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“Ah. Perfect? That’s a pretty strong term.” She exhaled softly in relief. Flo was speculating about what could be, not about what had happened. Thank goodness no one had guessed about the kiss she and Jim had shared. The kiss that she couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Do you mean to tell me that you aren’t the least bit interested in a relationship with Jim? That if he wanted to get serious or even married, you would say no?”

“I would say no to marriage,” Heather told her. She had been thinking that she might be ready to make love with Jim, but marriage? She wanted to spend the rest of her life avoiding commitments, not running after them. “Jim and I are great friends and that’s all either of us wants.”

“Fine,” Flo said, and turned her back to the window. “I give up. You’re both crazy and there’s nothing I can do about it. If you want to ignore the obvious, I can’t help you. Stay blind, stay stupid and live both your foolish lives alone. See if I care.” She stalked off toward the lunchroom.

Heather stared after her. She was sorry she’d upset her friend, but she couldn’t lie just to make Flo happy. In truth, she didn’t want marriage with anyone, not even Jim. But she would admit to certain feelings. She wanted him in a way she’d never wanted any other man. She would like to find out where that wanting would lead and she didn’t necessarily mean only to bed. She wondered how that emotion would grow and change in her life. But with Jim constantly holding her at arm’s length, she wasn’t going to get much of a chance to find out.

Chapter Ten

The hall was crowded and filled with music and laughter. Jim held Diane in her carrier in one hand and placed the other against the small of Heather’s back.

“I’m sure our table is over there,” Heather said, pointing to the far side of the room.

“Are you two looking for us?” a familiar voice called.

He and Heather both turned in that direction and saw Flo, Brian and several other employees, along with their dates, seated at a large round table.

Heather looked at him and grinned. “Or our table could be a lot closer,” she said, not looking the least big chagrined by her mistake. “Did I ever mention I had trouble reading maps?”

“You don’t have to mention it,” he said as they approached their friends. “It’s obvious. I’ll have to remember not to let you navigate on a road trip.”

“We might not get where we’re going, but we’d have a really interesting time getting wherever we end up.”

Her laugh was unrepentant and he couldn’t help grinning in return. He hadn’t thought he would enjoy attending Rick and Lupe’s wedding, but so far the day had turned out well. While the formal Catholic wedding mass had lasted a long time, he’d found himself caught up in the ritual and the beautiful ceremony. Even Diane, who’d been awake, had stayed quiet, cooing softly during the prayers. There was something strange about being in church with a woman, Jim thought as he settled Heather in her chair, then took the last empty seat which just happened to be next to hers. It made a man think about long-term commitments and what he wanted in his life. Not that he was thinking about getting involved with Heather, or any other woman, for that matter.

“About time you two made it,” Flo said, leaning forward and speaking loudly to be heard over the music and talking around them. “Did you get lost?”

“No, I had to feed the baby.”

Flo raised her eyebrows. “I’ll bet that was real interesting.”

Heather shook her head. “You are bad. I used the ladies’ room at the church. Jim waited until I was finished, then we came here.”

“Okay. So is this like a date?”

At her question, the table went quiet. Jim glanced around and saw all his employees staring at him. “Heather and I are friends,” he said. “I asked her to join me as my friend. Anything else you’d like to know?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Flo began.

Jim shot her a look and she pressed her lips tightly together.

Heather unbuckled Diane and lifted her out of her carrier, then held her in her arms. “Wow, tough crowd,” she teased as she smiled at him. “I didn’t realize I was risking my reputation by coming here with you.”

“I think you’re safe.”

She winked. “Maybe not. Maybe someone will lock us in a closet together to see what happens.”

“Not unless they lock Diane in with us. Your daughter’s on a pretty regular feeding schedule.”

“I suppose you’re right. Saved by the baby.”

Then Flo said something and Heather was distracted. Jim listened to the conversation around him but didn’t join in. He had too much on his mind.

While he wasn’t angry about Flo’s well-meant comments, he could have done without them. He didn’t want his employees matchmaking. For one thing, he and Heather had come to terms with their relationship and neither of them wanted to change things. For another, he was having enough trouble forgetting their passionate kiss the previous weekend without being reminded of it at every turn. Not that anyone knew about the kiss, but talk of men and women and the things they could do in private together brought the kiss to mind and left him in a very uncomfortable physical state.

He glanced around the large hall Rick’s family had rented for the wedding. Streamers, balloons and big white paper bells hung from the ceiling. Round tables had been covered with white tablecloths and decorated with floral centerpieces set on small mirrors. The fine crystal reflected the overhead lights. To the far right was a dance floor, to the left, the low platform where the wedding party would sit and dine.