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“This guy is so…what is the word?” As Rayne tried to find the words to describe Trent, she knew one thing was for certain; he was unlike any man she had been with, including Foster.
    Her ex-husband had been attentive in the beginning and always generous with his wealth, but he had never been…intense. That was the word she felt that best described Trent. He had an unusual intensity that made her feel as if she were being constantly analyzed.
    Shaking off her misgivings, Rayne opened her compact powder and began blotting out the redness on her face. Once satisfied with her reflection, she went into her bedroom and shimmied into her favorite blue jeans and buttoned up the creamy pink dress shirt she had always loved. Finishing her outfit off with a pair of dark leather pumps, she took in a relieved breath. Trent had been right; she did feel better. Grabbing a leather clutch that matched the color of her low-heeled shoes, Rayne confidently strode to the door.
    “All right, Mr. Newbury, now I’m ready to take you on.”
    ***
    Mt. Fuji Restaurant was not far from Rayne’s Highland Village home. A few customers were sitting in the black vinyl booths that packed the dining area, enjoying the variety of Asian fusion and hibachi dishes. Bright neon lights of blue, pink, and gold complemented the Mexican tile covering the walls. In the center of the restaurant, a flaming hibachi infused a fantastical flare to the eclectic atmosphere.
    “Intriguing décor,” Rayne commented as she slid into a booth in the corner of the restaurant.
    “Unusual for a Japanese restaurant, but the food is good.” Trent took a seat on the bench across the table from her.
    An almond-eyed waitress, with sleek black hair hanging loosely down her slender back, came up to their table carrying two clear vinyl menus. With a slight bow, she placed the menus on the table.
    “I’ll be back to take your order.” She turned her eyes to Rayne. “Would you like a cocktail?”
    “Hana Raspberry Sake,” Trent told her. “For two.” He smiled at Rayne. “I hope you like sake?”
    “In small amounts.”
    Trent returned to the waiflike waitress. “We’ll have that to start. Then, two glasses of your sauvignon blanc with our meal.”
    “Very good.” She bowed once more, backed away from the table, and then scurried to a silver kitchen door across the room.
    Trent snapped up his menu. “May I make a recommendation?”
    Rayne placed her hand over her menu, which was still on the table, and nodded.
    “The eel and avocado sushi roll is excellent here.”
    “Eel?” Rayne grimaced. “You eat eel?”
    He smirked at her distaste. “Then no eel. How do you feel about salmon?”
    “More palatable than eel, definitely.”
    “All right, a salmon and avocado roll to start, and then shrimp tempura for the main course. How does that sound?”
    Rayne could not help but smile as she eyed the handsome face of the man sitting across from her. It had been a long time since she had been made to feel special in the presence of a member of the opposite sex. It was the little things that had delighted her so far. Opening the door of his 550i BMW for her, taking her elbow as they entered the restaurant, and even locking her front door had all been touches that had thrilled her.
    “When Rebecca first told me about you, she indicated that you were her best instructor.” Trent sat back in his seat, putting his menu to the side. “I’m glad to see she wasn’t exaggerating.”
    She ran her fingers over the walnut-stained table between them. “How would you know what kind of instructor I am? You haven’t seen me teach a class yet.”
    “I, ah, hate to admit it, but I sneaked a peak at your first class this morning.”
    “But how?” Rayne furrowed her brow. “I never saw you, and there aren’t a lot of places to hide in the front ring.”
    “No, but there were some parents watching, and I kind of blended in with them.”
    Annoyed, Rayne folded her arms over her