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raising the glass to his lips. “Guess I’ll have to be more careful,” he said, swallowing half the contents and enjoying the burn chasing down his throat.
    She was silent for a moment and then tossed aside all pretenses.
    “Who’s the new blonde, Jet?”
    Here we go. “What blonde?”
    “Don’t what blonde me. The one who destroyed your car.”
    “It was an accident, Celeste.”
    “Has that been determined? Rumor has it you haven’t filed the report yet. Why not?”
    “Someone’s been busy.” Jet was going to kill Denie.
    “Jet?” she persisted.
    “Obviously you know more about it than I do. How was Kansas City?”
    “Don’t avoid the issue,” she snapped.
    “Then leave it alone.”
    “Why should I? Something bad happened to you. Aren’t I involved in that anymore?” she asked.
    “You know the answer to that,” he responded flatly.
    “As your wife, I still have some rights.”
    “My ex-wife,” he stressed. “And I told you when you moved back here not to try and stir things up between us again.”
    “My father,” her voice cracked before she continued, “would’ve wanted us to get back together.”
    The mention of Sy hit a nerve. “Your father knew what you did Celeste and believe me, if he was alive today, he’d question your sanity on why you moved back here.”
    Her lips firmed. “I might’ve been insane five years ago, but not now. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved or wanted a family with. That jerk didn’t mean squat to me.” She lifted a defensive shoulder. “It was a simple mistake.”
    “Mistake?” Jet let out a harsh laugh. “What you did wasn’t a mistake, Celeste. It was cold, calculated, and anything but simple.”
    “Like you’re a saint!” she spat out.
    “Far from it, but I haven’t stooped to your level.”
    “Really? You thought so much of my father yet you seduced his daughter,” she taunted. “Or didn’t stealing my virginity qualify under your superior standards?”
    Jet’s eyes narrowed. “You were the one who couldn’t wait to give it to me. But once again, unlike you, I had too much of a conscience to take what you offered under his roof.”
    “No Jet, I’ll grant you that. You didn’t screw me in my father’s house. You screwed me at his best friend’s house instead.”
    A tinge of heat rode up Jet’s cheeks. She was right. Denie’s parents had been friends of Sy’s and they’d been out of town that weekend. He wasn’t proud of the sneakiness and being a teenager with raging hormones was no excuse. That he’d refused to have sex with Celeste in her father’s home was splitting hairs.
    Still, when Sy had found out about their relationship, strangely enough, he’d encouraged a more lasting commitment. But it hadn’t worked out that way. Not then, anyway. Celeste would force that issue later.
    “Whatever,” was all he said.
    She bowed her head for a moment, and then raised it with emerald eyes glistening in defeat.
    “Are you telling me I destroyed all your feelings for me?”
    Damn it. After everything she’d done, there shouldn’t be this pull of guilt. But they hadn’t just been married, they’d grown up together.
    He kept his tone as light as the situation would allow. “You know I care about you, Celeste. Just not in the way you want. Now why don’t you tell me about Kansas City? Did they like your paintings?”
    She sniffed, but nodded. “They kept one.”
    “That sounds promising,” he said.
    “I hope so. I’d like to see my work displayed somewhere other than here,” she said bitterly.
    “You’ve gotten a lot of support from your home town, you know,” he reminded quietly.
    “I want more,” she responded in earnest.
    Jet had to smile. Celeste may be unscrupulous, but at least she was predictable. She was a good artist. All she needed was exposure to the right people.
    “Jet,” she appealed and he could’ve kicked himself for the lapse in his demeanor. “You’re not interested in this woman, are