The Danforths: Reid, Kimberly and Jake. Maureen Child

he had any answers when it came to women. But he realized it just might explain why Tina had left without even saying goodbye.

      When she hadn’t come back from the rest room, he’d assumed she’d made up her mind about coming home with him and the answer had been no. He’d also considered it might be payback for the way he’d left her in the garden the night before. Somehow, though, he didn’t think that was Tina’s style, and when Rachel hadn’t come back, either, even after the band started playing again, and Sophia seemed to disappear, as well, it hadn’t taken a rocket scientist to figure out something was up. Now he at least had an inkling why the Alexander women had all vanished like smoke in the wind.

      His expression dark, Jason looked at Reid. ‘‘I wanted to put a fist in your face. Nearly jumped off the stage a couple of times. You’re bigger than me, but I figured the element of surprise would be in my favor, in the short run, anyway.’’

      Reid lifted a brow. ‘‘What did I do?’’

      Jason shrugged. ‘‘I see you sitting with my girl, then she breaks up with me. What would you think if you saw the woman you love with another guy?’’

      ‘‘I have no idea,’’ Reid said honestly. ‘‘I’ve never been in love.’’

      ‘‘Lucky you.’’ Jason shook his head. ‘‘It hurts like hell. Walking around with your heart on your sleeve, it’s damn embarrassing.’’

      Reid might have agreed, but why kick a guy when he was down? And anyway, if that’s what love felt like, he wanted no part of it.

      ‘‘Anyway—’’ Jason sighed ‘‘—once I calmed down a little, I figured out she didn’t break up with me because of you. I’ve just been jealous since you showed up. Everyone’s talking about seeing you and Rachel together, and what a great pair you’d make. I know she wouldn’t cheat on me, but the thought of you making a move on her made me crazy.’’

      ‘‘Women do that to a man,’’ Reid said with nod.

      They clinked bottles and drank.

      ‘‘All Mariska talks about is having a Danforth for a son-in-law.’’ Anger narrowed Jason’s eyes. ‘‘How’s that supposed to make a guy feel?’’

      Not so good, Reid figured. Unless the guy happened to be a Danforth and had a thing for one of Mariska’s daughters. Not that he was interested in marriage, of course, Reid thought. Hell, no. Maybe one day he’d settle down, but that was way in the future. He was attracted to Tina, very attracted, but he sure wasn’t ready for picket fences and baby carriages.

      When Jason indicated another round to the bartender, Reid could see that an already long night was going to be even longer. What the hell, he thought with a sigh. There were taxis outside and he didn’t have any better place to be, anyway. He’d pay for it in the morning, as would Jason, but somehow getting drunk tonight seemed to beat the alternative of being alone.

      ‘‘If I live to be a hundred, I’ll never love again.’’ Her nose red, her eyes swollen from her tears, Rachel stared unseeing at the cup of peppermint tea that Tina set on the kitchen table. ‘‘My life is over.’’

      After two pots of coffee, and because it was nearly three in the morning, Tina had brewed a pot of organic tea. With all the caffeine buzzing in her system, she doubted she’d be able to fall asleep for three days. In the corner, Delilah slept peacefully in her cushioned basket.

      ‘‘Your life is not over,’’ Tina said. ‘‘We’ll figure something out.’’

      Rachel shook her head. ‘‘The minute he told me he was going to Los Angeles, I knew we had to break up. He’s going to be a star, Tina. A big star. I’d only be in his way.’’

      Tina sighed. They’d been over this a hundred times since they’d left Steam, but Rachel was being ridiculously stubborn. ‘‘He loves you, Rachel. You know he does.’’

      ‘‘Did you see the way all those women were looking at him tonight?’’ She reached for another tissue from the nearly empty box on the table. ‘‘Why would he stay with me, subject himself to all the hassels from Mom and Dad, when he could have any woman he wants?’’

      ‘‘He wants you, Ray.’’ Tina couldn’t understand why her sister had suddenly become so incredibly unreasonable and emotional. ‘‘He adores you. Don’t give up so easily. We’ll call Jason tomorrow.’’

      ‘‘And you.’’ Delicately Rachel blew her nose. ‘‘I ruined your night, too. You should have gone back to the club with Sophia.’’

      ‘‘For one thing, I only went there for you,’’ Tina said firmly. It killed her to see Rachel like this, frustrated her that she couldn’t talk any sense into her. ‘‘And for another thing, do you think I’d leave you alone when you’re hurting like this? If Sophia hadn’t already promised the owner she’d help him close tonight, she wouldn’t have gone back, either.’’

      ‘‘Still, if it wasn’t for me,’’ Rachel said forlornly, ‘‘you’d be with Reid right now.’’

      Tina’s pulse jumped. ‘‘What are you talking about?’’

      ‘‘For heaven’s sake.’’ Rachel rolled her reddened eyes. ‘‘I’m not blind. I saw the way he was looking at you.’’

      Hoping her hand wouldn’t shake, Tina calmly picked up her cup of tea. ‘‘What way was that?’’

      ‘‘Like he wanted to cover you with whipped cream and lick it all off.’’

      ‘‘Rachel!’’ Tea sloshed out of Tina’s cup. ‘‘You didn’t just say that!’’

      A smile, the first one since they’d left the club, curved Rachel’s lips. ‘‘Why shouldn’t I say it? It’s true, isn’t it?’’

      Reaching for a napkin, Tina wiped up the spilled tea. ‘‘He looks at every woman that way.’’

      ‘‘He never looked at me that way, or Sophia.’’ Rachel pulled her feet up onto the chair and wrapped her arms around her knees. ‘‘And every man looks at Sophia that way. So did he ask you?’’

      ‘‘Ask me what?’’

      ‘‘To spend the night with him.’’

      ‘‘Rachel!’’ Tina’s cup clattered onto its saucer.

      ‘‘Stop saying my name.’’ Rachel dropped her chin on her knees. ‘‘Besides, it makes me feel better to talk about your love life. You want me to feel better, don’t you?’’

      ‘‘Okay, okay.’’ Tina rolled her head back. ‘‘So he asked me. But I assure you, it has nothing to do with love.’’

      ‘‘I knew it.’’ Rachel hugged her legs tighter. ‘‘So what did you say?’’

      ‘‘I never exactly got around to answering.’’

      ‘‘And then I pulled you away,’’ Rachel said on a sigh. ‘‘Oh, T, I’m so sorry. To think you’ve had to sit here all night and listen to my problems, when you could have had a glorious night making love with Reid Danforth.’’

      ‘‘Sex.’’ Her tea had a bitter taste when she swallowed. ‘‘Nothing more than that. You saved me from a big mistake.’’

      ‘‘You don’t know that.’’ Rachel covered Tina’s hand with her own. ‘‘I saw you two dancing together. There was something there, T. Something more than just sex.’’

      If only that were true, she thought. But she couldn’t let herself believe that, couldn’t let herself even think it. If she did, she’d be the one sitting here with red eyes and a broken heart, emptying a box of tissues.

      Shaking her head, Tina smiled at her sister. ‘‘It’s for the best, Ray.