for the most part, she’d made her peace with Keith. But life still wasn’t easy. She was going from blind date to blind date, denying herself contact with Dave, who was the only man she really wanted to be with, and investing every dime she possessed in a business that could break her if it didn’t succeed. She’d known hard times before but she’d never felt so insignificant or overlooked, or so immature and guilty for feeling insignificant and overlooked.
“I want to call Dave,” she said simply.
“Liz, I know you’re homesick for California and probably a tad lonely—”
“A tad?” she interrupted.
“That’s what makes it so hard to say go ahead,” Reenie told her. “At this point, you’re too vulnerable.”
“Oh, so I could call him if I didn’t need him?”
“He’s only twenty-five. If you fell in love with him, would he marry you? Be a good stepfather for your children?”
Wearily, Liz ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t want to hear that tonight.”
Reenie’s voice rose. “At least one of us has to be realistic.”
“It’d still be nice if once in a while you asked if he makes me feel attractive. Or if I’m happy when I’m talking to him. Or even if I think he’s good in bed!”
“You’ve slept with him?”
Liz silently cursed her own big mouth. She hadn’t told anyone about meeting up with Dave three months ago. She’d simply explained to Keith that she was going back to L.A. to visit her friends and flew to Vegas on a weekend when he had the children. But as much as she and Dave had enjoyed their time together, she regretted that trip. It had started them thinking more seriously about their relationship, and Dave had been after her to meet him again ever since. “It was just one weekend.”
“Liz, how long could you reasonably expect a relationship with him to last?” Reenie asked. “You told me yourself that you’ve never seen him with the same woman twice.”
It was true. The Dave she’d known in California had definitely been a womanizer. But that was a while ago. He seemed different now. Besides, how much danger could there be in establishing a relationship when they lived a thousand miles apart? Maybe there were times she wanted to meet him again. But she hadn’t given in, even though he offered to pay for the flight.
“There’s no real risk. He’d never move here, and I can’t go back to California. Not until the kids are older.”
“So why get involved with him?” Reenie argued.
Maybe he wasn’t the perfect fit. But she enjoyed him. That was better than nothing, wasn’t it? “He gives me someone to talk to, someone to dream about.”
Reenie sighed into the phone. “Don’t settle, Liz.”
“That’s easy advice for you to give. You’re remarried and happier than ever.”
“It can happen for you, too.”
Liz put in a load of laundry. “Oh yeah? Who do you have in mind?”
“What’s wrong with Carter?” Reenie replied. “He seems like a good candidate.”
“You barely know him. What makes you think he’s any more suitable than Dave?”
“He’s local, for one.”
“I bet he won’t stick around for long.”
“He might. And he’s older, more mature—”
“There are no guarantees.”
“My dad doesn’t get enthusiastic about people unless they deserve it, Liz. He’s really impressed with Carter.”
Reenie’s father hadn’t always been such a good judge of character. He’d once had an affair that had resulted in a child, a girl, who’d shown up in Dundee as an adult and nearly cost him his marriage. Gabe, Reenie’s brother, still resented her. But Liz wasn’t about to bring up the past. Everyone made mistakes and, all in all, Garth was one of the best men she’d ever known.
Using her shoulder to hold the phone to her ear, she unloaded the dishwasher. “Does your father even know what Carter has done for the past ten years? He could be an ex-convict, for Pete’s sake.”
“Congressman Ripley wouldn’t have recommended an ex-convict. Carter’s a straight arrow, and Dad says he’ll be one hell of a campaign manager.”
“Campaign manager?” Liz paused with a stack of clean glasses in her hand. “I thought he was an aide.”
“Only until the next election.”
She finished putting away the glasses. “Your dad doesn’t need a high-powered campaign manager to retain his seat in the state senate. He’s a shoo-in.”
“You’re probably right,” Reenie agreed.
Silverware jangled as Liz pulled a basket from the dishwasher. “So you’re telling me he’s thinking of running for congress again?”
“I’m pretty sure he has his eye on a national senate seat this time.”
“That could be a tough race,” Liz said. Considering the scandal that had ensued when Lucky returned to town and everyone had found out who her father was.
“He always aims high. You know that,” Reenie responded. “And Carter can help get him where he wants to go.”
Liz opened the silverware drawer. “He seems capable enough. But on a personal level, he’s…”
“What?”
“Too standoffish, impatient…. I don’t know.”
Reenie hesitated. “You got all that from one dinner?”
“How long do you think it takes?”
“Are you sure you read him right?”
“I’m sure.” Finished unloading the dishwasher, Liz wandered into the living room and sank onto the sofa. “Did he comment on our date?”
“Not much. We asked him if he enjoyed dinner, and he said you were good company.”
Liz raked her fingers through her long hair. At least he hadn’t used what had happened to make her look bad. That brought him up a little in her esteem. “We have conflicting personalities.”
“I’ve never known you to conflict with anyone.”
A call-waiting beep interrupted their conversation, causing a prickle of excitement along Liz’s spine. Was it Dave?
She checked her caller ID. Sure enough. She didn’t have to decide whether or not to phone him. She only had to decide whether or not to answer. And regardless of all the reasons she shouldn’t, she already knew what she was going to do. “I’m tired. I’ll let you go.”
“Liz, I heard that beep and I know what it means—”
“Talk to you tomorrow,” she said and switched over.
CHAPTER THREE
“THERE YOU ARE,” DAVE SAID. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”
Liz had been avoiding his calls and refusing to return his messages—a futile exercise. Despite her resolution to forget him and find someone better suited to her needs, she was right back where she’d been before, wanting to hear his voice, see him, be with him.
“I’ve been busy,” she said, choosing to keep the truth to herself.
“Getting your chocolate shop up and running?”
“Trying to.”
They were talking about innocuous things, but the tension