“No.” Insulted, she poked out her lip. “Of course not. He got married after we were engaged—that is, after we weren’t engaged anymore. Charlie would never cheat on Gabrielle. He’s too decent.”

“Sorry. My mistake.” He considered changing the subject, but this one was just too fascinating. “How about George? Was he between Charlie and Strater?”

“No, George was before Charlie and after Troy. Practically in another life.”

“Troy? There was another one?”

“Oh, you didn’t know about him.” She propped her chin on her hand. “I guess your source didn’t dig back far enough. Troy was while I was in college, and we weren’t engaged for very long. Only a couple of weeks. Hardly counts.”

Alex picked up his drink again. “Hardly.”

“Anyway, George was a mistake—though I’d never admit it to Lori. She gloats.”

“George was a mistake? The others weren’t?”

She shook her head. “Learning experiences. But George, well… I was a little rash with him. I felt sorry for him, because he was always sure he was coming down with some terminal illness, and he’d been in therapy since kindergarten. We should never have gotten involved romantically. I was really relieved when he decided to marry Nancy instead.”

“Is this like a hobby?” Alex asked after a moment.

“No, people plan hobbies. I never plan to fall in love. It just happens.” Her smile was amused and tolerant. “It feels good, and when it’s over, no one’s hurt. It isn’t a sexual thing, like with Vicki. She goes from man to man because of the sense of sexual power it gives her. I know most people think if you have a relationship with a man—particularly if you’re engaged to him—you must be sleeping with him. But it’s not always true.”

“And if you’re not engaged to him?”

Because the question demanded it, she met his eyes levelly. “Every situation has its own rules. I don’t know what they are for this one yet.”

“Things may get serious.”

There was a slight pressure around her heart. “That’s always a possibility.”

“They’re serious enough right now for me to ask if you’re seeing anyone else.”

She knew it was happening. Bess had never been able to prevent that slow, painless slide into love. “Are you asking me if I am, or are you asking me not to?”

It wasn’t painless for him. It was terrifying. With what strength of will he had left, Alex held himself on that thin, shaky edge. “I’m asking you not to. And I’m telling you that I don’t want anyone else. I can’t even think of anyone else.”

Her eyes were warm as she leaned over to touch her lips to his. “There is no one else.”

He laid a hand on her cheek to keep her mouth on his for another moment. Even as he kissed her, he wondered how many other men had heard her say those same words.

He told himself he was a jealous idiot. With an effort, he managed to smother the feeling. Rising, he took her hands and pulled her to her feet.