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have a reason to tear the joker apart limb by limb.
    Denton had been surprised by Max’s overpowering handshake. He’d resisted the urge to squeeze back, but something came over him and he couldn’t resist. Was there something more to Max and Eve’s friendship? Lovers or friends?
    The hell with squeezing his hand harder, he wished he’d ripped the guy’s arm off. He was the one who should be holding Eve’s hand. Thanks to his stupidity years ago, he no longer had the right.
    When she’d crossed the room, he’d nearly lost his teeth. His memories remained teenage ones. She had been a cute a girl who’d made him horny. Now she was a beautiful woman and he was, well, horny. He’d reminded himself to breathe when she appeared wearing an above-the-knee, loose-fitting black dress. Where a tight-fitting dress probably would have shown off her narrow waist and full breasts, this one swirled around her as she walked, making a man wonder what delights hid beneath the dress. She’d certainly matured well.
    From where he sat, he had a clear view of Eve and tried futilely not to stare. His first real love was here and even prettier and sexier than he remembered. The long sleeves and scooped neckline of her dress emphasized her graceful neck. She crossed her legs and her dress rode up past her knees showing off their long, athletic length.
    Over the years, he’d dreamed about those legs wrapped around him. In school, she’d usually worn her hair in a ponytail, but tonight the dark tresses hung in a loose, wavy style. He imagined lifting the thick mass and running kisses down her neck. She laughed, tossing back her head, showing brief glimpses of delicate earrings twinkling at her ears.
    He was getting aroused. Not a good situation with his mother sitting across the table. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice.
    “Quite a surprise, isn’t she?”
    Damn, no such luck. His mother was way too observant. He carefully avoided her gaze as he took a sip from his drink.
    “Who?”
    Rose arched an eyebrow and gave him a wry smile. “Please, Denton. Give me a little credit. You can’t keep your eyes off Eve.”
    He resisted shooting her another glance as the waiter placed their salads on the table.
    “Admit it, dear.”
    Denton stabbed at the lettuce with so much force he was surprised the plate didn’t split in two. “All right, I admit it. Why won’t she agree to talk to me?”
    Rose gave an unladylike sniff. “For an intelligent man, you sure seem to have a few brain cells missing.” She jabbed her fork in her son’s direction. “Why on earth should she want to talk to you?”
    “Well, enough years have passed you’d think she’d be over it by now.”
    “Are you?”
    He paused, the fork halfway to his mouth. “Point taken. I can tell by the way you’re acting you won’t be happy until I admit I made the biggest mistake of my life.” He set his fork down on the salad plate. “Hell, yes, I regret it. I regret hurting Eve. I regret hurting you and everyone else mixed up in the mess.
    “I didn’t know I’d feel this way if I happened to see her again, and I don’t know how to fix it. I see her sitting with this man and I want to roar out my frustrations.” He gave up trying to eat and tossed his napkin on the table. “I’m sorry, Mom. I need to get out of here.”
    Rose reached over and grabbed Denton’s hand. “If it helps any, I do understand, dear.”
    After throwing some money on the table, shooting one last glance at the woman who’d haunted his dreams for too many years, Denton guided his mother around the tables. Rose stopped just as they were leaving the dining area and looked pointedly at Eve.
    “And if it’ll help, even though he’d like to be, Max is not Eve’s sweetheart.”
    With a slightly lighter heart, Denton took his mother’s elbow and left the restaurant.
    From the corner of her eye, Eve watched Rose and Denton leave their table. She resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief when they