Calliope smiled at herself in her bedroom mirror as she applied make-up for her hot date. This was more like it. Going for that hike on her own was a fabulous idea. Not the getting wedged in a crack in the ground part, and not the twisting her ankle and facing her imminent demise part, but without either of those, she wouldn’t have finally gotten her chance with Jonathan.

She swiped a sizzling, red lipstick across her lips, pressed them together to distribute the color, then made a kissy face at herself. At last! This was the date she’d been waiting for. Her days of flirting with Jonathan in the hopes that one or the other of them would work up the nerve to ask the other out were over. And with them, her frustrating stint as a singleton was about to be over too.

“You look nice,” Melody commented from the doorway.

Calliope grinned at her sister in the mirror, then turned to face her. “Thanks.” She smoothed her hands along the curves of her sides and hips, deliciously on display under the flowing, green dress she wore. Green. Her color. “I’ve been dying to test out the power of this dress for ages.”

Melody laughed, leaning against the doorframe. “Jonathan won’t be able to resist.”

“I hope not.” Calliope grabbed her shell-shaped clutch from her dresser and headed for the door. “If he likes it, he’ll put a ring on it.”

Melody tweaked one eyebrow in a doubtful look. “Uh, might I remind you, this is your first date, not your five hundredth. I wouldn’t go expecting a proposal tonight.”

“I wasn’t talking about an engagement ring,” Calliope said, walking past her sister and into the hall with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I was talking about a certain ring-shaped band of latex. One you put on a different appendage. And then unroll.”

“Okay, okay.” Melody held up her hands, following Calliope down the hall. “I get it. You want to get laid tonight.”

“And every night for the foreseeable future,” Calliope commented over her shoulder with a wink. “This dry spell of mine has lasted way too long.”

“Is Jonathan on the same page?” Melody asked.

“I sure hope so.”

“But you’re going to find out for sure before you, you know, break out the moves on him, right?”

They reached the top of the stairs, and Calliope turned to give her sister a flat look. “No need to give me the lecture about consent, Mom.”

She and Melody headed down the stairs, around the corner, and into the main room.

“Oh, I’m not talking about consent,” Melody said. “I’m talking about not making yourself look like a dope by throwing yourself all over him.”

Calliope knew Melody was just teasing her, but the comment felt more like a paper cut. “I’m getting really tired of you all casting me as the designated single person in our group,” she said, the words coming out harsher than she wanted them to. “Stop trying to hold me back from landing a boyfriend of my own.”

Melody balked. “No one is casting you as anything, other than snippy sister.” She planted her hands on her hips. “And because I love you, I’ll tell you that you don’t ‘land a boyfriend’. Not if you want something real that will last.”

Calliope huffed out an impatient breath. “Bad choice of words on my part. But you know as well as anyone that Jonathan and I have been skirting around each other for months now. We’ve had chemistry from the start. And you weren’t there when he asked me out. The signs are all present and accounted for. He’s interested. In more than just one casual date. And so am I.”

She turned away, heading to the sun-shaped mirror on the wall near the arched doorway by the front hall to check her hair. And so that Melody couldn’t see the uncertainty in her eyes and call her out for it. She did think Jonathan was interested in more than dinner, but there was always that possibility that things would go wrong and that would be the end of that. And good God, she did not want it all to end after one date. Not when she needed, well, so many things. Badly.

“Look,” Melody began, walking up behind her. “I know you’ve been feeling left out lately, what with me and Will, and everyone else pairing up. But don’t go into anything with Jonathan with an agenda. Stuff like that doesn’t end well. Let things unfold naturally.”

Calliope pivoted to face her sister, lips pursed. “Thanks for the unsolicited advice,” she said, tone flat.

A knock at the door stopped what could have become an argument. Calliope burst into a smile, banishing the bad feelings Melody had brought up, and all but skipped to the door. She opened it to find Jonathan waiting. His tall, hunky frame took up most of the doorway. A ripple of anticipation swirled through her at the thought of getting her hands on that body, her arms and legs wrapped around it. But it was the charming, almost boyish smile and the inexplicable sprig of pine that he held in his hand that made her heart flutter.

“Hi,” he said, his broad shoulders relaxing.

“Hi back,” she said. She giggled and nodded to the sprig of pine. “What’s that?”

A flush painted his cheeks. “You guys own the only flower store in town. So it would have been a dead giveaway if I’d come in to buy flowers for you today. And there aren’t a lot of flowers growing wild around here at this time of year. This was the only attractive vegetation I could find.” He presented her with the pine sprig.

Calliope laughed as she took it. “Let me just put this in water.”

She felt as though she were dancing on clouds as she crossed to the kitchen. She found the first glass she could and plopped the sprig into it. The gesture was adorable, but the sooner they moved on to supper—and the after dinner treats she hoped to get—the better.

“Hey, Jonathan,” Melody greeted him as Calliope ran the tap. All the more reason to hurry up.

“Hey, Melody,” Jonathan answered. “How’s things?”

“Good, good,” Melody answered. Calliope swept back into the room as her sister went on with, “Take care of my sister tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Calliope fought to keep her smile in place. She knew full well that Melody would do any number of things, and that she was only teasing. It was completely irrational to think she was warning Jonathan off. But the thoughts were there. Calliope gritted her teeth and went over to take Jonathan’s arm. Being single was seriously warping her mind. She needed to get to the happy ending of this date as soon as possible.

“You ready to go?” she asked. It was easier to smile genuinely when she looked into his eyes.

“Very ready,” he said.

Yes. That was exactly how things should be going. She left all of her frustration and worry behind and led Jonathan out of the apartment and down the stairs to the street. The Cattleman Hotel was just a short walk from her house, which was a shame. Calliope had half a mind to keep walking and walking with him, seeing how things had gone so well when they walked the other day. But there were far better things they could be doing besides just walking.

“It’s finally getting chilly,” she said, slipping her arm into his as they turned onto Main Street, and walking closer to him. “I always love the change of seasons.”

“I’m not used to seasons like this,” he said as they crossed the street. “I’m used to more deciduous trees.”

“Yeah, it’s a shame that we’ve got so many pines. But I’m suddenly rather fond of pines.”

She winked up at him as they walked through the intersection of Main Street and Elizabeth Street and on to the Cattleman. Jonathan’s answering smile was warm and full of possibility. So far, everything was exactly the way she wanted it.

The Cattleman Hotel’s restaurant was unusually crowded for a Monday night, but that didn’t bother Calliope too much. She only had eyes for Jonathan, and by the look of things, the feeling was mutual. She was a little taken aback when the hostess seated them at a table right next to one where Howie was dining with Janet, his wife, and Quintus, his son. Howie tended to be loud. But after a cursory smile and wave, Howie turned his full attention back to the conversation at his table.

“Can you believe I haven’t eaten here yet?” Jonathan said as they were seated and opened their menus.

“Really? And you’ve lived here how long?” Calliope already knew what she wanted—boy, did she know what she wanted—and closed her menu after a quick glance.

“Almost a year,” Jonathan said. He evidently knew what he wanted too—she hoped—and put his menu down after a glance.

Calliope put her elbow on the table and leaned into her hand. “So how come we’re only just going out now if you’ve lived here a year?”

Jonathan laughed. Cute, little wrinkles formed around his eyes as he did. He had to be somewhere in his mid-thirties, but he looked younger. Except his eyes. They looked as old as the hills.

“It’s been a busy year,” he said. “We’re trying to do something extraordinary at work, which means devoting a lot of time.”

Devoting time to work. Calliope couldn’t say she loved that. But then again, a man who was responsible about his job was generally responsible about other things. She pictured him paying their bills, shuttling the kids to baseball and ballet, taking her on vacation to Hawaii for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

“Sounds nice,” she sighed.

Jonathan’s mouth twitched and his eyes filled with mirth. “Um, it will be when we get results.”

Calliope blushed and sat straighter. She was spared having to explain her lapse of concentration when the server came to take their order. Once that was done it was just the two of them again.

“It’s too bad you’ve spent so much time helping Howie with his mixers.” She picked up the thread of conversation, glancing over Jonathan’s shoulder to where Howie was trying to make some point to Quintus.

“The mixers have been loads of fun,” he said with a smile. “Like I said on Saturday, saying yes to things has taken me on some incredible adventures.”

And delayed this whole date thing, Calliope thought. Not that it mattered. They were together now. She resumed leaning on her arm on the table, gazing fondly into his eyes.

“So what awesome adventure do you plan to undertake next?” she asked, brushing the fingertips of her free hand non-too-subtly along the neckline of her dress.

“We’ll see.” Jonathan leaned toward her, wiggling an eyebrow. “The night is still young.”

The heat in his eyes and his tone tickled her down to her toes, making her wriggle in her seat. She had half a mind to cancel their dinner order and get a room. She’d brought condoms after all. Three of those goofy Paradise Space Flight condoms were ready to go in her purse as they spoke. She arched a brow, bit her lip.

“Charitable work is all well and good, but where’s the fun in it? Where’s the competition?” At the other table, Howie raised his voice, making a wild gesture, and effectively snapping the sizzling mood Calliope and Jonathan had going.

“You don’t have to make everything a competition, Dad,” Quintus said, as though he firmly believed he was the sane one in the family.

“Of course I do,” Howie answered, his smile broad. “It’s a family tradition.”

Calliope met Jonathan’s eyes. The two of them burst into silent laughter, trying not to make it obvious. It wasn’t exactly the mood Calliope had been hoping for, but it was still fun.

“I’m glad we’re finally doing this,” she said, trying to recapture the spark. “You know, I’ve had my eye on you for a while.”

Jonathan’s expression heated. “No kidding. I’ve kind of had thoughts about you for a while too.”

“Really? What kind of thoughts?” She bit her lip, implying that she hoped they were naughty.

“Nice thoughts.”

“Where is the challenge in choosing paint colors?” Howie bellowed, breaking the mood once again. “There’s no anticipation in putting in new floorboards.”

“Howie, lower your voice.” Janet shook her head at him.

“He can’t,” Quintus answered. “Dad’s only got one volume: too loud.”

“It’s true,” Jonathan murmured.

This time, Calliope wasn’t as amused at the interruption. Her amusement plummeted to downright dread as she spotted a new couple entering the restaurant. What she saw first was pink. Lots of pink. A pink dress, to be precise. And wearing it was none other than Kathy Standish. Kathy McVee now. The stocky man standing next to her, talking to the hostess, must have been her new husband, Cameron.

“Something wrong?” Jonathan asked.

Calliope glanced back to him briefly, trying to pretend she hadn’t just been thrown back to eighth grade. “Not really,” she answered.

But three seconds later, the hostess led Kathy and Cameron straight over to the table right behind her. Worse still, Kathy spotted her, and in an instant burst into overflowing excitement.

“Hi, Calliope!” she squealed, rushing to Calliope with outstretched arms.

Calliope was forced to get up and hug her to avoid looking like a jerk. “Hi, Kathy. Man, you look great! Marriage suits you.” Talk about words that tasted bitter.

“Oh my gosh.” Kathy took a step back from the hug and glanced at Calliope’s dress. “You’re green and I’m pink.” She burst into laughter.

Calliope forced herself to laugh with her. “Some things never change. Well, I don’t want to interrupt your dinner.”

“Who’s this?” Kathy asked as Jonathan rose and stepped forward. “Wow,” she went on, raking Jonathan with an appreciative glance.

The sting of jealousy was just what Calliope needed to gather her wits and remember to be a grown-up. “Kathy, I’d like you to meet my friend, Jonathan Cross. He’s a mathematician over at Paradise Space Flight.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Jonathan shook her hand. Calliope mentally stomped on her jealousy to try to subdue it, with mixed results.

“Jonathan, this is Kathy, an old friend. She just moved back to town. And this is your new husband?” Calliope turned to Cameron, hoping he could be a neutral party in the whole swirl of old battles and new relationships.

“Hey,” Cameron said. He shook Calliope’s, then Jonathan’s, hands. And that was it.

Kathy took Cameron’s arm and hugged it. “Isn’t he great? I snagged a good one. Looks like you did too, Cal.”

Calliope clenched her jaw into a smile. Okay, maybe she’d been thinking the same thing about snagging Jonathan earlier, but hearing Kathy say it was just…not cool.

“Oh, here comes the server with our food.” Calliope had never been so happy to see a man with a tray in her life. “Let’s catch up sometime,” she said with false cheer, inching back to her chair.”

“Absolutely,” Kathy said as Cameron held her chair for her. “We’ve got years to catch up on.”

It took a minute or so of shuffling and adjusting before Calliope and Jonathan were seated again, their meals in front of them. The romantic mood was completely shot, though. Calliope picked at her chicken, scrambling for some way to bring the magic back.

“So you knew Kathy in school?” Jonathan asked.

He looked so earnest and interested in her life that Calliope would have felt like a jerk for changing the subject. “Yeah. We were best friends in seventh grade. Then we were put in different classes in eighth grade and became enemies.”

Jonathan’s mouth twitched into that curious, confused smile that made her blood boil. Only, someone forgot to turn up the gas on her stove. The mouth-twitch barely made a dent in her disappointment.

“How do two formerly best friends become enemies by being put in different classes?” Jonathan asked.

Calliope shrugged. “I guess it’s a middle school thing. I have no idea why I did half the things I did back then. The worst part of it was that I still wanted to be friends with her. I tried and tried, and for a second there, I thought everything was going to be okay.”

“And?” Jonathan asked.

Calliope scowled, the old hurt still fresh. “And as it turned out, she was only being nice to me so that she could score an invite to Sandy and Rita’s back-to-school pool party, where she stole Greg Meyers from me.”

“Damn,” Jonathan said, though there was a sparkle in his eyes, as if he thought it was kinda funny.

And really, so many years later, Calliope should be thinking it was funny too. She would have, if the sting of suspicion wasn’t still there. What did Kathy want to steal from her now?

“Five minutes into that pool party, the big guns came out. I’ve learned to watch my back ever since then. It was—”

“Oh! We could move into the apartment at the back of the Silver Dollar.” Kathy had about as much volume control as Howie as she chatted with her husband. “My cousin Jake inherited the place when his dad died this summer. I hear he wants to renovate the apartment and rent it out. I’m sure he’d give it to us.”

Calliope pursed her lips. At the rate she was going, her lips would be too sore to do all the things she’d intended to do with them later. Which was not cool. “I think I’m getting that eighth grade feeling all over again,” she grumbled.

Jonathan laughed, the kindness in his eyes beyond sexy. “It’s okay. Next time, we’ll have dinner someplace quieter.”

Next time? With a bang, Calliope’s mood improved. “I like the sound of that.” She reached for her wine glass, sipping seductively.

Jonathan flickered one eyebrow and took a bite of his steak. She liked the way he chewed. It was as if he were warming his mouth up to do much better things later in the evening. Calliope followed suit, spearing a green bean with her fork and drawing it between her lips to show that she was only just warming up too. Jonathan flushed. She stretched out her leg, looking for his under the table. She didn’t have to reach far before—

“I know that community service is its own reward,” Howie boomed. “But I want something with more pizazz, more crowd appeal.”

“I’m not going to live in the old Meyers house.” Kathy raised her voice right on the heels of Howie’s comment. “Or any of the other run-down, so-called historic properties in Haskell either.”

Jonathan laughed as though being interrupted by two of the most intrusive people in the history of the universe was the best way to spend what should have been a hot date. Calliope laughed along with him, but inside, she was ready to commit hari-kari.

“I mean, if someone fixed the place up, that would be a different story,” Kathy went on.

“Should we ask for a different table?” Calliope whispered. “Maybe a different room?”

Jonathan’s whole face lit up at the suggestion. He sat straighter, his smile widening. “That’s it,” he said, putting his fork down.

Calliope’s blood pumped faster, to the very best of places. If she’d known it would have been that easy to cut the night short and proceed right to the good parts, she would have suggested getting a room right from the start.

“We could—”

Jonathan turned to face Howie. “Hey Howie, I think I’ve got your competition idea for you.”

As quickly as Calliope’s excitement had built, it crashed down again. She put her fork down to stop from stabbing someone with it.

“What idea?” Howie asked.

Jonathan was already halfway to his feet. He gestured for Howie to get up too, then stepped over to Kathy and Cameron’s table. “Hey guys,” he addressed them. “Is what I’m overhearing right? Are you looking for a place to live in town?”

“We are,” Kathy answered, twisting to smile up at him. “But it has to be a good place, with all the latest technology and conveniences.”

Howie reached Jonathan’s side. He rubbed his chin and said, “Is that so?”

Calliope was helpless to do anything more than watch as her long-awaited date turned into a planning session of the PSF Event Squad.

“You want teams to renovate several of the old buildings in town, right?” Jonathan asked Howie.

“Exactly.” Howie nodded.

“And you’re house hunting?” Jonathan asked Kathy and Cameron.

Kathy gasped. “Wait. Are you going where I think you’re going with this?”

Jonathan turned to Howie. “Have you ever watched those house hunting shows on TV? You know, the ones where someone has to pick from three or more different places. And the ones where they renovate houses.”

“I’ve seen them,” Janet said, joining the conversation. “I love those shows.”

“Well, PSF could do some sort of competition where you had teams renovating different houses or apartments, and Kathy and Cameron here could choose which one they want to move into at the end of the competition.”

A buzzing silence fell over the group. Calliope was pretty sure she was the only one within earshot who wasn’t super thrilled about the turn of events.

“That’s brilliant,” Howie said, slapping Jonathan on the back. “That just might work.”

“Oh, we would love that,” Kathy said, clapping her hands together. “Wouldn’t we, Cameron?”

“Sure,” Cameron answered.

“It’s settled, then.” Howie clapped his hands together. “Why don’t the two of you come over to my office tomorrow and we can work out the details.”

“I love it,” Kathy said. “We’ll be there. Thanks, Jonathan.” She beamed up at Jonathan, who had the good grace to look modest.

Not only that, Jonathan glanced to Calliope, his smile energized and content. Calliope had no choice but to send him an encouraging smile in return. But the mood was so far beyond dead that it felt like it’d been buried for three weeks.

Even after everyone resumed their seats and went back to minding their own business.

“You’ll join in with this one, won’t you?” Jonathan asked Calliope, carving into his steak.

“I dunno.” Calliope picked at her beans. They’d lost all of their appeal, literally and as stand-ins for other things she’d like to eat. Both of her appetites were gone. “Construction has never been my thing.”

“It’ll be fun,” Jonathan insisted. “And it’s for a worthy cause.”

She tried to smile. Really, she did. But Kathy’s incessant, giddy chatter behind her gave her indigestion. All she could think about was what kind of betrayal would come her way next.

Jonathan leaned closer to her. “I bet Howie will let me choose the people I want on my team.” He winked.

Some of the warmth that Calliope had lost slipped back in. But not fast, and not as intensely as she would have liked. But she was tired of being the designated stick-in-the-mud. And the possibility of spending more time with Jonathan was beyond appealing.

She took in a breath. Actually, this could turn into a really great thing. The ice had been broken between her and Jonathan. Howie’s renovation mixer might just be what she needed to take things to the next level.

“Yeah,” she said, her smile turning genuine as she battled to make the best of things. “Actually, I think I will join in after all. As long as I can be on your team.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He grinned and winked back.

But it wasn’t the same kind of grin as Calliope was convinced it would have been before the date-crashers ruined things. There was no “come hither” in his look. She was disappointingly certain that she wasn’t going to get laid that night after all. She was back to square one.