No Time Like Mardi Gras by Kimberly Lang

really all I need.”
    The voice slammed into him and his fingers froze. Composing himself, he turned slowly in his chair.
    Jamie.
    Only it wasn’t quite the Jamie he remembered. Mardi Gras Jamie had been a wholesome girl-next-door kind of sexy, but the expensive-looking woman at his door was far from the girl next door. That rich chestnut hair curled around an expertly made-up face in soft waves. A silky blouse tucked into a high-waisted black skirt that skimmed straight down the legs he remembered so well and stopped just short of her knee. The black stiletto pumps that straddled the line between sexy and serviceable did funny things to his stomach. It was Jamie, no doubt there, but the polished and poised woman in front of him had him rethinking what little he thought he knew about her.
    But he did know this woman intimately, something his little brain was reminding him of rather earnestly, but her composed face and stiff attitude were an icy wet blanket on that.
    “Hi, Colin.”
    The simple greeting snapped him back to the present and he wondered how long he’d been staring at her. “This is a surprise.”
    Jamie’s eyebrow quirked up and he realized that had come out sharper than intended. “The young woman out front told me to just come in.” Her mouth twisted. “She did ask to see my elbows first, though. Jeez, does everyone know you’re Prince Charming?”
    “Elise is my sister. Of course she knows. Otherwise, not many people do.” He leaned back in his chair. Jamie’s face was unreadable—she didn’t look happy to see him, but she didn’t look un happy, either. And since he hadn’t planned for Callie’s stunt to actually work, he hadn’t prepared himself for the possibility that it might. Then again, he hadn’t expected her to show up unannounced if it did, either. Seems she’d looked him up after all. “I was beginning to think something bad had happened to you the other night.”
    A tiny crease formed between her eyebrows. “Did you not get my message? I left one at the Lucky Gator.”
    That familiar mixture of anger and frustration came back. She’d wanted to disappear. Hell, the fact she was here now was proof she hadn’t left town or anything, so her lack of even a half-assed attempt to find him until now was insulting. “Oh, I got it. It was the lack of any other contact that caused concern.”
    “Well, I’m sorry for that—worrying you, that is.” She shifted a small black bag to the opposite arm and looked around. “You’re not a bartender at the Lucky Gator.”
    “No.” Was that why she hadn’t gotten in touch before now? She thought he was just a bartender? “Does that matter?”
    “No, of course not. It was just a bit of a surprise.” After another pointed look around, she asked, “If this is your business, why were you bartending?”
    That was her burning question? “Teddy’s a friend. He needed some help that day.”
    “But you let me think you worked there.”
    “You didn’t actually ask, so I didn’t offer. And rethinking that experience has made me realize that you weren’t exactly forthcoming with personal details, either.”
    “True,” she agreed, but she didn’t offer an explanation as to why. “I want you to know, Colin, that I had a really great time with you that day.”
    “I can tell.”
    “Don’t be like that.”
    “Like what, Jamie? One minute you’re all over me and the next you drop off the face of the earth.”
    She straightened her shoulders. “And I’m sorry about that. I didn’t handle the situation well, but...” She sighed. “It’s just not a good time for me to get seriously involved with anyone.”
    “Whoa, there. That’s jumping a bit ahead, don’t you think?”
    She shook her head. “It’s not personal. You seem like a great guy.”
    He didn’t want nor need to listen to the it’s-not-you-it’s-me spiel. He was neither a masochist nor that fragile. He certainly didn’t need a date that badly. Hell, he had a whole