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“I do. We have a class on Friday. For singles.” She paused.“You’re welcome to come, if you’d like.”

As soon as the words came out, she wanted to call them back.What was she doing inviting a good-looking single guy whom she was interested into an evening with a bunch of single women? Talk about stupid.

But she couldn’t retract the invitation, so she had to standthere, hoping he would say no.

Instead, he smiled. “I’d like to see you work. What time?”

“Six.”

“I’ll be there.” He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.“I’m seeing Serenity tomorrow,” he said as he straightened. “I’m going to thankher for introducing us.”

Jenna stared into his dark blue eyes. “Me, too.”

* * *

Despite the disaster of an evening, Violet found herselfback at Cliff’s condo. She’d been there before, once, when he’d cooked herdinner. Then she’d admired the open space, the view, the masculine décor. Nowshe roamed his living room, feeling restless and confused.

The guy she knew, the guy she’d gone out with and liked andlaughed with, had been noticeably absent tonight. Instead, her date had beencondescending and had gone out of his way to make everyone else uncomfortable.She hadn’t recognized him at all and he’d embarrassed her.

“Want something?” he asked as he poured himself anotherScotch.

“No, thanks.” She’d lost count of the drinks he’d already hadand wondered if that was the problem. Was Cliff a lousy drunk?

After taking a swallow, he moved toward her. “I know you wantto help out your friend, but let’s not do that again,” he said, putting his armson her waist and lightly kissing her neck. “I don’t want to share you withanyone. It’s not the same when other people are around.”

He moved his lips against her skin. She felt the physicalcontact but had no reaction. No tingle, no anticipation.

“You didn’t like Ellington,” she murmured.

“I know his type. Sanctimonious. Jenna can do better. She’sgreat. But that guy. I’ve seen him on cable. He thinks he’s hot stuff.”

Violet got it. Cliff had been threatened by Ellington. He’dreacted out of fear. “He’s different, but I don’t think he’s that awful.”

“Did you like him?”

So much in those four words. She saw the worry in Cliff’s eyes.As she watched, he swallowed and put down the drink. His body shifted, as if hewere bracing himself for a hard blow.

“He’s famous. At least around here,” Cliff added.

Violet sighed and her irritation drained away. “I don’t careabout stuff like that,” she said, moving toward him. “I’m more into who the guyis than what he does.”

She put her hands on Cliff’s shoulders and kissed him. “There’sonly one guy I like and he’s in this room.”

She felt his muscles relax, even as he leaned in and kissedher.

“You sure?” he asked, his mouth against hers.

“Very.”

Cliff kissed her. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Do you?”

“Not if you have something else you’d like to do.”

He chuckled, then kissed her deeply. She leaned into him,wanting to respond, even as she felt her body begin the process of shuttingdown. She felt nothing, reacted automatically, did what was expected.

When he thrust his tongue in her mouth, she responded in kind,tasting only the Scotch. As he touched her breasts, her mind joined her bodyuntil nothing but the mechanics were left.

Tears burned in her eyes. She didn’t want to be like this, shethought, frustrated and hurt and afraid she would never be normal again. Shewanted to feel what he was doing. She wanted to want him. But there was noconnection between his touch and her brain. She could see what he was doing, butshe couldn’t feel it.

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