You've Got Game. Patricia Kay

wasn’t Jonah’s fault Nick DeSanto was here. But she couldn’t help wishing Jonah were different, that he didn’t wear his long hair in a ponytail, and that he didn’t look as if he were ten years younger than she. Why what Nick thought about her or her date was important to her, she didn’t know. She only knew she wished she were with someone older and more sophisticated.

      And then, just when Lorna thought she couldn’t stand another minute of pretending to be having a wonderful time, Nick and his date left. Lorna hadn’t realized just how tense she was until they walked out the door.

      Even so, the evening had been ruined for her, and she couldn’t wait until it was time to go home. When Claudia yawned and looked at her watch, saying, “It’s almost midnight, and I’m tired. Do you mind if we go?” Lorna couldn’t agree fast enough.

      There was another awkward moment when Jonah walked her to her door, when she was afraid he’d want to kiss her good-night, but all he did was grin and say he’d had fun and hoped to see her again.

      “Thank you,” Lorna said, knowing she’d make an excuse if he called her.

      And then he was gone, and she was blessedly alone. Finally she was free to think about the evening—especially about seeing Nick. She wished it hadn’t happened. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t help feeling having Nick see her at the restaurant with Jonah had put her at a disadvantage.

      And yet there was a part of her that wondered if he’d thought she looked attractive tonight. Why she cared, she couldn’t have said. She certainly wasn’t interested in Nick. Not only would she never date someone she worked with, but Nick DeSanto was not her type.

      Not by a long shot.

      Forget about him, she told herself as she climbed into bed. What he thinks is not important.

      “Want to come in?” Cherry said in her low, sexy drawl. There was subtext written into every word.

      Nick shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m driving over to Lake Charles in the morning, and I need to get an early start.” That was true, but in the past it wouldn’t have stopped him from the spending the night with a sexy number like Cherry.

      “Are you sure?” She moved closer, putting her arms around his neck.

      “It’s tempting,” he said gallantly, “but I can’t.” For some reason, he just wasn’t in the mood tonight.

      Cherry pouted. “You’re no fun.” She continued to wheedle, but he remained firm, and finally she stopped trying to get him to change his mind.

      Later, as he drove home, he thought about how he hadn’t been in the mood for a long time now. He never would have confessed it to his mother or his sister, but Nick was tired of the dating scene. He was ready for a committed relationship, but some days he wondered if he’d ever find the right kind of woman.

      What he wanted was the kind of woman who would not only fit in with his family, but who was smart and interesting and sexy. Someone who was a match for him, who would give as good as she got. Someone he could respect.

      For some reason, his thoughts turned to Lorna Hathaway. Not that she was his kind of woman. Not even close. Still, he had to admit she’d surprised him tonight. He never would have imagined the ice queen could look so…hot. He’d noticed her long before she’d seen him. Watching her dance with that young guy, he’d been amazed. She’d shown a side of herself Nick hadn’t known existed.

      Nick fell asleep wondering how he could use what he’d learned about Lorna Hathaway tonight to his advantage.