Spring Prologue
Even in the Suit-and-Tie, Too-Busy-To-Notice world that was Washington, DC, Spring had finally arrived. Steve had finally been granted a rare mission-free week but he was far from relaxed. Jenn moved softly up behind him, nuzzling his neck as her arms encircled his waist.
"You're...mad at me?" she queried (nibbling on his ear for good measure).
Steve shook his head slowly, his back still to his wife. "No, not really, but I can't believe you'd suggest – or even consider..."
Jenn was not so easily deterred. She ducked around in front of Steve...and smiled. "It's really not that far-fetched. Not when you put the pieces together. Now that your Mom and Dad are on another cruise, Jaime's all alone out there."
"Well, I don't like it," Steve insisted. "It's been less than two months since Michael died. We have no business trying to fix her up with anyone, much less -"
"I'm not talking about a love match here," Jenn said gently. "Just two people who both need...a good friend."
"No."
"It'd do both of them some good to spend time together...outside of work. And in the future...who knows? Maybe they could be a good match."
"Forget it, Jenn."
"He's always had a thing for her," Jenn persisted. "Anybody can see that. So you know he'll tread lightly – they'd be good for each other." She watched, exasperated, as Steve paced over to the window, once again turning his back. "Are you acting this way because we're talking about Jaime?" she asked quietly. "Or because we're talking about Oscar?"
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