"Okay. I'll take care of it. I'll pick you up at seven."


"So you and Jessica have worked things out? Things are okay?"

Zach and Connor sat in Doc McCue's Thursday night after work, waiting for their pizza.

Connor looked at his beer. “Well, I wouldn't say everything's okay,” he said slowly. “She's kind of crazy. She's so paranoid that I was cheating, even though she says it was all a mistake. It's just weird. And I don't think she really trusts me, even now."

"So...” Zach was almost afraid to ask. “Are you guys staying together?"

Connor scowled. “Yeah. She's my wife. I love her. Somehow she has to get over this paranoia. But I don't know what more I can do. I even gave her that diamond bracelet I bought her. It was supposed to be for her birthday in July, I was saving it for then, but I gave it to her now. Hell, I've never cheated and I don't plan to. How do I prove that to her?"

Zach considered that and recalled his conversation with Ash on that topic.

"I dunno,” he sighed. “All you can do is keep on being faithful."

Connor grimaced. “I don't know if I can live like that. It makes me feel like scum, and I haven't even done anything. I'm trying to convince her to get some counseling."

Zach lifted his brows and nodded.

"I guess the big question is, what's worse ... living with her like that, or living without her?"

He was pretty sure he knew Connor's answer to that question.

Connor set down his empty beer with a clink and glanced at his watch. “Sorry man, but I think I'll head home early. I don't want her to start getting weird ideas."

"What about the pizza?"

Connor threw down a twenty-dollar bill. “It's on me."

Zach watched his brother leave with dismay. Man, he was whipped! Was Connor going to live his whole life trying to keep Jessica from thinking he was cheating?

Zach shook his head and held his beer with two hands. Much as he wanted Connor to be happy, maybe getting back with Jessica wasn't the way. But damn, Connor loved that woman. Even though they still had issues to work out, Connor seemed so much happier and steadier now they were back together. He sure seemed committed to his marriage.

Zach's thoughts turned to Ashlyn, a much more pleasant subject. Although he missed her like hell. Damn, he'd be glad when her school was done. Then she wouldn't have to do that fucking sex decoy job any more. Hell, that was a bit of an issue. But he trusted her. There was no question that she'd ever let things go too far. It was the slime balls she was with who worried him. There were a lot of nut jobs out there, and she was taking major risks every time she took a job.

Man, he had it bad. There was no doubt in his mind that he was meant to be with this girl forever.

Even Connor seemed to have developed a bit of fondness for Ashlyn, especially after the Pooch Picnic. Maybe it was the way she'd stepped in and looked after Rocky. She'd even brought his dog a damned present. A really cool present.

He couldn't help but smile as he tipped his bottle to his lips. Just then, a woman slid onto the barstool next to him. Déjà vu? But no. Disappointment washed over him when he saw it wasn't Ashlyn. No, she was home studying.


Ashlyn had been a basket case of nerves all week, and she despised herself for it. She was pissed off at her dad for firing her, depressed because she was totally broke and faced with having to work at Starbucks to pay the rent, stressed about exams, and terrified that at any moment Zach could learn the truth. Overriding all of this was an agonizing, aching longing to see him, to touch him, feel him, laugh with him.

She had no money for new clothes for their date, so her friend Lisa had come to her rescue and let her borrow a beautiful bronze slip-dress made of sheer, filmy layers. Lisa's shoes were too big for her, so her black sandals would have to do. Lisa had also loaned her a sparkly little bag covered with black, gold and bronze beads. It was ridiculously small and girly, but Lisa had insisted her backpack was not appropriate, and her “spy bag” that held the video camera wasn't necessary.

When the doorbell rang, she flew to open the door. Even now, she was still afraid that he'd only showed up to tell her he knew what a fraud she was. He stood at the door, looking breathtakingly handsome in his black dress pants and grey shirt. He'd even put on a tie.

He also had a flower. Just one bright red gerbera daisy. He handed it to her.

"Oh,” she said, going weak as she took it. “Thank you."

"I didn't think you were a rose kind of girl,” he said, his deep voice husky.

"I love these daisies.” She touched a fingertip to a vibrant petal. “It's beautiful."

She pressed a kiss to his lean cheek, rough with his usual golden stubble, relief seeping through her that they still had tonight, at least. “I'll put it in some water before we go. Where are we going, by the way?"

"Simon's,” he said. “At the beach. After, we can walk out the pier."

"Um...” She hesitated. Simon's was very expensive. “I am really broke,” she finally blurted out. “So I can't afford to pay for dinner."

"Did I ask you to pay?” he asked, taken aback. “I asked you out, I made the plans—I'm paying."

"Are you sure?” she whispered. “I feel bad..."

"Hey. Don't be silly. Now why are you so broke?"

"I, um ... haven't had much work lately."

"Can't say I'm too upset about that. If you need money, let me—"

"No!” she answered quickly. “No, it's okay, this is just ... temporary.” She hoped.

He helped her into his SUV and instead of taking the freeway, he drove down Ocean Boulevard, its winding curves following the beach past the piles of huge rocks near the harbor. The restaurant overlooked the water, with elegant tables and romantic lighting.

They had a small table for two at the window.

"It's beautiful,” Ashlyn said. “I haven't been here for a long time."

They ordered wine, a welcome change from beer for Ashlyn. She savored the crisp, fruity taste. The food was exquisite—small portions beautifully presented, and delicious—but neither of them really paid much attention to the food, instead watching each other heatedly across the table as they talked and laughed.

The wine made her feel a little giddy, and at that moment, Ashlyn felt like her world was wonderful and nothing could go wrong. She'd get a new job, she'd pass all her exams; Connor and Jessica were back together, and Zach would never know what she'd done. Hopeful happiness bubbled up inside her as Zach played with her fingers on the table, and she smiled.

He gave her a warm, melting smile back.

Boldly, she slipped her sandal off and put her foot on his thigh. His eyes flickered, and his free hand moved under the table to warmly clasp her foot.

"Funny,” he said huskily, “I thought you had shoes on when we came in here."

She smiled more and slid her foot up his thigh. Oh yeah. He was hard. But unless she slid down in her seat, which might look a little odd, she couldn't reach far enough to do much more than brush him with her bare toes.

His eyes gleamed, and his fingers tightened on hers. “You're a bad girl.” She laughed breathlessly. “You may need to be punished later."

Her tummy did a little flip of excitement, and she felt herself growing very warm and wet.

They shared some kind of dessert, but afterwards, Ashlyn couldn't even remember what it had tasted like. All she was aware of was Zach sitting across from her, his warm, dark eyes watching her so intently, his fingers stroking hers. Her body felt warm and sensitive, aware even of the flimsy fabric of the dress touching her skin. Her breasts especially were full and tender, her nipples hard, rising and falling with every breath she took.

She flipped her hair behind her shoulders and licked her lips as the waiter cleared their dessert plates and emptied the last of the wine into their glasses.

"I want to take you home,” Zach whispered, leaning forward, “and fuck you every way I can."

Ashlyn felt her cheeks burn and her womb clench at his words. She squirmed in her seat, so turned on she could hardly bear it. She ached between her legs. “Oh God,” she whispered and gulped her wine.

The waiter discreetly dropped off the small leather folder containing the bill. Without taking his eyes from her, Zach pulled his wallet out. He slipped a credit card into the folder.

"Aren't you even going to look at the bill?"

"What for? They're not going to try to rip us off."

"Zach. They could have made a mistake."

He gave a short laugh. “Okay, I guess I should. I'm not so good with money.” He quickly checked the bill, and then flipped the folder closed. “Luckily I have lots of it."

"I, on the other hand, am pretty good with money,” Ashlyn said, working on breathing through the overpowering lust she was experiencing. “I just don't have any."

Zach laughed.

When the credit-card receipt had been signed, they left the restaurant. “Let's go for a walk,” Zach said, leading her down the paved path to the beach. Ashlyn almost moaned.

They walked out on the pier, the night air soft and cool. A few shops were still open, their lighted windows glowing, and people strolled in and out of them. Zach held her hand in his big warm one. She was excruciatingly aware of his big body brushing against hers as they walked, and she ached to press her body against his.

"A whole week is too long,” Zach murmured, lifting her hand to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles, his tongue sliding hot and wet over her skin. She shivered in anticipation.