Jerry felt himself go cold all over. This wasn't the response he'd been expecting. He had enough experience with women -- as friends and otherwise, to know that the attraction was mutual. He wanted a serious relationship; she wanted a serious relationship. So why didn't she want one with him?

The cold wore off, and he felt himself go warm with embarrassment and hurt. The smile he gave her was forced. "I'll bet you're ready to get out of here," he said, desperately searching the room for their server.

"Jerry, wait." Kim reached across the table and placed her hand over his. Surprised by the touch, he stared down at their connecting hands. Hers were small and warm and sent spikes of sensation through him. He almost lost what she was saying. He dragged his gaze up to meet hers.

"I'm sorry," she said. Her eyes reflected sincere regret and something else that he was sure must have been his imagination. After what she'd just said there was no way that she really wanted to be with him. What was a guy to do with her lips said no and her eyes said yes? The mixed signals were going to be the death of him.

He looked back down at their hands, avoiding the eyes altogether. "Why should you be sorry? We're both adults."

"Yes, but I think I just hurt you and I didn't mean to."

Jerry looked up and offered a more natural half-smile. "You could kiss me and make it all better." The words slipped out before he gave them proper consideration. He immediately wished he could take them back. But then, Kim laughed.

"You see that's exactly why. You're far too charming and you move way too fast for me."

Jerry's smile broadened as hope again filled his heart. He turned his hand and captured hers. She didn’t move away. "Does this mean you're tempted?"

"Yes, I'm tempted," she admitted. "But I'm serious Jerry. You do move too fast for me. My life is in an enough upheaval right now. "

Jerry looked into her eyes and saw what he needed to see. Instead of no he heard not yet. He could back off and give her more time. He squeezed her hand slightly then let go. "Okay," he said.

"Okay?" She looked surprised.

"Of course," he grinned. Then held out his hand as if to shake. "Friends?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Friends," she agreed with feigned suspicion and shook his hand.

The remainder of the evening passed pleasantly. Jerry and Kim talked as if they had known one another for years. It was well past midnight by the time he pulled his truck to a stop before her apartment building.

A moment of discomfort settled as Kim tried to determine how to end the date. She'd had a wonderful evening and had already told him so. But it seemed strange to not end the date with a kiss. After all, she had started the evening wanting one so desperately. Jerry seemed to sense her dilemma.

"Right here," he said, jokingly, pointing a finger to his cheek.

Kim laughed at him, and did just want he asked, planting a very platonic kiss on his dimpled cheek. From his impish grin, she half-expected him to turn and trick her into kissing him on the lips, but he didn't. She covered her disappointment and climbed down out of truck and headed for her door.

Jerry waited as she unlocked the door. She turned and waved at him, then moved into the apartment. He waved back and then began to back out of the parking slot.

The smile that spread across her face as she settled back against the door didn't feel as if it would ever leave. There were so many moments during the evening that she was sure would stick with her, if only for being so humorous. But she was especially remember the look on Jerry's face when she'd dropped her bomb shell about not wanting to date him. She still couldn't believe she'd found the strength to say that. He didn't seem to hold it against her, though. He'd treated her wonderfully the rest of the night. She felt indescribably lucky.

Pushing off the door she moved further into her apartment, moving automatically toward the living room to shut off the television. The light reflected around the dim room, but the sound had been turned down low. Stephen hadn't changed. When he was younger, he'd always been good for leaving the set on. She was caught off guard when she caught sight of a body lying on her sofa in front of the television.

She startled letting out a small half-scream. Stephen shot into a sitting position, upending a bowl of popcorn that had been nestled beside him. Fluffy white popped kernels flew in all directions.

"What are you still doing here?" she demanded, although it was patently obvious that he'd fallen asleep. Probably waiting to find out just when she got home, or to make sure that she came home alone.

Stephen blinked up at her before groggily running a hand over his head. "Didn't anyone tell you to never scare a sleeping cop?" he asked sheepishly.

Kim gave him a pointed look before shoving the empty popcorn bowl into his hands. "Why? Would I be in danger of getting food all over my floor?" She stopped down beside the coffee table and helped him to clean up the mess.

"That would be one thing," he conceded dryly. Then, "Sorry. I fell asleep."

"Yeah, I can see that." Kim's gaze softened. She was reluctant to let on, but she'd already forgiven him for the high-handed way he'd acted that evening. Once a big brother, always a big brother. But she couldn’t help ribbing him, just a little. "Some watch dog you are, though."

"Gee. Thanks. So how did it go?"

Kim smiled, remembering. "It was very nice. We had a good time. We talked a lot."

Stephen nodded, asking too casually. "So, is it serious?"

"We decided to stick to just being friends."

Kim wasn't expecting his short bark of laughter. "You're kidding me, right?"

"Would I kid a cop?" She snatched the now refilled bowl of popcorn away from him, and moved off toward the kitchen area.

"Kim, tell me you don't believe that?" Stephen called after her. "Whose idea was it? His?"

"No," she turned back toward him. "It was mine." Sorta she added mentally, recalling that Jerry was the one who'd actually asked the question. But she was the one who had insisted that their relationship be no deeper. Friends was the only other alternative wasn't it?

Stephen's expression changed slightly as he watched her. She didn't know if it had been some nuance in her voice, or just the fact that he was used to observing people, but he suddenly looked very worried. He moved across the room and pulled her back to sit near him on the sofa.

"What do you really know about this guy?"

He looked genuinely worried, and that bothered her. She didn’t feel as if she were making some mistake that he needed to warn her or protect her against. She felt as if he didn't trust her to be in control of her life. Stephen had always been protective, but he had never in her adult life treated her as if her judgement was off.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" she asked him. "Does he have some kind of criminal record or something?"

"No, he's clean."

"You checked him out?!" She couldn’t believe it. "You actually did a background check on him. Isn't that illegal or unethical or something?"

"No it isn't," he said with exasperation. "I was worried about you. This guy has been after you since that first night in the hospital. He's not going to just accept being friends."

"What are you talking about?"

"He asked me for your phone number that night."

"And. So? Did you give it to him."

"No. And I didn't give you his either. Don't you think that's a little off?"

"Maybe he just knows what he wants."

"Maybe, he's stalking you. I mean, he shows up at the same restaurant and at the park on Saturday."

"Stephen, think about what you're saying. How could he possibly know we were going to that restaurant? He was there before we even got there! And we didn't decide on it until we were going home. And Soccer? How could he know about that? We were leaving remember when you went back to see what was going on? How could he possibly have planned that? It's all just coincidence, Stephen, and he's a nice guy."

"Kim. . . "

"Who is going to be my friend," she talked over him.

A sigh. "Kim."

"Yes, Stephen?"

"Be careful, okay?"

She smiled. "Okay."

Chapter Twelve