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been here ever since.”
    “I’m sorry, Charlotte. That was kind of you to worry about the actor.”
    “Yeah, well I’m just a big ol’ mushy romantic. Now, why don’t you invite that thoroughly fuckable, willing woman over and have at her?”
    Ethan leaned back and let out a deep belly laugh. When he slowed to merely chuckling and wiping his eyes, he said, “Thanks, Charlotte. I needed that. But I can’t bring her here.”
    “Why not? I’ll stay out of the bedroom.”
    “Yeah, right. I’ve heard that before.”
    “I will. I have to. She can see me.”
    “Oh, yeah.” Ethan put his beer on the counter and found the notebook in his jacket pocket. “It won’t matter anyway. I’m going to get to know her better first.”
    “Huh? Get to know her? What’s there to know? She wants you to bang her, so bang her.”
    “It’s not that simple.”
    * * * *
    B rigit had hoped Ethan would call soon, even though it wasn’t like they were really dating. Most guys waited until Tuesday to call, especially if they just met her on Saturday. As time went on, and they were pretty sure she wasn’t getting offers elsewhere, the call might wait until Thursday. The ones who were really full of themselves would wait until Friday rolled around and they wanted to see her that night.
    Ethan surprised her with a call on Monday morning.
    “How was your weekend?”
    “You saw the most exciting part of it.” She set her coffee on the counter and ran her fingers through her hair as if he could see her.
    “Yikes, sounds boring. Did the puppies have to wait long for their dinner?”
    “No. I got right back to them.”
    “I hope you apologized for me.”
    She chuckled. “The thing I like about most animals, dogs especially, is their instant forgiveness. No apology necessary.”
    “Good. Well, I hope you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to say.”
    “Noooo...” Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.
    “Wow. I guess people are quite different from pets.”
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t assume the worst.” She tried to calm her racing heart. “You had something to tell me...”
    “It’s just that I need to cover for one of the other captains who had a death in the family. I think I mentioned this job can be hard to get away from. In some ways it’s harder on me, because as the single guy they figure my time is my own—and for the most part, they’re right. So I wind up covering most last minute emergencies.”
    “Oh.” She scratched her head. “I’m confused. We didn’t have a date.”
    “Yeah, and now I can’t make one unless you’re flexible enough to let me run out on you if something comes up.”
    “I’m flexible. It might be awkward if we’re in the middle of making a baby, but I’m sure I could get the mood back later,” She said in her sexiest voice.
    Silence on the other end spiked her anxiety. Why the hell had he wanted to date? They could have skipped all that bullshit. Well, tough . He wanted it this way...In fact, he’d demanded it. She sipped her coffee and waited.
    “Uh, yeah. I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. I was thinking more along the lines of dinner some night this week.”
    “Sure. I’m free by six most nights. Seven if it requires dressing up.”
    “I’m a pretty casual guy, but I want to take you somewhere decent. How about the Dolphin Stryker? It’s basically next to my boat and they have live Jazz after eight.”
    “Sounds nice. Are you sure you want to invest so much in a relationship that’s guaranteed not to work out?”
    Silence again. What was so hard about hearing the truth—even in jest?
    “I’m not sure of anything where you’re concerned.”
    ...and the anxiety was back . “Is there anything I can do to help your uncertainty?”
    “Yeah. Pick an evening and let me have your address so I can pick you up.”
    Oh, no. He’d better not be trying to trick me into telling him exactly where I live. “I’ll meet you there. How about