All Said and Undone by Angelita Gill Page A

we’re all watching the door. My heart is pounding . It was almost like time was moving in slow motion because who knew who was going to walk through that door!”
    Tori nodded as she shot out a hand to Grace. “He could’ve had fish lips.”
    “Or old enough to be your grandfather,” Lisa added.
    “Or someone’s boyfriend,” Ellen said with a raised brow.
    “Exactly,” Grace said. “I’m mentally and physically crossing all fingers, and it felt like forever since anyone walked through the door. The girls are standing behind me, laughing, cracking jokes, making me even more nervous. Finally—”
    “I walked in,” Jack interjected. “Minding my own business. Had a hell of a day. Told the cab driver to take me to the first bar that came to mind because I had just lost a client and all I wanted was one drink. I walk in, barely stepped in the place, and this woman walks up, grabs my jacket, and kisses me.”
    The group laughed, enjoying the story.
    “I couldn’t help it!” Grace exclaimed. “I was so relieved—lucky—that it was Jack who walked through the door I just sort of threw myself on him. He was handsome, no wedding ring on his finger, and totally caught off guard.” She slid him a glance. “I’ll never forget the look on your face.”
    “Right. You kissed me, then pretended to dust lint off my shoulder and said—”
    “Good stuff! Thanks, yuppie.” Grace smiled as everyone chuckled and laughed.
    “What happened after that?” Mike asked.
    Jack rocked back on his heels. “I, uh, had my drink, put my number on a napkin and gave it to the bartender to pass along.”
    “Then you called him and the rest is history?” Tori said with a grin.
    There was a little more to it than that but Grace took Jack’s cue and finished the story. “The rest is history.”
    They exchanged looks. Jack’s hand was at her back and his fingers traced a small circle between her shoulder blades, making her recall every detail of that night. Goose bumps scattered along her skin, and her grip on the wineglass tightened. She hoped no one would notice her fierce reaction. He knew what touching her like that did to her…or rather, what it undid inside of her.
    “Excuse me. Ladies’ room calls.” She smiled politely and made her way to the restroom outside of the lobby, Jack’s gaze burning a hole in her dress.
    Once inside, she set the glass down on the vanity and fanned herself, appalled at the flush on her cheeks, the telltale sign she could never hide. It irritated her how plainly he could witness his effect on her.
    After a couple of minutes, she reentered the party, seeing Jack had been pulled into yet another crush of male associates. She took the time to sample some cheese and fruit offered by the bar. Although it had been somewhat fun to share their story with new friends, it only reminded her they were nowhere near the couple they used to be. They used to play. They used to laugh. They used to tell each other things.
    “Are you as bored as I am?” Jack’s voice warmed her instantly and sent chills over her body at the same time.
    He must have been watching her from across the room. She turned around with a smile.
    “You’re bored?” she asked. “You play the eager, gracious executive so well.”
    “I’m eager tonight, that much is true, but not in business,” he drawled, stepping closer to her. “What about you? Are you ready to go home?”
    She exhaled warily, handing him her half-empty wineglass. “More than ready.”
    He smiled slowly, taking her glass from her hand, his fingers grazing hers. “I’ll bring the car around.”
    Instantly, Grace regretted her words as her husband parted through the crowd. He’d meant sex. She knew that look in her Jack’s eyes, recognized it as easily as she did his eye color.
    Did he expect them to make love tonight? Just because they’d had a decent time at the party?
    She could not let that happen yet. She wasn’t ready, not in the emotional sense. She