His eyes are still sultry. I would pay a million dollars to hear his thoughts. “I could use a shower. The hot water will loosen my shoulder muscles.”

He stretches his neck this way and that and I find myself behind him. I press my fingers in where I know he aches. He’s standing so I can’t exactly get it right since he’s so much taller than me.

“That’s nice.”

“Uh huh. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll try to loosen you up before your shower. It will be more effective that way.”

He turns around and captures my hand. “I think it would be more effective if you join me in the shower.”

I raise my other hand and use a finger to give him the naughty boy wave. “Not so fast. You haven’t made me dinner yet. I’m not that cheap of a date.” I wink at him.

He laughs. “Mom always told me it never hurts to ask.”

“True, but no dice.”

Turnabout is fair play, I think to myself. Memories remind me I’d been the one begging him to be with me.

He nods and heads to his bathroom alone and without my offered massage.

Later, he studies me from across his table.

“I’m glad you have an appetite. I would hate to have leftovers.”

I toss my napkin at him which goes nowhere. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“Only that you look really great and I’m having a hard time trying to play it cool.”

Drew… Andy is a patient man, or at least he was early in our relationship. It seems as though he’s lost that patience now.

“Such the flirt. Are you ready for dessert?” I stand to gather the dishes.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Of course I do. You made one of my favorites, chicken parmesan.”

“Seriously,” he says and begins to stand up. I try to stop him and end up in his lap. “Well, I should have tried this earlier.”

He kisses me again and it feels so natural to be with him like this. Reluctantly, I pull back.

“Let me get dessert.”

He sighed. “You’re killing me, Cate.”

That goes both ways since his arousal is evident as I sit on his lap, and I know my panties are soaked.

“You’ll like it.”

He levels a stare at me. “Cate, nothing would taste better than you. You also have to know that I’m harder than a teenage boy copping his first feel. I’ll respect you if you want to wait.”

His honesty is one of the qualities I admire most about him. This isn’t our first date either. I won’t violate a dating rule if I sleep with him. However, intimacy changes everything. Feelings will collide in unexpected ways.

“I want you, too. I just don’t want to rush anything.”

Without waiting for a response, I put the plates in the sink so I can wash them before I leave. I have no intention of letting him do any clean up. As it is, he tidied up as he cooked. So there is only a pan and pot to wash along with what we’ve just used.

I pull the couple of pints of ice cream I brought from my place out of the freezer and reach in the refrigerator for all the fruits I diced up while he showered. I even have sprinkles and whipped cream ready to go. Grabbing two bowls I find in one of the cabinets, I head back to his dining area. It’s larger than mine and fits his table for six. I wonder how often he has guests. Hell, I don’t know how long he’s been in the area. He stands to help when his phone buzzes.

He helps me settle everything on the table before he answers the call.

“Hello.”

I can only hear a faint voice on the other line.

“Yes, this is he.” He pauses. “Okay… Sure thing... alright... Bye.”

I know his news is bad when he gives me the sorrowful eyes.

“I’m sorry, Cate. But I’ve been called in.”

I wave off his apology. I know what to expect from his line of work.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll call a taxi or use the Uber app to get a ride home.”

He steps in my space, anchoring me in place with his light grip on my arms.

“Don’t leave.” He practically begs me with earnest eyes. I’m transported to another time and place when words much like these passed between us. “I shouldn’t be too long. We can have dessert and catch up. Then I’ll drive you home.”

A part of me knows I should leave. The guilt I feel is like an opaque screen between us obscuring the light with shadows and doubts. However, the other part of me is desperate to stay. “Okay.”

An easy smile forms on his lips before he gives me a there’s more to come kiss that I greedily accept. “I’ll be back sooner than you think.”

He’s back in scrubs as he walks out the door. I stand alone in his place and a curiosity bug hits me. Should I explore it? A memory surfaces of the commercial when a girl in her date’s bathroom decides to look in his medicine cabinet and everything comes crashing down. I opt to clean the kitchen and store the fixings for making our own sundaes back in the refrigerator and freezer.

Finished with that task, I sit on his couch and turn on the TV. As time lingers, it’s becomes harder and harder to remain alert. When I wake, I’m not in the living room. The sun is bright and I’m fully dressed on a bed I don’t remember. Even the furnishings aren’t mine, or the ones I remember in Andy’s room. The body wrapped around me, though, is familiar.

I turn and Andy’s eyes are open. “Morning,” he says with a somewhat chipper smile. “I’m sorry I got back so late. I wanted to wake you, but you were so cute on my couch. I brought you in here then I guess I didn’t want to sleep alone.”

His smile dips and I know whatever he dealt with hadn’t been good. “What happened?” My hand reaches out to find his.

He stares at me as if he doesn’t want to say it and I already know. “I lost a patient.”

I blanket myself around him knowing how hard that is for him. “I’m sorry.”

He squeezes me tight and we hang onto each other as if for dear life.

“Miracles don’t always happen,” he adds.

We say nothing for a long time. Again, I’m confronted with how I’m not really sure I can do this. I can’t imagine how he can think so, either. I’m not that same person I was.

“I should get home. I have…” I wave a hand around as I sit up and disentangle myself from him. “Laundry and grocery shopping to do.” I push at bed hair while he yawns. “And you should get some rest. I really can take a cab.”

“Absolutely not. If I have to let you go, at least give me a little more time with you.”

“Andy—”

“Cate, please. I can see it in your eyes you’re ready to run.”

“I’m not.” It’s a lie.

“Give it some time. Look, I have a benefit to attend next week. I was going alone but I have a plus one.”

He doesn’t have to say that the benefit most likely has something to do with cancer. It’s all too much, too heavy, too hard. Yet I find myself wanting to give in to the hope on his handsome face. I know how good I feel when I’m with him and how I want to feel that again.

I turn a reluctant smile his way. “Okay, I’ll be your plus one.”

The benefit, however, turns out to be more than I ever planned on.

JAYSUS, WHAT A WEEK. SEVEN papers. Not to mention two quizzes and one exam. When Friday hits, adrenaline-laced excitement fuels me. I’m heading to Drew’s and can’t wait to see him. Jenna has helped me pack. Brand new sexy bras and thongs that Jenna helped me buy. Check. Sexy nightie that Jenna strong armed me into. Check. Several cool outfits. Check.

The drive to his apartment only takes about an hour and ten minutes. I texted him right before I left so he’s waiting for me when I pull up. The man is one hot god. He opens my door, reaches in my car, unhooks my seat belt, and lifts me out. “I’ve missed you, lovely Cate.” Then he kisses me. Not a sweet whisper of a kiss either. This is an all out, panty dropping, toe curling, body melting kiss. My arms coil around his neck as he deepens it further. He hitches my body against his and when he does, I wrap my legs around his hips. This is a first for me. I’ve never done anything like this before, nor have I been so passionate in public. Well, I take that back. We were pretty damn steamy on our first date, but it was late and alcohol-laced, so I’m giving that a pass.