Yours Seductively

Chapter 5.1 (Part 2)

   Jane had told herself repeatedly that she'd come back to rest, to teach, to out painful memories to eat, and to decide what to do with the rest of her life now that she had accepted that her acting career had gone about as far as she was willing to take it. She had tried to convince herself that it was only coincidence that she'd decided to take the teaching job only after hearing that Tyler Hamilton had moved back to Honoria. But she's always been aware of a nagging urge to see him again, this man who'd haunted her dreams and her memories for so long. The man to whom other men had never quite measured up, no matter how hard she tried not to compare them to him.

    "We could drive into Atlanta for dinner," Tyler said, correctly guessing a small part of the reason for her hesitation. "That way we wouldn't have to worry about whatever Mary Goldwin or any of the other local Jae-flappers around here might say about seeing us together."

   She was relieved by his suggestion. "That sounds nice," she said.

   There never had been any question, really, that she would turn him down. She had waited too long for this.

   "Shall I pick you up at seven?"

   "Pick me up?" She slid comfortably back into teasing, using it, as always, as a way to hide her real emotions. "Shouldn't we meet in a dark alley somewhere?"

   "No. But I'll wear a disguise, if you like."

   His dry rejoinder please her. "How will I recognize you?"

   "I'll wear pink rose on my lapel."

   "A pink rose?" She laughed. "That should secede as an effective disguise in itself, given you ultra-conservative-attorney image."

   "The. It will serve its purpose, won't it? If anyone sees it, they'll assume I'm one of your eccentric theater friends."

   "What makes you think my theater friends are eccentric?"

   "Call it a wild guess. I'll see you tomorrow evening."

   "I'll be working on my own disguise," she promised.

   "I shudder to think what that might be." But she thought she heard a smile in his voice. "Good night, Jane."

   She hung up the phone and looked back at the painting. Might as well clean her brushes, she thought. She doubted that she would be able to concentrate any more tonight.