And yet, she looks exactly the same now." "She's got to be in her late sixties."

Abby shook her head and took in the diner. It looked exactly the same too, not that she had come here often.

"Is this still the place all the 'in' kids go to alter school?"

Chase shrugged. "I don't think so. I think the Denny's out on Route One is more the 'in' thing now. But you didn't call me to discuss where the local teens hang out, did you?"

Abby breathed in deep. "No. I didn't."

"Is it something with Nelson?"

Abby picked up one of the sets of silverware wrapped in a white paper napkin on the tabletop. She

fiddled with the paper band that held the utensils together. Finally, she gathered her courage. "Yes, I've

talked with Nelson. And we've decided to call it quits." Chase reached out and stilled her fingers that continued to pluck nervously at the paper ring. "Are you okay?"

Abby nodded. "Yes, it was definitely the right thing to do."

"Good."

She looked down at their touching hands and took another deep breath. "But that is only one reason I

asked you to meet me." "Okay." Chase seemed confused by her nervousness, but he waited patiently while she attempted to screw up her bravery again. Finally, seeing no other way than to just state her purpose, she blurted out, "I asked you to meet me, because I'm interested in being your lover."

It took a moment for Abby's words to sink into Chase's shocked brain. Fortunately, Sandy returned with their coffees, which bought him a few additional seconds.

By the time the older woman left, Chase managed to form some coherent thoughts.

"Abby, are you sure you're ready for another..." He hesitated to use the word "relationship," because he wasn't sure that was actually what she had in mind. "Are you sure you want to be with another man so soon?"

Her cheeks flushed to a deep red that matched the crimson of the flowers on her blouse. But she looked him straight in the eyes and nodded. "Yes. That is, if you are interested."

He nearly snorted at her polite reply. If he was interested? He felt like grabbing her hand and placing it on the erection straining against the fly of jeans. Oh yeah, he was definitely interested.

"I realize that we can't hope to have anything permanent," she said, "but while I'm here, I thought, if we are both agreeable to the idea, we could-see each other."

Chase blinked at her words. It was like she was setting up a professional agreement. Of course, in some ways, that was probably exactly what she was doing. A good time for a short time. Nothing long term, no emotions. Nothing beyond gratifying sexual urges.

Chase knew he should be happy with such a situation. Hell, most men would consider that aPenthouse Forum story come to life, but the offer made the hair on the back of his neck bristle.

Did he really want just a fling with Abby?

Ah, hell, it wasn't worth debating, because he knew he wouldn't say no to her anyway. He wanted her with an intensity that he found more than a little unsettling.

All day, he'd felt frustrated and on edge. Twice, he'd yelled at Dave Macy, one of his workmen, and Chase wasn't the type to lose his patience so easily. And he knew it all stemmed from his unfulfilled encounters with Abby. He wanted to make love to her so badly it was literally making him crazy.

So there was no point in meditating over her offer. He was going to accept anything she proposed, so why worry about it?

He reached across the table and captured her hand. Her fingers were cold. And she had such a frightened expression on her face as she stared into the depths of her coffee that he thought for a moment she was regretting her suggestion.

Then her gaze rose from the coffee to him, and he saw it was anxiety that darkened her eyes to the color of the liquid in her cup. She wasn't feeling remorse over her invitation, but concern that he would reject her- the silly, silly woman!

But he decided to approach her request in the same business-like manner she had. She would probably be more relaxed if he also kept his attitude professional.

"I should tell you up front that I'm clean as a whistle. I've been tested, and I give blood, but condoms are still a must."

Abby's eyes widened and she didn't seem to know how to respond. After a full ten seconds, she said, "I've only been with Nelson, and I give blood too. And I'm on the pill."

He nodded. "That's good, but I have a rule. If there's no cover-there's no lover."

Abby blinked. "Catchy." She blinked again, still looking a bit dazed. "Okay."

"Then," he said softly and squeezed her slender fingers. "I can't imagine anything I would want more than to be your lover."

Summer-Ann stood in the window even after Chase and Abby entered the diner. She knotted her hands in anger, until the sharp pain of her nails digging into her palms forced her to relax them.

This could not be happening. It couldn't!

She returned to her desk and sat down in her chair. Her desk. Her chair. Her office.Her Chase . That was how this was all supposed to play out.

She had spent the last three years making herself indispensable to Chase at work. And it was only a matter of time before he realized that she was indispensable to him in his personal life too. That was the plan, and it was a damned fine one. Until that wretched Abby Stepp returned to town.

Abby Stepp. Into what alternate universe had Summer stumbled where Abby Stepp was a threat to her? There had to be some reasonable explanation for Chase's interest in the dowdy woman.

She leaned back in her chair, again mentally making herself slough off the rage that tensed her spine and set her jaw.

Maybe he was helping her with some construction project. There was no denying that Abby's childhood home could use work. It was little more than a hovel. That could very well be the situation.

She smiled to herself. Yes, that must be it.

But her comforting conclusion was quickly dispelled by the memory of the way Chase had looked at the mousy woman when he came into the office. He'd appeared quite anxious to see her. And there was the kiss at the CrabFest. And in Chase's house.

He'd told her there was nothing going on between them, but Summer-Ann highly doubted his denial.

She had to go on the assumption that there was something between him and frumpy Abby Stepp. After working so many years to get him back, she wasn't going to lose Chase by being naive. The best defense was a strong offense.

The answer was quite simple really. No matter what the association between Chase and Abby Stepp, she needed to put a stop to it The question was, how?

Chapter 16.

Abby was a bundle of nerves. She wanted to be calm and collected. She wanted to be relaxed and nonchalant. Instead, her hands shook so badly that she couldn't put on her mascara. Which didn't matter anyway, since her eye was twitching.

Taking a deep breath, then another, she left the bathroom in search of Ellie. Her little sister was still being a bit standoffish, but even if Abby had to grovel, she was going to get Ellie to forgive her. And hopefully, talk her through this little panic attack.

Ellie sat on the sofa, her feet curled under her and her face buried in a book. Abby seriously doubted that she would be pleased to turn her attention from the scantily clad hero on the front cover of her novel, to her twitching, hyperventilating older sister. But Abby didn't have any choice but to try.

"Ellie, can I get your help?"

Ellie dropped her book to her lap and frowned at Abby. But her frown was quickly replaced by a wide-eyed look of concern. "What's wrong with your eye?" "It's twitching." "I can see that. And your voice sounds strange." "I think I'm having trouble breathing." Ellie stood and grabbed Abby's arm, directing her to sit on the sofa. "What on earth is wrong?" "I-" Abby struggled with her breathing. "I have a date with Chase tonight." "A date?" "Yes, you were right. I'm crazy about him. I broke up with Nelson today, and told Chase I wanted a relationship with him." That was roughly what she told him. Her romance-minded sister would certainly rather hear that version than the truth. She offered the man a fling. A fling with ground rules, like condoms. A fling she was so, so ill prepared for.

Ellie captured Abby against her chest. "Oh, Abby, that is wonderful!"

"No, it's a disaster. I'm a wreck. I can't do this."

Ellie grabbed both of Abby's hands into her smaller, softer, warmer ones and squeezed them

reassuringly. "Of course you can do this. I saw you and Chase together at the barbeque, and you are crazy about each other. Nothing has changed with that."

"We were just friends then."

"So, you're friends now. Let me help you get ready."

Abby knew she could count on her sister. Ellie had a huge heart, and she always forgave so easily. In Abby's opinion, it was a strength and a weakness. Ellie had the ability to set herself up for terrible pain.

But at this moment, Abby was extremely glad to have her sister's compassionate assistance. She needed

that steady warmth to soothe her frayed nerves.

Ellie led Abby back to the bathroom and pushed her down on the toilet lid. Then she picked up the discarded mascara, and began to brush it onto Abby's lashes, timing the sweeps between the twitches.

Next, she moved to the other cosmetics, adding blush to Abby's cheeks and a rosy red gloss to her lips.

"There, you look beautiful." Abby checked her reflection in the hand mirror Ellie gave her and had to admit that, other than the occasional jerk of her left eyelid, she did look nice. Ellie ushered her to her bedroom and helped her slip on her evening gown of black satin with a black chiffon overlay.

"I'll put your hair up," Ellie said, already gathering the locks up onto her head.

Abby sat patiently as Ellie pulled and pinned and twirled and tucked. When Abby thought her sister might never stop, Ellie released a pent-up breath and said, "Done."

Abby hesitated for a second and then went to the full-length mirror. The reflection that peered back at her caught her off guard. The woman in the mirror was elegant and poised and almost pretty.

Ellie had pulled her hair into a classy twist at the back of her head. The simple A-line cut of her gown

emphasized the narrowness of her waist and the gentle fullness of her hips. The thin strap of the top accentuated the curve of her shoulders and the delicate cut of her collarbone. She felt feminine. "You look beautiful," Ellie sighed, gazing at her like she was a fairy-tale princess. And she almost felt like one. Her eye twitched. Almost. "You get your shoes on, and I'll go get Grandma's pearls."

Ellie left the room.

Abby perched on the edge of the bed. Picking up one of the strappy black high heels, she stared at her reflection again.

She could do this. She had wanted to be with Chase since high school, and she was getting her chance.

She could do this.

By the time Ellie returned, Abby had her shoes on, the filmy chiffon shawl that matched the gown draped over her shoulders, and the twitch in her eye relatively under control.

Ellie crawled onto the bed behind her and placed their grandmother's pearls around Abby's throat. The creamy white beads felt cool against her overheated skin.

"There, that looks perfect," Ellie pronounced, leaning over to see the necklace in the mirror.

Abby followed her gaze. The pearls did look lovely with the simple black gown. She was as ready as she was ever going to be.

"You look fabulous, " Ellie said in a silly accent, a goofy grin deepening the dimples in her rosy cheeks.

"Why, thank you." Abby curtsied, her face split in a foolish grin of her own.

A loud rap sounded on the front door, and both women's smiles faded as they spun to look out at the