Chapter seventeen. You want to come IN.

" You want to come in? Have coffee or something? "

Drew was tired and wanted to go home, but she was curious about the evening, about Katherine, so she agreed. " Decaf? " At the look Jenna gave her, she suspected Jenna assumed—and was hoping—she would decline the offer.

" I think I have decaf, yes."

Once inside, Drew settled at the bar, watching as Jenna poured water into the coffeemaker.

" I enjoyed dinner, " Drew said after several moments of silence.

" Did you? "

" Yeah, I did. But I'm wondering what we're doing here."

" What do you mean? "

" You and me. Obviously, there's not anything here, " she said, motioning between them. " Yet we've been out four times."

Jenna laughed. " Well, I enjoy spending time with you. What? Do you want to have sex? "

Drew shook her head. " That's not what I meant. But what about you and Katherine? " She was surprised at the quick blush that crossed Jenna's face.

" Oh, God, is it that obvious? " Jenna pulled out another bar stool with her foot and sat down. " And I'm sorry, Drew. I mean, you're very attractive. You're extremely charming." Jenna's smile was nearly apologetic. " But I'm really more attracted to the intellectual type."

Drew's laugh was genuine. She could honestly say no one had ever said those words to her before. " I think I should be offended by that."

" Oh, please don't be. It's nothing against you. It's just, well, Katherine and I had a fling way back when. And when we ran into each other again, the spark was still there. Amazing, but it was."

Drew frowned. " But, wait a minute, Katherine and Jay, they're a couple. Right? "

Jenna waved her hand dismissively. " To hear Katherine tell it, they haven't been a real couple in years. In fact, the last time Katherine tried to have sex, Jay would have none of it." She shrugged. " That would turn me off right there."

Drew knew she shouldn't be hearing this, knew she shouldn't ask any questions, knew she should just get up and leave. But...

" So, you and Katherine are having an affair? " she asked, trying to keep her voice as even as possible.

" Well, I don't know if I'd call it that... yet. I mean, we've talked about it. How could we not? "

" And tonight, I was just what? A buffer? "

" Oh, Drew, I'm sorry. I should have told you. And we never intended to leave you alone so much, it's just, well, you and Jay seemed to hit if off. We didn't think you'd miss us."

Drew chose her words carefully, surprised at her anger. " I don't know if hit it off is the right phrase, but we have some things in common, have mutual acquaintances in common, yes." She tapped the countertop, staring at the coffeepot. " So I take it Katherine has no intention of telling Jay any of this."

Jenna laughed. " Oh, good Lord, no. Like I said, the spark is still there. That doesn't mean we're ready to run off and get married or anything. We're just taking it slow, seeing what happens."

Drew nodded, not at all sure what to say.

" And, well, you know—if you'd be willing—since you two did hit it off, maybe we could continue to see them together. It would make it easier all around."

" Easier for you and Katherine to sneak off alone? "

" I know it sounds terrible, Drew. But really, you saw them. Did they look happy to you? "

" Well, I'm not certain their relationship is any of my business, " she said. And despite how appalled she was at Jenna's suggestion, at their plan, a part of her wanted to do just that. What better way to see Jay? Go as a foursome. It would be perfectly innocent. But she shook her head. In good conscience, she just couldn't do it. Because if Jay found out she'd known, Jay would never forgive her.

" But I guess it is premature to assume there will be other dinner dates. Katherine and I have been meeting for lunch, getting to know one another again. I guess that's enough for now."

But Drew continued to war with herself, thinking how alone Jay would be. What if she hadn't been there tonight? What if they'd just invited Jenna? Would Jay have been left alone to tend to dinner, to tend to cleaning up while the two of them hid in Katherine's office? What would Jay have done?

" Well, I guess I wouldn't be totally opposed to joining you in another foursome, " Drew finally conceded. She had a feeling she would live to regret that decision.