Wrong Way Renee by Wynter Daniels

great guy, pre-med.”
    “What's her major?”
    “Art history, I think. Used to be philosophy, but she g ot too bored with that.”
    She stifled a laugh. “Sounds like Rose has a lot in common with my sister.”
    “Oh? How so?”
    “ Char majored in husband. S ounds like your sister is too.”
    “Not at all. She wants to be a museum curator.”
    His scowl convinced her to change the subject. “Do you have any pets?”
    “Yes. A German shepherd. Duke is his name. D o you like dogs?”
    “I'm more of a cat person. ” She racked her brain to avoid the slope into the great void the conversation was quickly falling into . “Have you ever been married?”
    “I have. B een divorced about four years.”
    “I'm sorry . Is it painful to talk about?”
    “No, no. I'm way past that. Alison and I grew in different directions.”
    She nodded. “Any kids?”
    “Not of my own. Alison had a son from a previous marriage, an autist ic boy.”
    “Oh, how sad.”
    He shook his head. “ Not at all. He's a great kid. I go see him every time I'm in Atlanta. Take him out for ice cream or something. I flew him here for his last birthday, his thirteenth. Too k him to Disney and Sea World.”
    Her heart squeezed. “That is so … admirable, Cleave . It's very sweet. That says a lot about you. ” How many men would take on something like that if they didn't have to? She mentally gave him points for compassion.
    “He's a great kid, like I said. ” A smile lifted the corner s of his mouth.
    Sh e gazed around the restaurant. “This place is really beautiful. ”
    “It's always lovely, but at holidays, it's spectacular. ” He straightened his silverware. “What does your fa mily usually do for Christmas?”
    Ah, a new subject. “We usually go to my folks’ place Christmas Eve for dinner, then we come back Christmas morning to open gifts. Since my niece and nephe w came into the picture, there have been a mountain of presents . It's on the decadent side but it’s really a sight to behold. ” She wondered if he was looking for an invitation in a roundabout way. “Will you be going to Atlanta?”
    “I think so. If I can get away from a case I'm working on now. I guess you've noti ced I'm a bit of a workaholic.”
    Thinking of her father who ’d spent so much of her youth at the office, she nodded. She had missed him terribly, always preferring his company to her mother 's. Elizabeth scolded and corrected. Her father was more prone to compliment and gently cajole.
    He refilled his glass. “I admit it. When I'm not in a relationship, I pour m y heart and soul into my work.”
    “D o you do mediation and trial work like Gary and my dad?”
    “I'm mostly in volved in auto accident cases.”
    “H ow often do you play golf? ” Her best bet was to keep him talking about himself to avoid long bouts of uncomfortable dead air.
    “At least twice a week, weather permitting. Gary and I have a stand ing date every other Saturday.”
    “I didn't know that.”
    “ Sometimes Char comes alon g. She's quite good, you know.”
    “She looks great in golf clothes. She has on e of those leisurewear bodies.”
    He laughed and his dark eyes sparkled. It was a warm sound and it made her relax. He was a little stiff, but he was starting to loosen up. She liked that he got her humor.
    “Since you enjoy shopping so much, why don't you let me take you shopping for a golf outfit? You'll need one if you're going to learn to play. That's lesson number one. Have t he right clothes for the game.”
    She grinned. “I like this game already. It inv olves my favorite thing to do.”
    They chatted about golf, shopping and the law firm through their main course. When the waiter came with the Cherries Jubilee, they watched him flambé it. Cleave put his hand over Renee's and she was surprised that didn't want him to take it away.
    After dinner he took her straight home, explaining that he had an early meeting the next morning. He walked her to the door, then