Page 17 of A Man After Midnight

“I heard he has varied tastes. Models, actresses, princesses … even a certain tattooed gothic hottie who has her own TV show. He’s a player, Caro. He’s not for you.”

For a moment Caroline let the warning rattle her, allowing her insecurities to run amok. Aldy stood there, watching her, and the pity she saw in her friend’s eyes helped to push it all away. There would be time for self-reflection later.

“You think I should get some tattoos?”

“Caroline!”

“Aldy! I’m joking,” Caroline chided. “I’ve been having a wonderful time with Wren, and the sex hasn’t been pervy at all!” Caroline ignored the little twinge of consciousness that statement produced.

Aldy’s lips twisted into an unpleasant frown. “You’ve been hurt enough, Caro.”

“And that’s why I love you. Always watching my back.”

“That’s what best friends do. It’s in the handbook, you know.”

Caroline smiled. “So, I’m meeting up with Wren around nine this evening.”

Aldy sighed. “Did my talk go in one ear and out the other?”

Caroline hugged her. “No, but I know that this is just a weekend affair. I’ve got my eyes open.” She pulled back to smile at her friend. “You wanna do dinner together?”

“Pizza?” Aldy asked. “We can take the subway down to Little Italy and chow down on some delizioso Italian cuisine.”

Caroline laughed as she went to the closet. “Let me take a shower first and then we can head out.”

“You’ve got fifteen minutes. I’m starving.”

Caroline only shook her head as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

****

“You’ve been staring at me like I’m a bug under a microscope,” Wren said warily as he downed the last of his B & B liqueur.

Caroline had her chin resting in her palm as she studied him through the candlelight. They had come to the Big Band Dance Hall for drinks, and it had presented the perfect opportunity to study him.

“I’ve heard a rumor about you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “From your friend Aldrin Crenshaw?”

“Leave Aldy out of this,” she said. “She’s very protective.”

Wren inclined his head. “All right. Which rumor would you like to address, Caroline?”

“Which rumor?”

He shrugged. “I may have appeared in several tabloids over the years.”

She blinked, then chuckled. “Touché.”

“So, which rumor? I can assure you, I’ve not fathered any children and I’m not secretly in the closet.”

Caroline thought about the redhead for a brief moment. “Fair enough. Then let me ask you this, why are you with me?”

“I don’t think I understand the question,” he admitted, looking perplexed.

“I’ve heard about the type of women you usually go out with, and I’m just wondering how I fit into the mix.”

“Did you ever think that it’s because you’re unbelievably beautiful? Or sexy as hell?”

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