“I take it your landlord doesn’t accept pets.”

“Right. Big dogs don’t belong cooped up inside all day, anyway.”

Jack patted her on the back. “Give yourself a break. You’ll get there.”

Jessie forced a smile onto her face. “I know. Someday.”

Danny ran from his classroom and up to them. “I’m ready,” he informed them.

“I have to get to class,” Monica announced. “Thanks for showing me your classroom, buddy.” She knelt down to talk to Danny. “Watch your mom for me, will ya? Make sure she takes a nap.”

Danny giggled.

“Are you staying late?” Jessie asked her sister.

“We have a huge test on Monday, so we’re going to have a long study session. I’ll be home before you go to work. I’m inviting Lynn over to study Saturday while you’re gone.”

Just the hint of a mention about her being away from home on Saturday was enough to have Jessie glancing over at Jack.

“I thought you were off Saturday,” Jack said.

“Mom has a date,” Danny spit out.

The expression on Jack’s face froze. “Is that so?” Slowly his gaze moved to Jessie.

“You remember Brad from the party.” Full disclosure. She shouldn’t feel guilty, but the feeling rolled off her in painful waves.

“Right.” Jack drew out the word in a long sigh. “The lawyer-looking guy.”

“He is a lawyer, actually.” She sounded defensive.

“He’s not your type,” Jack said with absolute certainty in his voice.

She shifted from foot to foot. “How do you know what my type is?”

“You’ll be bored within thirty minutes.”

Monica turned to Jack. “Do you know this guy?”

Jack never stopped staring at Jessie. The gaze made her fidget. “I see his type all the time at the hotel. Stuffy, not a lot of fun.”

“Why do you want to date someone who isn’t fun, Mommy?”

Jessie pulled her eyes away from Jack’s and said to Danny, “Jack doesn’t know if Brad will be fun or not; he’s assuming.”

“What’s assuming?”

“It’s when someone thinks someone is a certain way when they don’t really know if they are a certain way.” Dammit, she shouldn’t have to be defending a date to her son, or Jack, or Monica for that matter.

“You should date Jack,” Danny said, smiling. “We know he’s fun.”

Three sets of eyes pinned her down. “Jack and I are just friends, right, Jack?”

Jack didn’t say a word, just stared at her with a tiny lift in his lips.

“What’s a date, anyway?”

“It’s when two people go out to dinner or do something together to get to know each other.” And why wasn’t Jack helping her here?

“We went with Uncle Jack to the zoo. That was kinda a date.”

“Not quite a date.” Jessie shifted her attention to her son.

“Oh.” He wasn’t convinced. Confusion marked his expression.

“It’s complicated, Danny. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

A few moments of awkward silence filled the air, then Monica said, “On that note, I’ve gotta go.”

“So do I,” Jack said, a smile returning to his face. “Thanks again for inviting me, Danny.”

Danny gave Monica and Jack hugs.

“Have a nice time with the lawyer, Jessie.” Was it opposite day, and Jessie had somehow missed the memo? Jack actually sounded sincere.

“I’m sure it will be fine.” Only now, she wasn’t positive of anything.

Jessie watched Jack and Monica walk away, the two of them talking. She could only guess what about.

Chapter Nine

“I don’t plan on staying out late,” Jessie told her sister for the second time that night.

Dressed in a pair of slacks and a sweater, Jessie was comfortable and casual but not too casual. Wearing small heels with the slacks dressed up the outfit. Besides, Jessie didn’t have the occasion to wear heels very often, so she jumped at the opportunity whenever she could. Something about wearing heels reminded her that she was a grown-up, desirable woman.

“Where are you two meeting?”

“He picked an Italian place by the mall. Antonio’s.”

“I’ve never heard of it.” Monica reached over and tucked a stray lock of Jessie’s hair back into place.

“We’ve passed it a few times. I’ve never eaten there,” Jessie said.

“Call me if things aren’t going the way you want them to and use me as an excuse to come home early if the date sucks.”

Jessie dropped her chin and smiled at her sister. “Thanks. I don’t think I’ll need to use an excuse, but it’s nice to know you’ve got my back.”

“Always.” Monica handed over the black purse Jessie had picked out for the night. “I still think it’s Jack you should be meeting for dinner and not this Brad guy.”

Throwing up her hand, Jessie said, “Enough. You’ve told me this a dozen times since yesterday. I know you don’t approve, but this is what I need to be doing.”

“Because Jack is a waiter and not a lawyer. You’re not that shallow, Jessie, and I know it. Jack likes you. A lot!”

“Did he tell you that?” Jessie had been trying to pry out of her sister the meat of her conversation with Jack for the last twenty-four hours. Monica wouldn’t give up one syllable of their discussion.