After she'd taken a drink to clear her palate of the ball, she went to work on the chicken that I seriously doubted she even chewed.

I sat on the couch with my fried rice, and after she'd finished her meal, she joined me. "I don't have Grease or High School Musical, but I do have Mame with Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur.

Will that suffice?"

Fuzzy wasn't sure, so I played it anyway. She was asleep before the movie began, and I was too shortly after. Around eleven, I heard a soft knock on the door.

*"I'm so sorry to have dumped her on you without any warning," Hailey said as she stepped inside. "I was just going to leave her with the radio on, but she'd been stuck inside for most of the day, and I was worried she would burn energy by taking apart the furniture."

"She was no trouble at all, and I aired her out for you." I wanted to be grumpy with her, but she looked so apologetic that it stole my steam. "We spent a nice afternoon in the park."

"Can I make it up to you by buying you dinner tomorrow night?" Hailey asked, looking hopeful.

"That sounds good," I said around a yawn, trying to appear casual.

She thanked me again, then ushered Fuzzy into the hall.

Fuzzy shot me a look before I closed the door that said, I won't tell her what you said, but you need to get me more chicken.

Chapter 13.

Fireworks in February.

The following evening, Fuzzy was perched in front of a new TV and John Travolta was singing about summer lovin'. I think she winked at me as Hailey closed the door behind us.

Hailey asked me to pick the restaurant, and I decided on a quiet Italian place a few blocks from our building. I sipped cabernet, thinking it was a blessing that Fuzzy couldn't actually talk, but she'd get more chicken from me anyway.

"What would you suggest?" Hailey asked as she perused the menu. "I'm not really in the mood for any seafood."

"Then I'd suggest the lasagna or the spaghetti with meatb.a.l.l.s.

Steer clear of the Italian sausage unless your stomach is made of cast iron."

Hailey nodded. "Thank you for the warning."

She decided on the lasagna, and I the spaghetti and meatb.a.l.l.s.

We split the portions so we could have both. "So how'd the work thing go last night?" I asked and wanted to add, and why did you attend with your ex-husband?

Hailey peered over her winegla.s.s at me. "It was a company banquet. That's why Mark was in town. We work for the same company."

I raised a brow at the revelation.

Hailey met my gaze head-on. "That's why I asked for the transfer. We worked too closely together."

I was privately pleased with that particular revelation.

*"Did you have a good time?"

Hailey took a sip of her wine and shook her head. "I never enjoy those things. I see everyone at work enough, and I'm not fond of the forced socialization. We get a carefully worded memo every year that basically says be there or else."

"I'm so thankful that I don't have to work in a corporation. I think I'd feel just like you do."

"How did your date go on Friday?" Hailey asked reluctantly.

"She's a veterinarian. She specializes in cats, or I'd give you her number for Fuzzy."

Hailey pursed her lips. "I have a vet that I'm happy with, but thanks." I watched as she twirled pasta onto her fork, then laid it down. "Did you find the spark you were looking for?" she asked after taking a healthy swallow of her wine.

"I found a spark." It wasn't with Marci, though, but I didn't tell her that. Guilt washed over me as she coughed into her napkin and didn't meet my gaze.

"Marvin told me you found him," I said, changing the subject.

Her discomfort was too difficult to watch, and I wasn't sure how I was going to go about easing it. "Your hair looks great, by the way.""Thank you," she said with a weak smile. "He took a couple of inches off and shaped it a bit. I didn't realize that you were his boss, though."

"My sister, Kalen, is more of his boss. She runs the businesses."

"Yes, four of them that you own together." Hailey wiped her mouth and set her napkin on the table. "You said you were an accountant."

I saw where this was going and how easy it was to omit information that you weren't ready to share. "I do all the accounting for our salons, and yes, I'm also a business owner. I didn't tell you that upfront because I didn't want to sound like I was boasting.

It's pretentious, and I hate it when people do that."

Hailey nodded. "You're right, it would've sounded boastful, and I understand why you didn't tell me. So...when are you going to see Marci again?"

*I sighed, weary of playing games. "I'm not. We don't have any plans to date."

Hailey's brows knitted together. "I thought you said there was a spark."

"Not with Marci." I pushed my plate away and stared at the wine in my gla.s.s. "Mark seems like a really sweet guy."

Hailey shook her head at the change of topic. "He is. I hope he meets someone that will cherish him. Mark deserves to be with someone that will make him happy."

"So do you," I said, glancing away. There was warmth in her voice when she spoke of him that disconcerted me. "Are you certain that you're gay?"

Hailey looked taken aback by the question and a tad peeved.

"Positively. You're not the only one that can appreciate the warmth and softness of a woman's skin or the sweetness of her lips." She blinked for a moment, we both did, then the look of annoyance returned to her face. "Are you ready to go? I'm feeling a bit tired."

I nearly had to run after her as we left the restaurant. "Did I p.i.s.s you off with that question?" I asked after we'd walked two blocks in silence.

"Yes, you did, Shannon."

"Why?"

She stalked on without answering.

I caught her by the arm as she unlocked the gate. "Tell me,"

I pleaded.

"I've had to answer that question for family and Mark so many times that I'm so...d.a.m.n weary." Her eyes began to water.

"I would've never cheated if I'd been straight." Hailey threw her arms up, pulling away. "Inside I knew who...what I was, but it wasn't until I was married to Mark for a few years that I accepted it. I thought..." Hailey took a shuddering breath. "If I could just be with a woman, I could get it out of my system and go on being what everyone else expected of me. But I was wrong. That first encounter left me with a hunger that I couldn't deny no matter how hard I tried."

Hailey turned on one heel as a sob escaped her, and she 0.

*headed for the door. This time, I couldn't let her just walk away. I grabbed her by the arm and spun her around to face me. Cupping her face in my hands, I stared long into her eyes before my lips met hers. I felt a tingle to my toes and almost dizzy when her body pressed into mine. I pulled away to catch my breath and rested my forehead against hers. "Just this once, could you try to do something that makes you happy?"

One hand was pushing me away, and the other clutched my jacket and pulled me close. "You are the greatest temptation I've ever known in my life," she whispered. "I'm terrified to let you in." "Let's go upstairs and just talk. I won't try to kiss you again, but please, Hailey, talk this out with me." She let me take her by the hand and lead her to the elevator. I didn't let her go as we rode to the second floor. I was following her into her apartment when my cell phone rang.

Seeing Kalen's name on the ID worried me when I realized how late it was. "Hey, what's up?" I said as Hailey turned to look at me.

"Mom just called. Dad is having chest pains, and they're going by ambulance to the hospital. I've booked us on the first flight out, but that's not until five. Can you pick me up at two thirty?"

After Kalen a.s.sured me that she would call the minute she heard anything, I closed my phone and sank down on Hailey's sofa. She sat next to me and draped an arm around my shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

"My dad is on the way to the hospital with chest pains. I have to catch a flight first thing in the morning," I said in a daze.

Hailey put a finger under my chin and turned me to look at her. "I promise that we'll talk, but right now, you have more important things on your mind."

I nodded, feeling numb.

"Stay with me tonight. I promise I won't let you oversleep."

Hailey pulled me into her arms and pressed my head onto her shoulder. It felt so good, so comforting.

"I have to pack."

1.

*Hailey stood and pulled me to my feet. "If you'd rather sleep in your own bed, I'll understand."

"I don't care where I sleep, not that I will, but I'd like you to be close."

She smiled and gave me a hug. "Let's go get your things."

I was thankful that I had Hailey to help me or I would've made the trip without a change of underwear. I dressed for bed at her place, and she pulled me into bed with her. Coc.o.o.ned in her arms, sleep came to me, though I doubted it would.

"Wake up, Shannon."

Someone rubbed circles into my back, and someone licked me in the face. I jerked back from the tongue that took a swipe up my nose and nearly head-b.u.t.ted Hailey.

"Fuzzy, knock it off." Hailey switched on a light on her side of the bed.

It'd been years since I'd had to get up at such an early hour. I lay there and tried to force my eyes open. Fuzzy got me again on the side of the cheek. "Fuzzy, please," I said with a groan.

Hailey ushered the little licker out of the bedroom and came to sit on the bed beside me. "Look on the bright side," she said with a smile. "Your face has already been washed."

"Is that your secret to looking so young?"

"No, I use face wash." Hailey gave me a soft nudge. "You have to get up now, but while you're in the shower, I'll fix you breakfast and make coffee."

I let her take me by the hand and lead me into the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth, Hailey brought in the clothes that I'd set out, then closed the door behind her.

After my shower, I was fully awake, and tension began to pull at my stomach. Kalen had not called during the night, so I took that as a positive sign and a.s.sumed that Dad had been admitted.

I felt sorry for my mom being there all alone and probably being eaten up with worry. She was the strongest woman I've ever known aside from Kalen, but I knew having us there with her would ease her anxiety.

"I made something light because I figured you'd probably be

2.

*too nervous to eat," Hailey said as I walked into the kitchen. She'd toasted and b.u.t.tered an English m.u.f.fin and peeled a banana.

"Would you prefer milk or juice?" she asked as she pulled out my chair.

"Milk would be great, and thank you for taking care of me."

Hailey set the milk next to my plate and kneaded my shoulders.

"I'm really sorry about your dad. If you get a chance, please text me and let me know how things are going."

I managed to choke down half of the m.u.f.fin and the entire banana before Hailey pressed a to-go cup of coffee in my hand.