He regarded her solemnly. “I’m not sure how many different ways I need to say it, but to be perfectly clear one more time, yes. I think it’s way past time for us to try,” he told her, his expression solemn. “Don’t you think so? Isn’t that really why you came to my office tonight?”
“I think it’s terrifying to be changing what we already have,” she admitted candidly. “Have you really thought about what will happen if we start sleeping together?”
“All the time,” he said, amused.
“What if we’re no good at it?”
He laughed. “Oh, I think we’re going to be great at it.”
“How can you sound so sure? Maybe we should just test it, see how it goes, before we get emotionally involved.”
“Jess O’Brien, are you suggesting we have uncomplicated, no-strings sex right now? Sort of get it out of the way, then decide what comes next?”
Her gaze met his. “I think I am.”
Despite the almost overwhelming temptation to let her have her way, Will forced himself to give her a chiding look. “I do not put out on the first date,” he teased. “Besides, we’re right out here in public. I guarantee you that our first time together is not going to be on the grass in the middle of the town green. What kind of guy would I be if I didn’t make our first time romantic?”
“I honestly don’t know,” she said. “But I think I’m ready to find out.”
That was the absolute best news Will had heard in years. He knew that changing their relationship wasn’t without its share of risks, but it was time. Past time, according to the way his blood was suddenly racing.
“Then we’ll have dinner as planned,” he said. “Brady’s or somewhere more discreet?”
She gave him a wry look. “Given that my family seems to have spies everywhere, we might as well go to Brady’s.”
“Start as you intend to finish, then, right out there in plain view,” he said approvingly. He noticed the sudden hint of panic in her eyes. “It’s going to be okay, you know. It’s a date, Jess. One simple meal. Some conversation. Nothing we haven’t done before a thousand times.”
Despite his reassurance, though, they both knew it was a whole lot more. Tonight’s dinner was going to be served with hopes and expectations, and with the very distinct possibility of sex for dessert.
13
Jess was on edge all during dinner. Not that the conversation lagged for even a minute. Will was the perfect gentleman, too. He didn’t even try to hold her hand across the candlelit table. Still, the intimacy between them seemed to have hit a new level. And yet it hadn’t. It was confusing.
“You’re overthinking this, aren’t you?” he said, regarding her with amusement.
Jess sighed. She should have known he’d be able to read her mind. “Don’t you think it’s kind of weird, being here like this?”
“Like what? Two old friends having dinner together?”
She scowled at the description. “But we’re not just two old friends having dinner, are we? We’re two people who’ve introduced the prospect of having sex into their relationship.”
Will frowned. “Maybe I was wrong earlier,” he murmured.
“About what?”
“Not having sex right away,” he explained. “It seems to be the only thing on your mind, like this giant hurdle you need to get over so you can relax.”
“Please do not try to tell me you aren’t thinking about it,” she said.
“I’m content to live in the moment,” he insisted.
She didn’t believe him for a minute. Men were always thinking about sex or having sex. Wasn’t it the driving force of their lives? She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m not buying it.”
“Why not?”
She told him her theory.
Will chuckled. “You really don’t think much of men, do you?”
She shrugged. “Well, my experience has been somewhat limited.”
Will stared at her with surprise. “How limited?”
His stunned expression put her on the defensive. “Well, I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re thinking. Not that it’s really any of your business, but Kevin and Connor didn’t always make it to Moonlight Cove in time to rescue me from my reckless self.”
His expression turned wry. “Good to know, but just so you also know, I really, really do not want to hear any details.”
“As if I’d share them with you,” she said testily, then sighed. “But what I’m really trying to explain is that I’m not very experienced at the whole relationship thing. Surely you figured that out a long time ago. You’ve been around. When have I ever dated anyone for longer than a few weeks or a couple of months? I obviously have a short attention span. I guess it must come with the ADD territory.”
Will shook his head. “There you go blaming your ADD for something that’s much more easily explained by the fact that those other men have been wrong for you and you’ve been wise enough to figure it out sooner, rather than later.”
“Okay, you’ve said that before, but why are you so sure of it? Maybe I’m just flighty.”
“How long have you been friends with Laila and Connie?”
“They’re older, so it’s fairly recently that we’ve become friends, but I’ve known them all my life.”
“So those could be described as long-term relationships in some ways,” he persisted. “I suppose.”
“And you’ve been working with Gail since you opened the inn, right?”
“Sure. What’s your point?”
“That relationship seems to be holding up okay.”
“Come on, Will. It’s not the same,” she protested.
“The same character traits it takes to have a healthy friendship or a solid employer-employee relationship are needed to have a long-term relationship with a man,” he said.
Jess didn’t entirely believe him, but he was the expert in human dynamics. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Seriously. All of those relationships involve give-and-take, loyalty, forgiveness and, on occasion, a bit of work.”
Jess saw what he was trying to say. “But Laila and Connie know about the
