Dan saw that Valerie was regarding him suspiciously as he entered the office she kept in one of Oak Brook’s granite and glass commercial buildings. She gestured toward the nubby, rose-colored chairs that sat around the small conference table.

“Do you want coffee?”

“No, thanks.”

He sat down, pushing the chair back on its wheels so he could stretch his legs out. As she rose from behind her desk and walked over to him, he took in her conservative navy business suit and white silk blouse buttoned to the neck. Knowing Valerie, she probably had on a G-string underneath.

“I heard you lost again on Sunday,” she said, as she sat next to him. “I’m sorry.”

“Stuff happens.” He’d wanted to do this right, so he’d told her they needed to talk and asked her to meet him downtown for dinner at Gordon, which was her favorite restaurant. When she’d refused and told him to come to her office instead, he’d figured she knew what was on his mind and just wanted to get it over with.

She snatched a pack of cigarettes from the middle of the conference table. “That incident at your house last night was appalling. I hope she keeps her mouth shut.”

“She prob’ly will.”

Valerie gave a cynical laugh. “My entire life flashed in front of me when I realized what had happened.”

“I imagine hers flashed in front of her, too, when I was draggin’ her into the woods. Unlike you, she didn’t know I wasn’t really going to hurt her.”

“You did manage to calm her down?”

“We talked some.”

She inhaled deeply on the cigarette she had just lit and made her first not-so-delicate probe. “It’s going to put a damper on any seduction plans you have for her.”

“Believe me, Val, the only plans I have for Phoebe are to stay as far away from her as I can.”

He meant it, too. He was furious with himself for letting things go so far with Phoebe. He should never have kissed her, and he promised himself he wouldn’t ever get carried away like that again. Finally, he had his priorities straight.

Val regarded him warily. “Then what’s this about?”

He knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say, and he spoke softly. “I’ve met someone.”

She was cool, he’d give her that, and if he hadn’t known her better, he would have believed she was unaffected by his news. “Anyone I know?”

“No. She’s a nursery school teacher.” Val wouldn’t understand if he told her he hadn’t yet asked Sharon out for a formal date, but after last night’s incident, he knew he couldn’t indulge in any more sex games with his ex-wife, not when he was getting ready to launch a serious courtship.