Page 99 of Steamy Ever After

Taking a deep breath, I continue. “There’s this guy. I met him a few weeks ago and… he asked me out.”

Joe’s hands freeze in mid-air. “A guy?” In the mirror, he steadies his chestnut gaze on me. “Asked you out?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing really. Just dinner.” I tuck some hair behind my ear, wondering why this is so difficult. “I figured I’d let you know, as per our arrangement.”

“You’ve just met the guy?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

He shrugs. “So? No biggie.”

A little annoyed by his dismissive tone, I cross my arms. “Well, he’s really sweet. And it could turn into a second date or?—”

“Who is this guy?” Joe interrupts, turning to face me.

When I realize we’re both standing with our arms crossed, I drop mine to my sides. “You don’t know him. I met him at work.”

“You met him at a women’s center?” His dark eyebrow shoots up. “Sounds safe.”

“He’s a delivery guy, and we literally bumped into each other and?—”

“A delivery guy?” Again, he cuts me off. “You’re warning me about a date with a grown man who wears polyester khaki shorts?”

“He’s a FedEx delivery guy, not UPS.”

Joe shakes his head with a sinister laugh and returns to his grooming. “All right. Navy shorts.”

This is so strange. I’m not sure if I’m being laughed at or reprimanded, but it sets my teeth on edge.

“You and I agreed we wouldn’t hook up with anyone else while we were doing this.” I wave a hand between us. “So, I figured I’d give you the head’s up.”

“It’s just a date, Jane.”

“But what if it turns into something more?”

“You mean he becomes your boyfriend?” he teases.

“No, I mean, what if I go back to his place and…?”

“You sleep with him?” He bites his lip, the corner of his mouth twitching.

“It could happen.”

Another dark chuckle as he cleans off the counter. “That won’t happen.”

“What’s your problem?”

“Nothing at all.”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“How am I acting?” he asks with the fakest smile.

“Like a prick. I’m only following the rules that we established.”

“No, the rules said we wouldn’t sleep with anyone while we were doing this.”

“Okay, but I’m playing it safe and warning you in case?—”