Rules of Engagement

Matching stares of astonishment gave way to oohs and aahs.

“Who is he?” Rachel demanded.

“Cole Harrington,” she replied reluctantly.

“What does he do?” Sandy asked next.

“He owns his own company.”

“What does he look like?” This from Kate, always the romantic.

“Nice.”

“Nice?” the trio repeated in unison.

“Details,” Sandy urged.

Trapped, Tess decided to opt for the truth. “He has these blue eyes, really mesmerizing.”

A chorus of sighs greeted this statement, but her cousins continued to stare at her in expectation.

Tess didn’t have any trouble remembering his appearance, just putting the image into words that wouldn’t intrigue her cousins. “He’s good-looking, handsome really. Dark hair.”

“Harrington Engineering!” Rachel announced. “I knew I’d heard that name.”

Again Tess met three matching stares. “Well, yes.”

“About a year ago he made the list of Houston’s most eligible bachelors,” Rachel mused.

Tess was surprised. “You seem to know a lot about him.”

“Financial circles aren’t that large,” Rachel reminded her. “More like a small town with a very credible grapevine.”

“Oh.”

Sandy wriggled her eyebrows. “He sounds yummy.”

“Yes,” Kate agreed.

Years ago, they had sworn never to let a man come between them. They’d survived a few simultaneous crushes during high school, but they’d never had a serious threat to their pledge.

But Tess didn’t want to overplay her nonexistent relationship. “It’s not serious.”

“Is that why you haven’t told us about him?” Kate asked. She looked hurt.

Tess wanted to kick herself. She knew how sensitive Kate was. “Of course not. It’s really just begun.” She crossed her fingers against the fib she planned to tell. “I saved it to tell you together this morning.”

Kate smiled. “Oh! That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you’ve met someone.”

Tess tried to ignore the guilt nibbling at her conscience. “It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Kate looked appalled. “Of course it is. In fact, you have to bring him to the party.”

“Party?”

“The anniversary party.”

For Kate’s parents, of course. “Sorry. I haven’t been very good with dates lately.”

All three gaped at her. Tess was known for having a mind like a Rolodex, organizing events for family, friends and the restaurants.

Tess smiled. “The anniversary party, of course. I remember.”

They didn’t believe her. She saw it in their faces.

“You’ll bring him?” Kate asked.

Tess wanted to say no, but she had to convince her cousins that she was all right. “I’ll ask him.”

“Then I’ll count on it,” Kate replied happily.

“I didn’t say he could come!”

“If you ask him surely he will,” Kate countered.

“Yes,” Sandy chimed in.

“My vote’s on you,” Rachel agreed.

Tess wished it were that easy, that she could simply pick up the phone and invite Cole. He’d be shocked to know he was now the man in her life. Especially after they’d ended the evening on such an antagonistic note. But she didn’t see a way to pull her foot out of her mouth.

Sandy lifted her glass. “To Tess and Cole.”

Rachel and Kate clinked their glasses with Sandy’s, then glanced at Tess expectantly.

Seeing no other choice, she picked up her glass, joining the toast. What in the world was she going to say to Cole?

“So have you decided on the gift for your parents?” Sandy asked Kate. “Or are your brothers still arguing?”

Kate sipped her mimosa. “If it had been up to them, my parents would have gone deep-sea fishing either in Mexico or Alaska, but I held out for the European river cruise to Vienna.”

“They’ll love that,” Sandy agreed. “Even on my budget, I’d have voted for that one.”

Rachel reached for a doughnut. “You and Tess sharing these?”

Sandy counted the remaining doughnuts. “Possibly.”

“Tess, your mother had the pastry chef design an incredible cake. Did she tell you about it?” Kate asked.