Jessica arrived right at 7 o'clock. She had her applesauce cake wrapped in plastic with a nice blue and white checked hand towel over it.

Seth gave her a huge smile. "Come on in Jess, soup's almost on."

"Smell's wonderful Seth, what are we having?"

"Breaded Monkfish. Caleb caught it this morning and I just couldn't resist!"

Seth placed the hot pan off to the side. "I also have some white wine chilling in the fridge. If you would be so bold as to get some glasses?"

Jessica obliged and began to open the bottle. Seth had the kitchen table all set. He placed a trivet on the table along with the pan of fish. He held Jessica's chair as she sat down and lifted a piece of fish onto her plate and then a piece onto his.

Seth lifted his wine glass, "To good food and good friends" and his eyes connected with hers.

The two clinked glasses and ate, somewhat quietly. Jessica helped Seth clear the dishes and wash and dry them.

"That applesauce cake has been calling my name since you walked in the door," he said. Seth got the coffee pot going and pinched a piece off.

Jessica playfully swatted at his hand. "Seth, let me at least cut you a piece."

He smiled at her, he always enjoyed when she "scolded" him. They sat down on the couch enjoying the cake until the coffee was ready.

Seth grabbed the remote, "Guess what's coming on in a half an hour? The Picture of Dorian Gray." He rubbed his hands together and then took a bite of cake.

"Oh Seth, I'm sorry but I can't stay much longer. My editor just called and is demanding those re-writes by the end of the week." Seth hung his head low, got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen for a hot cup of coffee. He didn't say a word.

Jessica knew he was secretly steaming, and she could only say, "Seth…" However, he interrupted her. She expected him to erupt like a volcano, but his voice was steady. "It's always something Jess, isn't it? A jaunt to New York for a few weeks, a new story, revisions."

Jessica was ready to speak but Seth interrupted again, "Let me finish. I have no right to expect you to be with me at my beckon call. However, when I plan a special night with you, when we see each other less and less often, I refuse to let anything come between us!"

"Seth. You're acting unreasonable." He was, wasn't he? After what she witnessed today, she wondered why Seth was getting all worked up about her.

"All I said was I couldn't stay late, it's not as if I broke the dinner date."

"No but you had no problem making it a short night."

"Well, there's no use talking to you when you're in a state like this. Maybe I better leave now." Jessica turned and headed for the door. Seth took a step toward her, but the words wouldn't form in his throat.

He was angry, at Jess, and himself for letting her walk away. He needed to do some cooling off. Seth grabbed his coat and got in his car.

Lauren was watching tv when the doorbell rang. She shut off the set and went to the door. Who would be visiting her at 8:30 instead of calling her?

"Dr. Hazlitt? What…come in, please." She held the door open. Seth went immediately to the couch while Lauren stayed standing. Seth rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, I made a fool of myself tonight with Jessica. I lost my temper and she walked out. Tell ya the truth, I don't blame her."

Lauren sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Dr. Hazlitt try to calm down. I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."

Seth turned to her, "I'm sorry I came here. My mind was a tornado filled with thoughts and I wasn't thinking with a clear head."

Lauren assured him, "You did the right thing coming here. Sometimes it helps to talk things over with someone…to get a different perspective." Seth turned away and pursed his lips into a pucker. Whenever he was frustrated, he would do this.

Lauren reached for his hand, "I'm glad you came." Slowly she began to leave a trail of small kisses along his hand. Seth lifted her chin and brought his face close to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

Lauren eagerly accepted and she pulled Seth down on top of her. She pushed off his jacket and he shrugged it to the floor. Seth leaned up and Lauren followed.

He rubbed his thumb over her left cheek and began to kiss her face, her chin and then he went for her neck. She sighed in contentment and began to undo the first two buttons of Seth's shirt.

Once again, she lowered them onto the couch, and she proceeded to nibble on his ear while she continued to undo his shirt buttons. Seth's mind was spinning with all that was happening. This moment certainly stoked his libido in a way it hadn't been in years. She began to run her fingers along his chest. What little hair he had was a mix of salt and pepper. It felt exhilarating beneath her fingers. Seth closed his eyes in ecstasy.

Suddenly it stopped. He opened his eyes only to see Lauren rise up still straddling him. She removed the faded sweatshirt she was wearing, with nothing else underneath.

Seth's breath caught in his throat. Lauren grabbed his hands and guided them to her, and long-forgotten instincts continued to awaken in Seth.

The next day Jessica woke up from a restless night's sleep. Not only did she stay up late because of the re-writes but she felt so bad about how things went with Seth. She was hurt the way he reacted to her, and angry. Her emotions were mixed up, but one thing was for sure, Seth wasn't himself.

She decided to pay him a visit after she got some small chores finished around the house.

It was about 9am and Jessica rode up to Seth's driveway. That's funny, no sign of his car? Maybe I'll find him downtown.

Jessica rode around but there was no sign of Seth. The fishermen hadn't seen him. Jessica even popped into the diner, but the waitress hadn't seen him either. She was just about to get on her bike when Eve stopped her.

"Morning Jessica! My you look, refreshed. I admire women your age who are still willing to ride a bike." Jessica knew Eve wasn't being snide, she was just being…Eve.

"Yes, well I was looking for Seth and noticed he wasn't home."

"Well, he wouldn't be. He's at Lauren's house, having breakfast." Eve said with a grin. Jessica inhaled sharply as if she'd been hit in the stomach.

"I went over a few minutes ago to drop off some last-minute real-estate papers when she answered the door. I walked in and found Seth on the couch, buttoning up his shirt and quickly putting on his jacket."

Jessica didn't want to believe it. She new Eve thrived on gossip but, deep down, she wouldn't act this cruel with Jessica. Maybe some of the other ladies in town.

Eve looked at her watch, "Oh would you look at the time. Well gotta go Jess, maybe I'll see you at Loretta's this week. I'm due for a new nail color."

Jessica stood there, alone, a million thoughts running through her head.