a virus that will pa.s.s in a few days. Are you feeling okay? You sound kind of down or distracted."

"I'm fine. Matter of fact, I went out on a date last night."

"No s.h.i.t?" Kalen said, sounding perkier. "With who?"

"Her name is Marci, and it went okay."

"Where did you meet her?"

I should've known that question was coming, but I was too busy bragging that I hadn't considered having to explain the Rainbow Room. "We...umm...met online."

"Oh, my G.o.d, you did it anyway. Didn't you listen when I warned you about those things? What if she's some sort of psychopath or something? Those are the only kind of people that join those things."

"Thanks," I said with a frown.

"Well, I didn't mean you."

"If I'm decent, doesn't it stand to reason that there might just be someone like me out there, too? And while we're talking about psychopaths, remember Jackie, Candace's crazy cousin that you set me up with?"

"Touche, touche, d.a.m.n it." Kalen took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You met her in a public place, I presume."

0.

*"No, I invited her over. She's loading up my computer and DVD player right now," I said as I watched Hailey and Fuzzy climb the steps to the back door.

"You're really a pistol this early in the morning," Kalen said just as sarcastically. "Truce. Now tell me about this woman."

I plopped down on the sofa. "She's cute, sweet, and seems like a really nice person."

"But?"

"I dunno, maybe I'm judging her too quickly, but there's no spark. I might as well have been out with you."

"Did you find her attractive?"

"I said she was cute."

"I think Tom Cruise is cute, but I'm not attracted to him."

"I thought all straight women melted over him."

"Not this one. He's a bit too wacky for my tastes. So no b.u.t.terflies, nothing?"

"No flutter in the least, but she's a sweetie, and I agreed to go out with her again on Friday. Do you think I'm judging prematurely?"

"Let me ask you this. If you pa.s.sed her on the street without having met her, would you want to follow after her and ask her out?""We both know I wouldn't do that even if I thought she was hot," I said, avoiding the answer.

"Then your answer is no," Kalen said succinctly. "I don't know, sweetie. It's a tough call if you're not physically attracted to her. Maybe you should go out with her Friday, and if she's not ringing your bells, then you need to let her down gently."

"Dating really blows," I said dejectedly. "It'd be nice to meet someone like Hailey."

"I've been waiting to hear you say that," Kalen said with a sound of triumph in her voice. "You're smitten with her. I could tell by the way you looked the other day. I told you that then."

"That blows, too."

"That I'm right?" Kalen said with a laugh.

"That you're a jacka.s.s for rubbing it in my face and that she's straight and interested in someone else."

1.

*"Bet you feel all tingly when you look at her, though," Kalen said seriously. "There's nothing wrong with having a crush on someone. It happens. But that might be getting in the way of you meeting the right woman for you. I know she's your friend, but if you back away for a while, those b.u.t.terflies will fly off."

"That's kind of hard to do with her living one floor below me.""You'll find a way. You're brilliant at avoiding me when you want to. Give yourself some s.p.a.ce. Look, I hate to cut this short, but the crackers I ate for breakfast are on their way up."

"Love you, bye," I said, but Kalen had already disconnected.

I listened to the rain that was pounding on my window. The sound made me want to crawl back into bed and sleep the day away. Thunder rolled over the top of the building as lightning flashed, then it was dark. I tossed the phone onto my coffee table and stretched out on the couch. When I opened my eyes again, my watch showed that it was after noon.

The power was still off when I rolled off the couch. Work wasn't an option. I wanted to call and check on Kalen, but my cordless phone wasn't working due to the outage. I rummaged around, looking for my cell and realized that it was probably in my car. When I went down to the garage, I heard music. As I rounded the corner, I saw Fluffy intercept a ball that Hailey bounced against the cement wall.

"Are you going somewhere?" Hailey asked when she turned.

"No, I was just going to get my phone out of the car, why?"

"Some of the streets are under water. My boss called and asked me not to try to come in." Hailey turned and hurled the ball at the wall. "We've gotten a couple inches of rain this morning.

I've been listening to the weather on the radio. We're supposed to get more." Hailey leaned against a shiny silver SUV when Fuzzy took the ball and lay down.

"Is that your car?" I asked, moving closer. I'd noticed it in the garage but hadn't realized it was hers.

Hailey nodded.

I looked down at the license plate. "It's not a rental?"

Hailey looked at me oddly as she shook her head. "No, why?"

2.

*"Because it has Georgia plates." I watched as a flush moved over Hailey's face. "How long have you lived in New Orleans?"

My stomach knotted when Hailey's lips twitched before she replied. "A little less than two months."