The Second Time Around

“With my husband,” she added, realizing that Robert might misconstrue her words to sound as if she was taking a rain check.

“Bring him along,” Robert invited. “I’d like to meet the man who snagged the queen of the prom.”

The queen of the prom.

That had been her, all right. About a million light-years ago. She was surprised that Robert knew about that. They hadn’t traveled in the same circles. He hadn’t had a circle at all when he was in high school.

She was being silent again, she realized. “I didn’t know you went to the prom.”

The quiet laugh caused more warmth to travel along her body. She valiantly ignored the sensation. “I went stag. To see how the other half lived.” She could almost hear him smiling. “I wanted to ask you to dance, but I figured I didn’t have a shot. There were just too many guys around you.”

All that was a blur in her past. “That was a very long time ago.”

“Not that long,” he contradicted gently. “You still look like a prom queen.”

Oh God, why couldn’t Jason say something like that?

Feeling a bit self-conscious, she laughed. “One who has been left back a dozen years or so. Look, I really can’t make it tonight, but maybe another time. I’d like you to meet Jason.” Maybe some of you can rub off on him.

“Just name the time and the place,” Robert told her. “I’ll look forward to it. And call me if you have any other listings to show me.”

“Count on it.”

Laurel replaced the receiver in its cradle, a very odd feeling rifling through her.

“Can’t get enough of you, huh?”

She almost jumped. When had Jeannie crossed back to her desk? “He just wanted to get together to go over a few details.”

“The corner of your mouth twitches when you lie,” Jeannie informed her cheerfully. “Just thought you’d want to know.” She winked. “Just in case.”