known me to not do something I said I would?” Lauren smiled and leaned forward to embrace her friend.
“No, but the way things have been going lately, I wouldn’t have been surprised if you broke with tradition.”
“The way things have been going lately? It seems to me they’ve been going pretty well for you. You’ve met the man of your dreams and are desperately in love. What could be better?” Dee air kissed Steff’s cheeks.
“Being in love and not having to worry about things at the college.” Steff smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You’re always worrying about that.”
“Now more so than ever.” Steff glanced around, then spoke quietly. “I’m getting enough e-mail to crash my computer and phone calls all day long. Someone’s body was under that sidewalk. Everyone wants to know whose.” She shook her head.
“The police aren’t any closer to identifying the remains?”
“No, but I can’t help wondering—”
“If it’s someone we knew.” Lauren had been wondering the same.
“There were a lot of people missing at the reunion. Payton Bell. Josie Skerritt. Angela Heaton.” She shrugged, turned toward the corridor that led to the ballroom. “I guess now isn’t the time to talk about it. Dinner’s going to be served soon. Then the auction. You’re up first, Lauren.”
“Up first?”
“I’ll introduce you and the service you’re offering. All you need to do is stand there and look gorgeous while people bid.”
“Gorgeous is more Dee’s thing than mine.”
“Give yourself a little credit, Laur. You look beautiful. Even if you can’t walk in those shoes.” Dee smirked and hurried down the corridor with Steff.
Leaving Lauren no choice but to follow.
She walked more slowly, her wobbly heels twisting under her as she headed for the ballroom muttering under her breath. “If I make it through tonight without falling on my face and completely embarrassing myself it’ll be a miracle.”
“Still talk to yourself? I thought you’d have outgrown the habit by now.” The gruff voice came from behind her, deep, quiet and filled with humor and warmth. And a million memories Lauren refused to acknowledge.
“Seth.” She schooled her features as she turned to face him, pasting on the cool, professional smile she’d perfected over the years. “I wondered if you’d be here tonight. It’s been a long time.”
“It has been. So long I wondered if you’d even remember me.” He looked the same, but older. The fine lines at the corner of his eyes, the serious expression in his gaze speaking of a maturity and depth he hadn’t had when he’d been a young, brash high school student, or a law-school-bound young adult.
When he’d been the man she’d put her hopes and dreams in. The man she’d loved.
“How could I forget?” The words slipped out, and Seth smiled, the slow, deliberate curve doing exactly what it had the first time they’d met—weakening Lauren’s knees, speeding her pulse, muddling her thoughts. Fortunately, it was eleven years and a broken heart too late for her to feel more than mild surprise at her reaction. “What I mean is—”
“I know what you mean. It’s hard to forget what we had.”
“And how it ended.”
“That, too.” He smiled again. “Are you here with your sister? Or do you need a dinner companion?”
Was that an invitation? If so, Lauren had no intention of acknowledging it. “I’m here with Dee and a few friends.”
“Let me guess—Steff, Jen, Cassie and Kate.”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’d better get you inside the ballroom before they miss you and come looking.” He reached for her arm, but Lauren sidestepped, avoiding his touch. Seeing him was bad enough. Feeling the warmth of his hand would be a hundred times worse.
“I can manage on my own. Thanks.”
His gaze locked with hers, then dropped to the simple black cocktail dress she wore. She’d planned her wardrobe to reflect how she wanted to portray herself—elegant, in charge, independent. Strong. Much different than the shy young woman she’d been in high school and college.
Maybe he saw that. Surprise flashed in his eyes. Then speculation, as if he were trying to match the woman he was speaking to with the one he’d known so long ago. “I’m sure you can. It was nice seeing you again.”
She nodded, but didn’t say the same. Nice wasn’t the word she’d use. Uncomfortable. Strange. Even a little alarming. Not nice.
“Lola?”
She’d already turned away, but his voice, the pet name he’d used so often when they were young stopped her in her tracks. “Don’t call me that, Seth.”
“Why not? It’s how I think of you.”
“I’d rather you not think of me at all.”
“That’s a little cold.” He moved up beside her, relaxed and at ease. Confident. Just as he’d always been.
“I didn’t mean it to be. I just meant that we stopped thinking about each other years ago. There’s no reason to start again.”
He stared into her eyes for a minute, searching for something. Forgiveness? Acceptance? Neither was Seth’s style. At least it hadn’t been.
Finally, he nodded. “Point taken.”
“Good. Now I really had better go find my sister and friends. Enjoy your evening.” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t see how shaken she felt, how off balance. Seeing Seth had been harder than she’d thought it would be, but it was over and the rest of the evening could only get better. Right?
Right.
Except for the part where she’d have to stand up in front of the ballroom while people bid for her chef services. And the part where she’d have to explain to Dee and the other girls why it had taken so long to get to their table. Not to mention the whole being-in-a-room-filled-with-people-she-didn’t-know thing.
At least she’d have Dee and the gang close by. They were always good for conversation, laughs and distraction. For now, she’d let that be enough.
TWO
Lauren had changed. That much was obvious. Seth watched as she moved to the front of the ballroom and took her place next to Steff, her fitted black dress hugging slender curves and long lean lines. Dark hair, longer than she’d worn in high school or college, fell past her shoulders in thick waves. She hadn’t tried to tame it as she had so often when she was younger. That in itself was a surprise. What surprised Seth more was her direct gaze, the confident way she held herself, smiling out at the crowd as if she enjoyed
