“I hope you’ll play with me someday. I’ve always enjoyed a rousing game of touch football.”

  The fork was raised halfway to her mouth and Jo Marie paused, her heart beating double time. “I…I only play with my brothers.”

  Andrew chuckled. “Speaking of your family, I find it difficult to tell that you and Mark are related. Oh, I can see the family resemblance, but Mark’s a serious young man. Does he ever laugh?”

  Not lately, Jo Marie mused, but she didn’t admit as much. “He works hard, long hours. Mark’s come a long way through medical school.” She hated making excuses for her brother. “He doesn’t mean to be rude.”

  Andrew accepted the apology with a wry grin. “The chip on his shoulder’s as big as a California redwood. What’s he got against wealth and position?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “He teases Kelly unmercifully about her family. I think Kelly’s money makes him feel insecure. There’s no reason for it; Kelly’s never done anything to give him that attitude. I never have understood it.”

  Pushing her clean plate aside, Jo Marie couldn’t recall when she’d enjoyed a meal more—except the dinner they’d shared at K-Paul’s the night Kelly and Andrew had announced their engagement. Some of the contentment faded from her eyes. Numbly, she folded her hands in her lap. Being here with Andrew, sharing this meal, laughing and talking with him wasn’t right. Kelly should be the one sitting across the table from him. Jo Marie had no right to enjoy his company this way. Not when he was engaged to her best friend. Pointedly, she glanced at her watch.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She shook her head slightly, avoiding his eyes, knowing his look had the ability to penetrate her soul.

  “Would you care for some dessert?”

  Placing her hand on her stomach, she declined with a smile. “I couldn’t,” she declared, but her gaze fell with regret on the large table display of delicate French pastries.

  The waiter reappeared and a flurry of French flew over her head. Like everything else Andrew did, his French was flawless.

  Almost immediately the waiter returned with a plate covered with samples of several desserts, which he set in front of Jo Marie.

  “Andrew,” she objected, sighing his name, “I’ll get fat.”

  “I saw you eyeing those goodies. Indulge. You deserve it.”

  “But I don’t. I can’t possibly eat all that.”

  “You can afford to put on a few pounds.” His voice deepened as his gaze skimmed her lithe form.

  “Are you suggesting I’m skinny?”

  “My, my,” he said, slowly shaking his head from side to side. “You do like to argue. Here, give me the plate. I’ll be the one to indulge.”

  “Not on your life,” she countered laughingly, and dipped her fork into the thin slice of chocolate cheesecake. After sampling three of the scrumptious desserts, Jo Marie pushed her plate aside. “Thank you, Andrew,” she murmured as her fingers toyed with the starched, linen napkin. “I enjoyed the meal and…and the company, but we can’t do this again.” Her eyes were riveted to the tabletop.

  “Jo Marie—”

  “No. Let me finish,” she interrupted on a rushed breath. “It…it would be so easy…to hurt Kelly and I won’t do that. I can’t. Please, don’t make this so difficult for me.” With every word her voice grew weaker and shakier. It shouldn’t be this hard, her heart cried, but it was. Every womanly instinct was reaching out to him until she wanted to cry with it.

  “Indulge me, Jo Marie,” he said tenderly. “It’s my birthday and there’s no one else I’d rather share it with.”

  No one else…his words reverberated through her mind. They were on treacherous ground and Jo Marie felt herself sinking fast.

  “Happy birthday,” she whispered.

  “Thank you.”

  They stood and Andrew cupped her elbow, leading her to the street.

  “Would you like me to drop you off at the apartment?” Andrew asked several minutes later as they walked toward his parked car.

  “No. I’m on my way to the LFTF headquarters.” She stuck both hands deep within her sweater pockets.

  “Land For The Future?”

  She nodded. “They need extra volunteers during the Christmas season.”

  His wide brow knitted with a deep frown. “As I recall, that building is in a bad part of town. Is it safe for you to—”

  “Perfectly safe.” She took a step in retreat. “Thank you again for lunch. I hope you have a wonderful birthday,” she called just before turning and hurrying along the narrow sidewalk.

  Jo Marie’s pace was brisk as she kept one eye on the darkening sky. Angry gray thunderclouds were rolling in and a cloud burst was imminent. Everything looked as if it was against her. With the sky the color of Andrew’s eyes, it seemed as though he was watching her every move. Fleetingly she wondered if she’d ever escape him…and worse, if she’d ever want to.

  * * *

  —

  The LFTF headquarters were near the docks. Andrew’s apprehensions were well founded. This was a high crime area. Jo Marie planned her arrival and departure times in daylight.

  “Can I help you?” The stocky man with crisp ebony hair spoke from behind the desk. There was a speculative arch to his bushy brows as he regarded her.

  “Hello.” She extended her hand. “I’m Jo Marie Early. You’re Jim Rowden, aren’t you?” Jim had recently arrived from the Boston area and was taking over the manager’s position of the nonprofit organization.

  Jim stepped around the large oak desk. “Yes, I remember now. You marched in the demonstration, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I was there.”

  “One of the few who stuck it out in the rain, as I recall.”

  “My brother insisted that it wasn’t out of any sense of purpose, but from a pure streak of stubbornness.” Laughter riddled her voice. “I’m back because you mentioned needing extra volunteers this month.”

  “Do you type?”

  “Reasonably well. I’m a travel agent.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t give you a time test.”

  Jo Marie laughed. “I appreciate that more than you know.”

  The majority of the afternoon was spent typing personal replies to letters the group had received after the demonstration in front of Rose’s. In addition, the group had been spurred on by their success, and was planning other campaigns for future projects. At four-thirty, Jo Marie slipped the cover over the typewriter and placed the letters on Jim’s desk for his signature.

  “If you could come three times a week,” Jim asked, “it would be greatly appreciated.”

  She left forty minutes later feeling assured that she was doing the right thing by offering her time. Lending a hand at Christmas seemed such a small thing to do. Admittedly, her motives weren’t pure. If she could keep herself occupied, she wouldn’t have to deal with her feelings for Andrew.

  A lot of her major Christmas shopping was completed, but on her way to the bus stop, Jo Marie stopped in at a used-book store. Although she fought it all afternoon, her thoughts had been continually on Andrew. Today was his special day and she desperately wanted to give him something that would relay her feelings. Her heart was filled with gratitude. Without him, she may never have known that sometimes dreams can come true and that fairy tales aren’t always for the young.

  She found the book she was seeking. A large leather-bound volume of the history of New Orleans. Few cities had a more romantic background. Included in the book were hundreds of rare photographs of the city’s architecture, courtyards, patios, ironwork and cemeteries. He’d love the book as much as she. Jo Marie had come by for weeks, paying a little bit each pay day. Not only was this book rare, but extremely expensive. Because the proprietor knew Jo Marie, he had made special arrangements for her to have this volume. But Jo Marie couldn’t think of anything else Andrew would cherish more. She wrote out a check for the balance and realized that she would probably be short on cash by the end of the month, but that seemed a small sacrifice.

  Clenching the book to her breast, Jo Marie hurried home. She had no right to be giving Andrew gifts, but this was more for her sake than his. It was her thank-you for all that he’d given her.

  The torrential downpour assaulted the pavement just as Jo Marie stepped off the bus. Breathlessly, while holding the paper-wrapped leather volume to her stomach, she ran to the apartment and inserted her key into the dead bolt. Once again she had barely escaped a thorough drenching.

  Hanging her Irish knit cardigan in the hall closet, Jo Marie kicked off her shoes and slid her feet into fuzzy, worn slippers.

  Kelly should arrive any minute and Jo Marie rehearsed what she was going to say to Kelly. She had to have some kind of explanation to be giving her friend’s fiancé a birthday present. Her thoughts came back empty as she paced the floor, wringing her hands. It was important that Kelly understand, but finding a plausible reason without revealing herself was difficult. Jo Marie didn’t want any ill feelings between them.

  When her roommate hadn’t returned from the hospital by six, Jo Marie made herself a light meal and turned on the evening news. Kelly usually phoned if she was going to be late. Not having heard from her friend caused Jo Marie to wonder. Maybe Andrew had picked her up after work and had taken her out to dinner. It was, after all, his birthday; celebrating with his fiancé would only be natural. Unbidden, a surge of resentment rose within her and caused a lump of painful hoarseness to tighten her throat. Mentally she gave herself a hard shake. Stop it, her mind shouted. You have no right to feel these things. Andrew belongs to Kelly, not you.

  A mixture of pain and confusion moved across her smooth brow when the doorbell chimed. It was probably Mark, but for the first time in recent memory, Jo Marie wasn’t up to a sparring match with her older brother. Tonight she wanted to be left to her own thoughts.

  But it wasn’t Mark.

  “Andrew.” Quickly she lowered her gaze, praying he couldn’t read her startled expression.

  “Is Kelly ready?” he asked as he stepped inside the entryway. “We’re having dinner with my mother.”

  “She isn’t home from work yet. If you’d like I could call the hospital and see what’s holding her up.” So they were going out tonight. Jo Marie successfully managed to rein in her feelings of jealousy, having dealt with them earlier.

  “No need, I’m early. If you don’t mind, I’ll just wait.”

  “Please, sit down.” Self-consciously she gestured toward the love seat. “I’m sure Kelly will be here any minute.”

  Impeccably dressed in a charcoal-gray suit that emphasized the width of his muscular shoulders, Andrew took a seat.

  With her hands linked in front of her, Jo Marie fought for control of her hammering heart. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “Please.”

  Relieved to be out of the living room, Jo Marie hurried into the kitchen and brought down a cup and saucer. Spending part of the afternoon with Andrew was difficult enough. But being alone in the apartment with him was impossible. The tension between them was unbearable as it was. But to be separated by only a thin wall was much worse. She yearned to touch him. To hold him in her arms. To feel again, just this once, his mouth over hers. She had to know if what had happened all those months ago was real.

  “Jo Marie,” Andrew spoke softly from behind her.

  Her pounding heart leaped to her throat. Had he read her thoughts and come to her? Her fingers dug unmercifully into the kitchen countertop. Nothing would induce her to turn around.

  “What’s this?” he questioned softly.

  A glance over her shoulder revealed Andrew holding the book she’d purchased earlier. Her hand shook as she poured the coffee. “It’s a book about the early history of New Orleans. I found it in a used-book store and…” Her voice wobbled as badly as her hand.

  “There was a card on top of it that was addressed to me.”

  Jo Marie set the glass coffeepot down. “Yes…I knew you’d love it and I wanted you to have it as a birthday present.” She stopped just before admitting that she wanted him to remember her. “I also heard on the news tonight that…that Rose’s Hotel is undergoing some expensive and badly needed repairs, thanks to you.” Slowly she turned, keeping her hands behind her. “I realize there isn’t anything that I could ever buy for you that you couldn’t purchase a hundred times over. But I thought this book might be the one thing I could give you…” She let her voice fade in midsentence.

  A slow faint smile touched his mouth as he opened the card and read her inscription. “To Andrew, in appreciation for everything.” Respectfully he opened the book, then laid it aside. “Everything, Jo Marie?”

  “For your generosity toward the hotel, and your thoughtfulness in giving me the party dress and…”

  “The Mardi Gras?” He inched his way toward her.

  Jo Marie could feel the color seep up her neck and tinge her cheeks. “Yes, that too.” She wouldn’t deny how special those few moments had been to her. Nor could she deny the hunger in his hard gaze as he concentrated on her lips. Amazed, Jo Marie watched as Andrew’s gray eyes darkened to the shade of a stormy Arctic sea.

  No pretense existed between them now, only a shared hunger that could no longer be repressed. A surge of intense longing seared through her so that when Andrew drew her into his embrace she gave a small cry and went willingly.

  “Haven’t you ever wondered if what we shared that night was real?” he breathed the question into her hair.

  “Yes, a thousand times since, I’ve wondered.” She gloried in the feel of his muscular body pressing against the length of hers. Freely her hands roamed his back. His index finger under her chin lifted her face and her heart soared at the look in his eyes.

  “Jo Marie,” he whispered achingly and his thumb leisurely caressed the full curve of her mouth.

  Her soft lips trembled in anticipation. Slowly, deliberately, Andrew lowered his head as his mouth sought hers. Her eyelids drifted closed and her arms reached up and clung to him. The kiss was one of hunger and demand as his mouth feasted on hers.

  The feel of him, the touch, the taste of his lips filled her senses until Jo Marie felt his muscles strain as he brought her to him, riveting her soft form to him so tightly that she could no longer breathe. Not that she cared.

  Gradually the kiss mellowed and the intensity eased until he buried his face in the gentle slope of her neck. “It was real,” he whispered huskily. “Oh, my sweet Florence Nightingale, it was even better than I remembered.”

  “I was afraid it would be.” Tears burned her eyes and she gave a sad little laugh. Life was filled with ironies and finding Andrew now was the most painful.

  Tenderly he reached up and wiped the moisture from her face. “I shouldn’t have let this happen.”

  “It wasn’t your fault.” Jo Marie felt she had to accept part of the blame. She’d wanted him to kiss her so badly. “I…I won’t let it happen again.” If one of them had to be strong, then it would be her. After years of friendship with Kelly she owed her roommate her loyalty.

  Reluctantly they broke apart, but his hands rested on either side of her neck as though he couldn’t bear to let her go completely. “Thank you for the book,” he said in a raw voice. “I’ll treasure it always.”

  The sound of the front door opening caused Jo Marie’s eyes to widen with a rush of guilt. Kelly would take one look at her and realize what had happened. Hot color blazed in her cheeks.

  “Jo Marie!” Kelly’s eager voice vibrated through the apartment.

  Andrew stepped out of the kitchen, granting Jo Marie precious seconds to compose herself.

  “Oh, heavens, you’re here already, Drew. I’m sorry I’m so late. But I’ve got so much to tell you.”

  With her hand covering her mouth to smother the sound of her tears, Jo Marie leaned against the kitchen counter, suddenly needing its support.

  Five

  “Are you all right?” Andrew stepped back into the kitchen and brushed his hand over his temples. He resembled a man driven to the end of his endurance, standing with one foot in heaven and the other in hell. His fingers were clenched at his side as if he couldn’t decide if he should haul her back into his arms or leave her alone. But the tortured look in his eyes told Jo Marie how difficult it was not to hold and reassure her.

  “I’m fine.” Her voice was eggshell fragile. “Just leave. Please. I don’t want Kelly to see me.” Not like this, with tears streaming down her pale cheeks and her eyes full of confusion. One glance at Jo Marie and the astute Kelly would know exactly what had happened.

  “I’ll get her out of here as soon as she changes clothes,” Andrew whispered urgently, his stormy gray eyes pleading with hers. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “I know.” With an agitated brush of her hand she dismissed him. “Please, just go.”

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “No.” Dark emotion flickered across her face. She didn’t want to see him. Everything about today had been wrong. She should have avoided Andrew, feeling as she did. But in some ways, Jo Marie realized that the kiss had been inevitable. Those brief magical moments at the Mardi Gras demanded an exploration of the sensation they’d shared. Both had hoped to dismiss that February night as whimsy—a result of the craziness of the season. Instead, they had discovered how real it had been. From now on, Jo Marie vowed, she would shun Andrew. Her only defense was to avoid him completely.

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” Kelly’s happy voice drifted in from the other room. “Do I look okay?”

  “You’re lovely as always.”

  Jo Marie hoped that Kelly wouldn’t catch the detached note in Andrew’s gruff voice.