She’d been avoiding me.

I shuffled through orders and receipts. Yet I couldn’t deny she was doing an incredible job. And the house was coming together beautifully. She had an innate sense of style, and with very little guidance on my part was creating a feeling of casual, easy luxury. Everything she’d chosen suited the house… and me… perfectly. That alone was reason enough not to push her. Plus, the longer it took for her to finish, the better…

I could sense she still fighting the truth… the truth of the feelings waking up inside her, the truth between us. She knew what she wanted deep down, but it frightened her. She was straddling an invisible line between what she saw as her real life of duty and responsibility, and what she viewed as a sort of fantasy life that had only recently started to feel very real. She hadn’t yet given herself permission to fully accept what was happening between us. And as much as I wanted there to be honestly between us, there was still something we’d never addressed. Not head-on. And it was time…

And so I’d arranged for us to have a night on the town. As soon as the new shipment of furniture was unloaded, I was stealing her away. Drinks, dinner, a walk under the trees that lined the streets of Seattle. I wanted to take her on a date. For even with everything we’d shared, we’d never shared that. And I wanted to put a safe, familiar face on what she was afraid of…

I watched the boat pull up to the dock and stripped off my shirt, draped it over the back of my chair. A few workmen were coming along to deal with the unloading. But it never hurt to have an extra set of hands…

The sound of splintering wood cracked through air.

I wiped the sweat off my brow with a bare forearm, and wedged the crow bar a little deeper. One more heave and the last crate was open. The flagstone patio was strewn with discarded packing materials.

“That’s the last of it,” Angelina said, looking at the clipboard in her hand. “The wardrobe goes in the master bedroom along with the bombe chest and the silk Persian… Just take up the rest of the boxes up and leave them on the gallery.” She shot out instructions to the men like a pro. “Leave them sealed,” she added. “We’ll take care of those ourselves.”

I tossed the crowbar into the grass and grabbed up a pair of water bottles from an open ice chest. I tossed down half, pouring the rest over my head and chest. I forced my way through the packing debris and handed her the other.

“Your taste is exquisite,” I said, standing only far enough away to prevent dripping on her.

“I’m glad you like everything… I was nervous about choosing on my own for the master suite…”

I leaned a little closer, risking her delicate sweater. “I wasn’t talking about the furniture…,” I added with a sinful smile. “But that’s perfect, too.”

I watched, pleased as her nipples tightened and she clutched her clipboard closer to her chest. “You don’t think the carpet was too extravagant?” Her cheeks burned and she turned away to direct one of the men with a movement of her hand.

“I think you have a thorough understanding of the textures I enjoy,” I answered, taking her arms and pulling her to my bare chest. “It makes me curious about what’s inside the other boxes… the ones we’ll be unpacking in private.”

Her color deepened as she put her hands on my chest and looked up into my eyes. There was something both shy and erotic as hell about the gesture. “I wasn’t sure… I didn’t know exactly what to buy for the…”

“Playroom?” I finished, pulling her aside and under the shelter of a tree. “Anything you choose. Anything that would give you pleasure would give me pleasure,” I said, hardening at the touch of her hands on my belly. “We’ll open them tonight… together…

But first, I’m going to shower and change. You’ll find a package of your own, waiting in the cottage. You’re not the only one who’s been shopping…”

“Wait… you bought something for me…?”

“You’ve been working non-stop for days… weeks, Angel,” I said, using hands to hold her face, my thumbs to lightly outline her mouth. “You deserve a night out.

I’ve got the boat waiting at the dock and reservations at Priori in the city. I’m asking you out on a date, sweetheart. With all the things we’ve shared, I’ve never taken you on a proper date. And so I bought you a dress, along with a few special accessories…

I thought tonight would be the perfect chance for us to escape for a few hours, to take some time for ourselves... “ I kissed her, relishing the feel of her in my arms. “But right now, I need to get cleaned up…” I ran my hands lightly down her sides and curved them around the swell of her ass. “If we were alone,” I whispered against her hair, “I’d strip you naked right here… and carry you up the stairs…

That’s something else we haven’t done together yet, sweetheart… And the thought of you wet and my hands all soapy…”

“Hey, lady… This go upstairs with the others?” The voice startled us both and we broke apart, laughing. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to slow the impatient beating of my heart. “So I’ll wait,” I said, still greedily taking her in with my eyes. “A little longer…

I’ll pick you up at your door at six.

Wear everything…”