Once Bitten, Twice Shy

“What’s this latest venture you mentioned?”

Lori smiled. “The clinic. I know he mentioned that to you because he told me he did.”

Carmen glanced at Lori and then at Katie.

“Clinic? I knew he planned to build a clinic sometime, but I thought . . . “

Carmen felt her face getting hot. Did they think she was lying about the house? Obviously they thought there was something sordid to hide.

A disturbance at the entrance caught their attention and Carmen turned to see Alex striding purposefully across the floor toward them. His attention was riveted on her as he altered his course to stop at the table in front of her.

“I can’t let you go through with this, Carmen. Not when you’re still in love with me. We can work this thing out . . .”

His voice faded off as he realized that Lori and Josh were sitting at the opposite end of the table from Carmen. His neck turned red.

“This is something you’ve all cooked up, isn’t it?”

Josh laughed. “Alex, have a seat there beside Carmen. This engagement dinner is for Lori and me.”

Alex glanced around at the interested faces at the tables near them, and pulled out the chair. He sat down beside Carmen and scooted his chair in. Sliding an arm across the back of Carmen’s chair, he leaned close, speaking softly in her ear.

“Fill me in. I’m making a fool of myself.”

All eyes were on them as Carmen turned to him.

“You’re in good company. It seems we were all a little lost. Briefly: Josh thought you were chasing Lori so he told you to knock it off. When you didn’t deny it, I thought it must be true. I didn’t know you thought Josh and I were engaged.” She paused and frowned at him. “It’s all your fault, you know. “Why didn’t you tell anybody about the house?”

He glanced at Lori and shrugged. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I didn’t know it was creating a problem.”

His gaze traveled around the faces at the table and came to rest on Carmen.

“I can’t believe you guys. I’ve been openly courting Carmen from day one, but all I have to do is see Lori a couple of times and you think we’re romantically involved.”