“Wait!” He held up his hands and shook his head. “I didn’t say I love her.” That might be moving too fast for even him. He liked to build big and wait it out.

“You did not have to.” Her eyes became soft behind the shield of long dark lashes. She eased back in her chair and tilted her head to the side as she sized him up. “Zachary Benson, I have known you too long for you to sit and lie to me.”

“I didn’t realize that was what I was doing.”

“Well then, if not to me, to yourself.” She drank down the rest of her mimosa. “What are you doing here with me? Go to her.”

“No.” He was cool and he shifted to let the waiter set his plate in front of him. “I’m leaving town today. This wouldn’t be the time to get into it with her.”

“You are leaving town on business?”

“Yes, I’ll do some business while I’m there.”

“Ah, you are leaving town to get away from her.” She stabbed a finger in his direction.

“And I thought I could sneak that past you.” He laughed and she shook her head.

“Nothing passes by me, mon ami.” She waved a hand in the air. “Where are you going?” she asked with a raised brow.

He was already wincing. “I’m going to Kansas City.”

“What?” Her eyes flew open. “Oh, you are not going to see her! That… that…”

“No,” he said calmly, but he knew the mere mention of the city would receive that kind of reaction from her. “That was three years ago, Simone. I haven’t seen her since you put an end to it.”

“Good. Senator’s daughter or not, she was using you.”

“Perhaps.” And he knew that she had. It had been his only serious relationship. It was the only time he’d let his mother choose the woman he’d be with. He’d promised himself he’d choose the next one.

Simone shook her head. “What would you do without me alleviating you of useless women?”

“I don’t suppose I’ll ever know.”

“Correct.”

Zach sipped at his own mimosa as the waiter filled their water goblets. He couldn’t remember a day when Simone Pierpont hadn’t been his best friend. A sexy French woman as his dearest friend could come in handy when he needed it to, but he wondered what Regan would think of her.

Regan. He set down his glass. He hadn’t left her on good terms that morning, and the last thing he’d mentioned to her was meeting Simone.

Reluctantly Regan drove to the Benson Estate for lunch with Audrey on Saturday morning. She’d spent a restless night trying to tell herself it didn’t matter that Zach Benson had some French tart on the side. Regan wasn’t seeing him. She’d done her best to let him know she wouldn’t be either. But to have kissed her and then flaunt the name Simone Pierpont in her face, well, that was too much. Regan had a computer and Internet access. She’d gotten quite a lesson on the oil heiress and her lengthy list of affairs.

Her breath caught as she drove down the road toward the beautiful house at the end of the tree-lined drive. She was in paradise, and the pinching between her shoulder blades from her bad attitude released.

Gardens were blooming around the circle drive at the entrance. The floral aroma filled her senses and made the bouquet of mixed flowers she’d brought for Audrey seem inadequate.

She climbed from the car, stood in the vast openness, and took in the view. Horses grazed in meadows on either side of the house. The leaves rustled in the light breeze, and the sounds of a rippling creek nearby calmed her instantly. She was right in the place she’d always dreamed of being. Tennessee sprawling land and rocking chairs on the porch. She was very happy to have made friends with Audrey Benson.

When she rang the doorbell, a handsome man with eyes that matched Zachary's answered the door.

“You must be Regan,” he said.

“Yes.”

He extended his hand. “Tyler Benson.”

“It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Please come in.” She walked into the entrance of the grand house with a smile. “Audrey is expecting you on the patio.”

Regan followed him down the hallway to an enormous kitchen and out the back door. Beyond the patio more rose bushes were in full bloom. Acreage spilled out before her with a grove of trees beyond the first field that hid the creek she could hear. Audrey awaited her next to the pool on a lounge.

“Oh, Regan, you’re here!” She stood, her sunglasses hiding her eyes and the large brim of her hat shielding her face. She kissed both of Regan’s cheeks.

“Thank you for the invitation. These are for you.” She handed her the bouquet.

“Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest thing.” Audrey buried her nose in the flowers and then looked around. “Where is Zachary?”

“Zachary?” Her jaw tightened at the mere mention of his name. “I wasn’t aware he was coming to lunch.”

“That little…” She cut herself off and waved a hand to clear the air. “Well, let’s have some wine.” She took Regan’s arm and escorted her to a shaded lounge by the pool.

Audrey was easy with conversation. Her favorite topic, of course, was her son, and it made Regan relax into the lounge and laugh effortlessly when she went into detail about his antics at boarding school when he ran naked across the school grounds.

“Mom, you tell that story like you were there.” Zach walked toward, them smiling. “How come you tell people that story? Don’t you want them to like me?” He looked at Regan. “She forgot to add I was chasing the dog who ran off with my clothes after I took a dip in the river.”

Audrey smiled, sipped her wine, and then let her face grow concerned. “Where have you been?” She stood and kissed him on the cheeks.

Regan stood out of manners, unsure how she was supposed to react to him. She was still angry with him. The anger, though she’d been laughing, swelled when she realized Simone Pierpont had to have been part of the story Audrey had just shared. Just the sight of him standing there so casually with a glass of wine in his hands, as though he hadn’t kissed her and then gone straight to his mistress, made her want to run.

Audrey sat back down on her lounge chair. “I told you to bring Regan to lunch. Not have her meet you here.”