He parked his car and reached for the gifts he had brought her on impulse.

   Tyler had considered himself quite accomplished in the Washington social scene. He'd mingled with politicians, business moguls, heads of state. He'd spent almost as much time in tuxedos as he had in casual wear and there had rarely been a time when he'd felt awkward or tongue-tied. But when Jane Doherty opened her door wearing a slim-fitting, shoulder-baring, leg-revealing, yellow sundress, he almost forgot his own name.

   If she noticed his poleaxed expression, she gave no sign of it. "Hey, Ty. Nice tie."

   Since he has no idea whether she was serious or mocking his conservative tastes, he settled for a simple, "Thanks. You look...nice."

   "Why, thank you." She slanted a look up at him that left little doubt that she was laughing at him.

   Resigning himself to an evening of Jane's style of teasing, he held out the single pink rose he'd brought her. "I was going to wear this, but it clashed with my shirt."

   She accepted the perfect bloom with a smile. "Thank you again. It's lovely. I'll put it in a vase to keep it fresh. I would wear it, but it clashes with my hair."

   He glanced at her short, saucy cut. "When did you go red?"

   "Last year—after my brunette stage, which came after my blond phase. I get bored easily."

   Which pretty much confirmed what he'd been thinking. "Red must be a popular color these days. My sister keeps her hair that color now, too—though it's more of a strawberry blond than yours. It took me a while to get used to it, but I like it now."

   "Sarah dyes her hair?" Jane seemed surprised. "I can't picture her as anything but blond."

   "She looks good either way."

   "I'm sure she does. Sarah's always been beautiful. Would you like a drink or something before we go?" she asked after placing the rose in a crystal bud vase.

   Having a drink meant spending more time here with Jane. In her house. Alone. With her in that body-skimming, flirty little dress. He didn't think he could take that, yet. "No. If you're ready, we'll go."

   She reached for her purse. "Then I suppose I'm ready."

   At least it appeared he would keep her amused this evening. He supposed that was something.