One month later …

Ana looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her bed was covered in clothes. She pulled on the hem of her dress. It was too short. Maybe it was too much. It was the proverbial little black dress but on steroids, since the sleeves were black lace. She wore a pair of heels, which felt a bit on the high side. Especially considering she wasn’t used to wearing this type of shoe. Her toes were already pinching a bit. She had to say though, she did look really good in them. They made her legs look longer and her calves firmer. The whole outfit made her look really good. Too good maybe?

Why did she care? It wasn’t like this was a real date or anything. That was the thing, she shouldn’t care. If she wore this she might look like she did, when she didn’t. Her heart sped up and her hands felt clammy. She sank down onto the edge of the bed and put a hand to her chest. The feeling didn’t escalate. Her mouth didn’t feel dry. There was an odd feeling in her stomach and her heart was beating a bit too fast but other than that she was okay.

Shit! She realized with a start, she was excited about going out tonight. This wasn’t the start of a panic attack, it was excitement for the night ahead. She blew out a slow, easy breath.

She smiled. This was good for her. Winston was right. Her therapist had also urged her to take him up on his offer, so when the text message had come through earlier that day, she’d agreed to let him pick her up and take her out. Her smile widened. A fake date was just what the doctor ordered. Quite literally.

Ana stood up and smoothed her dress. This was too much though. She thought about changing into a pair of slacks and a nice top.

Just then, her doorbell rang. She looked at her watch. If that was Winston, he was ten minutes early. Who else could it be though? No one. There was no one else who would be ringing her doorbell this time of the evening on a Saturday.

She made her way to the entrance hall and looked through the peephole. Oh god!! She leaned her forehead against the wood. Her view of the shifter had been distorted and yet she could still see how incredible he looked. He wore a dark blue button-up collared shirt. His hair looked trimmed. He had that whole five o’clock shadow thing going on. His eyes were a beautiful golden-brown. They reminded her of a wolf’s eyes. A shiver ran up her spine.

Fake date. This is just a fake date. She was going to prove to Edith that a man and a woman could just be friends. She waited a little longer to make sure her throat didn’t close, that the room didn’t close in. Okay then. All seemed well. Maybe she should pack a brown paper bag just in case.

“Are you going to let me in?” There was amusement laced in every deeply spoken word.

“Yes, of course,” she quickly blurted way too loudly. She undid both of the deadbolts, one after the other and removed the chain. Then she unlocked the door and opened it. Lastly, she unlocked the security gate. “You’re early,” she announced, putting her hands on her hips. “I’m not ready, yet.”

He whistled low, pretending to give her the once-over. “You look ready to me.”

“Well, I’m not. I need to change. I also need to touch up my make-up and—”

He gently gripped her elbow. “No, you don’t need to do any of those things. You look stunning. Almost too good considering this is a fake date.”

“Exactly,” she blurted. “You are completely right.” She felt mortified. Hopefully he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. “I knew it! I’ve gone overboard …” She could feel her cheeks heat. What must he think of her? “I’ll just—”

He gave her a sexy half-smile. “You are not changing. I’m glad you made the effort. Also, from here on out we are not going to think of this as a fake date.” He ushered her into the room, closing the door behind him.

“We’re not?” She could feel herself frown.

He shook his head. “No, we aren’t. It is a fake date but we’re going to pretend it’s real. We’re role-playing, remember?”

“You have a point. Okay, fine … no problem but I still think I should change.”

“You have great legs, I plan on looking at them all evening and therefore I vote you stick with the dress. Please.” He put his hands together as if in prayer.

She choked out a laugh. “You are too much, you know that? Fine, but I’m changing out of these heels.”

“I fucking love the heels. The heels stay.” His nostrils flared, his gaze firmly on her choice of shoes, then they moved up to her legs, taking their sweet time. Then up and up … Winston eyeballed her body. As in … took a long, hard look.

Her cheeks heated some more. Much more. Her neck felt hot. Even her eyeballs felt hot. Her hair seemed to prickle. He looked even better than he had a moment ago. Broad shoulders, dark blue jeans, unruly hair. It looked like he’d tried to tame it though. His eyes sparkled as they finally locked with hers.

This had all started over her heels and the fact that they were too high. She cleared her throat. “I … um … I … might fall over.”

“Not going to happen.” He took hold of her hand. “I’ve got you. I’ll even carry you if need be. Shifters are really strong.”

“Oh really!”

“We’re super-human.”

She chuckled. “Really now, because I’m soooo heavy,” she said in a mocking tone.

He narrowed his eyes and turned serious in an instant. “Not even close. You are a tiny human. Smaller than most.” He totally thought she was serious. It was cute.

“I was only joking. Okay, fine.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll stay dressed like this but I need to put some lipstick on.”

He pulled a face. “No, you don’t need that gunk.”

“For your information, I like wearing lipstick.”

He narrowed his eyes to show his distaste.

“Fine, some lip gloss then?”

“I don’t like the taste of all that rubbish.”

Taste.

Taste?

As in on his tongue?

Really?

Her mouth fell open and her eyes felt like they were about to fall out of her head, they were bugging out that far.

“Don’t look so shocked. We’re on a date ‒ that means I get to hold your hand, put my arm around you and hopefully, maybe just maybe, I get to kiss you at some point.”

Her heart went nuts in her chest. That queasy feeling was back as a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies took flight in her stomach. It was just nerves. She was afraid of this ending badly. As in, with her face stuffed in a paper bag in the corner of a restaurant. Or even worse, lights out on the floor in the manager’s office with a rescue team on the way. She’d been there before and didn’t want it happening again.

“It would just be a kiss.” He squeezed her hand. “Or two. You would be okay with a kiss or two, wouldn’t you? We can make them small kisses.”

“Yes … if they were small ones … I guess so.” She licked her lips. “But only if you think we need to go that far.” She frowned. “I’m not sure we need to go that far.”

“We’re role-playing here. We should do a good job of it.”

“You’re right.” She licked her lips again and he tracked the movement.

“In fact,” his gaze was still glued to her mouth, “I think we should get that pesky first kiss out of the way right now.”

“Now?” Her voice was a bit shrill and she was breathing too quickly, but more out of excitement than panic. At least, she hoped it wasn’t panic. It was difficult to tell anymore.

He frowned. “Only if you feel you can handle …”

Oh she so could. Ana was done with being afraid. She had to try. Ana gripped his shirt and pulled him down to her level. She planted one on him. One quick touch of the lips … only … once her mouth touched his, something ignited in her. Something bright and fierce. Something a little out of control.

Ana moaned. All out freaking moaned. Contact with the opposite sex just felt that darned good. As she moaned, her mouth opened. Then their tongues were fighting. Literally at war with one another, yet in sync. It was weird, yet amazing. Hardcore, passionate and all-consuming.

The air seemed to thin. Ana struggled to breathe. It seemed he had the same problem because the sound of their ragged breathing filled the room.

Winston pulled away first. Thank god, because she didn’t think she was capable. Not that she wanted more, it was just that it had been so long since she’d done this. Too long.

Her chest expanded and contracted in rapid succession. Her hands still clasped his shirt. Two tight fists. “Oops!” she said.

Winston chuckled. “So much for a small kiss. Wow!”

Ana finally found it within herself to let him go. “It’s just that I haven’t done that in the longest time. I’m sorry. Flip I—”

“No need to apologize. If you’re apologizing, then I should too.”

“Why are you apologizing? It was me doing all the moaning and grabbing and—”

“It takes two to tango,” Winston interjected. “Look, I’m a guy, I’m going to react to a beautiful female even if you are my friend. As long as we have an understanding, we’ll be okay.”

She nodded, the whole kiss replaying in her mind. “No more kissing then?” It had been too much. As much as it had felt right, it was wrong. So very wrong. They couldn’t do that again.

“Oh there’ll be lots more kissing. We’re fake dating so,” he shrugged, “goes without saying.”

Oh flip! He wanted more. “Um … sure, but not like that. We need to keep it …” Controlled. Fake. Boring. “Small … small kisses. Friendly kisses.”

His eyes darkened but he gave a nod. “Yes, you’re right, and no sex.”

Why did he even bring that up?

“No sex,” he repeated, his voice a little deeper. He said it like he needed her to agree.

“Absolutely not,” she blurted, shaking her head with too much vigor.

“What do you say we hit the town?”

“Sounds good.” Ana wasn’t sure how she felt. Off balance was probably a good description. She felt light-headed, happy but there was also an underlying nervousness. An unease. Maybe she was just worried about a panic attack still sneaking up on her. It would probably happen when she let her guard down. It couldn’t happen.

“You okay?” Winston narrowed his eyes on hers. Even took a step closer to her.

She forced a smile. “I’m good.”

“You tell me if that changes.”

She nodded, her smile coming easier. “I will.” They set out into the night. There were so many possibilities out there. So many of them weren’t for her though. Not for her.