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quickly faded. She displayed a disappointed frown when he stepped out of his car onto the pavement. He wore a light blue V-neck T-shirt and jeans. Although his clothes clung nicely to his muscles, Grace had expected to see him dressed in formal attire.
    She had no clue which restaurant they were going to, but she was certainly overdressed. However, she smiled genuinely when he handed her a dozen long-stemmed red roses, which he’d kept hidden in one hand behind his back. She placed the roses under her nose and sniffed. The heady fragrance relieved some of her tension.
    “Thanks,” she said.
    Tanner relished the view. His face brightened as his eyes took in every inch of her. Finally, he released an audible breath. “You look absolutely breathtaking,” he said.
    Grace blushed, but touched her hair self-consciously.   “I’m…I’m overdressed. I’ll go change.”
    Before she could go inside, Tanner said, “Don’t change one hair.”
    “But—“
    He descended upon her swiftly. He silenced her with a kiss that was soft, yet dangerous.
    Grace closed her eyes. She swayed slightly. She fought to catch her breath. She struggled to calm the aching between her legs. If only her body didn’t respond to Tanner’s every look and every touch, she could think clearly around him. But the man confused her sometimes. She had no clue what he wanted, or needed, from her. However, she had a strong idea what she needed from him. Pride and the fear of rejection kept her from revealing her desire. When she could speak, she said, “If you say so.”
    Tanner put his hand on the small of her back. He led her to his car. He opened the passenger’s side and closed the door once she was settled.
    After Tanner slid behind the wheel, Grace asked, “Where are we going?”
    Without looking at her, Tanner said, “It’s a surprise.”
    Grace cocked her head to the side. She stared at the man beside her suspiciously. “Listen, don’t try anything funny. I know people.”
    Tanner laughed. The sound was rich and regal. Gaiety and warmth glistened in his eyes. He reached his free hand across the seat. He placed it over Grace’s. He looked deeply into her eyes for a brief moment. “Trust me.”
    The power of those words caused her to shiver. It’s been years since she’d allowed herself to trust any man. Kevin had stolen this ability from her with his betrayal. She wanted to believe Tanner was different. She wanted to believe she was strong enough to allow him into her life. But she didn’t know him—really know him—from Adam. The need to believe in his magic overwhelmed her. What if she’d finally struck gold this time? There was only one way to find out. She summoned up the courage from the deepest recess of her heart, and forged ahead. With brevity, she said, “OK.”
    During the ride, their conversation consisted of small talk. Nothing intense or emotional. Easy laughter was combined with discussions of the weather and daily routines. Grace discovered Tanner had a corny side, which she found rather appealing. She also learned they shared the same taste in music. This was a definite plus in her book.   He was looking better to her by the minute with each revelation. Heaven help her because he was already more divine than a box of chocolates.   She was certain he tasted better.   She couldn’t handle much more.
    “Damn, he’s hot,” Grace muttered, unintentionally.
    Luckily, Tanner only heard part of her utterance. “Are you hot? Should I turn on the AC?”
    Grace stammered, embarrassed at her slip of the tongue. “No! You’re fine… good . I mean, I’m good.”
    Tanner raised a brow at Grace’s strange behavior. “Do I make you nervous? If you’re having second thoughts, I can take you home.”
    Grace saw pain and disappointment cloud his face. To lighten the mood, she rubbed her stomach and said, “I’m just hungry.”
    Tanner became more at ease. “Sit tight. I have the perfect cure for that.”
    Although she