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while he was so busy ignoring her. “This from the queen of the bungled relationships.”
    â€œI don’t bungle them, I enjoy them.”
    â€œI hasten to remind you that two of your former fiancés are in this room.”
    â€œIt’s a big party. Besides, I wasn’t engaged to Lawrence.”
    â€œHe gave you a ring with a rock the size of a Buick.”
    â€œA token of his esteem,” Bess said blithely. “I never agreed to marry him. And Charlie and I…” She waved to Charles Stutman, esteemed playwright. “We were only engaged for a few months. We both agreed Gabrielle was perfect for him and parted the closest of friends.”
    â€œIt was the first time I’d heard of a woman being best man at her former fiancé’s wedding,” Lori admitted. “I don’t know how you do it. You don’t angst over men, and they never toss blame your way when things fall apart.”
    â€œBecause I end up being a pal.” Bess’s lips curved. For the briefest of moments, there was something wistful in the smile. “Not always a position a woman craves, but it seems to suit me.”
    â€œGoing to be pals with the cop?”
    Once again Bess found herself searching the remaining guests for Alex. She found him, dancing slow and close with a sultry brunette. “It would help if he’d bring himself to like me a little. I think it’s going to take some work.”
    â€œI’ve never known you to fail. I’ve got to go. See you Monday.”
    â€œOkay.” Bess was astute enough to glance over in Steven’s direction as Lori left. She was also clear-sighted enough to see the expression of misery in his eyes as he watched Lori walk to the elevator.
    People were much too hard on themselves, she thought with a sigh. Love, she was certain, was a complicated and painful process only if you wanted it to be. And she should know, she mused as she took another sip of wine. She had slipped painlessly in and out of love for years.
    As she set the glass aside, Alex caught her eye. There was a quick, surprising tremor around her heart. But it was gone quickly as someone swept her up into a dance.

C HAPTER T HREE
    â€œH ow often do you have one of these things? ” Alex asked when he took Bess up on her offer of a last cup of cappuccino in her now empty and horribly cluttered apartment.
    â€œOh, when the mood strikes.” The after-party wreckage didn’t concern her. She and the cleaning team she’d hired would shovel it out sooner or later. Besides, she enjoyed this—the mess and debris, the spilled wine, the lingering scents. It was a testament to the fact that she, and a good many others, had enjoyed themselves.
    â€œWant some cold spaghetti?” she asked him.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI do.” She unfolded herself from the corner section of the pit and wandered over to the buffet. “I didn’t get a chance to eat much earlier—just what I could steal off other people’s plates.” She came back to stretch out on the cushions and twine pasta on her fork. “What did you think of Bonnie?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œBonnie. The brunette you were dancing with. The one who stuck her phone number in your pocket.”
    Remembering, Alex patted his shirt pocket. “Right. Bonnie. Very nice.”
    â€œMmm…she is.” As she agreed, Bess twined more pasta. She propped her feet on the coffee table, where they continued to keep the beat of the low-volume rock playing on the stereo. “I appreciate your staying.”
    â€œI’ve got some time.”
    â€œI still appreciate it. Let me run this by you, okay?” She continued to eat, rapidly working her way through a large plate full of food. “Jade’s got a split personality due to an early-childhood trauma, which I won’t go into.”
    â€œThank God.”
    â€œDon’t be snide—millions of viewers are panting