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determination got her to the surface in time.
    Overriding instinct takes a terrible toll on the body.
    And it’s even worse on the heart.
    “Considering the options, I’m not sure whether to be flattered or to hit you.”
    “Trust me. It’s a compliment. Besides, I’m not sure I can handle any more pain right now.”
    Steam surrounds us, making my lungs fill slowly. The warmth helps, but being alone, upright, with her in my arms is the best medicine right now. So much remains unspoken between us. The vocabulary just isn’t there.
    I wonder if that’s the whole point of committing to one person: you have the rest of your lives to figure out how to say what you feel. You build a language for two. Fluency isn’t optional.
    While the rest of the world ticks on, and my workload piles up, I can ignore my mistakes and the puzzling circumstances of our possible marriage if I just kiss her again.
    So I do.
    And in that kiss, the first dangerous thought of the day slams through me.
    Would it be so bad if I am her husband after all?

Chapter Four
    “This really is the best coffee I’ve ever had,” Amanda says, with a sigh that women usually reserve for guys like me.
    “Best in Vegas!” Declan crows. He’s arrogant enough as it is, but now all I’m going to hear is nonstop chatter about his superlative coffee empire.
    I wonder if Dad was like this, circa 1981.
    “Litraeon has great coffee,” I argue.
    Shannon, Declan and Amanda all snicker.
    “Once we’re up and running, we can work on getting Grind It Fresh! in Anterdec properties,” Dec says, suddenly serious. “It’ll be win-win.”
    Business talk. I might be married to one of three different people and all Declan can talk about is his damn coffee chain.
    “We have bigger fish to fry.”
    “We have to unwind last night,” Amanda explains, looking at Shannon. “I texted Josh and Geordi. They’re on their way.” She glances at me. “I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Mind? I texted them, too. We need to get to the bottom of this ASAP. If we keep this quiet, then we can figure this out with a minimal amount of spillage.”
    “Spillage?”
    “Unnecessary word getting out.”
    “I’m here to help!” Shannon’s mom appears with her dad, Jason.
    Great. So much for spillage. Marie is the equivalent of a tractor-trailer accident involving a honey truck crashing into a hot-fudge-filled semi.
    “You bought my daughter a fabulous wedding present, because the coffee here is orgasmic!” Marie says to Declan. She and Jason are carrying Grind It Fresh! to-go cups.
    “Litraeon coffee is just fine.”
    Everyone ignores me.
    “You two were hilarious last night. I had no idea you had such a wild side, Andrew!” Marie plucks a pink macaron from a tray filled with them as Jason settles into a seat next to her, giving me an evaluative look.
    “What does that mean?” I ask slowly.
    “You did a fantastic job emceeing the stripper finals at the adult products trade show!”
    Declan grins and gives me a look.
    “I what ?”
    “Here. We caught part of it on video.”
    Video? “How did you get video? Amanda and I checked our phones and we have nothing. No pictures, no videos, no evidence of anything from last night.”
    Marie shrugs. “You were too busy.” She slides her phone over to me.
    I’m shirtless and oiled up, hair soaked with sweat, and I have a Sharpie marker in my hand.
    “Are you the one who wrote on Chuckles?” Amanda gasps. “He’s never going to forgive you.”
    “A cat with a grudge is the least of my worries,” I whisper.
    “That’s what you think,” she says cryptically.
    “Let me see that!” Declan says, trying to snatch the phone out of my hands. He may have the advantage of surprise, but my will is stronger. And I’m in better shape, so I leap up and vault away.
    He doesn’t chase.
    “No.” I cover the screen with my hand and watch.
    Apparently, last night, I didn’t just emcee a men’s stripper final competition.
    I decided to