Forever After by Karen Rose Smith

him call Seth and maybe the four of you can get this settled before it gets out of hand."
    Marsha's glance at Seth was confused and angry.  To Darcy she said, "I don't blame you for wanting to go out with him.  Just be careful...for both of us."
    The screen door slammed behind Marsha when she left.
    Seth canvassed Darcy's face, suspicions popping up that he had to examine.  He didn't want to believe Darcy was a calculating woman, but it wouldn't surprise him if she was.  It was what he expected from the female population.  "Did you and your friend plan that scene?"
    Darcy stepped back, looking stricken.  "Of course not.  I had to tell her you were picking me up.  I didn't want to hide it from her.  She felt since Brad knew her lawyer, it was only fair she meet you..."  Darcy trailed off.  "You don't believe me, do you?"
    He mowed his hand through his hair.  "I've had scenes played out in front of me before.  You'd think it was a good idea for me to see how much Marsha loves her daughter, how much she seems to care."
    "Don't tell me what I think.  This was a lousy idea and I told her so.  She and Brad should be going to a mediator or counselor to work this out so Jenna doesn't get hurt.  But Brad won't and Marsha's so furious with him now...  Damn!  I'm not supposed to be talking to you about this."
    Seth approached Darcy slowly.  He could see she was almost as upset as Marsha, and he pushed his distrust back into the past where it belonged.  "I'm sorry.  I do believe you.  Old habits die hard.  My profession demands I be suspicious."
    "Of me?"
    "Of everyone."  There were questions in her eyes he didn't want to answer.  Deliberately, he directed the conversation where he wanted it to go.  "Are you ready to learn the jitterbug?"
    "You still want to go?"
    He searched her face.  "Don't you?"
    "I don't know.  This proves my point.  Maybe we shouldn't be seeing each other."
    "We're not.  We happen to be taking the same dance class together."
    "You know what I mean."
    He sighed.  "Are you going to let someone else's problems run your life?"
    "Marsha's my friend.  I love Jenna."
    "I know.  But seeing me or not seeing me is not going to affect what happens between Brad and Marsha.  Can't you see that?  They're barreling down a course that has nothing to do with you."
    "But if I slip, and something I say helps Brad because you take advantage of it--"
    "I won't do that."
    "Even if this gets dirty and you want to win more than you want to play fair?"
    "This is not a conflict of interest for me because I can keep my emotions out of it.  If we don't discuss it, I can't take advantage of you, right?"  He could see she was still struggling with loyalty to her friend.  "Put it on hold for tonight.  Put it on hold until I know if the case is even going to go forward.  Isn't that logical?"
    "Your logic's much easier for you than for me."
    He couldn't force her to be with him.  She had to make up her own mind.  But that didn't mean he couldn't sway her in his direction.  He pulled her into his arms and held her close.
    Kissing her temple, he said, "It will be all right, Darcy."
    She went pliant against him.  She was everything he wanted right now--soft, fragrant, caring, lovely.  His need for her was becoming a demand.  She had to make up her mind about this so they could go where he wanted to go.  Where is that? a small voice asked.  He was living moment to moment.  He wanted to make love to her.  After that, he didn't know.
    He rubbed his chin against her cheek.  "Are we going to be dance partners tonight?"

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    "I can't go with you."  Darcy pulled away, shaking her head sadly.
    Reluctantly, Seth let her go.
    "My friendship with Marsha is too important.  So is Jenna's future.  I can't have...fun at their expense.  Can you understand that?"
    He'd never met a woman like Darcy Kearn.  He thought women were catty, stepped on each other to get ahead, put relationships with men