Warning bells went off in her head. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the feeling. She took a deep breath to calm herself and gather her senses. She was the adult here and needed to start acting like one. But the longer she sat here with Hayden, the more vulnerable she felt, and if she didn't take control of the situation, something might happen that she would regret.

Abbey stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "Hayden, it's getting late. You better get going now."

Hayden's heart dropped. "Oh." Hayden looked at her watch. "I hadn't really noticed the time." Hayden stood to leave, her face clouded with disappointment. What she thought might have been leading up to the experience of a lifetime was suddenly over. How could she feel so close to Abbey one minute and the next be asked to leave?

Abbey stood next to her. "Thank you for taking such good care of me...again."

Hayden stood next to the bed and seemed unable to move.

"Hayden, is something wrong?"

Hayden looked at Abbey. All she could think about was how Calli was always telling her she needed to let loose sometime. Take a chance in life. That's what made life exciting. In her heart, she felt if she didn't do something, she may never get this opportunity again. If she was going to let Abbey know how she felt about her, it was now or never.

Hayden leaned in and kissed Abbey so hard and so deep, it nearly knocked her over. When the kiss ended, Hayden's knees were quivering.

Abbey's jaw dropped. "Oh, my." Abbey's voice was but a whisper.

Hayden watched as Abbey studied Hayden's face, looking for a reaction to what had just happened.

"I...uh...I don't know..."

Before Abbey could say another word, Hayden leaned in and kissed her again. This time, her heart swooned as she felt Abbey pull her closer. So this is what all the fuss is about, Hayden thought as she melted into Abbey's arms.

Breathless, Abbey pulled back from their kiss. Feeling dizzy, she tried to steady herself. "Hayden, we..." She looked at Hayden until their eyes met. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Hayden smiled. "It's something I've wanted for a long time."

Abbey took Hayden's face in her hands and kissed her deeply: a kiss full of pa.s.sion and desire. They crumbled back onto the bed, both needing more than that first touch. Soft hands tentatively explored soft smooth skin-forbidden skin. Oh, G.o.d!

Suddenly Abbey sat up, her heart pounding as a wave of guilt washed over her. If they stopped here, Abbey felt safe that what they were doing was nothing more than experimentation. She looked at Hayden lying there in the dim light of the room. Hayden looked up and their eyes met. It was so easy to get lost in the way Hayden looked at her. Abbey studied Hayden's face. Her feelings for her had nothing to do with reasoning. For a long moment, she felt like she was floating, then Hayden reached up and pulled her to her.

Chapter Fifteen.

After the play, Ann and Jackson went back to his place. Ann slipped off her high heels and made herself comfortable on Jackson's couch. It irritated her that she couldn't stop thinking about Abbey with that woman. What was Abbey trying to prove? That she was over her already? And wasn't it a little soon to be seen in public with someone else? After all, they had only officially broken up a few days earlier.

"Can I get you a drink?" Jack asked as he stuck his head around the corner from the kitchen.

"Sure. That would be great."

"Scotch and soda?"

"You know how I like it." Ann smiled at Jackson in that seductive way she had seen other women smile at the men in their lives who they wanted to get things from. She was amazed at how well it worked.

Ann leaned back and settled into Jackson's couch and smiled. She liked how he took care of her, treating her like a queen. Maybe she should have made this leap into heteros.e.xually years sooner.

Jack returned with their drinks and sat beside her. She loved how his Polo cologne smelled; it stirred something in her.

She took a sip of her drink. Mmm...perfect. She moved closer to Jackson, nuzzling his shoulder.

"Did you like the play?" Jackson asked.

"It was okay. For a group of college kids."

Jackson cleared his throat. "Speaking of kids, I got a phone call from Roseanne today."

"Oh?"

"She hadn't been feeling well and went to the doctor. It seems she's seriously anemic from heavy bleeding...you know, her monthly thing."

"I see," Ann said, wondering why he was telling her this. She couldn't care less about his soon-to-be ex-wife's menstrual cycle.

"Apparently, it's so bad that her doctor says she needs a hysterectomy."

Ann took a sip of her scotch. "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope she does okay."

"Me too."

Jackson was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke as if testing the waters. "At least there's one good thing coming out of this."

"What's that?" Ann took another sip.

Jackson kissed the top of Ann's head. "She's letting the boys stay with me while she recovers."

Ann sighed. Why did it seem like one thing after another was happening? First seeing Abbey and now Jackson's news. It was getting difficult to relax and unwind. "That's nice," she said. "You'll get to spend time with your kids."

Jackson smiled. "I really miss them. It's hard not seeing them every day."

"I bet." Ann took another sip. The scotch warmed her insides, the only thing she could count on to make her feel better at this point. "When are they coming?"

"Next week. I have to go to Stockbridge to pick them up."

"Next week! That's so soon."

Jackson smiled benignly, as if dealing with a temperamental child. "Roseanne's surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. I figured I get there on Tuesday, make sure she does okay, and head back here with the boys by the weekend."

Ann was not pleased, but she didn't want Jackson to see how she truly felt. "So how long will they be staying?"

Jackson shifted on the couch. "Two months."

Ann practically spit out her drink. "Two months? You're kidding, right?"

Jackson shook his head. "Roseanne's doctor told her it will take her at least eight weeks to get back on her feet. She certainly can't take care of two kids in that kind of shape."

Ann sat up a little straighter. "Isn't there someone there who can help her with them until she feels better?"

"Her parents are there, but they aren't in the best health. She's staying with her mother after the surgery until she feels stronger. But she can't put the burden of two rambunctious boys on them. Besides, I'm looking forward to having them with me. It will be great. I can't wait for you to get to know them."

Warning bells went off in Ann's head. She was starting to get a headache. Having Jackson's kids here meant that she would have to share Jackson with them. Worse yet, he might expect her to help take care of them. She thought about this for a moment. The boys were young. She really wasn't good with kids because she didn't know what to do with them. Kids that age always seemed so self-centered, and that annoyed her.

Immediately, she decided that, while the kids where here, she would just make herself scarce, busy herself with work, until they went back home. If Jackson truly cared about her, he would make time for her alone away from his family.

Ann stood. "I need another drink," she said and headed into the kitchen.

She returned to the couch a few minutes later with a double scotch. She took two big gulps.

Ann glanced over at Jackson and caught him looking at her.

"What?"

"You seem upset. I hope the boys coming here doesn't put a damper on our relationship."

Ann shrugged, not knowing what to say.

"I know this was unexpected," Jackson said. "I think you'll like them. They're both smart and bright and a lot of fun to be around."

Ann nodded, only half listening to what Jackson was saying as she struggled with her conscience.

"I was hoping, too, that since they're only eight and six that you might be able to help me out with them once in a while. I've never been a single dad before. With all the meetings and appointments I have at work, I might need someone to stay with them in the evening until I get home. Maybe help with dinner if I'm held up at work or get them ready for bed."

And there it was. The sound of screeching brakes sounded in Ann's head. There was no way Jackson was going to turn her into some kind of den mother. She needed to nip this in the bud right away.

Ann downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. She took Jackson's hand to make sure she had his attention. "Look, I'd like to help you out with your sons, but I have to tell you, I'm not very good with kids."

"But you're a teacher. Aren't all teachers good with kids?"

"Not me. That's why I went into higher education. I wouldn't know the first thing about taking care of little kids."

Jackson looked at her. The sadness she saw in his eyes almost broke her heart.

"I can understand that. And I wouldn't ask you to do anything you didn't want to do..."

"Then don't." The words came out before she knew it.

Jackson looked stunned. Actually, hurt more than stunned. "Oh, okay..." He lowered his gaze. "I didn't realize you were so opposed to children."

"It's not that I don't like them...I'm sure your sons are delightful. I've just never been around them much." She looked at Jackson and forced a demure smile. "I wouldn't know what to do."

Jackson's expression stilled and grew serious. By the look on his face, Ann felt like she may have gone too far. She hated herself for that. Lately, that was all she seemed to be doing...hurting people.

"Jackson, I'm sorry. I'm just not cut out for this...you know...the family thing." Ann stood. "Maybe this is a mistake, our being together."

Jackson stood. "I'm sorry you feel that way. I was really beginning to believe we had something good here."

Ann looked down unable to make eye contact with him. "I'm sorry, too."

Chapter Sixteen.

"Hayden, wake up." Abbey rushed around the room, plucking Hayden's clothes from the floor.

Hayden drowsily sat up, holding the white bed sheet against her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"It's morning. I've got to get you home." Abbey pulled on a pair of jeans.

Hayden dressed hurriedly and ran her fingers through her hair in place of a comb. A few minutes later, she and Abbey were in the elevator. Abbey felt she should say something, but she didn't know what. She looked over at Hayden, who looked awfully cute with her tousled hair and sleepy eyes, and smiled. Hayden smiled back, and Abbey's heart turned over. It took everything she had not to kiss her again right there in the elevator.

They held hands in the car on the way back to Hayden's.

"Have a good day at work," Abbey said and kissed Hayden's hand as Hayden got out of the car.

Hayden walked over to the driver's side and motioned for Abbey to roll down the window. Abbey did as instructed, and Hayden leaned in and kissed her.

The taillights of Abbey's car had long disappeared before Hayden put her key in the lock and turned the doork.n.o.b. She was greeted by an angry Calli, who sat at the kitchen table, already dressed in the ridiculous gingerbread outfit, with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "Where have you been all night?"

Hayden was too tired to get into it with her, but she knew if she didn't give her an answer, Calli would never let it go. "I was with Abbey." Hayden glided through the kitchen to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She couldn't stop smiling and felt as if she were floating on air. Once inside the sanctuary of her room, she plopped down on the bed.

"All night?" Calli asked through the closed door. "What were you doing?"

Hayden lay on the bed, stared at the ceiling, and grinned. "Talking."

"Really? I thought maybe the two of you went out and got lucky."

Calli's offhanded comment was pretty close to the truth. Hayden's head was spinning from everything that happened. It felt like a dream come true.

She and Calli usually shared everything, but this was special. She wanted to keep it for herself and for Abbey. If she told Calli, she would blab it from here to kingdom come. No one should find out what transpired between them.

Hayden got up and stood in front of the mirror on her closet door. As she looked at her face and body, she couldn't stop thinking about Abbey and what it felt like to lay in her arms. Her skin glowed, and a delightful shiver ran through her when she thought about Abbey.

Hayden closed her eyes and touched her fingertips to her lips, remembering the kiss, reliving it over and over in her head. Nothing had ever felt so right in her life.

"Hay, come on, we're going to be late," Calli yelled through the closed door.

Well, this is a switch, Hayden thought as she hurriedly threw on her uniform and headed out the door. Calli was standing by the car. Hayden could feel Calli's gaze on her as she slid into the driver's seat.