I was still wobbly when I got back to my apartment. Collapsing on the threadbare couch with the lumpy springs, I wondered how I’d gotten mixed up with a priest.

Sure, he was sexy as hell, and since he wasn’t Catholic he hadn’t taken a vow of celibacy, but still—talk about a dead-end relationship.

And where had he come up with the idea of marriage? Was he just going to marry every woman he felt like fucking? That seemed like a Looney Tunes way to date.

Had he been married before? Could priests get divorced? Probably not, but he sure knew his way around a woman’s body. That had surprised me.

I’d taken the night off, and after I took a nap I met Pepper for dinner at her parent’s new fusion restaurant.

After we took the first sips of our cocktails, I burst out, “So you want to hear something crazy?”

“You met a guy.”

“Um, sorta.” I wasn’t about to rat him out and tell her about the insane chemistry between Eduardo and me or how we’d found ourselves in a compromising position in the church sanctuary. She knew him as “the bishop” of her church for God’s sake. But I had to tell somebody!

“Spill,” Pepper pressed.

“Okay. So, I’ve been proposed to.”

“You mean someone wants to marry you?” Pepper looked alarmed.

“Is that so hard to believe?” I asked defensively.

“No, it’s not that. I just didn’t know you were even dating anybody.”

“We’re not really dating.” I chewed my bottom lip.

“I’m not following. What’s the rush? Does he need a green card?” Pepper acted as if I were speaking Chinese.

“I guess it’s because he’s eager to consummate the marriage.” I blushed.

Her eyes rounded. “I’ll bet I know who it is.”

I tried to keep from grinning, but I couldn’t help myself. “Bishop Soto.”

“Oh, my God!” Pepper squealed. “Our priest is horny for you!”

She took a sip of her drink. “I don’t know whether that’s adorable or disgusting.”

I made a face.

“Both,” Pepper decided. “Well, he is hot. I don’t think any female could miss that bit of information about him. Is he kinky?”

“Pepper! I don’t know.” But a tingle inside me said he might be.

“Well, if you’re considering marrying him, I suggest you find out.”

“I’m not marrying him.”

“Do you love him?” Pepper asked.

“I barely know him.”

“That might not matter.”

I snorted. “That’s ridiculous.”

“No. There’s research that suggests that arranged marriages are more successful than the ones people choose for themselves.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound right.”

“It’s true.”

“So, what does that mean? That humans are too dumb to pick the right mate for themselves?”

“Or that you can grow to love someone, regardless of your initial attraction. But surely you’re attracted to him. I mean, you have a pulse, right?”

I nodded. “He is gorgeous, and the chemistry between us—well, chemistry is not the problem.”

“And you like him? You get along?”

I shrugged. “I guess so. He does have a lot to offer, but I can’t picture myself as the wife of a priest. I mean, can you?”

Pepper shook her head. “But it is a new world. People don’t have sticks up their asses like they did a few years ago. Now it’s all about accepting everyone. Maybe that will be good for you.”

“Well, it’s not going to happen.”

“Oh, Chloe, give the guy a chance. I think it’s tres romantic that he wants to marry you. Most men these days just want to hit you up on an app, screw you in their car, and drop you off before they go watch a game with their friends. At least you have a man who respects you, who wants you, not just your snatch.”

She had a point there. “Dating” had become “hooking up,” and there was no romance in that.

“Maybe you could get to know each other better. Make sure you’re on the same page, see if you want the same things. I mean, does he want kids? Do you?”

Though we hadn’t discussed it, I imagined Eduardo would want kids. All you had to do was watch him with the kids he coached to know that. Nobody signed up for a job like that unless they liked kids.

Me? I’d never seen kids in my future. It wasn’t that I was averse to them . . . it was just that I was completely focused on my career, and I didn’t want to set that aside to have children.

We had a delicious dinner, and when I left the restaurant I was stuffed.

Pepper and I promised to meet again soon, and we went our separate ways. On the way home, I thought about what she’d said about Eduardo.

Perhaps she was right, and I needed to get to know him better before I wrote him off completely.

On my way home, a lightbulb went off over my head.

Hadn’t that blonde at the bank asked if I had a husband who might be able to co-sign for my loan?

I bet Eduardo had stellar credit . . .

Before I went to bed I sent him a text.

“Can we talk?”