Love in the Third Act by Barbara Barrett

Author:Barbara Barrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbara Barrett
Published: 2017-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Where Kirk dominated discussion during their date, Lance DeWitt barely spoke. Again, the date was over dinner, this time a place Kevin chose. He knew the owner, who was delighted at the chance of free publicity. They were able to place the couple in a cozy corner where they could get the lighting and sound right, which didn’t matter much with the little Lance said.

“Where did you grow up?” Roxie asked.

“Out east.”

Roxie’s interested smile didn’t waver. “In a city or the country?”

“City.”

Still not deterred, she continued to probe. “What brought you to California?”

“My job. Got transferred.”

“You must have liked it here since you stayed on.”

“Easier.”

From where she sat on the sidelines, Hadley couldn’t detect the slightest change in the man’s features. He wasn’t exactly scowling, but there was no smile either. How long would her mother put up with him before she ended the date?

Roxie shifted her position. “Tell me about yourself, Lance. Maybe you could use a full sentence this time.”

The question had opened the floodgates with Kirk. Would it trigger the same with this guy?

“Not much to tell.” Shrug. His gaze remained on his folded hands.

“How am I to get to know you better if you don’t share something?”

Finally, he did look at her. “I pretty much told you everything there is to know. Tell me about you instead.”

Kirk hadn’t gone there, but in this case, Lance’s interest was more a tactic to steer the conversation away from himself. Roxie recited an abbreviated version of her life, ending with selling the family home. “You haven’t mentioned family, Lance. Were you married?”

Of course, in the skimpy profile he’d provided he’d mentioned being divorced for five years after thirty-five years of marriage.

“Yes, for several years.”

“Oh?”

“Ended in divorce.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. In the end, it was for the best.”

Roxie didn’t pursue his response. “Do you have any children?”

“No.”

Their dinner arrived. Lance dug into his steak, actually pivoting away from Roxie to attack it. Roxie retreated to her fish, probably the highlight of her evening. Conversation came to a virtual stop throughout the meal. As they finished, she glanced up, apparently waiting for him to suggest dessert. He didn’t. Instead, he pushed back his chair. “Good steak. Ready to go?”

Roxie covered her shock pretty well by wiping her face, but Hadley read the disappointment and surprise.

“Uh, sure.”

Lance motioned for the check. As soon as it was paid, he stood. He didn’t help her from her chair, or attempt to retrieve her wrap. As soon as she stood and gathered her things, he headed for the door, apparently expecting her to follow.

Since she’d met him at the restaurant, she prepared to go off her own direction. He grabbed her by the forearm. “Your place or mine?”

Roxie took a step back. “What?”

“That’s what this was all about, wasn’t it? Prelude to sex?”

“That’s what you think?” Roxie’s voice inched up. “I barely know you, no thanks to your inability to make even the tiniest stab at conversation. Why would I go to bed with you now?”

For the first time all evening, Lance’s face came alive, his eyes fiery.

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