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what would happen if she simply said nothing, meet ing his gaze in a childish game of chicken until one of them looked away.
    Good Lord, what was wrong with her? Jake. It had to be him . . . and the way he had of bringing up the past and the person she used to be.
    She decided to bring up the subject herself, because Howard never would. “I suppose you are here because you’ve heard about Jake and me?”
    He looked startled, peering at her over the top of his wire-rim glasses. ‘Jake and you?” he repeated slowly, thoughtfully. Howard thought everything out before he said it. “As in personally?”
    She nodded.
    “No, I’m here on business mostly, my dear. You know I always believe in saving the personal matters for after hours. Between nine and five I’m strictly business.”
    Jenny frowned. “Then why are you here?”
    If he thought her question rude, Howard gave no sign. He simply studied his manicured nails and thought deeply about her question before he answered.
    Jenny, who tried not to find this particular habit of his irritating, took the opportunity to study him while she waited. He wasn’t a bad-looking man, no, not at all. In his expensive suit, with his carefully casual haircut, yuppie eyeglasses, and power tie, he looked the part of a young executive. Of course it helped that his father owned the local bank.
    Many women would find Howard attractive. Jenny tried her best to be one of them. He was considered to be one of the best catches in Ater.
    “Justin T. Speerlock and I were talking,” Howard said, in a faintly pompous tone.
    It took Jenny a minute to realize he was finally answering her question. “The mayor? I talked to the mayor earlier today.”
    “I’m a little upset by the idea that you refused to help Jake out,” he said.
    Then, while she was still reeling from this, Howard cocked his head, his patiently quizzical expression reminding her of a bear just waking from hibernation. “But I assured everyone that you were nothing if not reasonable. I told them that once you thought things through, you would surely make the right decision.” He sounded rather like a church elder counseling a rebellious teen, Jenny thought resentfully.
    “So are you going to get on board?”
    “On board?”
    “With Jake Durham’s plan.” He leaned forward, his expression animated for the first time since he’d arrived. “It will be a good thing—no, a great thing— for our city.”
    Maybe she was tired, but Jenny was having trouble following this. Howard supposedly wanted to marry her, though he’d never professed his love. Yet he seemed not at all concerned that the man who had jilted her had returned—and wanted her to do his bookkeeping.
    “Howard?” Reaching across the desk, she touched his hand. “You do remember what happened between Jake and me?”
    He moved his hand away, the gesture eerily enforc ing her earlier impression of a sleepy bear swatting flies. “That’s in the past, isn’t it?”
    At her hesitant nod, he smiled, peering at her through his stylish glasses. “Then you are going to help Jake with whatever he needs?”
    It took every ounce of willpower Jenny had to keep herself from jumping to her feet and shouting at him. Didn’t Howard realize what this would do to her? With difficulty she forced herself to remember the plan she had come up with earlier to save face.
    “Of course,” she said smoothly, all but choking on the words. “I can always use more business.”
    Howard’s grin spread ear to ear, lighting up his face. “Atta girl!” Lumbering to his feet, he lightly punched her shoulder. “I knew I—we—could count on you.”
    Jenny’s stomach churned. By some miracle she kept a pleasant smile on her face as she walked him to his car.
    Before she could change her mind, Jenny called The Sentinel and took out a small ad, announcing her intention to do the bookwork for Jake’s restaurant. Goldie at the paper had been unable to hide her shock, and Jenny knew the