He wondered which Jessica he’d be talking to this morning. The woman afraid to step a foot outside her comfort zone or the passionate creature he’d made love to. Maybe wishing real hard would help. Which is just what he did as he straightened up the pillows and gathered his clothes together. He stared at his robe for a long time, but he didn’t put it on. If it was the passionate one, he wanted to be ready.

Talk about hopeful. She’d made it pretty clear last night that she wasn’t terribly comfortable about testing the edges of their very personal envelope. He could either go along with it, be the nice guy he liked to think he was, or…

One thing of which he was quite sure: When they’d made love last night, Jessica had been right there with him, breath for breath, touch for touch. She’d come alive in his arms. God, it had been like nothing else. He wanted that woman back. He wanted to take that woman to the moon.

So much for Mr. Nice Guy. From this moment forward, he had a new project.

JESSICA HAD STARTED the shower the moment she’d stepped into the bathroom. She hadn’t gotten wet yet, however. She’d dawdled over brushing her teeth, her hair, washing her face with New Dawn Creamy Facial Whip. She’d even taken off her robe and stared at herself in the mirror. All the while the hot water poured. She supposed she’d better make a decision. In or out.

One more critical view of her naked self. Not too shabby, although she could lose a few pounds, especially around her middle, but the personal trainer had been a great investment. She paid a fortune to her, but the money was excellent motivation. Now, if she could quit eating the damn desserts at every meal, maybe she’d get the body she should have.

It wasn’t going to happen in the next five minutes though, so she’d better get on with it. She’d dawdled so long, Dan was undoubtedly dressed, but that was no matter. She’d never met a man who wouldn’t strip at the drop of an innuendo.

After turning off the shower, she donned her robe, put her hand up to her mouth and blew out a breath, just to make sure, then went out to begin what she’d coined Project Dan. He wasn’t the only one with a plan and a goal. And Jessica had always been great when it came to achievement. Give her a challenge and she was hell on wheels. So watch out, Mr. Research. The tide was going to turn, all her way.

“THIS IS THE BEST DELI I’ve ever been to,” Marla said. “Except now I’m stuffed to the gills.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I never thought about it before, but that’s about fish. Stuffing them, I mean. Otherwise it would be stuffed to the neck or the head.”

Shawn put down his coffee cup and smiled at her. “I believe you’re right. Never thought of it, either.”

“Kind of disgusting, though.”

“But it gets the message across.”

She nodded. “How did you find this place?” It wasn’t a big place, in fact it was not much more than a storefront. All the tables were taken, mostly with elderly folks, but by far the most popular area of the deli was the counter. Behind the glass were wonderful things, from fresh-baked bagels to homemade knishes. Having grown up in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, she was intimately familiar with the delicacies. If she didn’t have to go back to the hotel tonight, she’d buy a bunch of goodies.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Kishke.”

He laughed out loud, and the sound made her all twitchy inside.

“What?”

“Not what I expected.”

“But look at all the yummies,” she said, pointing to the counter. “I can’t believe I’m so full. I mean, when’s the last time you saw such a beautiful black-and-white cookie?”

“You’re right. A work of art.”

“Don’t make fun.”

His eyes widened as if he was wounded. “I’m not. Not in the least. I love the way you think.”

She frowned. “I think just like other people. Don’t I?”

“No.” He took her hand in his. “Not at all. Which is terrific, so you’d better not get all worried about it.”

“How can I help it? I mean, I know I’m not the brightest person in the world, but I never thought I was that different.”

“Different is only awful when you’re a kid.”

Shawn ran a single fingertip up the back of her hand, making her whole body quiver.

“As soon as you’re out of that wanting-to-be-like-everyone-else phase, it’s what you look for in new people. The unique things. Good or bad, it’s always interesting.”

“Well, psychos are different.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to go too far, but I can’t think of anything worse than being just like everyone else.”

“You’re not. You’re the most gorgeous guy on earth.”

Shawn burst out laughing, while Marla turned three shades of red. She couldn’t believe she’d said that. If she could have found a hole to crawl into, she would have.

“Oh, babe, don’t be embarrassed. That was totally sweet. And yeah, I did win the biological lottery, I’m aware of that. It’s okay as long as I don’t take myself too seriously.”

“That’s the thing, though. You don’t. I never expected you to be so nice.”

“Thought I’d be all stuck-up, huh?”

“Sure. I mean, beautiful people can get whatever they want. It must be easy to get sucked into that.”

“Do you get whatever you want?”

“Me? What do you mean?”

He nodded. “You’re incredibly beautiful.”

“No, I’m not.”

He leaned back to look at her sternly. “So I’m sweet, but I’m a liar?”

“No!”

“Then you’ll just have to deal, won’t you?”

She had no idea what to say. Not a clue. She was Alice Through the Looking Glass, Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road. She felt sure she was going to wake up and realize it was all a dream, but she prayed it wouldn’t happen yet. She was having way too much fun.

“Hey,” Shawn said. “I have this party to go to tonight. At the Rainbow Room. How would you feel about being my date?”

“I have to go…Oh.”

His slow smile made the whole world sunshiny. Her spot, especially. “I’d love to.”

“Great. What time do you have to be there?”

A cloud appeared. “Early. Like two-ish.”

“Ah. So how would you feel about starting this date around seven? When I get there?”

“I feel very, very good about this.”

He leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Remember,” he whispered. “The first dance is mine.”

Marla melted into a puddle of goo. Right there in front of the kosher dill pickles.

POINT OF VIEW

An English professor wrote the words “A woman without her man is nothing” on the blackboard and directed the students to punctuate it correctly.

The men wrote: “A woman, without her man, is nothing.”

The women wrote: “A woman: without her, man is nothing.”

Source: Meissner, Dirk “Punctuation and Phenomenal Women”

http://www.dirkmeissner.com/chauvi0001.htm