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the company their families had started decades before.
    Deciding that three hours would be enough time to fulfill her obligation to Phelan, Willoughby and Nash, Jamie staked her claim at the end of the bar and waited patiently for the clock to strike ten. Rarely looking up from her wine glass, she didn’t notice Diana Clarke until she walked outside for a smoke.
    Somewhat surprised to see a woman in attendance wearing a simple black knit dress, rather than something glitzy and two sizes too small, when she noticed Diana shivering in the cold night air, Jamie didn’t think twice before lending the woman her jacket. She had no ulterior motive, and no strings were attached to the comfort that she offered.
    It was a simple gesture of friendship to a faceless stranger in need. It was, in fact, the essence of Jamie Nash, but when Diana turned around and Jamie found herself looking at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life, her plan to leave the party precisely at ten went straight out the window.
    Taking a sip of wine, Jamie mentally scolded her lower half for not behaving itself. Up until that moment, the mood had been playful and friendly, and Jamie didn’t want it to change. Sensing just a hint of whimsy in Diana’s provocative tone, Jamie lowered her eyes and allowed them to travel slowly up Diana’s body. When her eyes met Diana’s, Jamie said, “You’ll do, I suppose.”
    Tossing back her head, Diana burst out laughing, and the sound of her mirth brought yet another smile to Jamie’s face.
    “Well, it sounds like you’re having fun,” Gwen said as she emerged from the crowd. “Good evening, Miss Nash.”
    Shaking her head, Jamie said, “Gwen, I’ve told you a dozen times to call me Jamie. Now please, drop the formalities.”
    Offering an apologetic smile in Jamie’s direction, Gwen touched Diana on the sleeve. “Phelan is on his way to one hell of a hangover, so we can leave now. He won’t miss me, and even if he does, he won’t remember it in the morning.”
    “Oh,” Diana said. “Um…okay.”
    “I’m just going to use the bathroom. Meet you out front, all right?”
    “Yeah, yeah…I’ll be there in a minute.”
    “Good night, Miss…erm…Jamie.”
    “Good night, Gwen, and please drive safe,” Jamie said. Watching as Gwen headed for the door, Jamie turned her attention back to Diana. “Well, it seems I need to wish you a good night also.”
    “I’m sorry,” Diana said. “I was hoping we’d have more time to talk.”
    “So was I,” Jamie said softly.
    “Um…well, I best go find Gwen,” Diana said, finishing the wine in her glass. “Thank you for the wine and the use of your jacket.”
    Although tempted to offer Diana a ride home, Jamie didn’t want to assume anything. A lighthearted chat was one thing, but presuming that the woman wanted anything more than just friendly conversation, was quite another. Not allowing her disappointment to creep into the tone of her voice, Jamie said lightly, “It was my pleasure.”
    Flashing Jamie a toothy grin, Diana turned to walk away, but when she felt Jamie’s hand on her arm, she stopped dead in her tracks. Swallowing hard at the feeling of butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Diana turned back around.
    “I was wondering, if…if you might be escorting Gwen to Lillian’s party next week?” Jamie asked.
    “To tell you the truth, I wasn’t planning on it, but I think I’ve changed my mind.”
    “Can I ask why?”
    “Do you really need to?” Diana said.
    Not waiting for Jamie to answer, Diana flashed another quick smile before making her way through the crowd.
    When she finally reached the large archway which led back to the entrance hall, Diana was greeted by a very smug and a very drunk Theodore Phelan.
    “Not so fast,” he said with a sneer, holding out his arm to block her escape.
    “You’re not going anywhere, yet.”
    Forced to come to an abrupt halt, Diana said, “Pardon me?”
    “You owe me a kiss,”