Ill Take Forever

her silk dress, moving seductively against her. She swayed towards him and glanced at him through her lashes. The triumphant gleam in his eyes jerked her back.
    'I won't be manipulated!' She shrugged off his hand and ran lightly down the stairs. 'I'll wait outside. Fix yourself something for dinner.'
    She slammed the door behind her and stood on the doorstep, breasts heaving as she tried to calm herself. The nerve of the man. Blast him, anyway! Just who did he think he was? To set himself up as the arbitrator of whom she could go out with, whom she could have dinner with. It was fine for him to declare he wanted her, then go off and spend who knew how much time with Naomi, but if she just tried to go out on a friendly date with someone, it was different. Stay home, Jenny, don't go out, as if he expected her to sit around awaiting his pleasure.
    She was not growing calm, she was getting angrier by the minute. This would never do. She owed it to George to be in a pleasant mood when he arrived. It wasn't his fault that Kyle was so infuriating. Taking a deep breath, she deliberately stopped thinking of Kyle Martin and his autocratic ideas.
    When George arrived, Jenny greeted him with a pleasant smile and settled back in his Mercedes to enjoy the drive. The trip to Lake Tahoe passed quickly as George kept the conversation general, his big car moving swiftly along the mountain roads.
    Dinner was at a restaurant overlooking the lake.
    'I wasn't sure you would join me tonight,' George said when they had ordered.
    'Why not? You're pleasant company, and it's a delightful restaurant. I do like Lake Tahoe.'
    'I'm glad. Actually, heard a rumor that you and Kyle were–rather more than cousins, shall I say.'
    The color stole into her cheeks as she dropped her eyes. She didn't know what to say. How had he heard that? Nate and Bart obviously. But why would they have said anything? She looked up refusing to apologize for her actions–no matter how they appeared.
    'We don't really have a purely cousinly relationship. Kyle was Johnny's cousin.'
    'So more than just—umm—kissing kin?' George asked.
    'What do you mean?'
    'Well, Nate seemed to think you two have something going. As I said, I'm glad you don't, that you were available to join me tonight.'
    'I am, too.' She was puzzled. Jenny hadn't thought Nate and George were friends. Certainly not to the extent of talking about a couple found kissing on a blanket on a hillside such a short time ago.
    'Kyle staying long?' George asked.
    'He's convalescing from a motorcycle accident, as you know. I think he plans to stay the whole summer. Until school starts in the fall. I think he’s at loose ends. He had different plans for the summer.'
    'I remember he mentioned a trip to Europe he had to miss. Teaches history?'
    'That's right. Are you planning any trips soon? You know April’s going to Hawaii for vacation? She's been saving for ages.' Jenny was uncomfortable with George's questions about Kyle for some reason, which she found hard to define. She definitely wanted to change the subject.
    They talked about people they knew, what George’s brother was doing and how he liked Oregon. Which led into a discussion of different places they’d each visited. Jenny began to enjoy herself.
    The view from the restaurant was lovely. The lake was a deep blue, the sky gradually changing from light blue to pink to mauve, and finally the dark velvet black of the mountain night.
    After the waiter had left their coffee, George again began to question Jenny on Kyle. She tried to think carefully before each response, but was worried with the line of conversation. What George just making conversation or was there more? Good grief, she’d known the man most of her life. Yet until recently they’d spent very little time together. Did he think he had to vet anyone she saw?
    'Why is he staying with you? You didn't know each other before, did you? When Johnny was alive?' he asked.
    'Well, we had met before, of course.' That, at least, was true.
    'But he and Johnny weren't close. Nate said he never saw him before.'
    'Nate?' It must have been a lengthy conversation.
    'Well, Nate knew a lot of Johnny's cousins. They were always running around together with Nick as kids. What do you know about this Kyle Martin?'
    'Really, George, you sound as if you don't like Kyle,' she stalled.
    'It's not that, Jenny.' He covered her hand with his, giving a light squeeze. 'I'm just worried about you, that's all. I feel sort of