Sweet pretence

"Are you on guard against all men, or just me?"

Joe's question unsettled Frederica, but she had her reasons for keeping cool and distant with Joseph Corey.

Years ago they'd been lovers, but these days Freddy needed both feet on the ground. A single parent and a serious career woman had no room in her life for short flings with old flames.

And though Freddy readily admitted Joe had his sensual charms, she made it clear that getting burned twice was not on her list of things to do with her life--Joe just didn't seem to be listening.