Ill Take Forever

mother offered, rising to prepare it.
    Jenny smiled. 'Sounds good. I'll help.'
    She followed her mother into the kitchen, and got down the cups while her mother put the milk on the stove to warm. She remembered dates when Johnny would bring her home and her mother would stay up to hear all about it. They’d make cocoa and talk until after midnight. Even in summer.
    'Why don't you and Kyle come to dinner tomorrow?' Peggy O'Neil said while they waited for the milk to heat. 'We've only seen him a few times. I used to know Edith so well, I’d love to catch up on what she’s doing.'
    'Kyle is dating Naomi Taylor,' Jenny said carefully, rearranging the cups on the counter. 'I don't know if he's planning to see her tomorrow or not. But I'd love to come, Mom.'
    'Ask Naomi, too, if you want. I haven't seen much of her since she moved to San Francisco. She looked washed out at George's affair. Too many late nights, I guess.'
    Jenny looked at her mother closely. She had thought Naomi looked rather great.
    'Well, I'll ask them. I'd like to come, anyway.'
    Jenny stayed later than she had planned to, discussing George Carlisle's party, the new display her father was planning in his store, her mother's hopes to enter the flower contest at the county fair in August. It was after midnight when Jenny and Shasta climbed into the car and started for home.
    As she drew near her driveway a single headlight came up behind her and settled to follow her. Turning into her drive, she knew it was Kyle. Her spirits rose. At least he hadn't stayed the night with Naomi.
    He pulled his motorcycle into the garage beside her, waiting at the rear of the SUV for her to join him.
    'Date with George?' he asked silkily as she headed for the house.
    'Maybe,' she prevaricated. 'Have fun with Naomi?'
    'It was interesting. Where have you been?'
    Jenny unlocked the door, switched on the lights. As Kyle stepped closer, she caught a whiff of the perfume Naomi used so lavishly.
    'I've been out, now I'm back,' she said, and ran up the stairs. She paused at the top to look back at Kyle, standing just inside the door.
    'My mother's invited us for dinner tomorrow, can you go?'
    He nodded.
    'About seven.'
    Jenny turned and continued to her room.
    She ached with longing for the man—what was wrong with her? As she crawled between her sheets she tried to block out the images her mind conjured. Kyle last winter, his pallor earlier this summer, kisses on the hillside, in the hall, carrying her to bed after the party, their encounter on the sofa. She tried to remember he was making a play for Naomi as work. He obviously felt something for her, but not enough to take his focus away from work. Once the job was over, he'd be gone. She tried to remember there was no future together, but to no avail.
    She wanted him as much as he wanted her, she ached with longing. Yearned to feel his lips against hers again, the rising delight he could evoke with his touch. She loved him. What was she going to do?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Jenny didn't see Kyle again until it was time to leave for her parents' home the next day. She wore a short, white-dotted Swiss dress which buttoned down the front, and white sandals. Her tan had deepened from the day at the river and the white showed it to advantage. Her hair curled and waved, new golden highlights from the sun brightening it.
    Kyle was already waiting downstairs when she left her room. He wore the designer jeans he'd worn to George's barbecue and a white polo shirt. His eyes flashed momentarily when he saw her, then he turned away.
    'Ready?' she said nervously. It wasn't fair he should look so virile, so sexy. What chance did she have of getting over him before he even left?
    'Yes. Are we taking Shasta?'
    'No.'
    She drove to town in silence, paying strict attention to the road. Kyle gazed out the window.
    'Hi, Jenny.' Her mother greeted them when they arrived. 'Hi, Kyle, so glad you could join us.' Peggy O'Neil looked beyond them. 'Naomi not able to make it?'
    Kyle slanted a sardonic look at Jenny, then smoothly replied, 'No, she drove back to San Francisco this afternoon.'
    'You remember Dan?'
    Kyle shook hands warmly with Jenny's father. 'Good to see you again.'
    'Come in. Actually, come on through to the backyard, we're grilling steaks there. Can I get you something to drink, Kyle? Jenny?'
    'Gin and tonic, please.'
    'Me, too,' Jenny said, giving her father a hug.
    'Tell me all about what Edith's doing these days.' Peggy said to Kyle when