have them figured out, and then you realize that was just the first layer of wrapping paper.”
Janice gave a pressured laugh and mopped at her wet cheeks with wads of tissue. Colleen was only vaguely aware of the kitchen door swinging open. It was in her nature to focus her entire attention on someone who was in distress…to help that person through their storm. She supposed that instinct was what had first prodded her to become a counselor.
“I thought we were supposed to be the uncomplicated ones,” Liam murmured humorously from behind them.
“You are…during the first ecstatic throes of infatuation,” Colleen mused without taking her eyes off Janice. “It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out what men want then.”
Janice gave a teary snort. “Exactly. But after a few years of marriage, and children, and night feedings, and busy schedules and hard choices and conflict…well, like Colleen said. Men turn just as convoluted and bewildering as women.”
“More so, because at least we admit we’re confused. Men insist on clinging to the myth that they’re one hundred percent rational all the time,” Mari said from behind her.
“But how can Tony rationalize acting like a caveman when he sees me dancing with another man? He gave up his right to me when he agreed to the divorce, didn’t he?” Janice’s gaze was imploring, as if she were begging Colleen to back up her claim.
Colleen rubbed Janice’s hand soothingly. “A signature on a piece of paper can’t truly eliminate all the feelings Tony must have for you. It’s not that simple, Janice.”
Janice lowered her tissue-clutching hand slowly. “You…you think Tony still cares about me?” she asked in a quavering voice.
Colleen hesitated. Surely the logical thing to do was to provide some cliché in regard to Janice getting on with her life and time healing all wounds.
And yet…
“Of course he still cares about you,” Colleen said softly. “Don’t you notice the way he watches your every move from across a crowded room?”
“It’s true,” Liam said from behind her. “Tony has always been crazy about you, Janice. He’s never spoken his feelings out loud to me in regard to the divorce, but I can see regret written on every line of his face. Regret and guilt. I know he feels responsible for things going south in the marriage. I see him almost every day at the Municipal Building, and he hasn’t been the same since you two split.”
“He’s never told me that,” Janice said in a whispery, tentative voice.
“Since when can a man ever talk about his feelings?” Colleen said, patting Janice’s hand. “Sometimes actions speak louder than words. I can’t speak for Tony, of course, but would he really have gotten so jealous tonight when he saw you dancing with Eric if he didn’t still have feelings? If I were you, I’d go and talk to him,” she urged earnestly. “Right now. Quickly. Before both of you have time to put bandages on your feelings and retreat into your respective corners. Maybe there’s still a chance to resolve things. Who knows?”
Janice set down her ginger ale and gave her cheeks one last swipe. “Do you really think so?”
“Absolutely,” Liam and Natalie said in unison.
Colleen stood along with Janice. “He still cares about you, Janice,” she said. “I suspect you still care a lot about him. Talking honestly is the right thing to do, no matter what the end result is.”
Janice sniffed and gave Colleen a quick hug. She gave Mari, Liam and Natalie a thankful glance before she hurried out of the room, obviously intent on following Colleen’s recommendation.
Colleen turned her head at the sound of someone clearing his throat.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Eric leaning against the counter, his arms crossed beneath his chest, his eyes smoldering. He’d been watching the whole exchange—and her—with apparent interest. His lips tilted into a small, sardonic grin.
Embarrassment flooded her.
She’d just been caught in the act. Of all the people at this party, why had Eric Reyes had to be a witness to her bout of romantic advice-giving?
Chapter Five
She broke eye contact with Eric.
“This kitchen is getting too crowded,” she said after Janice had left the room. She pointed at Eric. “You, take out a fresh bowl of dip, please, and you—” she transferred her finger to her brother “—go and dance with your fiancée and have a terrific time.”
“Don’t even try and argue with her,” Liam told Eric from the side of his mouth as he passed him, Natalie’s hand in his. “I grew up with her. We called her the little general. Resistance is futile.”
Colleen smiled and rolled her eyes at Liam’s joke, but she still had difficulty meeting Eric’s gaze. She noticed that he’d opened the refrigerator door and was following her instructions. To her horror, Mari excused herself to get some bottles of soda from the garage, and she was left alone with Eric in the kitchen. She bustled over to the cabinet and pretended to be utterly involved with the fascinating task of setting glasses on the counter.
Damn it, she thought irritably as she gave him a sideways glance. How did he do smug so effortlessly?
“So, what was that all about?” he murmured, leaning against the counter. With that infamous little smirk, lazy pose and immaculate suit, he looked ready for the glossy page of a men’s magazine.