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Do you want me to set the table?
Sure. I was hoping that Terry could stay for dinner.
I was expecting her to come in here to show off what she bought today,
Holly said. You know how she is.
Dee looked at Holly with curiosity. What do you mean?
You know how she is when she gets something new, like a little kid.
No, what do you mean what she bought today?
Oh, I saw her on Oak Street late this afternoon; she was coming out of Bar-
neys New York with a shopping bag.
Dee s brow furrowed, and she frowned. Are you sure?
Yeah, Holly replied as she took silverware from the drawer.
Dee groaned. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach about the money
she had given Terry to get an attorney, and then she remembered her tennis
bracelet.
Holly glanced up, noticing the look on Dee s face. Is everything all right?
I hope so. Can you keep an eye on this for me? She gestured toward the
stove and then quickly walked out of the kitchen.
Terry sat in the borrowed car watching Dee s apartment building as the silver
BMW pulled into an empty parking spot. Angrily, she started the car and pulled
away from the curb. She didn t want to get a look at him. You know what that s
not your business, she told herself. Whatever Dee does is not your concern.
Deep down, though, she knew herself better than that.
After searching the entire apartment for her bracelet, Dee had no alternative but
to believe that Terry had actually taken it. Damn her, she said, just as she heard
a knock at the door. She stopped, took a deep breath, and opened it. Ben was
standing there holding a bouquet of pink and white roses.
Good evening, sweetheart.
Hi, yourself. Why didn t you use your key?
I don t know. It s the weirdest thing, but I seem to have misplaced it.
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Don t worry about it, she said with a wave of her hand. I can give you my
spare. Who are those for? she asked, smiling.
Some sexy PI that I happened to meet on the street. She wouldn t take them,
so I decided to give them to you, he teased.
Ah, I m flattered.
He gave her the roses and then took her into his arms for a kiss.
Mmm, you smell good, she said.
Good enough to eat?
Dee laughed, pulling away from his arms. Let me put these in water, Dee
said, heading for the kitchen with him in tow.
Hello, Holly, he said as he walked around the corner. Do you ladies need
my help?
No, we have everything under control.
I m leaving now, Holly announced after dinner. Do you need me to help
clean up?
No, that s fine. You go ahead, Dee replied.
Holly grabbed her coat. See you guys later, she said, closing the door behind
her. Dee stood up and began removing the dishes from the table.
So do you want to go out? she asked, looking at Ben nervously.
No. He took a step closer to her, pulling her to him. She could feel the beat-
ing of his heart, despite the racing of her own. He kissed her, slowly at first, savor-
ing the sweetness of her full lips. Then he gently forced her lips open with his
warm tongue. She felt the kiss ebbing through her body, touching places she
never knew existed. His hand moved to her breast, his thumb lightly brushing
her nipple through her thin sweater. She moaned, tilting her head back and let-
ting out a long, slow breath. He moved her to the sofa, sitting and pulling her
onto his lap in one movement. I need you so bad, he said, his voice raspy with
desire. As she looked into his eyes, her doubt ebbed away. Her knees trembled
and he slid his hand under her sweater, his fingers brushing across her belly.
Moving his hand up, he let his fingers trace the outline of her bra as his tongue
slipped between her lips.
Wait a minute, she said, trying to catch her breath. She stood up and
quickly moved away from him. He watched her, confused.
What s wrong?
Nothing, she said, putting space between them, picking up some of the
plates from the table. He moved to her side.
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There is a problem? he said, trying to get her to look at him. I want you to
tell me what it is.
No, there s no problem& I just don t think this is the right time. She turned
from him, and he noticed that her back was rigid. He embraced her, hugging her
from behind. She laid her head back on his chest, enjoying the way his cologne
mingled with his own natural body odor.
I m sorry. I don t want to pressure you. But I want to be with you so badly
that I can barely think straight. If you need more time, just tell me.
It s not that.
Then talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me what it is. Maybe I can fix it.
She turned to face him. I should have told you this awhile ago.
He held her hands in his and waited for her to say what was on her mind.
Well, I haven t actually gone all the way when it comes to sex.
What do you mean, all the way ?
You know, all the way.
Ben frowned. How far have you gone?
Well, kissing.
And?
And petting.
And?
And what?
And, what else?
That s it.
You mean you ve never
No.
Wow.
I just never met the right man. She paused. And I had this idea that I d
wait until I got married, she said, hunching her shoulders.
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