Beth and the Bachelor. Susan Mallery

taught my children to write thank-you notes for presents. I can’t believe I just walked out on you like that.’’

      ‘‘Me, either.’’

      ‘‘It was just—’’She waved her hands in the air, then slapped them on the tabletop. ‘‘I couldn’t stay. Everything was wrong. The people at the restaurant were so rich and sophisticated. I felt like they were laughing and pointing. I thought you were bored and hoping to end the evening early. And no, I’m not pushing responsibility on everyone but myself. I didn’t like the idea of a date from the beginning. I let myself be talked into it. I should have listened to my instincts and told you the truth. I don’t usually mess up this badly. I apologize for my behavior and I’m very sorry if you were embarrassed or in any way inconvenienced by what I did. I mean that.’’

      Sincerity softened her mouth and darkened her eyes. Despite her age, her lengthy marriage and having had two kids, she obviously hadn’t learned how to hide what she was thinking. He found he liked that quality.

      ‘‘I accept your apology. The flowers were a nice touch. No one has ever sent them to me before.’’

      Beth smiled. ‘‘I thought about baking you cookies, but that seemed so motherish.’’

      He tried to remember if his mother, or any of his stepmothers, had ever bothered baking cookies. He thought not. Several of the housekeepers had baked, but that wasn’t the same thing.

      She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. The front of her T-shirt gaped a little, but the neck was too high to show off any cleavage. Todd found himself hoping for a hint of exposed curve.

      ‘‘So was it too horrible when I didn’t come back?’’ she asked.

      He shook his head. ‘‘I told the waiter there had been a sudden illness in the family.’’

      ‘‘I’m sure he believed you. After all, you’re not the kind of guy who gets stood up much.’’

      Rather than agreeing, he took a drink of his iced tea. ‘‘Can I reimburse you for the drinks?’’

      Her unexpected question nearly made him spit. Irritation sharpened his voice. ‘‘I understand that you weren’t willing to spend an evening in my company, but please don’t insult me further.’’

      Beth hunched forward as if he’d threatened her physically. ‘‘I’m doing this all wrong. Please, Todd, I wasn’t trying to be insulting. I really do feel badly about everything. I’m trying to make it better, but I see I’m just making it worse. Obviously I shouldn’t be allowed out of the house with a member of the opposite sex until I take a remedial course on how to deal with men.’’

      Her discomfort eased his annoyance. He found himself leaning forward, as well, getting closer to her…wanting to touch her. ‘‘The class isn’t a bad idea. You’re really out of practice. I shudder to think how you would have trampled on my ego if this had been a real date.’’

      ‘‘Maybe you could write a book on the subject. After all, you have the experience.’’

      He grinned. ‘‘Too many women would want to be mentioned in the dedication. There wouldn’t be room for actual text.’’

      ‘‘I see.’’ Beth smiled at him. ‘‘You’re much nicer than I thought you would be. I like that in a man. So, have you ever been married?’’

      Her question, on the heels of her compliment, left him fumbling for words. Normally he knew exactly what a woman was going to say at any given moment, yet Beth caught him off guard on a regular basis.

      ‘‘Not even once,’’ he told her. ‘‘My parents have made marrying, divorcing and then marrying again something of a second business. I’ve lost track of their combined number of marriages, but as of three or four years ago I’d had about thirty-six step- or half siblings. I keep in touch with a few of them, but not many. There are some I can’t even remember.’’

      ‘‘Wow. The rich really are different.’’ Beth tilted her head. ‘‘I can’t relate to that, except maybe from watching Dynasty on television. Do you remember that show?’’

      He shook his head. He loved how the afternoon light filtered in through the window and caught her hair. The dark red brightened like fire coming to life. He noticed she had tiny lines by her eyes. They crinkled when she smiled and he wanted to trace them.

      ‘‘The Carringtons were this really rich family. Several of them and their friends got married a lot. It was interesting but nothing like my life.’’ She took another sip of tea. ‘‘I met Darren—my husband—in high school. Both of our families were completely boring. No second or third marriages. Darren was a couple of years older than me and we got married when I was nineteen. I worked to help put him through his last year of college and then through graduate school.’’

      She continued talking about Darren’s job as a geochemical engineer for a Houston-based oil company. Todd realized that her life sounded as strange to him as his had been to her. He’d never known a woman who worked to put her husband through college. He thought that only happened in the movies. What would have made her do that? Love? Did it really exist? He had his doubts.

      ‘‘Tell me about your children,’’ he said when she paused. She straightened and her whole face took on a glow. ‘‘They’re wonderful. They’ve been terrific since they lost their dad. Jodi is sixteen, and a junior in high school. She’s brilliant and beautiful.’’ Beth fingered her bangs. ‘‘She has my red hair. Matt is fourteen and he takes after his dad. Brown hair, brown eyes and glasses. He’s my little man.’’ Her mouth turned up in a smile. ‘‘When I got home early on Friday, Matt wanted to know if something bad had happened. There he was, all long legs and too-big feet, ready to defend my honor. I love them both. They’ve been a blessing to me. I don’t think I would have survived Darren’s death without them. They gave me a reason to keep on living.’’

      Todd didn’t know what to do with the information she’d given him. He was used to being the object of adoration in any relationship. Women wanted and he gave. From the looks of things, Beth didn’t need anything he had to offer. Not that he was interested in having a relationship with her. The contrasts were intriguing, but not significant.

      She glanced at her watch. ‘‘It’s nearly four o’clock. I’m sure I’m keeping you from important work.’’

      ‘‘Just a meeting. I walked out without saying where I was going. I’m sure everyone is in a panic right about now.’’

      ‘‘You sound happy.’’

      ‘‘It keeps them on their toes. Sometimes I’m too predictable.’’

      She shook her head. ‘‘I can think of several words with which to describe you, but ‘predictable’ isn’t one of them.’’ That pleased him. He finished his iced tea.

      ‘‘Would you like some more?’’ she asked. ‘‘I also have some cookies. Peanut butter, and chocolate chip.’’

      ‘‘Homemade?’’

      She filled his glass with ice, then poured in more tea. ‘‘Of course. They taste better and they’re cheaper.’’

      That got his attention. She was a widow with two children. Was money a problem? He remembered her concern about prices at the restaurant on Saturday, then he glanced around the room and wished he knew enough about residential real estate to be able to estimate the value of the house. He could price commercial buildings in the loop to within a penny per square foot, but this market was beyond him.

      Had Darren left her a decent insurance policy? He wanted to ask, but it wasn’t his business.

      Beth set a plate of cookies in front of him. He took one of each and ate them. ‘‘Perfect,’’ he announced.

      ‘‘Jodi made the peanut butter ones, and I did the chocolate chip. I’m not expecting you to claim