“I’m over you, boss man,” she assured him. “I haven’t been lonely since we split up.”

Parr nodded. That had happened four months ago. He’d had an inkling at the time that Gail’s feelings for him could become serious, even though she wasn’t the marrying kind either. He hadn’t wanted to lead her on with false promises when his heart wasn’t in it. And that was well before Mary Beth had stumbled into his arms at the engagement party.

“It’s just that you were fantastic in bed,” she added slyly.

Parr grinned, his male ego expanding momentarily from the feminine praise. “I appreciate the compliment, but let’s leave things the way they are. We’re both better off.”

She couldn’t seem to resist speculating about him all the same. “There has to be a new woman in your life.”

Parr didn’t answer. They’d gone up the stairs and stood on the welcome mat. He unlocked the front door and walked into the foyer, Gail on his arm, poking at him.

Muted laughter and cheerful talk echoed down the hallway from the back of the house.

“They must be in the den,” Parr said.

“Sounds like a party going on.”

“Probably my cousin Eve and her family.”

He led the way quickly down the hall and into the den, which was filled with a small group of jovial people. Parr stopped so abruptly that Gail almost stumbled. The laughter suddenly ceased as all eyes turned toward the intruding couple.

“Parr.” Alma Weston jumped up from the couch where she was sitting next to her blond niece, Eve Ross. “I had no idea you were coming in this weekend.”

To the left of Eve, Bobby Joe reclined in a huge easy chair, a startled Mary Beth sitting stiffly on his lap. Her long, fiery hair hung loosely from a ribbon-tied ponytail and her luscious body rounded out her white jeans and ecru lace top. Casual but vaguely bridal. To his eyes, anyway.

His name was on Mary Beth’s lips, unspoken. She seemed thunderstruck. Her troubled gaze moved to Gail and back to Parr.

“Somebody get them soft drinks,” Bobby Joe commanded from his cushy throne. “Hello, you two. How was the trip?”

“Fine.”

His mother reached out a hand to her oldest son. “Make yourself at home, boy. We’re just having a little birthday celebration for Mary Beth.”

“So I see.” Parr was certain his mother had told him that next Monday was Mary Beth’s twenty-fifth birthday. He’d even bought a present for her and had Gail wrap it perfectly. His assistant, of course, had no idea what was inside the sealed box and he’d refused to answer her curious questions. The gift was still in the rented car. He’d planned on leaving it with his mother tonight.