Mary Lynn - Totally Tempting

“Carl! What a surprise. What brings you to Chicago at this time of year?”

Carl got up and hugged her. He’d been Chuck’s best man at their wedding, and as the maid of honor, Jodie had spent time with him. He was a great guy. He was also gay, which she considered to be a loss to the female population.

“The company sent me. I tried to convince them that Florida would have been better, but they wouldn’t listen to me.”

Carl could have been a model had he wanted, but he preferred being an engineer.

“How long are you going to be here?” she asked.

“Until Tuesday. Chuck and Lynette insisted I stay here with them. I told them I could get a hotel since it was a business expense, but…” He shrugged his shoulders.

“I know. I’ve never been able to win an argument with Chuck either, and you’ve known him longer than I have!”

Chuck chimed in. “We’ve got a lot to catch up on. The guest bedroom is far enough away from the kids that he won’t be disturbed by them.”

Lynette came in from the kitchen. “Hi, sweetie,” she said to Jodie, giving her a hug. “You’re just in time to help me get the food on the table.”

“Where are the boys?”

“They’re spending the night with Chuck’s folks, and Emily is asleep. I won’t guarantee for how long, though, so let’s eat.”

Over dinner Carl told them what was going on in New York and discussed some of the plays he’d seen. His partner was an actor who was presently in one of the popular musicals on Broadway.

“I would love to see him onstage sometime,” Jodie said. “His voice alone sends chills through me.”

“And when did you hear his voice?” Lynette asked with a smile.

“While you guys were on your honeymoon and I called Carl to tell him he’d left his jacket in my car. Carl wasn’t there, so Chris and I had a nice long chat.”

“Telling tales about me is what they were doing,” Carl said with a mock frown.

“As I recall,” Chuck said, “he was touring when we got married and couldn’t come to the wedding.”

Carl nodded. “He’d just gotten in when Jodie called.”

“I didn’t see the coat in the backseat for several days. It had fallen to the floor.”

“I was wondering if the three of you would like to see the musical showing at the McCormick. I saw it on Broadway and it’s really good.”

Lynette shook her head. “As much as I’d like to, I can’t ask Chuck’s folks to keep the boys two nights in a row.”

“Which is an excuse,” Chuck said. “She doesn’t want to leave Emily with anyone.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Carl looked at Jodie. “How about you?”

“I’d love to! I haven’t gone to the theatre in much too long a time.”

“Great. I’ll see about tickets for tomorrow night. If they’re sold out, we can catch the Sunday matinee—that is, if you’re available.”

“I think I can safely say that my social calendar is quite bare either day.”

Carl shook his head. “Then the men around here are blind. You look sensational. Where did you get the tan? The contrast with your blond hair and blue eyes is stunning.”

“I was in Hawaii last week.”

“Alone?” he asked with a lifted brow.

She glanced at Lynette and Chuck. “Well, not exactly.”

“Aha.”

“No, no, nothing like that. I was with my boss who had business there.”

“He must be eighty years old not to have been aware of you.”

Jodie laughed and knew she was blushing. “He’s a businessman, completely wrapped up in his company.” She refused to look at Lynette. Instead she kept her eyes trained on Carl.

After dinner the men went into the other room while Jodie and Lynette cleaned up the kitchen. Jodie was putting dishes in the dishwasher when Lynette said, “I have a question. You don’t have to answer it, but did Dean make a pass at you while you were there?”

Jodie took her time straightening and turning to face Lynette. “A pass?” she repeated, stalling for time.

“You know…did he try to kiss you or suggest you could be more than a secretary to him? I couldn’t help but notice that you blush every time he’s mentioned, which has never been your reaction to him before.” She studied Jodie’s face. “You’re right. It’s none of my business. You’re a grown woman and I don’t need to hover.” She touched Jodie’s cheek. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

“There’s nothing going on between us,” Jodie answered truthfully. “He’s all business at the office. Nothing’s changed. He’s already dating someone else.”

“Doesn’t take him long, does it?”

“I’m sure they’re lined up waiting for him to notice them.”

They walked into the living room and Jodie turned to Carl. “I need to get home. Call me when you have the tickets.”

“Even if we don’t get the tickets for tomorrow night, I’d like to take you to dinner.”

“I’d like that.”

“Good.”

“I’ll draw you a map to her place,” Chuck said. “She’s moved since you were here last.”

“Great,” Jodie said. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”

Jodie drove home thinking about the evening. She thought the world of Carl. He was drop-dead handsome with a wry sense of humor, graduated at the top of his class at MIT, but most important, he was a warm, gracious person.

Nothing like Dean, who had returned to being a bear this past week, growling at whoever was closest, which was usually her.

The oddest thing, though. He’d sent her a dozen roses today. When she’d thanked him, he’d nodded without looking up and said, “I noticed the others were fading. It’s nice to have fresh flowers in the office.”

So the flowers weren’t really for her. They were for the office.

Once home, Jodie went to bed. While waiting for sleep, she wondered what Dean was doing tonight.

Dean sat at his desk at home and read contracts that had been prepared for new clients. With all the security breaches in the corporate world these days, more and more companies were looking for high-tech solutions, causing his business to flourish. So why wasn’t he more excited about the increase?

Was it possible he was bored?

Of course not. That would never happen.

It was almost midnight before he went to bed. Despite the hour, he had trouble falling asleep.

Carl had managed to get tickets for the Saturday-night performance. He picked Jodie up early enough for them to have dinner before the show.

As soon as she opened the door, he said, “You look fabulous, Ms. Cameron.”

“Come in, Carl. You look stunning yourself.”

“Stunning?” He quirked his eyebrow.

“You look like you should be modeling. Custom-made suit?”

He nodded. “So. Are we ready to go?”

“Absolutely.” She put on her coat, picked up her purse and joined him at the door.

By the time they reached the theater, Jodie had laughed so much her tears had wiped off the little makeup she wore. Not that she cared. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d so enjoyed herself.

With Dean perhaps?

Don’t go there.

Once they were seated, she said, “I can’t believe you got such good seats.”

“Actually they were a last-minute cancellation. Looks as if we lucked out.”

As the lights began to dim, Jodie noticed a couple being seated a few rows in front of them. She recognized the man immediately—it was Dean with his new girlfriend.

She couldn’t believe that they had chosen the same night to see the musical. She gave her head a quick shake of dismissal.

“Something wrong?” Carl leaned toward her to ask.

“Not really. I just saw the man I work for. He doesn’t seem to be the musical-theater kind, so I was a little surprised.” She nodded toward the couple.