* * *

Ashley climbed into bed, still stinging from Adam’s rejection. She was sure he’d been as affected by that kiss as she had.

She might not have been sure about his interest in her back when she was younger, but she was pretty sure that she’d seen simmering interest in his eyes sometimes when they were together. Like that one time when she went to his place for a swim and she wore that extra skimpy bikini. She had seen a very masculine reaction. She had almost thought he would make a move on her.

Jessica’s theory was that Adam was gay, and he just kept his relationships under wraps. Ashley didn’t understand why he would—people in Autumn’s Ridge were pretty accepting—but then she didn’t really buy into the theory. And especially not now, after that kiss.

She pulled the covers around her. He’d given her reasons. The age thing, his friendship with her brother, the fact that he was her boss. But she believed there was more going on than that.

She knew something had happened when he was in college—some relationship gone wrong—and he’d been hurt. Badly.

In the two years she’d worked for him, she’d never known him to date. At least, he never told her about it if he did. Which was odd because they talked about almost everything else in their lives. Could that have something to do with why he resisted their mutual attraction?

If only she could get him to open up about it.

* * *

Ashley sank back in her chair as she watched Jessica poke at her dinner. Jess was trying to eat healthier, and had invited her over to try a new recipe. She was testing fish dishes, and the salmon had been delicious.

“Don’t you like it?” Ashley asked.

“Oh, no. I do.” Jess took the last bite, then pushed her plate aside. “I’m just a bit distracted. It’s been a busy week.”

“Problems?” Ashley knew that Jessica loved her job as the buyer for a trendy clothing boutique, but she also knew that politics and creative differences with the manager sometimes frustrated Jess.

Jess glanced her way. “At work? No, everything’s fine.”

Ashley sipped her wine.

“Okay, if everything at work’s fine, then what’s bothering you?”

Jess sighed and stood up, picking up her plate. Ashley did the same and helped clear the table, then carried the dishes into the kitchen. Jess squirted dish soap in the sink and turned on the water. Bubbles danced across the surface as the sink filled.

“It’s not that there’s anything bothering me,” Jess said, “but I wanted to tell you something.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Jess placed the dishes in the sink and started washing them. Jess grabbed a tea towel and picked up a wineglass, then wiped it dry.

“Well, I friended Dare Gallagher on Facebook.”

Ashley dried a plate. “Why?”

Jess shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve done that with parents of other friends. You know, just to see how they’re doing and keep in touch. I didn’t know if he would remember me, but we did used to hang out at his house with Helen a lot in high school.”