Source One

she looked at Katie.
    He studied her as he waited for her answer.
    “Please?” Katie asked again.
    Amber blinked a few times before she smiled at Katie. She met Brian’s gaze and nodded. “All right.”
    Brian exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Good.”
    With Katie still in his arms, he opened the door, stepped out, held it for Amber.
    “How old are you, Katie?” Amber asked after they were seated in a booth at the diner next door. She sat across from Katie and Brian.
    “Six.”
    “Are you in first grade?”
    Katie nodded.
    “I’ll bet you have a nice teacher,” Amber said.
    Katie nodded again and told her about Mrs. Jenkins.
    Brian poured some ketchup onto Katie’s plate after the server set down the sandwiches they’d ordered.
    “So, where are you working now?” he asked Amber.
    “At Sumner Systems.”
    Brian’s jaw ticked as he drew in a breath.
    Amber was looking at him with a frown.
    Great. All he needed was to make her uncomfortable again.
    “I’m sorry you’re not still working at my company.”
    Amber’s frown deepened. She gave her head a small shake before she turned to Katie.
    “Do you like dolls?” Amber asked her.
    “I love Disney princesses. I have a lot of them at home. Want to come see them?”
    Amber smiled. “I used to like dolls very much, too.”
    “Can I see the fish tank, Daddy?” Katie asked after they’d finished lunch.
    Brian glanced at the tank. It was only a few feet away from their table. He nodded and got up so that Katie could slide out of the booth.
    She scampered over to the tank.
    Amber was smiling at Katie when Brian turned back to her.
    She had worn makeup at the office. Now her face was free of makeup except whatever she had on her full lips.
    She was stunning. Truly stunning.
    Brian forced his thoughts aside and cleared his throat. “So what did you like to do when you were Katie’s age?” he asked. “I didn’t have any sisters. Any siblings at all. I never know what activities she’ll like.”
    Amber wet her lips as she thought about his question. “My mother and I loved Broadway shows. I started going when I was Katie’s age. We only visited New York twice. But whatever came to San Francisco, we’d see. And we went to L.A. a few times, too.”
    A few minutes later, Brian and Katie walked Amber to her car.
    Amber gave Katie a hug and then looked up at Brian. “Thank you for lunch.”
    “My pleasure,” Brian said.
    He and Katie watched her drive away.
    Brian lay in bed that night, hands laced behind his head.
    It was too soon. Too soon to date anyone.
    It was an insult to Diana to even be considering it.
    But the thought of letting Amber walk out of his life again left Brian feeling sad and empty.

CHAPTER 11
     
    Brian listened to the phone ring.
    All the presentations he did. They never fazed him.
    Unlike this call.
    Brian’s stomach was churning as Amber picked up.
    He greeted her. “Would you like to see The Phantom of the Opera in San Francisco with me this weekend?”
    There was silence for a moment. “Why?”
    “Because you said you like the theater.”
    “No. I mean, why would you want to see it with me?”
    Then was a nother pause before Amber whispered, “I thought you hated me.”
    Amber’s words hit Brian like a blow. He swallowed and spoke gently. “I don’t hate you, Amber. Far from it.”
    He took a breath. “I know I wasn’t very friendly at the office. That I was the cause of the tension between us. There’s no excuse for it.”
    He paused. “I’m asking for a chance to start over with you, Amber. Will you let me?”
    Brian closed his eyes and waited for her answer.
    Finally she spoke. “All right. I’ll go with you this weekend.”
    ***
    The show had just ended and the lights had come back up.
    Amber turned to Brian with a smile. “That was amazing. Thank you.”
    The blissful expression on her face took Brian’s breath away. He’d never seen her like this. She looked radiant.
    Something heated inside of his chest.
    The smile faded from Amber’s face. She blinked up at him, no doubt wondering why he was staring at her. Why he hadn’t said anything.
    Brian forced himself to smile. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
    Brian pulled up to Amber’s house an hour later.
    He’d wanted to get her door, but it was already open by the time he reached it. She was gathering her purse. He offered her his hand as she looked up.
    She gave him a small smile and put her hand into his. Stepped out