“That’s a lovely outfit.”

Jen pushed her hair out of her eyes using the back of her wrist. The bright, yellow, rubber gloves flopped slightly, the fingers too long for hers. “Spring fashion at its best.”

“Haute couture, huh?”

“Oh yeah.” She sat on the edge of one of the desks and let her legs dangle. “Right off the runway in Milan.”

Doug leaned against a nearby filing cabinet. “So, how’s the new job going?”

“Good. Once you get past the wretched coffee and stale doughnuts, you police officers are pretty decent people.”

“No one’s pinched your ass yet?”

She laughed at his skeptical tone and pushed her bangs back again. “Nope.”

“You haven’t met Dave, then.”

“Several of the ladies on the force warned me about Dave.” She hopped down and picked up the trashcan, dumping the contents into the larger one on her cart. “They’ve told me all about the dangerous guys in the station.”

“Really?” He watched as she pushed her bangs back a third time “What’d they tell you about me?”

“Not a thing.” She grinned impishly, “you’re not considered dangerous.”

“At all?”

She shook her head, struggling to suppress her grin at his hurt tone. “Nope. You are, and I quote ‘the guy you go to if any of these other jerks make trouble’. You’re the good guy, Doug.”

“Damn. The kiss of death.”

“It could be worse,” she assured him, shoving her bangs back with more vigor this time. “Pacey’s gay rumor could be common knowledge.”

“That is true.” Doug stepped forward and tucked the loose blonde strands behind her ear.

Jen turned her head slightly, following the path of his fingers. Her eyes closed involuntarily and her tongue darted out to lick her lips.

“W…well.” Doug took a step back. “I should let you get back to work. Keep it up…the work. Good work.” He backed away quickly, turning as soon as he was a safe distance away.

Jen watched him go, a mixture of embarrassment and relief. Grabbing the handle of her cart, she pushed it toward the next desk, trying to identify the other emotion running through her.

It felt like disappointment.

Doug sat on the cool, stone wall and leaned back, enjoying the sunlight as it played hide and seek with the leaves. Speckled light fell on his uniform, shining off his badge. Regretfully, he picked up the folder next to him and turned his attention away from the day.

“Is there ever a time when you’re not working?”

He looked up as the shadow fell across the papers in his hand, a smile already forming. “Well, if it isn’t the closest Capeside comes to debauchery.” He patted the wall next to him.

Jen hopped up on it and leaned over his shoulder, glancing at the papers. “Wow. Someone actually is going to trial for a crime? In Capeside?”

“Crimes do happen here. And I’m not just talking about the crimes of the heart you and your high school buddies commit.”

“I would never doubt your diligence and devotion to your duty.” Jen met his eyes solemnly. “And I would never mock you about it either.”

“Why do I doubt that?”

“Because I mock everything.” She shrugged. “It’s what I do. So.”

“So?”

“So…” She sighed. “It’s lunch time.”

“Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“You can arrest me for vagrancy later.” She lifted the bag she was holding. “Grams asked me to give this to you.”

“Really?” He sounded skeptical. “Your Grams has just suddenly, out of the kindness of her heart, offered me a gift?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded. “Right.” He reached for the bag, which she held away from him. “So give.”

“No. You’re being mean.” She tried to keep from smiling as she held the bag behind her back. “So I think I’ll just keep whatever it is for myself.”

“Okay.” He feigned disinterest and turned back to his report. “So, you’re not in school anymore? Skipping class?”

“It’s lunch time,” she reminded him.

“You don’t eat?”

She pulled the bag out from behind her and opened it, reaching in and removing an apple. “I could ask you the same question. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat anything.”

“I do ingest the obligatory doughnut from time to time.”

She held the apple out to him. “Can I tempt you?”

His gaze traveled from the offered fruit up her arm until he met her eyes. “How very biblical.”

She held his gaze steadily. “Consider it Grams’ influence.” She brought the apple up to her mouth and held it against her lips. “Do you want it?”

“As much as I appreciate the offer,” Doug closed his folder and slid off the wall. “I’m going to have to take a rain check. Duty calls.”

He walked off toward the courthouse, leaving her sitting there. She took a frustrated bite out of the apple then shoved it back into the paper bag. “Shit.” Grabbing the bag she jumped off the wall and headed back toward the school. “It’s for the best,” she reminded herself. “You are completely not interested in Doug. You were just trying to be friendly because you know he doesn’t have anyone to look after him and he’s been working too hard, spending too many hours at the station.” She stopped walking and hung her head. “Shit.”

“You really shouldn’t talk to yourself.”

She looked up, practically slamming her head into Doug’s as she jerked, the soft sound of his voice so close scaring her. He stepped back, just in time to avoid a head-on collision. “Jesus. Doug.”

“Again with the biblical. And Pacey told me that you weren’t into that.”

Jen caught her breath, chuckling softly as she did so. “You scared me.”

“I gathered.”

“You were going the other way, see? The way that isn’t this one and you weren’t walking beside me and then all of a sudden you were…” She faded slightly, realizing what she’d just muttered aloud before he appeared. “Why are you here?”

“I decided I was hungry.” He took the paper bag out of her hand and started walking backwards. “And you were the closest source of a meal.”

“There’s a cafeteria in the courthouse,” she reminded him, turning to watch him walk away.

“Yeah, but they don’t have apples.” He held up the bag. “Thank your Grams for me.”

Jen’s hands rested on the curve of her hips as she struggled to be angry. When that didn’t work, she settled for annoyed. “Thank her yourself.”

Doug shrugged, finally turning. “When would be a good time to do that?”

She watched his back, chewing on her lower lip. Now she knew why Joey did it so much; it helped you think. “Tomorrow night. Eight o’clock.”

Doug stopped and turned around, his smile no less brilliant for the distance between them. “I’ll see you then.”

“You know how you’re really weird about Dawson dating Gretchen?” Jen sat down next to Pacey in the cafeteria.

“Ah, what a lovely preamble to ruining my meal. Dawson and the thought of him screwing my sister all in one sentence.” Pacey pushed his plate away. “Would you like to talk about Joey while you’re at it and create a whole new triangle for me?”

“No.” Jen shook her head, not even listening. “You know how you’re weird about the whole Dawson and your sister thing?”

“Yes,” Pacey stated through clenched teeth.

“Does that go for other members of your family? I mean, if say…someone were to want to date someone else in your family, would you freak out?”

“Is there some reason you’re asking me this?” He looked at her strangely as he pulled his plate back. “Because it almost seems as if you’re leading up to something. And, when I look at the situation, I can only wonder. Because you see, I have two other sisters and a brother. Now, I doubt that either of my other sisters is interested in some torrid affair with another woman, so that leaves Doug. And I’m pretty sure he’s not interested in a torrid affair with a woman either.”

“Pacey…”

“Which would leave Jack. Now, I dated Jack’s sister, so I don’t think I can really complain if he wanted to date my brother. It’d be a little weird, but nothing I couldn’t get over, although I should warn Jack that Dougie’s so far in the closet that he’s going to have to wade through some serious women’s clothing to get him out.”

“I think I have a date with Doug tomorrow night.”

Pacey stopped, his fork halfway to his mouth. “You what?”

Jen slumped toward the table, burying her head in her hands. She mumbled a response, turning just enough so she could see Pacey with one eye. He blinked rapidly, nothing registering.

He reached over and grabbed a handful of her hair, lifting her head so that she couldn’t hide. “You. What?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Her eyes widened with worry. “I was just…well, flirting. But not on purpose. And then there was this dating insinuation.”

“What was the insinuation?” Pacey enunciated every word slowly and clearly. “Exactly.”

“He’s coming over to my house tomorrow at eight. To thank Grams.”

“Grams?” Pacey’s voice went up an octave. “What the hell does he have to thank Grams for? No!” He held up a hand as Jen opened her mouth. “I don’t even want to know.”

“Not that.”

“I. Don’t. Want. To. Know.” Pacey got up. “Ever.”

“Pacey.”

“The thought of my brother having a date? Or, you know…” he swallowed hard. “Sex? That…that thought does not ever…EVER…need to cross my mind. And not only did you make it do that?” He shook his head violently, his hand in front of his chest as if to ward the conversation off. “You made it go through with Grams.” He shuddered. “And that’s NOT right.”

Jen struggled to hide her smile. “Pacey…”

“GRAMS.” He bit the word out through clenched teeth. “Do you not get that?”

“I’m sorry.” Her smile broke through, coupled with a bout of giggles. “You’re just so…” Biting the inside of her lips, Jen shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

He leaned into her, his face just inches away, his entire demeanor off balance. Dark blue eyes implored her as he drew the word out. “Graaaams.”

“I’m sorry.” She started laughing in earnest. “But…but look at it from my point of view, Pace. Now the thought of me with Doug isn’t so bad, is it?”

“I’m just going to go away now.” Pacey grabbed his backpack off the ground and slung it over his shoulder. “And pretend that this conversation never, ever took place.”

“Thanks, Pacey!” She called after him as he walked away, still chuckling under her breath. She turned back to the table and sighed, letting the laughter die away. “I have a date with Doug.” Her eyes widened in a mixture of horror and fear. “Shit.”

**

“Are you going to skulk in my doorway all evening?”

“No.” Jen shook her head, not moving from her position in the doorway. “Not, you know, all evening.”

“Well, I’m relieved to hear it.” He picked up his pen and tapped it on the desk, turning it over between each tap. “Did you need to clean my office?”

“This scenario is right out of a porn film, you know?” She shifted nervously. “Except it would be me as some high-powered executive behind the desk and you’d be a cop. Well, you are a cop. But you’d be a cop and you’d come in to tell me something about how my car had been broken into or something incredibly ridiculous and contrived. Then you’d come on to me. Or come on me.” She broke into a bout of nervous laughter, stopping abruptly at the look on his face. “You don’t like porn.”

“Did you need something?”

“Are we dating?”

Doug cocked an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t that actually require dates? Unless I’ve missed it somehow, we haven’t had anything resembling one of those, much less the multitude that it would require to be considered dating.”

“Are we going to be dating?”

“I’m going over to your house tomorrow night to thank your Grams for a wonderful picnic lunch. Where did you get dating from that?” Doug leaned forward, watching her intently. “Much less a vivid pornographic scenario.”

“I didn’t make that up! It’s a valid plot…” She stopped when she noticed his smile. “You’re a dick.”

“Nope. Officer. Not detective.” He got up from his chair and moved around to sit on the edge of his desk. “Did you want me to come by and see you tomorrow night? Thank you instead of your grandmother?”

“I want…I want you to thank Grams. She made the lunch, after all. I had nothing to do with it. I was just the messenger.”

“Okay.” He nodded his agreement, shrugging as if it didn’t matter. “I’ll thank Grams.”

“I should get the trash out of here.”

He reached down and grabbed his trashcan, holding it out to her. “Here you go.” She reached out for it, using one hand to push her hair back. Doug sighed and slid off the desk, shaking his head. “You really should do something about that.” His hand captured the wayward strand and tucked it behind her ear then let the tips of his fingers trail over her cheek.

“I’m getting a hair cut.” She swallowed hard, the words raspy. “I mean, I…I should. I…I will.”

“Don’t.” He said the words softly, caressed it. “Not on my account.”

Jen nodded, her skin burning from his fingers on her cheek, stroking the soft flesh. “You like it long?”

Doug nodded as he leaned, his breath as warm as his touch. He licked his lips before they touched her, soft and barely there. “Yeah.”

The trashcan clattered to the floor, breaking them apart. Jen laughed nervously, bending down to pick up the scattered pieces of paper. “I should…I have work to do.” She looked up at him as he bent down to help her, her face suffused with red. “And you. You’re busy.”

“Should I not have done that?”

“It probably would have been better if you hadn’t.” Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “No. I mean, I’m glad you did. I liked that you did that. I like that you do that. You do that well.”

“I hadn’t even started.”

“Right.” She backed up, wincing when she ran into her cart. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She started to walk out, turning back to hand him his trashcan. “Night.”

“Night.” He watched her walk away, grinning when she came back for her cart.

“Night.”

“Night, Jen.” He watched her walk away, enjoying the view. “See you tomorrow.”

“How do I look?”

“Lovely, Jennifer.”

She squinted at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. “I look like a cheap floozy.”

“No you don’t, dear.” Grams came up behind her and rested her hands on Jen’s shoulders. “You love just lovely.”

Jen leaned back against her grandmother and closed her eyes. “I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Like…like a kid, you know? Where everything’s fresh and new?”

“What about young Henry?”

“He was…Henry was new, but it was like I was always walking on eggshells. And when I finally decided that it was okay, he disappeared on me. But this is…”

“Let me guess, dear. You’re tingling?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not so old that I don’t remember that feeling. And it wasn’t so long ago that I had it.” She smiled at Jen in the mirror. “Falling in love is like springtime. Everything is fresh and new.” Resting her head against Jen’s, Grams noted the similarities in their features. “He’s far too old for you.”

“I know.”

“But I’m not going to try and stop you.”

“I know that too.” She caught her grandmother’s eyes. “Why not?”

“If there’s anything that Arthur taught me, it’s that you can’t choose what you love or who you love. You can’t dictate your life. You make choices and you live with them.” Sadness echoed through her tone. “And if you’re lucky, when all is said and done, you’re left with a beautiful memory.”

“Thank you, Grams.”

“And if he lays a hand on you, I’ll have that young man locked up in his own jail.”

Jen laughed. “Of course you will.”

The doorbell rang and Jen stiffened, her hands clenching together. “Tell him I’m not home.”

“Jennifer.”

“I’m not. I’m sick. I’m sick and I’m not home, because I don’t want to infect you. Tell him…” She took a deep breath. “He’s a cop, Grams. He’s this squeaky-clean cop and I’m some degenerate from New York City. I’ve probably done more than he’s even imagined and he’s going to think I’m debauched and defiled and…”

“Jennifer. He’s going to think you’re the most beautiful young lady he’s ever had the pleasure of escorting.” Grams kissed her forehead. “Now, you wait here while I find out his intentions.”

“If he mentions a porn film? I had nothing to do with that.”

Grams shook her head and closed Jen’s door before starting down the stairs. She opened the door and stood there, looking Doug over.

He was dressed in a dark shirt and slacks, his jacket lush, black leather. “Hello, Mrs. Ryan.”

“Douglas.”

“I wanted to thank you for the lunch yesterday. It was delicious.” He brought his hand from behind his back. “These are for you, as thank you.”

She opened the screen door and took the bouquet from his hand. “I love carnations, Douglas.”

“They’re beautiful and spicy. Sort of like you.”

A soft blush suffused her cheeks and she stepped back far enough to let him in. “You’re a consummate flatterer, Douglas. It seems to run in the Witter family.”

“I hope you won’t hold that against me.”

“You got in the house, didn’t you?” She grinned and walked to the base of the stairs. “Jennifer? There’s a young man here to see you.” She turned back to Doug. “Although not young enough. And even though Jennifer is, by law, an adult, I do not wish for you to take advantage of that fact in any way.”

“Mrs. Ryan, I wouldn’t dream of doing anything that would compromise your granddaughter.”

“I should hope not.” She gave him a hard look. “How old are you, Douglas?”

“Twenty-eight, ma’am.”

“That’s a good ten years older than Jennifer. And I don’t think I need to tell you how much that worries me. Not because I don’t trust you, but because she doesn’t trust herself. She’s been…she’s been around the block a few times, Douglas. She doesn’t need to be taken for a ride around it again.”

“No, ma’am. She doesn’t. And I have no intention of doing that. I’d just like to take her out for dinner and a movie. After that, I plan to bring her right back here, walk her to the door and say goodnight.”

“And will you be kissing her?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. That’s going to depend on how well we get along, how much I like her, how badly I want to see her again…” He faded out and shook his head at her look. “No ma’am. No plans to kiss her.”

“I thought not.”

“Are you through scaring him, Grams?” Jen rested her arm on the banister. “Because I think, if you have, we should go.”

“You look beautiful.”

“I do?” Jen looked down at her dress, a soft peach sundress that reached just above her knee, ending in a chiffon swirl. The underskirt was darker, hidden by the soft layer above that was decorated with sprinkles of white flowers. The top had spaghetti straps and came down to a vee just high enough to only hint at her luscious curves.

“Well, I mean, it would look better with a pair of rubber yellow gloves, but then, what outfit wouldn’t?”

She smiled and brushed at the skirt with an absent hand. “We should go.”

Doug slipped his coat off and held it out to her. “It’s chilly. And as attractive as that dress is, I don’t think it’s going to keep you warm.” He slid it over her arms, adjusting the collar under her hair. The blonde strands were pinned back in a messy waterfall that cascaded around her face. “Every strand in place, huh?”

She turned and smiled at him, shrugging. “For now.” Taking his hand, she led him toward the door. “Goodnight, Grams.”

“Goodnight, Jennifer. Have a nice time.” She shut the door behind them and watched them through the window as they walked toward Doug’s car. “Be careful.”

Jen glanced out the window, watching as the scenery rushed by lazily. “Where are we going?”

“Well, at first, I thought we’d go to Leery’s Fresh Fish. But then I remembered that doing that would undoubtedly force us to face both Leerys and Witters. So I nixed that idea. I then thought about the Capeside Yacht Club, but that would require running into a Potter. So I thought I’d take us somewhere out of town.”

“Any place in particular?” She turned to look at him in the fading light of passing streetlights. He looked good in black; it made the blue of his eyes stand out that much more. She wasn’t sure she could take that much more. “Or are you just driving randomly from town to town until something catches your eye?”

“Something’s already caught my eye, but I don’t think I can afford the prices quite yet.” He gave her a sidelong smile, his fingers tapping the steering wheel absently in time with the music on the radio. “So I thought I’d take you to a new Italian place I found.”

“What if I don’t like Italian?”

“You don’t like Italian?”

“I love Italian, actually. But it also happens to be the messiest food ever, and for a girl who might be trying to impress someone, it’s kind of dangerous as first dates go.”

Doug seemed to think for a minute. “You plan on trying to impress someone? Because if you let me know who it might be, I can distract them if you get sauce on your chin.”

“And you’re skilled in diversionary techniques?”

“It’s a required course at the police academy.” He tossed her a grin as he pulled off onto a dark, dirt road.

“Uh…” Jen started to speak, even the small syllable laced with nervousness. She stopped as he passed a copse of trees and pulled into the small parking lot of a dimly lit restaurant. “They do good business?”

“They’re new, like I said. Just opened. A guy who used to be on the force owns it. He decided he’d rather cook than arrest drunken teenagers.”

“I can’t imagine why. Drunken teenagers are always interesting.”

Doug gave her a long look as he parked the car, his eyes running over her lightly, without judgment. “I’ll have to keep that in mind the next time I run into one.” He climbed out of the car and walked around it, opening her door for her. Taking her hand, he helped her out then started walking, holding it loosely enough that she could easily disengage it.

Jen fell in step beside him, tightening her grip on his hand. “I could call you the next time I’m at a party. There’s bound to be one or two of them there.”

“I think I’ll just leave it all up to chance, if you don’t mind.” He smiled as her fingers wove through his. “I’m sure with graduation coming up, I’ll encounter a few all on my own.” He opened the door for her and let her precede him inside.

She stopped in the entryway, smiling at the ambiance of the place. It was almost stereotypical, the décor that of the traditional Italian restaurant movie scene. “Are there two dogs out back sharing a plate of spaghetti?”

“Probably. I think he’s got them stuffed and bolted to the ground.” Doug grinned and eased his jacket from her shoulders. “For the ambiance, don’t you know.”

Jen laughed lightly, watching him as he hung up the jacket. His slacks were just tight enough to emphasize his ass; loose enough to keep her casting casual glances at his crotch. The top button of his shirt was unfastened, the deeply tanned skin peeking out from under his white undershirt. “You look nice.”

He turned slowly, one eyebrow cocked. “Thank you.”

“I’m not used to it.”

Doug laughed. “Thank you again.”

“I mean, normally you’re in your uniform. And it’s a nice uniform, but it really doesn’t…” she cut herself off, blushing. “Never mind.”

“I thought women liked men in uniform. Police officers, firemen, anything that’s akin to a costume, dressed up in tight pants for your viewing pleasure.”

“Mmm. Firemen.” She sighed softly. “Now, if you were a fireman, all sooty and wet…well, then we’d be talking nice all the time.”

“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I try to impress you.” He took her hand again. “Shall we? Or should I set something ablaze first in an effort to meet your exacting standards?”

“I think we could leave the pyromaniac routine for next time.” She let him lead her to one of the few empty tables, waiting as he pulled out her chair. The table was small and round, topped with a red and white checked cloth, a wine bottle, wrapped with raffia, in the center coated with the multi-colored drippings of several candles. The flame flickered as he sat opposite her, casting him in a golden light. “I feel like we’re going to be dining on clichés.”

“I think he took those off the menu. He got a bad batch and had a run in with the health department. Rather than risk that again, he just offloaded them on the mobsters that frequent the joint.”

Jen shook her head, biting her lip to keep her soft laughter from escaping. She reached for her menu, sighing as the strap of her dress slipped down her arm. She fixed it, tugging it back into place. “So, what do you recommend then?”

Doug shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ve never actually been brave enough to eat here.” He flipped open his menu and looked it over, smiling at her over the top of it. “But I’m sure it’s all very good.”

“This is some plan you’ve conceived in an effort to rid yourself of me, isn’t it?” She tapped the top of his menu with her finger. “You’re trying to do away with me.”

“Yeah.” Doug agreed easily. “And, after I do that, I’m gonna send a man to leave a horse’s head in your bed. Let you know subtly that you’re going to sleep with the fishes.”

“Hey, Doug.” A man roughly ten years older than Doug walked up to their table, clapping him on the shoulder. “It’s about time you dragged your lousy ass out here.”

“I wanted to wait and make sure you didn’t get closed down before I wasted the gas.” Doug shook the hand the man offered then nodded to Jen. “This is Jen Lindley. Jen, this is Mike Powell. He used to be on the force. Now he owns this rat hole.”

“Hey, they’re high quality rats at least.” Mike shook Jen’s hand as well. “What do you want to eat tonight? Just for the fact that you have to suffer with this idiot for company, your meal’s on the house.” He turned to Doug while Jen protested. “Yours is double price.”

“A cold-hearted businessman through and through, Mike.” Doug held his menu out to him. “I’m ready. You?”

Jen nodded and handed her menu over as well. “What do you recommend, Mike?”

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you the house special. It’s the good stuff. The stuff I feed the health inspector and the food critics. I’ll be right back.” He left them alone, making his way back to the kitchen.

“He seems nice.”

“He is.” Doug watched her as she fiddled with the strap of her dress once more, tugging it up onto her shoulder. “What is it with you?”

She looked up, confused. “What?”

“Nothing.”

She started to reach for the strap again as it slid down, but his hand stopped her. His fingers caressed the material where it drooped along her arm. “I could have gotten that.”

“It’s a beautiful dress.”

“It keeps falling.”

He nodded and slid it back up the smooth expanse of flesh. His fingers were light, barely touching her. “That’s what makes it so beautiful.”

She shivered slightly from the combination of his touch and his voice, a low, husky whisper. “Thank you.”

His fingers lingered on her shoulder before edging to the curve of her neck. They lay against her pulse, feeling the rapid beat. Leaning in just slightly, Doug lowered his voice even further so that she had to strain to hear him. “Oh no. Thank you.”

Something hot and liquid slithered down Jen’s spine and she leaned in as well, the warmth of his breath like a beacon in cold waters. It was all primal, instinctual as she neared him. His lips parted, inviting. His eyes alight with desire. Kissing him seemed fated, destined. Absolutely futile to resist.

“All right.” Mike walked up to them, his heavy tread shattering the fragile moment like spun glass. “You’ve never had food like this. I’m just tellin’ ya now.” Mike waited as Jen took her first bite. She’d already schooled herself to like it, but she honestly hadn’t been prepared for it to taste as good as it did.

“No wonder you left the force.”

Both men grinned as Mike gestured to the wine steward. “I’ll get you a good wine to go with it.”

“Actually,” Doug interrupted him before he could give the order, “I’ll just have an iced tea. Jen?”

“That sounds great.”

“Cops,” Mike muttered under his breath as he walked away. “Ruin a good meal with principles.”

Doug picked up his fork. “So, you thought I’d take you somewhere with mediocre food out of loyalty to an ex-officer, huh?”

“That wasn’t it,” she informed him. “I just didn’t know for sure if you had any taste.”

“My asking you out wasn’t indicative of good taste?”

“Nope.” She shook her head, her smile impish. “Because, you see, I know where I’ve been.”

“Ah.” Doug leaned in, his eyes unreadable in the candlelight. “So you don’t have any taste.”

Jen watched Doug’s face as he realized what he’d just set himself up for, the unspoken joke hanging lightly in the air around them. After a few more seconds of silence, she reached over and took his hand. “You’re really new at this, aren’t you?”

His eyebrow shot up. “New at what? Dating?”

“No. The witty banter portion of the evening.”

“I thought I was holding my own, and don’t…” he held up a hand as she opened her mouth to say something. “Don’t sink to the level of my youngest sibling and make this conversation about sex.”

Jen regarded him for a minute, a sly smile on her lips. “Doug?” Her voice was sultry and heavy with suggestion. “Every conversation we’ve ever had has been about sex.” She watched him closely, noticed his body stiffen slightly, his cheeks darken. “You are really new at this, aren’t you?”

“The witty banter?”

She shook her head before turning her attention back to her meal. “No. Dating.”

“Pacey was right about one thing.”

“Impossible.” After a few seconds, Doug looked away from the road and over at her. “What’s that?”

“You have the most appalling taste in music. Ever.” She set the CD holder down. “And, after viewing it first hand? You really only have yourself to blame for all the gay jokes.”

“Oh yes. Stereotypical gay music tastes and a uniform, and I’m automatically a member of the Village People.” Doug gave her an annoyed look. “Let me guess, you listen to angry chick music, right? Ani DiFranco?”

“Y…” She narrowed her eyes. “Yes.”

“And your last boyfriend left you before you slept together?”

It was Jen’s turn to stiffen, the light joking tone she’d intended turned to something else. “So?”

“Well, we’re quite a pair then, since you’re so obviously a lesbian.”

She sat back, stunned by the attack. She was speechless, her brain refusing to function as Doug reached over and snapped off the radio, leaving the car in an ugly silence. They drove that way, neither speaking, until they reached her house. “I thought we’d just forgo the movie.”

“Thank you for dinner.”

“I’ll walk you to your door.” He got out of the car, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He held her door open then followed her to the house.

Jen slipped off his jacket and held it out wordlessly.

Doug took it and held it, both of them staring awkwardly at one another. “I guess your grandmother’s fears of me taking advantage of you were unfounded.”

She dug her keys out of her purse and shoved them into the lock, not even bothering to look at him as she responded, acid in her tone. “Why? Because we’re both gay?”

“No. Because I hurt your feelings, which I’ve just now realized was probably worse than if I’d taken you home and ravaged you.” He looked down at his hands, the knuckles white from holding his coat so tightly. “Which I wouldn’t do anyway.”

She nodded. “Because you’re gay.”

“I believe my CD collection has been entered into evidence as irrefutable proof.” He watched her, relief flooding through him as she smiled. “I’m sorry. I just…” He leaned against the porch railing and stared down at his feet. “I was out of line and defensive and…”

She moved nearer, leaning beside him. She gave him a sideways glance. “And?”

“And I like you.” He turned his head to look at her, his cheeks flushed. “But…”

Jen reached over and rested her hand on his, stroking the back of his wrist with her thumb. “But?”

“But I’m sort of new at this dating thing. Or at least woefully out of practice.”

“Well, I’m certainly no authority on dating,” she said softly, turning his hand over and linking their fingers. “I spent the bulk of my formative years sleeping around. Sort of bypassed the dating part of it.”

Doug lifted their hands and ran his lips lightly over the back of hers. “So what do we do?”

Her breath suddenly constricted, Jen shrugged. “We could just stumble through the dating then call upon my expertise when we get to the sex.”

He considered it. “You think we’ll get that far?” His breath was warm on her hand, the delicate hairs dancing.

“Yeah.” She watched him push off the railing before pulling her towards the door. He turned the key she’d placed in the lock and pushed the door open for her, stepping back. As soon as she was over the threshold, he released her and headed back to his car. “Although, I have a feeling it’s going to be the slowest trip of my life.”

“Okay, the rumors cannot be true.” Joey sank down into her desk in French, disbelief on her face as she looked at Jen. “Tell me they’re not true.”

“They’re not true.”

“So you didn’t go out on a date with Doug?”

“Oh, those rumors?” Jen smiled. “Yeah, those are true.”

“Jen!” Joey looked around the rapidly filling classroom and leaned over, dropping her voice. “You can’t date Doug.”

“Why not?”

“He’s…he’s…and he’s Doug!”

“I like that he’s Doug.”

“He’s too old for you.”

“I’m eighteen now, Joey. I don’t need a mother.”

“He’s a cop.”

“That’s a bad thing?”

“He’s a Witter.”

Jen gave Joey a knowing look, smiling as the other girl blushed. “That’s a bad thing?”

“Everyone knows he’s gay.”

“No,” Jen shook her head. “He’s most definitely not gay.”

Joey sat back, pulling away as if she’d been slapped. “You slept with him?”

Jen blushed, a tide of crimson flooding her cheeks as Joey’s question seemed to echo around the room, every gaze now focused on her. She turned and faced the front of the classroom as the teacher walked in, devising new and interesting ways for Joey to die.

A shadow fell over the picnic table and slowly, timidly, Jen looked up. Pacey stood there looking incredibly calm. “There’s only one thing saving you from the full torrent of my disgust, disbelief and fury right now.”

“What’s that?”

“The fact that Dawson was defiled by my sister.”

“There should be one more thing.”

Pacey sat beside her and copied her posture from earlier in the week, burying his head in his arms. “What’s that?”

“I didn’t sleep with Doug.”

“You’re saying Joey lied?” He looked up, smirking. “I just can’t imagine that happening.”

“The sarcasm is almost as thick as the tension with you two, you know that?”

“Why would Joey lie, Jen? I mean, this has nothing to do with Dawson.”

Jen ignored the majority of his comment. “She didn’t lie. She misunderstood. She said something about Doug being gay and I denied it.”

“Leading her to assume that you found out first hand.” Pacey nodded, understanding. “She does know that the whole Doug being gay thing was just our way to torment the perfect number one son in the family, doesn’t she?”

“I would assume so,” Jen shrugged. “I knew. I think she was just caught up in the momentum. And a little pissed that none of her arguments were working.”

“Jen?”

She looked over at Pacey, the change in his tone immediately catching her attention. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Pacey?”

“Just…” He looked away, obviously embarrassed.

“What?”

“Just be careful, okay?” He sighed his exasperation. “Doug hasn’t dated in a long time.”

“It shows.” She stopped and forced herself to be serious. “You think I’m going to break his heart?”

Pacey looked at her and the small smiled that had accompanied the teasing faded for good. “I think you could. I think you have serious heartbreaker potential, Lindley. And I’d hate to see him…either of you get hurt.”

She reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. “I’ll be careful with him, Pacey. I promise.”

“It’s just…” He looked up as a voice floated toward them. Joey and Dawson were just a few feet away. “I know how much a girl you’re head over heels for can hurt you.” He forced his eyes, a little more tortured now, back to Jen. “And I think you give him butterflies.”

Jen blinked away the sparkly effect of sudden, unshed tears. “That’s good though, right?”

“It’s good,” Pacey agreed with a nod as he got to his feet. Unable to stop himself, he looked over at Joey and Dawson. “But it can also be devastating.”