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had her fired. Jessica insisted Sarah was a plagiarist, and the Tribune editors had believed her, but Todd didn’t think Sarah would do anything like that on purpose. It was just careless reporting.
    Since moving in with him, she’d become a good friend and confidant. Nothing physical had happened between them. If Todd was honest with himself, it wasn’t for Sarah’s lack of trying. It was because Todd wasn’t ready. He was still hung up on Jessica.
    He inhaled the smell of hearty lasagna and sighed. This is what home should smell like. Todd couldn’t help it. He was an old-fashioned guy. Jessica had accused him of being last-century old-fashioned, but he couldn’t help who he was.
    And now there was no point to even trying.
    â€œOh, hey, Todd, you’re home.” Sarah turned around, and he saw she was wearing skimpy cutoff shorts, a clingy tank top, and no bra. The effect was dizzying for a moment. Todd might have been in love with Jessica, but she was the woman who wasn’t there. Sarah was right here. Close. Hot.
    â€œI was just whipping up some dinner. Want some?”
    â€œSure.” Todd felt grateful. “That would be great.”
    Sarah wiggled past him to get a pot holder, brushing him with her chest as she went. Under different circumstances, that would’ve been a huge turn-on, but Todd couldn’t quite focus entirely on Sarah.
    â€œHow’s it going?”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œAnybody been by today?” Stupid as it seemed, he had to ask. Actually, he always ended up asking.
    â€œNo, why? You expecting someone?”
    â€œNo,” Todd said. Just hoping.
    â€œAre we talking about Jessica again?” Sarah asked, wagging a spoon in his direction. “I know you’re still hurting, Todd, but I really think you can do better.”
    â€œI know, but…” Todd loved this Sarah, the good friend and listener, the one who kept stubbornly but gently trying to help him heal. Todd spent hours talking to her about how much he missed Jessica. It had been such a relief to admit that to someone. Sarah also didn’t seem to mind that he’d pulled back romantically. He just couldn’t jump into a new relationship now. It didn’t seem right.
    â€œNo, buts. I promised to help you through this, and I will.” Sarah gave him a warm smile and immediately Todd felt better. He hated being so wrapped up in Jessica that he couldn’t think straight. While he knew part of him would never get over her, he liked to think that one day he’d be able to get through a day without thinking about her every minute. “Here, have a taste,” Sarah offered, holding up a wooden spoon with the lasagna sauce on it.
    Eagerly, he went forward and she dipped the spoon into his mouth. A bit dribbled down his chin and she wiped up the sauce with her forefinger. Then she popped the finger in her mouth.
    â€œYummy, right?” she purred. Even Todd was having a hard time avoiding the sexual tension now. And Sarah was pretty…and perky in all the right places.
    Suddenly, the evening seemed to take on a new dimension of possibility.
    â€œYou want a beer?” Sarah asked him, dipping into the refrigerator. She made sure to bend down low, revealing just how high the shredded cuffs of her cutoffs could rise.
    â€œYes,” he said, and swallowed. She fished out a bottle and twisted off the top. “Here you go. Now go sit down while I finish up in here.”
    Todd sank into his favorite recliner and clicked on the TV, beer in hand. He had to admit, it felt good.
    Then he saw the channel in front of him. He’d landed on E! and the entertainment news was on. He stopped abruptly as he heard the report.
    â€œ Star is reporting that Jessica Wakefield, Liam O’Connor’s hot and heavy, is getting divorced. It looks like Liam’s love is leaving her husband for him. But who wouldn’t? Have you seen Liam’s