Right Next Door by Debbie Macomber Page B

to her lips, effectively silencing any protest. Robin trembled, breathless.
    â€œWhy are you fighting me so hard?” he whispered. Hishands framed her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. They were damp and she hadn’t even known she was crying.
    Suddenly she heard footsteps bounding down the stairs. At the thought of Jeff finding her in Cole’s arms, she abruptly broke away and turned to stare out the darkened window, hoping for a moment to compose herself.
    Jeff burst into the room. “Did you kiss her yet?” he demanded. Not waiting for an answer, Jeff ran toward Robin and grabbed her by the hand. “Well, Mom, what do you think?”
    â€œAbout…what?”
    â€œMr. Camden kissing you. He did, didn’t he?”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to deny the whole thing, but she decided to brazen it out. “You want me to rate him? Like on a scale of one to ten?”
    Jeff blinked, uncertain. His questioning glance flew to Cole.
    â€œShe was a ten,” Cole said, grinning.
    â€œA…high seven,” Robin returned.
    â€œA high seven!” Jeff cried, casting her a disparaging look. He shook his head and walked over to Cole. “She’s out of practice,” he said confidingly. “Doesn’t know how to rate guys. Give her a little time and she’ll come around.”
    â€œJeff,” Robin gasped, astounded to be having this kind of discussion with her son, let alone Cole, who was looking all too smug.
    â€œShe hardly goes out at all,” Jeff added. “My mom’s got this friend who arranges dates for her, and you wouldn’t believe some of the guys she’s been stuck with. One of them came to the door—”
    â€œJeff,” Robin said sharply, “that’s enough!”
    â€œBut one of us needs to tell him!”
    â€œMr. Camden was just leaving,” Robin said, glaring at her neighbor, daring him to contradict her.
    â€œI was? Oh, yeah. Your mom was about to walk me to the door, isn’t that right, Robin?”
    She gaped at Cole as he reached for her hand and gently led her in the direction of the front door. Meekly she submitted, but not before she saw Jeff give Cole a thumbs-up.
    â€œNow,” Cole said, standing in the entryway, his hands heavy on her shoulders. “I want to know what’s wrong.”
    â€œWrong? Nothing’s wrong.”
    â€œIt’s because of Victoria, isn’t it?”
    â€œVictoria?” she asked, already knowing that had to be the woman with him the day she’d seen him at the restaurant.
    â€œYes. Victoria. I saw you practically hiding under your table, pretending you didn’t notice me.”
    â€œI…Why should I care?” She hated the way her voice shook.
    â€œYes, why should you?”
    She didn’t answer him. Couldn’t answer him. She told herself it didn’t matter that he was with another woman. Then again, it mattered more than she dared admit.
    â€œTell me,” he insisted.
    Robin lowered her gaze. If only he’d stop holding her, stop touching her. Then she might be able to think clearly. “You looked right together. She was a perfect complement to you. She’s tall and blond and—”
    â€œCold as an iceberg. Victoria’s a business associate—we had lunch together. Nothing more. I find her as appealing as…as dirty laundry.”
    â€œPlease, don’t explain. It’s none of my business whoyou have lunch with or who you date or where you go every weekend or who you’re with. Really. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t know why I did. It was wrong of me—very wrong. I can’t believe we’re even talking about this.”
    Jeff poked his head out from the kitchen. “How are things going in here?”
    â€œGood,” Robin said. “I was just telling Cole how much we both appreciated his help with your pitching.”
    â€œI was having real