Page 22

It seemed gauche to suggest testing out that headboard now. Sex had been the last thing on my mind when I walked up the stairs to his apartment, but tonight I’d gotten more glimpses of the real Jimmy. He’d been sexy before, but now it was all I could do not to climb him and cling. Let his tongue stroke the remaining heat from my mouth and send new trickles of fire down every nerve ending. Thanks to my ill-timed joke, he appeared scared to so much as breathe on me. I hoped we could get past this, or it’d be a long year. A long, Costco-size battery package kind of year if all I had to ease my frustration were my own devices.



















Chapter 7

Jimmy – Flying Spaghetti Monster

Iached to kiss her. Melena’s lips were lush and full, and I loved her cupid’s bow. I could trace it with my tongue for days. But at this rate, if I tried to kiss her, she’d accuse me of attempted murder. I’d messed up with the brownies. I wondered if she needed a special diet. I’d have to research it online. At a minimum, avoiding spicy foods was in our future. If we had a future. She’d taken the brownie in stride, but I still felt bad.

She made short work of her dessert and left the sad brownie piece in a puddle of melting ice cream as she excused herself to go home. “I know you’re off tomorrow, but I have a full day of clients.” She checked her phone before glancing at me. “I have a break at four. Shall I meet you at the licensing office?”

I nodded. All was not lost. “Sure, and I’ll reach out to Chase to see if he can get a quickie ordainment.” Was that even a thing?

She smiled. “A quickie ordainment for our quickie wedding? I’ll confirm Lisa can come on Saturday. Where do we want to do this?”

Nothing about our situation matched up with theMartha Stewart Weddingsissue I may or may not have perused at the grocery store. I hadn’t thought beyond the courthouse. But if Chase was doing the honors, we weren’t limited to that venue. “How about the pagoda at the park? We could meet in the morning and have lunch afterward?”

“Sure, that works. I’ll text you.”

She gave a small wave as she grabbed her purse and jacket. Another missed opportunity. When had I become shy? I’d dated enough that kissing one woman who’d agreed to be my wife shouldn’t be so difficult. The attraction was there. But so was the bone-deep fear of hurting her. I was trying to help. I didn’t want to be the reason she had another fainting episode.

It struck me as she closed the door. We’d planned our wedding. I was getting married. Shit. What had I done? I took a deep breath and let it go. We could do this. Melena was amazing. Warm. Funny. Fun to be with. At worst, we’d be friends. I may be the friend who wanted to maul her like a Malayan tiger, but I could survive being Melena’s friend. No matter how much I wanted to be more, maybe a friend was what she needed now. I could do that. For her. My baser instincts could be repressed. There would be more gym time in my future. Lots and lots of reps. Until I was too tired to do anything but fall into bed, head empty. Not aching for her.

My phone buzzed.

Melena: Lisa is available on Saturday. Is Chase able to do the deed?

Crap. I was already falling down on my husbandly duties. I opened my messages with Chase.

Jimmy: How do you feel about getting ordained and marrying me on Saturday?

Chase: I’m honored, and I love you, but it’s brotherly love. It can never be anything more. The only person I want to marry is Tamra.

Jimmy: Smart-ass. That’s not what I meant. Officiate for me and Melena?

Chase: I’m still honored. That I can probably do. Let me do some web research on getting ordained. I’ve always wanted to marry someone. How did you know?

Jimmy: Just let me know if you can do it.