“That one I can sort of help with.”

“Oh?”

She nodded. “There’s a yes that when you hear it, you know that it’s a forever yes. It’s different from a maybe yes, and definitely different from a no yes.”

He looked at his vodka. Maybe he was drunk. “You’re sure about this.”

“Absolutely. So don’t worry about it. It takes time to get to the forever yes.”

He didn’t dare look at her, so he kept studying his drink. “What if I’m not sure I’m ready for a forever yes?”

“Then it’s good that it’s not here yet. Just be patient.” She touched his arm with two fingers. “She’s worth it.”

He met her sympathetic gaze. “Am I?”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’d like to think so. But only you can answer that question.”

“Where’s your guy?”

Her face changed completely, lighting up from the inside. “He’s busy with one of the photographers, but he’s going to come get me when he’s done.”

“You seem pretty happy with him.”

“I am. He’s so wonderful. And interesting, and funny. Sweeter than anyone, and I love that he’s so much more than just his looks, you know? Not that his looks aren’t incredible, but he’s so much more than that. He’s got all these plans for the future and he doesn’t buy into all the artificial junk about modeling and stuff. I don’t know, he’s just…”

He smiled, happy for her. “Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to say be careful.”

“Careful? How is that possible? To be careful means not caring all the way. Not opening my heart. Then you wouldn’t know. And it would be too easy to miss out on the one thing that could be the most important thing of all.”

The band started again, playing “String of Pearls,” a Glenn Miller tune, as Marla walked away. Dan wished the boat ride was over. He needed time to think. He liked so much about Jessica, but was it love? Was his mother right about him? He’d always been a romantic and it had gotten him into trouble time and time again. Maybe this was just the same old, same old. Maybe he wasn’t really seeing Jessica for who she was, but as some amalgam of who he wanted her to be.

For sure, he’d never experienced anything even close to the experience of making love to her. And when they talked, there was a rightness to the conversations. He felt good with her, wanted to know more about her.

Maybe backing off was the right thing. Goddamn it, this was crazy. He’d never equivocated like this, not over any woman. Not over anything for that matter.

He no longer wanted to find out what women wanted. He wanted only to find out what one specific woman wanted. The question was, how?

THE NIGHT ENDED, at least for Jessica, just after midnight. Because she wasn’t officially in charge of the event, she didn’t have to stay to the bitter end.

Owen had hovered, of course, when she’d said good-night, and Dan had risen to the occasion once again. Attentive, respectful, charming. Everything she could hope for in a date, real or not.

They walked down to the pier, arm in arm, smiling, their bodies touching with each step. She felt the same shimmer of excitement that had been the constant since that first day. It was as if when they touched, they completed an electrical current. No one else did it to her. She’d never known it was possible.

They reached the street and got in line to wait for a cab. She turned to him. “What is it that you like about me?” she asked.

The question clearly took him by surprise. “Is this a test?”

“No. Think of it as research. Come on, what appeals?”

“There are a lot of things.”

“Name five.”

“Okay,” he said, stretching the word. Let’s see…”

“Nothing? Not one thing comes to mind?”

“No, no. Oh, God, no. Give me a second to get my thoughts together, that’s all.”

“And it can’t be about sex.”

His face fell. “Oh.”

She elbowed him. “I can’t believe-”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Come on. You’re…”

She stepped back, waiting.

His eyes softened and he touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “I like your drive, your intensity. You’re honest, and you make no bones about who you are and what you want. You certainly come up with creative solutions to your problems.” He nodded toward the boat. “This whole campaign is brilliant.”

Jessica frowned. “That’s it?”

A laugh escaped. “That’s it? I’ve just described an amazing woman.”

“But what about me?”

“I don’t understand.”

She turned, embarrassed by the sudden rush of tears. “I like to think I’m nice. That I have a sense of humor. You know, human things.”

“Oh, Jessica,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms. “You’re all that. Funny and nice, and so much more. Marla adores you and wants to be just like you. I see how people talk to you, with respect, with ease. You don’t intimidate, you make people feel welcome and comfortable. Even that first time we met, at the bar, you were so willing to dive into my insane scheme. Willing to open yourself to a stranger. Don’t you see how remarkable that is?”

Her head rested on his chest, but she shook it anyway. “I was so mean to you tonight.”

“No you weren’t. You were just honest.”

“It’s not your fault. You’ve never pressured me, or made any demands.”

“Oh, but I have. And I’m going to demand more. I’ve decided we need to go back to our original agreement. I ask you questions, and keep Owen at bay. You answer questions, and you concentrate on getting through this week with all your energy and strength. Whatever I can do to help, I’ll do. If that means leaving you the hell alone, then fine. Just say the word.”

Now she lifted her head to meet his gaze. Amazed, once more, at this odd, beautiful man. Unlike anyone in her experience, and yet she felt as if she’d known him for a long, long time. She rose on her toes, stretched her neck, but she couldn’t reach him. He smiled slowly and leaned down until his lips touched hers.

The shock of his kiss swept through her again, and for once in her life she turned off that part of her brain that analyzed everything, weighed every move. She just kissed him. A boy, a girl, a moonlit night.

A long, sweet, melting kiss.

THEY RODE BACK to the hotel in silence, comfortable, touching.

Dan had meant what he said, that he would step back, not make this more complicated than it needed to be. Jessica had enough on her plate without him adding to it.

There would be time, later, to explore the connection, the desire he felt for her. For now, he would appreciate what he had and not beg for more.

Once inside the suite, he guided her to the bedroom, then shut the door behind her. Knowing she would be a few minutes, he undressed quickly in the bathroom, brushed his teeth and cleared out. She tiptoed past as he made the couch into his bed. Despite his intentions, it wasn’t fun when she waved good-night and closed the bedroom door behind her.

But it was better this way. He needed to figure out what he wanted, and so did she. The sex, while fantastic, made things difficult, confusing.

He turned off the lights and climbed into bed. Putting his hands behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling for a long time, seeing nothing but dark. His thoughts went in circles, always coming back to being inside her. Why was it so unique? She wasn’t shaped differently, she hadn’t come up with some new and wild technique. Yet with her it was…

Shit. He didn’t know what it was. Great wasn’t the half of it. It changed him. How, he couldn’t explain. But it was true nonetheless. If it was still so after this week, then he could take the time to fully explore the reasons. As for now, he had to forget about making love to her. If he could. It was certainly asking a lot.

He closed his eyes, needing to sleep, knowing sleep was going to prove elusive. But he tried.