"Here we go."

Abby had no memory of stepping into the meeting room. Her mind was too busy trying to decide if being a couple was different from being lovers.

But soon her colleagues were greeting them, and she was swept into a flurry of polite small talk.

When Chase left Abby's side to go to the bar, Leslie leaned toward her. "I didn't know you were dating Chase Jordan," she whispered.

"We just started-seeing each other."

"He's absolutely gorgeous." Leslie sighed, watching him as he stood among the crowd at the bar. She then reached over and patted her husband's arm affectionately.

Abby, however, didn't stop staring at her date. There was no denying it; Chase Jordan was the best-looking man in the room. And he was here with her. That fact was unbelievable.

Chase had started to talk with James, one of Abby's colleagues, his posture relaxed, his smile easy. And when the bartender came over to take his order, Chase offered him the same comfortable grin. He looked as at ease in his tuxedo as he did in his tool belt and work boots. Abby wondered what it would be like to just naturally fit in anywhere. She certainly didn't know. A pang of envy snaked through her chest, but the sensation was replaced by admiration. Chase was amazing. "Abby." A voice startled her out of her reverie. "Cecil. This is wonderful." She gestured to the tables. Candlelight flickered off glassware and silver that circled flowing centerpieces of spring flowers. Now married to so-and-so, approached them, her bright, cheery smile taking up half her face. "Hi, Mandy," Chase said, and Abby realized she couldn't tell if he was really pleased to see her or not Her own forced smile definitely leaned to the latter. "Now, I know why Abby is here. But why are you escorting her, Chase?" She cocked an inquisitive eyebrow. "Is there romance in the air?" "How is Glenn? I heard he had a little accident Did he make it tonight?" Chase asked, sidestepping the question. Abby wasn't sure if she was relieved or not. Mandy rolled her eyes, then waved a hand. "He's fine." She turned slightly to include Abby in the conversation. "He slipped on wet grass on the fairway. It was his own darn fault, I'd say. Playing golf in the rain. He's obsessed."

"Well, I'm glad he's okay," Chase said.

"He is," Mandy assured him. "Oh." This time her full attention was centered on Abby. "Wendy sent out the invitations for the class reunion just yesterday. I do hope you will come."

Abby nodded slowly. "I'll try."

Mandy's blinding smile returned. "Good. Well, I'll leave you two now. I'm supposed to be getting Glenn another drink. Talk to you soon. And let me know if you want to be on any of the reunion committees."

"Talk about obsessed," Abby said alter Mandy crossed the room. "She is fixated on this class reunion thing."

"And you find this surprising? Don't you remember her at pep rallies? Go, Millbrook Millers!" He raised

his beer glass. Abby laughed. "She did have school spirit." "And she just happened to find the two people that had the least school spirit. She feels the need to save us." "Who needs to save you from what?" Darren approached them, although it took a moment for Abby to recognize him. He had indeed cut his hair for the event and not a single strand stuck out in its usual disorderly fashion.

"Darren. Do you know Chase Jordan?"

"Of course, I know Chase." Darren held out his hand, and Chase shook it, but then Darren's attention turned back to Abby.

"So did you finish up your part of the speech?"

"Yes," Abby said. "Although I'm afraid it's a little dry."

"I'm sure it's fine. There's only so many ways you can dumb down our research and still keep it interesting."

Abby frowned. "Our work is fascinating."

"To us. To the average Joe, it's a bunch of gobblety-gook."

"Now, gobblety-gook, is that a layman's term?" Chase asked with an amused look that didn't quite reach his eyes. Darren chuckled. "I suppose I could throw it in my speech and see if our investors think it's a real scientific term."

"Did you need more wine?" Chase asked Abby.

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Abby frowned as she watched Chase head to the bar. Had something offended him?

"So when did you start seeing the town hottie?" Darren asked.

"What?"

"Chase Jordan. He's a bit beefcakey, isn't he?" When Abby simply stared, he tapped his neatly groomed head. "You know, nice to look at but not a lot going on upstairs."

Fury congealed in Abby's belly. She glared at her co-worker. "Chase is a very intelligent guy."

Darren held up his hands. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting." He started to back away. "Listen, I'll talk to you later."

After he left, Abby stood there for a moment, shocked. Darren had never struck her as a snob before, but obviously he was. What he'd said about Chase was terrible. To assume because Chase was handsome that he was stupid.

She clenched the stem of her wineglass. It is seemed that plain or pretty, smart or average, no one could avoid labels. Ooh, that made her angry.

Chapter 17.

Chase picked up the beer that Neil, the bartender, had just brought him. He downed half of it in one gulp.

Man, people like that Darren guy really ticked him off. like his intelligence gave him the right to ridicule others. Like Chase wouldn't understand what Abby did for a living. Of course, the thing that irritated Chase the most was that Darren was probably right.

Chase turned to look at Abby. She now stood alone, staring in front of her, her spine rigid, her jaw set. It was obvious she was upset.

"Are you okay?" Chase asked, once he had returned to her side.

"I don't even want to be here."

Chase looped his arm around her back and started her through the crowd.

"Where are we going?" she asked, bewildered, but she continued to follow him.

He wiggled his eyebrows. "It's a mystery."

On the other side of the room, he opened an oak-paneled door and they stepped into darkness.

"Should we be in here?"

"Does it look like there's anyone to stop us?"

"I don't know." Abby's hand clutched his sleeve. "I can't see a thing."

He chuckled. "Just follow me."

He moved through the shadows until he reached drawn curtains that hid another set of doors. Unlocking them, he pushed the doors open. The sea air rushed through the open portal, brushing against their skin and ruffling their hair.

Chase could hear and feel Abby's sharp intake of breath.

She released his hand and went to the railing of the small terrace and looked out over the bay. The night was perfectly clear. Moonlight danced across the black water and stars twinkled in the inky sky. "Oh, this is lovely."

Chase moved to stand beside her, but he didn't look at the view, instead gazing at Abby.

Her skin appeared silver in the moon's soft glow. The silky black material of her gown fluttered around her. She was flawless. Like a goddess-a goddess of night serenely overseeing her realm. He reached out and twirled one of the curls at the nape of her neck around his finger.

"You are so beautiful."

She turned to gaze at him, her eyes as black as her dress, the fullness of her mouth a celestial invitation.

He bent forward and accepted it.

She immediately leaned against him. Her hands moved over the sleeves of his jacket.

He longed to feel those slender fingers touching his bare flesh. Instead, he touched her skin, the warm

smoothness of her bare arms, the gentle curve of her shoulders.

She moaned as he nipped her plump lower lip and moved to press kisses along her jawline to her neck.

She gave a quavering gasp, and her head fell back, offering him better access to the sensitive skin of her throat. He tasted her there. A heady combination of Abby and the salty night air mingled on his tongue. Then he returned to her lips, reveling in their softness, their hunger.

With a reluctant groan, Abby broke the kiss, only to rest her forehead against his chest, her hands holding his sides. "I want to stay right here." She sighed. "Okay," he agreed, lifting her chin and kissing her again. She returned his kiss, then pulled away slightly to smile against his lips. "Ican't stay here, though. I have a speech to give, remember?" This time Chase sighed. "I remember." He linked his fingers through hers and started toward the doors.

"I guess I'd better get you back before we turn into pumpkins." Abby stopped, jerking him to a halt. "What's wrong?" he asked. She shook her head. "It's-it's nothing." "Something upset you." "No, it's just me being silly." Chase pulled her against him, leaning his head so he could whisper against her ear. "So tell me then." She remained very still in his arms, then pulled back and looked directly in his eyes. "Okay-that's the first time someone has made a Cinderella reference to me, and I wasn't the ugly stepsister." Chase stared at her for a moment and then pulled her tight against him. "When are you ever going to realize you never were the ugly stepsister?" They stood in each other's embrace for a moment. "We'd better get back."

Abby nodded and followed him through the shadows.

They made it back in time for Abby's speech, and despite his concern about Darren's prediction, Chase didn't find it to be gobblety-gook.

Abby stood at the podium, looking elegant and poised. She spoke about her research with such excitement and conviction that Chase couldn't help being interested in her words.

He glanced around the room and found that everyone else appeared as fascinated with her speech as he

was. She finished her portion of the discourse and stepped back to let Darren give his part of the speech.

As she stood, listening to her colleague, Chase studied her, and his thoughts went to graduation day and her valedictorian address.

She hadn't been as sophisticated, but had that been the only difference? Had she spoken with the same conviction? Had she been as excited about her success and her future as she was her research now?

Had she been absolutely beautiful, and he missed it?

Abby Stepp, one of the ugly Stepp sisters.

He had listened to and accepted that awful description. He'd been stupid and shallow. Abby Stepp was an amazing person, and he had the feeling she always had been. But he hadn't given her a chance back then.

He came out of his musings and discovered her gaze was on him. When they made eye contact, she rewarded him with a huge, happy smile. Her lips were rosy from his kisses.

Damn, he was lucky to be with her.

But would she be smiling at him like that if she knew the truth about him? Chase wondered.

"So was that the most horribly boring thing you've ever had to sit through?" Abby asked as Chase

pulled out of the Millbrook Inn's parking lot.

"Okay, you do recall Mason mentioning the town meeting where they were voting over the hours of operation for the dump?"

Abby nodded, fighting back the urge to giggle.

"Well, I've been to hundreds of meeting just like that one."

"I don't know, that meeting sounded pretty exciting. Old men were going to come to blows."

"Yeah, well, that doesn't happen too often. Usually they're dead dull," Chase said, then he sobered.