Pushing open the door to the New Salem Inn, Kim took a deep breath, not certain if tonight was going to be an evening of warm nostalgia or painful memories. After giving her name to the maitre d', Kim was told the other party had not yet arrived and was then shown to the table. She was glad for the few extra moments she had to compose herself.

Kim chastised herself for being so nervous. "Come on girl. It's a simple dinner with your ex-husband," she reminded herself. "Then why did it take me three hours to get dressed," she wondered. First she had put her hair up, and then pulled it back before finally deciding to let it fall softly to her shoulders. After trying on three different outfits, she settled on a simple sapphire silk suit that brought out the blue in her eyes. Glancing in the mirror as she headed out, Kim was pleased with the results. Always one to be self-critical, she was now thankful she had upped her twice-a-week pilates and yoga classes. And unlike her friends in L.A. who kept their plastic surgeons on speed dial, Kim's natural beauty still shone.

She gazed about the room, totally rebuilt and furnished like the original Salem Inn, the place where she first set eyes on one Captain Shane Donovan. He had been the dashing secret agent sent to spy on her, she the unsuspecting prostitute desperate to change her ways. Meeting Shane had allowed her to do just that. She shuddered to think what a mess her life would be if she had not met him.

As she was daydreaming about their first meeting, Shane walked into the dining room and cast his eyes upon her. "God, she's as beautiful as I remember," he said to himself. Here he was, gray streaking his hair, wrinkles starting to line his face and the beginnings of a middle-age paunch that no amount of working out seemed able to prevent. And she hadn't changed since the first time he laid eyes on her, spying through a telescope into her apartment.

Sighing, he crossed the room and startled Kim out of her reverie. "Hello Kimberly." Looking up, she put out her hand to greet him and for the first time in ten years, they touched. It was almost as if a bolt of electricity surged through both of them. Taking a seat across from her, he apologized for being late. "They changed the exit on the highway to this place."

"I know. If Pop hadn't told me, I would have been late, too. So many things have changed."

"Yes, they have," Shane sighed. "But you look the same Kim, just wonderful."

"Thanks. You do too," Kim said self-consciously.

"So tell me, what brings you back to Salem?"

"A book tour. I'm an author, now," Kim said proudly.

"Uh, yes, Andrew told me. I actually read your first book," Shane smiled. "Haven't seen the second one though. It hasn't made it to England yet." Hesitating, he said plaintively, "Andrew also told me about Phillip. I'm sorry."

"Guess I'm not the marriage-type," Kim stated uneasily.

Holding her gaze, he said simply, "That's not true."

They ordered wine and dinner and settled into an evening of easy conversation. Kim had forgotten how effortless it was to talk to Shane. The ten years apart seemed to disappear as the conversation flowed from one topic to another. First they talked about Kim's upcoming book tour and Shane was genuinely impressed. Then he filled her in on his latest ISA assignment, at least as much as he could share. Over coffee and dessert, the conversation turned to Andrew and Jeannie.

Andrew attending college in England was a blessing to Shane. He would often meet his son in London or Paris, or Andrew would drive up to Donovan Manor for the weekends. Shane cherished this renewed connection with his son. His daughter, Jeannie, though was another matter. He hardly saw her.

"Kim, I've seen Jeannie maybe 3 or 4 times in the past ten years."

"Oh Shane, I'm sure it's been more often than that." Kim tried to remember exactly when the last time Jeannie visited her father was.

Shaking his head he continued, "And I rarely talk to her on the phone."

"Shane, she's a teenager. Right now, it's all about boys, clothes, and what the girl next to you said behind your back. She's been upset about the divorce, too," Kim reasoned. "I'm sure that's part of it."

"No, this started long before your divorce. It's like she's purposely avoiding me."

"I'll talk to her when I get back to L.A. Then she'll call you, you'll get together, and all will be fine," Kim reassured him. "Now I better get going. I'm expecting an early morning call from my publisher."

Shane reached for the check. "I need to go, too. I'm heading to the house tomorrow."

Kim's eyes widened. "Our house?" she asked, immediately regretting her choice of words.

"Yes, it's part of my real estate portfolio. Would you like to join me and see the old place?"

"Sure," she answered, unable to hide her eagerness.

"Good. Then I'll pick you up at 11. I'll bring a basket and we can have lunch out there."

Driving home, Kim realized her well-laid plans of one dinner with Shane and nothing more had vanished. But the prospect of seeing her former home, the site of so many memories, was too much to resist, even if it meant another day with Shane Donovan.