I stole the opportunity to drop a kiss on his lips. "We enjoyed ourselves the last time we went out. Let's do thatagain."
"Are we going on a date?" he asked, reaching back to grip my neck. "Or do you want to get naughty in thewoods?"
"Yeah, I want to take you out on a date," I replied with a purposeful roll of my hips against his backside. "And I want to show off myman."
He chuckled, a rough, rich sound that went straight to my cock. "Show me off?Why?"
"I want everyone to know you're off themarket."
"What would that involve?" he asked. "I don't think JJ at The Galley would put up with you blowing me on thebar."
I rested my forehead between his shoulder blades, laughing. "I wouldn't blow you on the bar," I replied against his shirt. "I'd do it in a booth. Like agentleman."
"Good to know," Owen replied, a laugh ringing in his words. "So, we're doing this? We're going on an actualdate?"
"A real date with date-ish things," I said. "I'll pull out your chair for you, we'll engage in pleasant conversation, and maybe I'll let you kiss me goodnight at thedoor."
"By 'kiss you at the door,' do you mean fuck you in thewoods?"
I slipped my hand between his legs, stroking him over his shorts. "I see no problem with thatinterpretation."
He reached back and squeezed my ass. "Go pick out a shirt for me. I want to be presentable for mydate."
I nodded against his back but didn't let him go. "Are you sure about this?" I asked. "You don't mind beingwith mein thevillage?"
Owen was quiet for a long moment, his fingers still gripping my backside. Eventually, he said, "No. I don't hide who I am, and I don't want to hideyou."
20
Swinging the Lamp
v. Telling seastories.
Owen
We walked to the village,following the worn path through the woods. Fingers of sunlight cut through the canopy, turning the woods into a bright, breezy stroll absent of the dark seduction we'd shared all those weeksago.
"How's the project going?" I asked, shooting a glance at Cole as we neared the end of the trail. "It seemed like you were really focusedtoday."
He bobbed his head. "It's good. Really good. I'm making a lot ofprogress."
I hesitated. I hated to tempt fate by inquiring about his work. "What happens when you finish?" I asked. "Does that mean—will you go back to California when you'redone?"
"That's the beauty of the internet, Bartlett," Cole said, a bright smile stretched across his gorgeous face. "I can do this from anywhere in theworld."
It was an answer but it wasn't. It didn't escape my notice that I was exceedingly sensitive about this topic, too. Any waffling from Cole, and I was bracing forimpact.
"As long as you don't mind," he added. "I don't want to overstay mywelcome."
"I am getting free labor out of you," I said. "It's not good labor but it is free. I can'tcomplain."
"Such a grumpy motherfucker," hemurmured.
I held The Galley's door open and gestured for Cole to enter. "Isn't this the way we're supposed to do it?" I asked. "Since we're on adate."
"If this is a date," Cole started, "you should check out my ass while I walkby."
He walked through the doorway, glancing over his shoulder to verify I was ogling him. "I don't need an occasion to check out your ass," I said, sliding my hand into his back pocket. "But since you asked, you're looking fine as fuck in thoseshorts."
