“You look like hell,” she said unsympathetically.

“Yeah well, hopefully this isn’t a sign of what our marriage will really be like. I’m kind of partial to my face you know,” he said and surprised her by reaching out and pulling her across his lap.

Holding her towel, she shrieked, “What are you doing?”

His mouth captured hers and she melted, kissing him back eagerly and forgetting about the slipping towel as she wrapped her arms around him.

“Can I take you out later? After work,” he asked between kisses and his hand crept up and over her breast, making her purr with pleasure.

“Mmmm…like a date?” She was having a hard time focusing with his hands and mouth working their magic over her body.

“Yeah like a date. You and me out to dinner and maybe a movie…” His hand drawing little circles along her inner thighs was making her squirm impatiently.

Grabbing his hand, she slipped it up to where she wanted and sighed as he obliged her, ignoring his chuckle as she arched against his searching hand. His thumb rubbed against her clit and she moaned, and bucked as that fantastic, trembling drum started beating in her core until finally she grabbed Jake’s shoulders and hung on tight, riding the waves of blissful satisfaction that followed her orgasm.

When he kissed her forehead and started to get up, she held tight. “You’re leaving before…I mean you aren’t…”

“I think we should wait until tonight. You might be a little sore,” he said, his hands rubbing over her back.

Disappointed, she started, “I think I’ll be fine…”

He stopped her argument with a kiss, “It’s okay. We have plenty of time.”

She almost argued, but let it go when he kissed her one last time and stood up. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Okay,” she said, watching him walk out of the room. When she heard the door open and close, she flopped back on the bed.

Did all of that really happen? Did she just agree to marry Jake?

Something close to glee was swirling around inside her and before she knew it, she was squealing like an idiot.

Rand was looking forward to their date. She’d pulled out a simple black shirt with a v shaped neckline and jeans. She’d left her hair down, just like he liked it, and wore her best pair of boots.

She grabbed her jacket and walked out of the bedroom just as a knock sounded at the front door. Rushing to open it, she tried to appear calm, even though her heart and stomach were doing cartwheels and backflips.

Before she could say anything, his arm snaked out and pulled her against him. “You look beautiful.”

Rand couldn’t stop her hands from slipping under his shirt and around the warm skin of his back. She knew she wasn’t really beautiful, but the way he said it, his deep voice so rumbly and sincere, made goose bumps break out all over her skin. “You don’t have to say that stuff.”

“It’s true. Why wouldn’t I say it,” he asked, frowning.

Rand shook her head. “Never mind…”

“Rand, you are. I will never lie to you. Don’t you trust me,” he asked, his tone hurt.

Jake, her friend, she trusted above everyone else. Jake the fiancé? She still wasn’t sure.

They drove to the next town over and settled on a little Mexican restaurant with one other couple inside. Jake looked around at the small area, the brightly smiling waitress, and wondered if they should back out slowly. It was never a good thing when a restaurant was nearly empty on a Friday night.

“Sit whereever you like.” The waitress said as she went back to the kitchen and Jake whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

The look she shot him was puzzled. “No, this is fine. You love Mexican food, why would you want to leave?”

He let it go and led her to a booth next to the window. “I was just worried when I saw there were only a few people inside.”

“Probably because there’s supposed to be a big thunder storm rolling in,” she said.

“Well hi, y’all, welcome to Carlos’. I’m Tandy, and I’ll be your server. Can I get y’all a margarita or beer?”