I Can Make You Love Me. Karen White-Owens

from under the napkin and shook out the linen, draping it across Wynn’s lap.

      “It’s getting close to your wedding date.” Adam picked up his water goblet and took a drink. “Is everything under control?”

      “Three weeks,” Eric replied.

      “I wish you and Amelia the best.”

      “Thank you. We appreciate it.”

      Listening to this exchange, it became obvious to Wynn that Adam frequented Seldom Blues on a regular basis. She tucked that thought away for future examination and turned her attention back to the men.

      Hands linked behind his back, Eric asked, “Have you had a chance to review our wine selection?”

      “Yes.” Adam handed the list to the server. “We’ll have a bottle of champagne. Also, two lump crab cakes for an appetizer.”

      Nodding slightly, Eric complimented, “Excellent choices, Mr. Carlyle.” He started to the door. “I’ll be back in a moment with your wine.”

      The beat of Ramsey Lewis’s piano softly filled the room. Adam placed his hand over hers, caressing the tender skin with his thumb. “Thanks for coming out with me.”

      Uncertain what all of these soft caresses truly meant, she eased her hand from under his and placed it in her lap. Time to start the small talk. Keep things light, she thought, “Thanks for asking. You seem to know the staff here pretty well. Do you come here often?”

      “Often enough. Gautier’s offices are in the RenCen,” he explained. “We do a lot of business in here.”

      “How long have you worked for Gautier?”

      “Reynolds hired me right out of law school. Actually, once I accepted the position, I moved to Paris for a couple of years.”

      “Wow! Paris! What are you doing back in Detroit?”

      “I missed my home. Don’t get me wrong; Paris was exciting and fun. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures. But there’s nothing like your mom’s home cooking, and living in your own country or sleeping in your own bed.”

      “I know what you mean. It’s a comfort zone you need to cross every once in a while.”

      “Exactly.”

      Before he could add another thought, there was a light tap on the door and then Eric returned with a bottle and a silver wine carafe. He held the bottle for Adam to see. Adam gave his approval with a quick nod. Eric twisted off the wire and pushed the cork from the bottle. Champagne flowed freely from the top and into the carafe. After a second, the foam morphed into liquid and he poured wine into Adam’s glass. “Here we are.”

      Adam lifted his glass and took a sip. Nodding a second time, the young man filled Wynn’s glass.

      Eric returned the bottle to the carafe and headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a minute or two with your crab cakes.”

      Adam lifted his glass. “Let’s make a toast.”

      Toast? Should they be making toasts? “Sure. What are we toasting to?”

      “The start of a new friendship.”

      Friends? Maybe. She picked up her glass and touched it to his. “To old buddies and new friendships.”

      “Excellent,” he stated, sipping from his glass. “Topic change. Who’d you marry?”

      Wynn felt heat flood her cheeks. “I don’t know if you remember him. He used to come to your house when I baby-sat. Jim. Jim Harrison.”

      “The jock?”

      Nodding, Wynn answered, “You remember him?”

      “Yeah. I never liked him.” Adam sneered. “He always treated me like a pest.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      Adam waved away her apology. “No problem. Trust me. I’m way over that.”

      Wynn smiled.

      Concern replaced the laughter on Adam’s face. “What happened?”

      She stared out the window, feeling her good cheer disappear. Honestly, she didn’t know how to answer Adam’s question. “I don’t know. Things were good for a while and then one day our marriage changed. We didn’t seem to like similar things. Jim and I couldn’t watch a television show together without arguing. The kids didn’t help our situation. Jim ignored them and me. About two years ago, he moved out and in with his secretary. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it.” Her voice trembled. “My family became a cliche.”

      “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

      “That’s all right. I could never regret having my boys.” Wynn waved her hands in front of her. She gave herself a mental shake. “Let’s talk about you. No girlfriend. No kids. How come?”

      “Well, I’m not gay if that’s what you’re asking.”

      “I didn’t think so. You’re very handsome. Upwardly mobile, and from everything I’ve seen, you’ve got your life headed in the right direction. What’s going on?”

      “Fair question. I was involved with someone for a while. I thought we would be together.”

      “And?” Wynn prompted.

      “It went something like what happened to you. One day everything was fine and a couple of months later we were headed in different directions.”

      “I think I know what you mean.”

      “Let’s talk about more interesting stuff. Tell me about your boys.”

      “That’s my favorite topic. They’re six and eight. I’m very lucky. They’re good kids. I’ve got one math whiz and one artist. Both are interested in Xboxes, basketball, and the movies. My weekends are spent at the Boys Club, movie theatres, and the mall.”

      “It sounds like you’ve got two winners. But I’d expect nothing less from you. Is your husband involved with them?”

      “Some. Not as much as I’d like. I know they miss their dad and would like to see more of him. But I can’t help that. It’s Jim’s choice whether he plays a part in their lives.”

      “Trust me, they do need it. Having that male role model in a boy’s life is so important. It’s good that you keep them involved with different programs; it’ll pick up the slack of what your husband isn’t doing.”

      “Ex-husband.”

      “Sorry.”

      “No problem. It’s good to hear from a male point of view.”

      Adam shrugged. That sensual flame blazed from his eyes and she responded to it.

      “Anytime. What do you do for yourself? How do you relax and enjoy yourself?”

      Her heart began to race in her chest. Get a grip, Wynn warned silently. Just because you haven’t been with a man in two years doesn’t mean you should fall all over the first man that shows you any attention.

      “I don’t have a lot of free time,” she admitted. “Between the kids and Nursing Solutions, that’s my life.”

      “We’re going to have to change that.”

      Before she could respond, the door opened and Eric appeared with plates filled with crab cakes and a black wire bread basket. The aroma of seafood, onion, and a hint of garlic made her mouth water.

      Grinning at her, Adam said, “You’re going to love this. It’s almost impossible for me to come here and not order crab cakes.”

      Eric placed the food in front of them before topping off their wineglasses. After returning the champagne bottle to the carafe, he headed to the door. “I’ll come back and take the rest of your