"M, I know yourst marriage was rough. You''re scared, I get that. But you can''t let those shadows haunt you forever. Guys like that are rare, you''ve already gotten rid of him-what''s left to be afraid of?"


    Jade sighed. "You always run from this stuff. You shut down every bit of hope I have for you, and it worries me."


    "Jade..." M''s voice wavered, eyes growing red.


    "I''m not trying to force you." Jade''s tone softened. "I know these things take time. I''m not saying you should rush into marriage the moment you meet someone. That would be crazy. But you keep dodging this, and if I don''t push you a little, you''ll just keep running away from it.”


    "...I understand."


    "Do you really?" Jade''s voice shot up. "You just turned down another one for me today. If this keeps up, when will it ever end? Here''s what: youe home for a visit, and this time, I''ll supervise your date myself!"


    She was convinced M hadn''t taken any of these setups seriously.


    She was going to make sure, for once.


    M could only sigh helplessly.


    She did want to go home-it''d been a while since she''d seen Jade, and she missed her. But going home for a blind date?


    Suddenly, an image of someone shed through her mind. She shook her head quickly, trying to banish it.


    "What''s this? The moment I mention a date, you don''t even want toe home anymore?" Jade picked up immediately on her silence, her voice rising with dramatic ir.


    "No, that''s not it..." M replied, exasperated.


    "I''lle home, I will. But as for the blind date... let''s talk about it when I get there. Jade, it''ste now-you should get some rest."


    It took some effort, but she finally convinced her indignant aunt to go to bed. M wasted no time booking a flight to London for the morning two dayster.


    She really didn''t want another setup.


    But she wanted Jade to stop worrying even more.


    The next evening.


    The city''s night scene was in full swing. A tangerine Bentley Continental pulled up in front of a restaurant, its windows aglow. M stepped out, dressed in a crisp white Chanel dress that red just below her knees, a ring of pink-and-white silk roses cinching her waist. On her wrist, she wore a matching jeweled bracelet, and a string of creamy Australian pearls gleamed at her throat.


    She looked radiant.


    Inside the restaurant, Forrest—also dressed in white-caught sight of her from his table by the window. His eyes lit up, and he stood to greet her.


    M felt a little shy, but let her hand rest in his as he offered it, then took her seat.


    "I ordered a few dishes I know you like," Forrest said, handing her the menu. "But see if there''s anything else you want."


    "This is fine," M replied quietly.


    Eating was thest thing on her mind.


    "Something bothering you?" Forrest asked as he poured her a ss of red wine, his gaze attentive.


    "Yeah." She nced at him, hesitated, then nodded.


    It was rare for her to be this upfront, and Forrest''s calm features softened; a gentle smile lingered, but his voice grew serious. "Do you want to talk about it?"


    "I''m flying to Ennd tomorrow to visit my aunt. She''s setting me up on another blind date," M said.


    Forrest set down the wine, his smile fading as he looked at her with sudden intensity. Still, his tone was gentle. "Mimi, you know I''d never get


    angry with you, no matter what you do. thought we''d talked about


    this I thought you agreed to give us a chance, didn''t you?"


    So what was this all about?


    Forrest, usually soposed, felt a sh of frustration-he''d thought they''d made progress yesterday. Wasn''t it enough? What more could he do?


    Was he supposed to... He clenched his hand under the table, the look in his eyes growing more guarded and uncertain.


    He knew Mimi hated being pressured-he''d seen how she reacted to Lysander''s


    pushiness. He never wanted her to look at him that way. He''d already


    He''d thought there was hope yesterday.


    But he was running out of patience.


    "I know," M said softly.


    A chill crept down her spine. She shivered, ncing behind her before


    forcing herself to speak again. "That''s why I wanted to ask... how''s your project with the Federal Security Bureau going? Are you allowed to leave the country now?"


    Forrest froze.


    For a moment, he wasn''t sure he''d heard her right. He stared at her, and only when she looked at him in confusion did he finally break into augh. "What''s so funny?" M asked, startled.


    He shook his head, the darkness in his eyes reced by a sudden, irrepressible smile. "It''s almost wrapped up. I''m free to travel now. So are you inviting me to meet your family?"


    "What? No M''s cheeks flushed


    bright red "No, I just...st night thought about it, and you''re right. I said I''d try. Another blind date just feels wrong. I don''t want to do it anymore, so I thought... I thought..."