Carly dozed on and off during the flight back to the States. She’d been too upset to sleep when she went to bed last night. Jeff had tossed and turned next to her, until finally he reached for her and clutched her naked body against his. They went into a slow sensuous dance. It was different from the frantic boisterous lovemaking they’d been having. Jeff traced her cheeks and lips with a sensitive touch, then placed gentle kisses everywhere. He stroked her thighs and rubbed her clit, and her hands roamed his body, taking time to let her fingers memorize the ridges of his abs, his strong back, his thick erection. When he entered her, filling her, his weight and warmth a delicious comfort, they rocked together in a leisurely ride as if they were in a boat on a lake. She could still hear the way his sighs increased in intensity as they built to a pitch.

The second time, she rode on top; the third time, he spooned her as they lay on their sides. They fell asleep clinging to each other, then woke up and made love again. They didn’t speak, and Carly wasn’t sure if this was Jeff’s way of saying he was in love with her—or his way of saying good-bye to her.

Carly hated it when people had things to say and did not say them. She didn’t like all this guessing and unspoken tension. Except she was playing the same game, keeping Peyton’s secret from him. But that was because she didn’t want to hurt him. So maybe that was the same reason Jeff was holding back now. Maybe he thought they wouldn’t work as a couple and he didn’t want to hurt her by telling her that.

His voice next to her on the airplane brought her out of her thoughts. “By the way, Carly, I hope you don’t mind that I googled that agent guy.” Jeff shrugged, looking adorable and sexy at the same time, and she tried not to want to kiss him. “Sorry, but I have a protective nature. Anyway, the guy is real. And pretty big.”

She took a sip of the seltzer she’d ordered. Liquor was the last thing she needed now. “Doesn’t matter because I’m not going to call him.”

“What? Why not?”

“I don’t want to get into a whole mess that I know will go nowhere in the end.”

He shifted in his seat to face her. “You can’t know that.”

“Yes, I can. I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t fall for pipe dreams anymore.” She wondered if Jeff knew she was referring to him as well as her singing.

“It’s okay to dream, Carly. In fact it’s what keeps most of us going.”

“Nope. You’re wrong there,” she said. “For some people it is not okay to dream because it’s just a setup for disappointment.” If he heard her bitterness, she didn’t really care. She’d let herself fall for the dream of wanting something real with him, and look where it got her.

“What happened to your singing career? It sounded like you and Andre were working in the field at one time. Did someone—”

“It wasn’t anybody’s fault. The universe just likes to take a crap on me every so often.” When she saw his reaction, she added, “See, you thought I was this sunny, happy person, but now you know the truth, so you better run the other way.”

“Is this about us? Are you angry at me for—”

“No. Not at all. I thank you for a fun vacation. Neither of us wanted it to mean more than that, so we’re good, as far as I’m concerned.” Of course she was lying, but her pride was at stake. Except his reaction didn’t seem to be one of relief. In fact, he flinched as if she’d struck him.

Carly softened her tone. “I’m sorry for my anger, Jeff. This is painful subject matter for me.” She touched his wrist. “Truth is, I did have plans for a career as a vocalist in one form or another. I think I told you my dad died when I was ten. Well, my mother had a hard time financially, but she still found me an old piano and I taught myself how to play, mostly so I could sing. A high school teacher talked me into auditioning for Juilliard even though I knew I could never afford it even with financial aid. Well, I got a full scholarship from the school and even won a special prize. That’s where I met Andre. We bombed around the city together and put on shows at school and then started playing small clubs in and around New York City. Toward the end of my first year at college my mom got sick. There was no one to take care of her but me. No one to pay the rent or the electric bill because she couldn’t work anymore. I wasn’t about to let her die among strangers in a public facility.”

“Oh, Carly.” He took her hand in his.

She tried to hold back her tears, but they leaked out anyway, running down her cheeks as she went on. “Mom was a waitress. Sound familiar? Well, her boss gave me her job. It was a diner, not great money, but it got us by, and when I turned twenty-one, I moved to cocktail work because it pays better. I watched her suffer and wither away for three long years. And there was nothing I could do except keep a roof over her head and try to save enough to keep her in meds and pay for her funeral.”

Jeff retracted the divider between the seats and reached over to pull her into his arms. And she let him.

“So I guess the part of me that wanted to sing is gone, Jeff. Now I prefer to just focus on day-to-day living and keep it simple.”

“I understand,” he whispered against her hair. “I really do, but last night I saw how much you love it. So I warn you, I am going to try to bring that part of you back to life.”

Did Jeff’s “warning” mean he wanted to keep seeing her? It sure sounded that way.

When they reached JFK Airport, Carly and Jeff were speaking and holding hands again. Her revelation seemed to break through some kind of barrier between them. Maybe it was a foolish move, but Carly allowed herself to begin hoping again when he spoke as if they would have a future. Especially since he insisted she ride with him to Bridgehampton in the limo he’d booked and said they could grab a bite to eat and then he’d drive her home to Greenport.

She rested her head on his shoulder during the limo ride, and he’d kissed her a few times. Jeff told her stories about some of his patients and Carly liked learning about that side of him and could sense he wanted them to get to know each other better.

Everything was going great until the limo pulled into the driveway of his house in Bridgehampton. There was another car there, and Carly doubted Jeff would have left his car out in the driveway when he had a garage to lock it in while he was away.

They got out of the limo and when they entered the house, Carly saw Peyton sitting on the living room sofa. Yes, it was the same woman she’d seen repeatedly at Sarvinger’s By The Sea. She obviously didn’t recognize Carly. Why would Peyton bother to check out a bartender? Of course unless he was a hunky guy.

When Jeff set down his suitcase, Peyton rushed toward him and gave him a bear hug and a kiss that went on long enough to make Carly uncomfortable, which was no doubt its purpose. Carly wasn’t sure what she expected Jeff would do, but she thought he was awfully gentle in the way he allowed the kiss even if he didn’t seem all that into it.

Jeff looked at his fiancée with a sympathetic affection. “Peyton, we agreed that you would move out.”

“No, we didn’t. In fact, we said we’d keep our engagement until further notice so we can resolve things between us.” She gave Carly a scathing look. “But I see you’ve already replaced me.”

“Leave Carly out of this.”

Peyton pursed her lips. “Aww. Carly. What a cute name.”

Carly wondered if she should leave, but they were blocking the front door. She glanced toward the back of the house but didn’t feel right about wandering through it to find a back door.

Peyton turned away from her and looked up at Jeff. “You’re going to choose some woman you hardly know over me? We’ve known each other for so long. Always been there for each other, and you’re going to just toss me aside for this little blonde? Have you been sleeping with her?”

“The day you had sex with Gerald you lost the right to ask that.”

Peyton burst into tears. “I made one mistake. One. And you’re going to condemn me for it and ruin all that we had? I love you, Jeff. Did you ever love me?”

Jeff ran a hand over his face.

Peyton started walking away but then collapsed in a torrent of sobs, sinking to her knees on the floor. Quite a performance. Jeff went to her, picked her up, and carried her to the sofa. When he tried to set her down she held on, shrieking, “Don’t leave me, Jeff. Please don’t leave me. I’ll kill myself if you do. I swear it!”

So he sat down with her on his lap and rubbed her back as she cried.

“We can start over,” Peyton said through her tears. “We don’t have to let one little mistake topple us.” And she kissed him.

Carly hurried out the front door with her bag and called a cab. The sound of Peyton cooing at him and Jeff’s low murmuring that sounded so sweet made her just want to get out and go home.

Never had she needed to exert so much self-control. If only Jeff knew who Peyton really was. Her remark about Carly sleeping with him made her want to go up to her face and say, “Really? And how many married businessmen did you service this week over at Sarvinger’s?”

Instead, Carly’s flight response won out over her desire to retaliate with some sordid intel that would have landed like a bombshell. Which was why she held back. Bombs going off led to casualties, and the idea of Jeff being emotionally destroyed in addition to being publicly humiliated was too high a cost.

It had been a week since Carly had come back from Paris and she hadn’t heard a word from Jeff. He didn’t show up for his usual two-beer chill and she was glad of that because she could feel in her gut what his silence meant and she wasn’t sure how she would handle hearing him tell her he’d gone back to his fiancée, or even worse—pretend nothing happened between them. She’d rehearsed a million things she might say, but when he did finally walk in the door it all went right out of her head.

My God, he was handsome. She quickly averted her gaze and got busy washing glasses. Her heart beat madly when he sat at her station.

“Hello, Carly.” The timbre of his voice sent shudders through her.

Steady, girl.

She looked up at him and smiled, hoping he couldn’t see how hard it was for her to hold that smile on her face. “New Amsterdam?”

“Please.”

Carly opened a bottle and set it down with a coaster and a glass. When she turned to go, he said, “Do you have a minute to talk?”

Carly glanced around and made sure her other customers were settled and waitress orders done. It was early yet and the bistro wasn’t busy at this hour, so she stood behind the bar right in front of Jeff, just the way she used to when she’d lure him into conversations. She hoped this one brought happy news for her, but that voice in her head that knew better told her not to bank on it. “Okay,” she said, not sure she could keep her voice steady for more than one word.

When he began, his tone was caring and he sounded sincere. “I’m sorry about this whole mess that you got caught up in with me, and I want you to know I never intended to take advantage of you or use you in any way.”

She nodded, but her stomach clenched. This intro was not a good sign.

“I’ve only known you for a few months,” he continued, “but I’ve known Peyton for seven years. Although we were only friends in the beginning, she was always special to me. I helped her get through med school. She has an extremely high IQ and she tends to be eccentric and can be erratic, but she is brilliant.”

Gee, thanks for telling me how wonderful your fiancée is. Too upset to speak, Carly nodded again and tried to keep an understanding expression on her face.

“So I wanted to tell you in person that Peyton and I are going to give it another try.”

Nod, girl, nod. Smile. Now get away before you break down in front of him.

Carly turned away and made it to the back storage room before breaking down. She stuffed a dishrag in her mouth to stifle the sobs and told herself she wasn’t in love with Jeff Rocklyn. Heck, she hardly knew him. In fact, she wouldn’t want a man stupid enough to be taken in by that conniving slut.

Taylor found her and Carly reported Jeff’s decision.

Her friend hugged her, saying, “That asshole. I’m gonna go tell him what a fool he is.”

“No, Taylor, don’t.”

“Why not? Who are you protecting? You’re not doing him any favors by letting him marry a woman who lies and cheats and for all we know freelances as an escort. The only one you’re protecting is the bitch.”

Carly paused, thinking about what Taylor said. “You’re right. I guess a part of me also didn’t want Jeff to think less of me for telling him, but I’ve got nothing to lose anymore.”

“Atta girl.” Taylor patted her on the back.

Carly wiped her eyes and marched back to the bar.

“Ready for the second?” she asked Jeff.

“Sure.” He seemed to be studying her. Maybe he’d heard her crying. Or maybe he knew how much she cared for him and felt bad about it.

And that was why she was going to have her say. “Jeff, there’s something you should know.” He focused those green eyes on her and she had to keep herself from being distracted. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, placed his second beer on the bar in front of him, and said, “There are different ways of knowing people. Some people you connect with and understand on a deep level right away, and others you will never really know past the surface.”

“If you’re trying to say we connected on that deep level, I agree, Carly. And I value the time I spent with you.”

“Thanks, but that really isn’t my point. What I mean is that some people have a lot of twisted layers blocking you from seeing who they really are.” She took a breath for courage and went on. “I work several times a week at Sarvinger’s By The Sea in Montauk. And there is a woman who brings in men regularly. She maintains a room there and probably pays big tips to the leasing staff to look the other way because it appears she is running an escort service, although it might be that she’s just having a lot of sex with several different men a week.”

He frowned. “You’re losing me. Why are you telling me this?”

“Um, when we were in Paris and I got upset when I saw those photos on your mobile phone, it wasn’t because I was jealous of Peyton. Well, yeah, I am jealous of her, but that wasn’t what disturbed me the most. I was upset because I’d hate to see you hurt. I was upset because I recognized her. She’s the woman I see bringing men into Sarvinger’s several times a week.”

Silence. His eyebrows knit and then he just stared at her with a puzzled look. “Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?”

“No, Jeff, I’m trying to protect you. I couldn’t bear to tell you in Paris and I figured since you were breaking up with her it wouldn’t matter. But if you’re going back with Peyton then you should know that ‘one mistake’ she spoke of was more like the one hundredth. You’re being played.”

Jeff’s face took on a look Carly had never seen on it before. And she realized it was anger. “That is a really cheap shot, Carly. I realize a lot more happened between us than either of us expected or planned, but this is just ridiculous. If you think this will get me to dump her and choose you, you’re wasting your time and making a fool of yourself.”

His words hit her like a punch in the stomach. Or a knife in the heart. She gathered her courage and shot back, “No, asshole. You’re the one who’s a fool.”

Then she marched to the other end of the bar, and when she glanced back, Jeff was gone.