3

      WHY DIDN’T SHE HAVE one of those headsets like the one Denise had, Sheryl wondered on Friday. It had to beat scrunching the phone between your shoulder and ear while you tried to get some work done. By eleven, Sheryl felt as if she’d already talked to a hundred people.

      Of course, she’d had three calls in the past hour from Mom alone. First, she wanted to remind Sheryl about the family dinner the weekend before Christmas in addition to the actual gathering on Christmas Day, then she called back to ask if Sheryl had made any headway in her shopping, or if her mother should pick up gifts for the kids in the family and put Sheryl’s name on the tags. Feeling somewhat diminished by the suggestion she couldn’t be trusted to shop for her nieces and nephew, Sheryl had of course lied and said her holiday shopping was well under control.

      Then Mom called one final time because she’d forgotten to ask what Sheryl herself wanted for Christmas. So, ha, obviously Sheryl wasn’t the only one not quite finished with shopping. Not quite finished, hadn’t bought so much as the first present or the paper to wrap it in—all depended on how you looked at it.

      Too bad Mom knew her direct extension, or Sheryl could instruct Denise to run interference at the main switchboard and claim Sheryl had left for the day.

      Luckily, most of the other calls had been pleasant and productive. Two years ago, with Brad’s wholehearted approval and their accountant’s assurance of tax write-offs, Sheryl had organized a community Christmas festival that helped to raise money for area families in need. Other sponsors had joined in with HGS, and the event had become an annual tradition. School counselors had been calling all morning with this year’s updated list of needy families.

      So far, it looked as though the turnout for the HGS Holiday Festival on the nineteenth would be even bigger than it had been the past two years, which meant more people would be assisted. It felt great to be Santa Claus, and the festival couldn’t have come at a better time, publicity-wise. Sheryl and her assistant, Grace, had already lined up local performers and food vendors, and a volunteer committee of HGS employees was devising different contests for kids of varying ages. Brad himself would act as the final judge for all the competitions.

      Pleased with her accomplishments, Sheryl consulted her to-do list of everything she wanted to achieve before lunch, and her mood took a sharp bah-humbug turn. Call Nathan Hall’s office and arrange appointment. She should do that immediately to give him the most advance notice of the Christmas party and increase his chances of being able to attend. Squirming in her seat, she admitted to herself that she should have called yesterday. But she’d just been so busy…

      Her fingers reached for the phone with all the enthusiasm she usually reserved for doctors’ appointments that involved stirrups.

      But the receptionist who answered was a cheerful woman who easily accommodated Sheryl with a meeting first thing Tuesday morning, so maybe Nathan’s schedule wasn’t quite as jam-packed as he’d insinuated. Which confirmed her suspicion that his refusal to talk with her had been a power move—very annoying, even if she had shown up unannounced for the same reason.

      No sooner had Sheryl disconnected than the persistent red light for line one flashed again, a mere second before the distinct buzz that indicated a call was coming through. If it’s Mom again, I’m asking Brad to authorize a new extension for me. “Sheryl Dayton.”

      “Ah, um, Sheryl, I hope you don’t mind, but Tameka gave me your personal ex—oh, this is Jonathan Spencer. We, ah, met last night.”

      “I remember,” she assured him.

      They’d sat next to each other through the two-hour movie, then joined Tyler and Meka for a late snack at a local diner. Jonathan had seemed nice enough, though to be honest, not particularly memorable, which, judging from his nervous tone, he realized. But she was sure there was more to the man than she’d glimpsed last night. He was probably a wonderful guy just waiting to be found by the right lucky woman.

      He cleared his throat. “I don’t usually call women this soon after first meeting them—didn’t want you to think I was desperate or, ah, you know, a stalker—but this morning a client gave me two tickets to The Nutcracker tomorrow night. I thought if you’re not already busy, you might like to go with me?”

      Well, since Meka wasn’t available for that girls’ night out this weekend, Sheryl didn’t really have plans. Besides, she needed to work on her holiday spirit this year, and she hadn’t seen the ballet since she was a little girl. Maybe Nutcracker was just what she needed.

      “That sounds great Jonathan, thanks for thinking of me. What time’s the show?”

      He answered promptly, as though afraid she’d change her mind if he didn’t, and volunteered to pick her up. “Would you like to have dinner beforehand?”

      Sheryl did a quick mental analysis. He’d been awfully quiet last night. Maybe just because he was too polite to talk during movies, and Meka and Ty had monopolized conversation afterwards. Still, if Jonathan were as silent Saturday evening, it could make for a long dinner.

      “I have a ton of shopping that I’ll be doing tomorrow,” she demurred, “and it may run into the early evening. Why don’t we just go to the show and maybe coffee afterwards?”

      A good compromise, she thought. And in case of a true dating emergency, like he belched to the melody of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy or excused himself during intermission to call his wife, she’d claim unforeseen exhaustion and ask to go straight home. Of course, she seriously doubted he’d do either of those things, but a smart single gal didn’t overlook a possible escape route on a first date.

      THE DOORBELL RANG at seven sharp. Whatever else could be said about Jonathan Spencer, he was punctual. Sheryl opened the door with a welcoming smile.

      “You look nice,” Jonathan said immediately, as though he’d rehearsed his greeting.

      Almost as an afterthought, he ran a quick glance down the forest-green, ankle-length velvet sheath she wore under a matching mock duster of green-and-black velvet. The long jacket was edged in black satin at the cuffs and lapels. She’d be plenty warm, the outfit just wasn’t very water-resistant. Those weathermen who’d promised a clear, starry night with a record-breaking lack of precipitation had better have known what they were talking about.

      “You, too,” she said, taking in his blue suit and pinstripe tie.

      Jonathan was good-looking, she realized absently. Average height, he had coloring reminiscent of the beach—thick sandy hair and oceanic aquamarine eyes. So why was she only just now noticing he was attractive and even then in a detached, he’d-make-a-good-date-for-my-sister,