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took charge in my life except me. I was left to fend for myself and for my mother now as well. Her unexpected illness left me with not only my loans but also her clinic bills. My father died in a boating accident. The memory of blood stained water and a frenzied shark had kept me out of the ocean for years.
    And Casey took charge only when his balls overfilled.
    Gabe opened the trays and set them in front of me.
    Digging into the roast of lamb in a balsamic reduction with caramelized pears I wondered if Gabe had run into Wolfgang Puck himself. Out of nowhere Gabe pulled out a bottle of red wine and poured me a glass.
    “You’re like a magician tonight,” I said with my mouth half-full, wiggling my toes.
    “And there are more tricks up my sleeves.”
    I didn’t doubt him. Gabe surprised me more than any man ever had. This kind of treatment couldn’t be normal, could it?
    “Here, put your feet up.” Without waiting, he lifted my feet to his lap and began massaging my swollen soles.
    I slouched back against the couch closing my eyes, just for a moment.
    “You know you’re going to have to make it up to me for tonight.”
    I shot up. “Oh?” Where this was leading and when would the word orgasm escape his mouth?
    “Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
    I shook my head, swallowing the tender meat. “I don’t do dates. It’s my new policy. Why complicate life?”
    “Perfect. I don’t date either. It’s just dinner, Sam. I don’t take well to women saying no to me, especially after being stood up.” He pressed his thumb in one specific spot; the one which urged me to scream yes .
    Instead, I asked, “And that happens often?” Should I even care? Every instinct inside me told me to give in to all his requests and have that wonderful fling I longed for. But inside I wondered just how many women Gabe swayed with his charms.
    “No, it doesn’t.”
    I tightened my lips. Dinner with Casey in the past sent alarms off that I’d have to scramble to make the next month’s rent. He’d never paid on our dates. But Gabe was nothing like Casey. I was sure he’d agree to split the tab. Dinner. It’s just a friendly dinner.
    “No strings attached?”
    “None.”
    “And I pay for myself.”
    He frowned, his fingers suddenly freezing in one spot. “You stand me up and then insult my invitation?”
    My feet lowered to the ground. “Insult? I’m just asking that we pay for our own dinner. Gabe, I’m tired of covering for others. I have loans and bills...”
    “Sam.” He gently picked up my feet again. “I’m the one offering the dinner. I insist on treating you.”
    “Oh.” He was for real, wasn’t he? I thought men like him were only in movies.
    “Tomorrow then? Six o’clock?” Gabe’s fingers pressed into that spot on my foot again as if magically I would agree to anything he’d said.
    My head leaned back against the couch, and I squished my eyes closed for a moment. “I have plans tomorrow. It’s ladies night out,” I added before he got the wrong idea.
    He frowned. “And I’m away on business next week.”
    Could I really stand to be away from Gabe all week? I wondered whether I could weasel out of the bachelorette party, but I’d already stood the girls up one too many times when I dated Casey. I couldn’t do that to them again.
    “If it helps, I promise I won’t forget about that orgasm for the whole week.” I yawned and took another sip of the wine that held a hint of leather. It flowed along my tongue like a silky ribbon, leaving just enough of its fruity blend to linger until the next sip. “You never told me what business you’re in.”
    “I own a private investigations company.”
    “Is that how you found out where I live?”
    “Yes.”
    Instead of scaring me, his affirmation soothed my nerves. A veil of honesty and integrity I hadn’t seen in years on a man’s face covered Gabe’s.
    “You are Magnum, aren’t you?” The rain pounded against the windows in a lulling