“I would love that.” She paused. “Has something happened, Dad? Something that made you decide?”
I sat down, unsure what to say. I had always been honest with my kids. “I had a date last night. I think it made me realize it was time to make some changes.”
“It must have been some date.”
I chuckled. “I’ve been thinking about moving for a while. I think I realized last night, if I’m ready to move forward in my life, maybe I need a fresh start in other places as well. And to be honest, I’m getting tired of rambling around in this place.”
“Too many memories?” she guessed.
I thought about bringing Sandy here. How I would feel being in the house she shared with Max. They would always be in the background. Our past lives. Past loves.
“Good memories, but yes.”
“Whatever you think is best, Dad. You know I support you.” Then her voice became teasing. “So, this date… You’re not suddenly going to spring some young woman on me as an evil stepmom, are you?”
I laughed at her words. “No. The lady I took to dinner was my age. Quite respectable.”
“Okay then.”
“I’m not looking to replace your mother, sweetheart. I’m just…” I trailed off, unsure what to say.
“I know, Dad. Mom would be happy you are trying. So am I. Warren will be fine with it. You’re too young to stay alone for the rest of your life. Just don’t rush into anything, okay?”
“I won’t. I’ve known this lady for a long time. We’re friends and we went to dinner.”
There was another pause. “Was it Sandy?”
I was surprised by her question. “Yes, it was. How did you know?”
“You always talk about her. I sometimes wondered why you didn’t ask her out sooner. I figured when you were ready, you would.”
“I was waiting for her to be ready.”
“Ah, Dad, you’re such a gentleman. I love you.”
I chuckled. “I love you too.”
“I’ll have to call you later, and you can tell me all about the date. Tina’s lesson is done, and she’ll be here in a minute.”
“All right, sweetheart. Thanks for calling.”
“Okay. Oh, and, Dad…”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for telling me. Remember to practice safe sex. Even at your age!”
Then, laughing, she hung up.
I set down the phone, grinning. I wasn’t surprised at Gina’s easy acceptance of the changes in my life. We had always been close, and she fussed a lot over me being alone. She had also suggested I sell the house two years ago, but at the time I wasn’t ready. At Christmas, I had wavered but decided against it. As I looked around the room, I decided that, perhaps, now I was ready.
I checked in with Sandy midafternoon. She answered the call, her voice a little breathless. It immediately took me back to the way she sounded after I had kissed her.
“Hello, Sandy. Having a good day?”
“A busy one. I decided to clean out some spaces. I’ve filled two garbage bags. Honestly, I have no idea why I had some of this junk stuffed in drawers.”
I chuckled. “I know. Sometimes I can’t even recall putting things in places.”
We shared some amusing stories, the mirth welcome. Then I cleared my throat.
“Thank you again for last night. It was wonderful.”
“It was.”
“Especially the end.”
Her subdued laughter was music to my ears. “That was unexpected, but yes, highly enjoyable.”
“Are you free Tuesday?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a tasting menu at Wallaby’s. Each tasting is paired with the perfect wine. Seven courses. How does that sound?”
“Like I might be drunk?”
I snickered. “We’ll take a cab, and I’ll make sure you get home safe. Would you do me the honor of coming with me?”
“I would love that.”
“Great. And Sandy, Van is getting married in a month. Would you come with me as my plus-one?”
“Oh, ah…”
Her hesitation prompted me to ask. “You would prefer not to let people know we’re seeing each other?”
“We’ve only had one date, Jordan.”
“Two, after Tuesday, and in a month, it will be so many, you will have lost count.”
“You’re very sure of yourself.”
I couldn’t resist teasing her. “I felt your response to my kiss, Sandy. I have every reason to be sure.”
“You’re such a rake.” She teased back. “I thought you were a gentleman.”
“I’m both.”
“I see.”
“So?” I pushed. “Tuesday, about twenty more dates, then the wedding? Yes?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
I couldn’t help my grin. “Perfect.”
Sandy
Monday morning, my stomach fluttered with nerves. As I prepared the boardroom for the usual start-of-the-week meeting, I worried about seeing Jordan.
How would he act? Would people know we’d been out together? I valued my privacy and I was certain he did as well, yet I also felt anxious about my reaction to him.
He’d been on my mind all day yesterday. Snippets of our evening came back to me, making me smile as I sorted drawers and tidied the house. The way I felt in his embrace—safe and secure. Surrounded by his scent. Max never wore cologne since many of the hospitals had a fragrance-free policy, so I wasn’t used to it, but Jordan smelled like fresh air in the fall—woodsy and warm. I liked it.
And his kiss.
It awakened in me something long dormant. With the age difference between Max and me, our sex life had shifted greatly as Max grew older. The last few years of Max’s life, his body had suffered terribly with his MS. He fought it valiantly, but the passion we had shared so strongly throughout our earlier marriage was missing. We snuggled, exchanged whispered words of love, gentle kisses, but that was all. As hard as we tried to prevent it, I became more of a caregiver than his wife, and although I wouldn’t have done it any other way, that side of our life was gone.
I touched my mouth, still feeling the pressure of Jordan’s lips on mine. The tender possession that had deepened and blossomed into something more. It left me wanting.
And in many ways, it scared me.
Reid walked into the boardroom, his laptop tucked under his arm, a cup of coffee in his hand. He stopped beside me, dropping a kiss to my cheek.
“Hey, Sandy. How was your weekend?”
I patted his cheek. “Good. Yours?”
“Great. Becca and I went shopping for some furniture.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been able to shop for my own stuff before. There’re so many choices and decisions. Good thing I have her.”
I smiled. “Yes, it is.”
Other staff members filed in, and I took my usual place to the side of Bentley. I opened my pad and got ready, knowing once he strode in, the meeting would start. It was as if everyone waited for him, feeding on his energy and leadership to begin the week.
Aiden and Maddox sat down, both smiling and greeting me. My breath caught as Van walked in, followed by Jordan. I relaxed as they both said hello. Jordan smiled, nodded, and sat in his usual place. There was nothing out of the ordinary with his demeanor, nothing overly familiar, yet I felt his glance from across the table. Saw his smile widen a little as I returned his salutation. I averted my eyes as the feeling I was about to blush rushed over me.