He leaned toward her again. “Don’t sweat it. I don’t. You’re an attractive, vital woman. Sexually in your prime.”
A second opportunity to choke, she thought, torn between hysterical laughter and the burning need to call one of her children to come rescue her. Sexually in her prime? She’d been dating for a while now and could barely bring herself to kiss a man. Sex was impossible to imagine.
She drew in a breath. “Steve, this has been great,” she began.
“It has. I want to see you again.”
“Why?”
His blue eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I like you, Denise.”
“You’re very nice, too,” she murmured, “but let’s be realistic. Have you been married?”
“Divorced.”
“Any kids?”
“No.”
“Want them?”
“Sure.”
“Exactly. Not to be too blunt, but that ship has sailed. I have six children, the oldest of whom is…” She had to swallow hard. “The oldest is about eight years younger than you.”
“So you were a baby when you got married. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. I have grandchildren. I don’t want to start over with someone. I want…”
She pressed her lips together when she realized she didn’t know what she wanted. The impossible, she supposed. A man who made her heart beat faster, who understood her and her world and found both were exactly what he’d been looking for. A man she could picture clearly, but was taking great pains to avoid.
“It’s been great,” she said, rising to her feet. “Thanks for the drink.”
He stood as well. “You’re leaving?”
“I’m saying goodbye.”
With that she walked through the tasting room and back to her car. But when she got there, she didn’t get inside.
She’d barely had five sips of her wine, so she wasn’t worried about driving. Still, she stood in the fading sunlight and fought back tears.
There were times when she missed her husband so much she thought she would rip apart from the inside out. Times when it had seemed impossible to go on. Today wasn’t one of those, because as she stared out at the mountains, she wasn’t thinking about her late husband.
Ralph hadn’t been the one to bring her here. That had been Max. Dangerous, exciting Max, who rode a motorcycle and had kissed like he meant it. Max who had shown her what it meant to be swept away by passion and love.
He’d left, because that was what men like him did. By then, she’d already met Ralph and realized he was the kind of man she could love her whole life. Being with him had been different from being with Max. There hadn’t been danger at all. Where Max had withheld, Ralph had offered.
He’d given her six beautiful children and the happiest years of her life. He’d been her other half. They’d loved each other faithfully long past his passing.
She got in her car and started the engine. While she didn’t believe there was only one great love in each person’s life, she did believe that a man like Ralph wasn’t likely to come along again. That left her with the choice of accepting second best or simply giving up on the whole dating thing.
She drove out of the parking lot and headed for home. If she hurried, she could still join Kent and Reese for dinner, take Fluffy for a walk and lose herself in the familiar. Wasn’t that better than anything a man had to offer?
“YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, right?” Montana asked. “You’re clear on the rules?”
Reese looked at her with a combination of patience and pity. “We’ve been over the rules three times.”
Probably a good enough answer, she thought. “I’m nervous.”
They were in the hospital elevator, going up to see Kalinda. Montana had left Cece at Max’s place, thinking it would be easier to only deal with Reese for now.
When they exited the elevator, Reese stopped and looked at her. “I’m not going to say anything bad. I promise. I know she looks different and maybe seeing her will scare me a little. But I’ll get over it. I don’t know how she’s feeling, but I’m not a little kid. I know she feels bad.”
“Look at you,” Montana said, feeling impressed. She hugged her nephew. “You’re growing up.”
“Six more years until I get my license.” He grinned. “I know how many days, even.”
She winced. “You probably don’t want to mention it to your dad. I think knowing how close you are to driving would give him a heart attack.”
Reese laughed.
They walked toward the burn unit. Once they were inside, she led the way to Kalinda’s room. Fay met them at the door.
“She’s a little tired,” Fay said by way of greeting. She looked more cautious than excited and Montana suspected she was having second thoughts.
“Are you sure about this?” Fay asked.
Montana glanced at Reese, who nodded.
“Okay, then.”