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reluctance.
    "Oh, right," he smiled in response. Ever since his reddening and stammering a couple of months ago when they talked about Faye going on a speed date, he knew these guys thought he still had a thing for Faye. Of course they were right, but they didn't have to know that. Not yet.
    "Great place to take a date," he continued. "I took a date there myself a few days ago."
    Three interested faces looked back at him.
    "Do we know this person?" Jessa asked.
    "Hm. I don't think so."
    "What's her name?"
    He chuckled as he shook his head. "Ever the curious ones, aren't you?"
    "We like meeting your girlfriends, Ray. It's been a while since we last saw you with one."
    Ray knew it would be a great relief for all three of them if they thought he had moved on - again - from Faye. "Her name is Jane."
    Christ. Couldn't I be more creative? John and Jane. How lame.
    "Well, good to know you're dating someone, Ray. We'd love to meet her someday," Clarise replied.
    "Sure. So did you guys have lunch again at that Japanese place you went to last week?" He wanted to continue chatting with them. More specifically, he wanted to hear more about Faye.
    "No. We were back at our usual. We were there early enough for a table."  
    "You guys are creatures of habit. Do you go to the same restaurants on Friday nights, too?"
    "Oh, no. We're more adventurous at night."
    "So where are you off to this Friday, then?"
    "We're not having dinner together this Friday," Clarise responded. "We're all going to my sister's hen's party on Saturday so we thought we'd give it a miss this week."  
    A funny feeling settled on Ray's chest. "Oh, right. Well, I'll see you guys back in the office."
    Faye said she was busy on Friday. Did she have another date? Jealousy coursed through him at that unpleasant thought. Well, he wouldn't just stand aside and let her slip through his fingers again.

    ~~~~~~~

    Ray chucked the empty take-away container that held his lunch in the bin and got up to make himself some coffee. He preferred to make his own rather than get his PA to do it. It gave him an excuse to mingle with his staff.
    Four of his employees were there chatting and waiting for their turn at the state-of-the-art coffee machine. That appliance may have cost his company a fortune but it was well worth it. The office kitchen had become a hub for some staff bonding time. The we-are-a-family feeling he painstakingly fostered certainly helped with teamwork and staff morale which, in turn, increased productivity. He was proud to say most of his staff, bar one or two, really enjoyed working with each other.
    His eyes went wide when he saw what Clarise was making for herself.
    "A full-strength espresso coffee, Clarise? Not a hot chocolate? Not even a weak latte?"
    Clarise laughed. "Yes, I need some caffeine to last me this afternoon. I had a really tiring weekend helping prepare for Megan's hen's night and wedding."
    "After that, you'll be preparing for your own wedding."
    "Yes, I know," she responded with a glowing smile on her face. "But don't worry. I'm not slacking off the job."
    He chortled. "I know you're not."
    His phone rang and his heart stuttered when he saw 'Faye' on the screen. He made a mental note to change that to 'Jane' just in case someone happened to glance at his phone.
    "Hi, Jane," he said warmly.
    There was a pause before he heard her respond in a rather cold voice. "It's Faye."
    He grinned. " Jane," he enunciated. "I'm back in the office. I'm just in the kitchen waiting for some slowpokes to finish making their coffee so I can have my turn."
    A few pairs of eyes mockingly rolled upward at his words. He waved to them as he walked back to his office to get some privacy.
    "Oh, right. So that's my nickname? Jane?"
    "Yeah. It goes very well with John, don't you think?" he replied in a low voice.
    "Ray! Someone might hear you!"
    "No one can hear me now."
    "Okay, good. Anyway, I was calling about Thursday night."
    "Uh-huh." He hoped she wasn't cancelling on