This story was inspired by Amy so blame her.

Jessica Fletcher wasn't always a flirt. Before her husband Frank and she dated, she was too shy and too inexperienced to try flirting with men. In college she learned to walk while subtly swaying her hips and she learned to smile a lot, but she didn't tease men. Men could get angry if you told them no after they believed you were going to tell them yes. It was an adult game and she was hesitant to play until she met Frank.

From the start she wanted to marry him. She thought about him endlessly. Frank felt the same way, or so he told her and somehow she learned to flutter her lashes and smile seductively. They were married within a year of meeting. She continued to flirt with him once they married. She wished she had a washing machine instead of having to go to the laundromat every weekend. A few touches, smiles, and kisses and she got her washing machine. It was rarely immediately but she usually didn't have to wait too long.

Once Frank was gone, she just didn't have it in her to flirt with other men. She didn't want a relationship or an affair. She wanted to crawl into a hole but Grady didn't allow it and eventually she picked herself up and began trying to live again.

After the disastrous encounter with Preston Giles, she decided to give up on men. They weren't necessary to her. She had thirty wonderful years with Frank and that should be enough.

Although she was older, she wasn't dead and she quickly learned that men still looked at her with interest. She hadn't been paying attention before but now she was noticing. So what if she was a widow. She began practicing on the escorts arranged by her marketing agency. The men were charming and generally good looking so it was easy to flirt with them. She didn't have to worry about inappropriate remarks or actions because this was a job, their livelihood, and so that first year she practiced her lines, her looks, and her walk. Every time she applied makeup and dressed up, she flirted. It gave her confidence and she mattered in her own mind. As her confidence grew, she became more discerning about with whom she flirted.

It was subtle but eventually she realized she was enjoying herself. Whenever she left Cabot Cove the opportunities to flirt were numerous. New York, Boston, Miami, even in Europe and Russia but never in Cabot Cove. That was too close to where she and Frank were happy. She made it a point to only flirt with men that weren't interested in her. They might be interested in sex but never in her.

Seth Hazlitt was the person that called her out. Somehow she had begun flirting, very tamely, with men in Cabot Cove, none married of course. Seth was with her often and he was very intuitive when it came to her ctions. At first he sighed and then he grumbled whenever she did it. Finally he accused her of being a flirt. Of course, she denied it but she did stop doing it when Seth was with her. There was mutual respect between them and he was important to her.

Jessica stepped out of the tub and began drying off. Moisturizing properly took time. She was proud of the care she took with her body. Proper exercise, eating carefully, and dressing in clothes that fit accurately was something to be proud of in this day and age where plastic surgery could erase flaws.

Wrapping a towel around her body, she walked downstairs and into her kitchen. It was too warm to put on a robe so she just put slippers on her feet. She wanted to start the kettle before doing her nails.

She heard footsteps and looked up. She was at a disadvantage dressed only in a towel and she turned to head upstairs when Seth's voice stopped her.

"Jess, could you give me a hand?" Seth had a tie in his hand with the other end in his mouth. It wasn't a bowtie either. He was looking down trying to sort out the fabric wrapped around his arm.

"Seth?"

"Woman, I need your…" He trailed off as he took in her attire.

She clutched one hand to her chest, holding her towel securely. "Let me grab a robe and I'll be right back."

"Jess, I injured my arm and need to make a sling. I can't manage left-handed." He huffed impatiently.

Jess went over and assisted in securing a sling out of the tie. "What happened?"

"I was carrying too much at once and when it began to fall, I over-extended it. It will be fine in a day or two." He glanced at her towel. "You want to get that robe now?"

Jessica couldn't help herself. She smiled at him before slowly twirling around. "Why Dr. Hazlitt, I'm sure you've seen half the town undressed." She fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated motion before laughing.

"Ayuh, there aren't too many secrets in this town from me but you get upstairs and grab that robe or better yet, get dressed."

Jessica started to sashay slowly toward him when one of her slippers stuck to the kitchen floor and she tripped herself up. She flailed her arms and tried to regain her footing but she was falling when Seth caught her before she hit the linoleum floor.

Jessica caught her breath in relief and was about to thank Seth when she noticed it was very quiet, too quiet for Seth. He was looking at her appreciatively. She was exposed and speechless.

Seth smiled while he helped her stand, adjusted and secured her towel tightly around her, and poured her a cup of tea.

Jessica's face was redder than red. She was embarrassed. Why didn't she just grab her robe like she originally planned? No, she had to flirt and now he saw…he didn't just see…he stared. His slight smile seemed to suggest he liked what he saw.

These thoughts flitted through her mind in seconds.

"Every time you flirt with someone I hope you remember this episode," commented Seth. He knew he was pulling the tiger's tail.

Her face was still red but now her eyes flashed. Before she could get stirred up, he continued.

"I don't get jealous often but when you flirt with other men, I do," he said softly.

"You do?" she asked.

"Not once have you flirted with me. How do you think that makes me feel?"

She stared at him as though seeing him for the first time. "You want me to flirt with you?"

"I'd rather you think I was an eligible male worthy of it instead of whatever you think of me," answered Seth.

"Seth, I couldn't flirt with you. You're different. You mean too much to me. Those other men are safe because there would never be anything between me and them. It's just a way to pass the time pleasantly"

"And our time together is unpleasant?" His eyes bored into hers.

" Of course not, I just feel better about myself and those men know I'm not interested in a relationship or a fling."

Seth remained silent for a moment. "I don't make you feel better about yourself? I compliment you, we laugh together, we're together a lot." He sighed. "You can't help yourself. You're just a flirt."

"I am not just anything," retorted Jessica. "When I feel attractive I feel better about myself and it just happens."

"You're always attractive," commented Seth. "If you really need to flirt, then do it with me. I'll make you feel good."

Jessica paused. Did he mean? She looked at Seth and saw he was uncomfortable.

"Do you mean it?: she asked as she moved closer to him.

He nodded.

Smiling brightly, she laughed gently. "Well, let me change into something and then we'll see what you can do." She headed for the stairs.

Seth shook his head. She really couldn't help herself. At least she was going to flirt with him now. He couldn't resist adding as she reached the stairs. "By the time you reach the top, I'll have a clear view up your towel."

She eeped before pressing her hand to the back of her towel and running up the stairs. Seth took a seat on the sofa and waited. Life is going to be very interesting from now on.