Free Remember the Dreams by Christine Flynn Page B

voice? "Well, since you're a male, I thought you'd be the most logical person to ask." When he didn't say anything, and the paper didn't move, she continued casually. "There's this man that I'd like to get to know better, and he's being a little . . . well, I guess you'd call it 'reserved.' I thought maybe you could ..."
    "Who?" The voice behind the newspaper sounded choked.
    "Oh, his name's not important," she returned innocently. "I just thought you could tell me how to thaw him out. I think he likes me, but we can't seem to get past the . . . past the hand-holding stage." Well, she justified to herself, he did hold my hand once. Sort of.
    She wished she could see his face. On the other hand, it was probably better that she couldn't. With him hiding behind the paper, he couldn't see hers either.
    "Just how far do you want to go with this guy?"
    Point-blank. That had always been Kyle's style.
    She gave the metal tab another flick. "As far as I can get." Her bright blue eyes shot to the white-knuckled hand holding the paper, and she swallowed a disbelieving moan. Did she actually say what she thought she had?
    Kyle's voice sounded a little tight. "I suppose you could always try plying him with alcohol. That should loosen his inhibitions."
    It did . . . once, she thought dryly. "I'd prefer him sober."
    "Then how about a quiet dinner by candlelight?"
    They had dinner together almost every night, and Toni had the feeling that a couple of candles wouldn't make any difference. "I need something better than that. Something more . . ."
    "Obvious?" came the voice from behind the paper.
    "Well, nothing overt," she countered, picking up her pen to draw little squiggles on the folder. "Just tell me what appeals to a man who . . ."
    Kyle noisely turned another page and gave the paper an impatient snap. "I can't believe that any man could possibly be that dense. If you like him, you've probably been sending out signals that any normal male could pick up. So this guy must be either dumb, blind, incredibly stupid, or all three. Get him to take you to his place, build a fire, put on some music, and hand the jerk a bottle of wine. But if you have to go to all that trouble, you'll probably be very disappointed when he finally does get around to making a pass."
    Toni was sure that it wasn't her imagination. Kyle had actually sounded jealous.
    Her elbow was resting on the arm of the chair, and she put her hand to her forehead. Turning her smile to the wall, she prayed that the giggle in her throat wouldn't escape.
    Kyle was neither dumb nor blind. Incredibly stupid was up for grabs. There was already a fire in the fireplace. A soothing ballad played softly on the stereo, blending with the melody of the rain. The remnants of the wine they'd had with dinner filled their glasses, the empty bottle now sitting on the coffee table. And Kyle was seriously underestimating his lovemaking, though he quite obviously didn't know that it was his own prowess he'd just criticized.
    He certainly wasn't being very cooperative in planning his seduction though.
    "Thanks, Kyle," she mumbled, suppressing her grin as she opened her file again. "You've been an enormous help."
    When she picked up her things to go to bed twenty minutes later, Kyle was still buried under the newspaper. As she walked past his reclining form and said good-night, she dropped the empty wine bottle on his stomach.
    ❧
    A weak September sun tried vainly to shine the next morning. Madeline had assured Toni that a little rain wouldn't prevent Kyle and "the boys" from playing their usual Saturday football game. Kyle had mentioned the game last weekend, and Toni had every intention of going today.
    The quiet discussion taking place between the two women now had nothing to do with either the game or the weather. Taking advantage of the easy friendship developing between her and Madeline, Toni had asked her the same questions she had put to Kyle last night. No names were mentioned, of course. And if