This was supposed to be a dinner between friends. This was supposed to be one friend helping out another, getting them back on the dating bandwagon after having their heart broken sixth months before.

This was not supposed to be a real date.

But as Kevin Ryan walked her to her door, Lanie couldn't help but think that this had been the best time out she'd had in a long time. A really long time. As in, so long that she didn't really want to speculate. She suddenly wanted to curse her own stupidity. She had spent the night out with a perfectly wonderful guy, and she had set herself up for a perfectly painful downfall.

Because this was not a date.

"Thanks, Laine," he said quietly, hands in his pockets as they stopped at the door. "I really needed this."

She reached up and brushed some imaginary lint off of his shoulder, just needing to touch him. "You did fine, Ryan," she said with a playful smile. "Trust me. You ain't got nothin' to worry about."

His smile was soft and sweet. "I still think that's mostly thanks to you."

"Mmm-hmmm," she murmured. "Flatterer. See? You'll be just -"

She never got to finish her sentence. His lips were pressed against hers gently, the fingertips of his right hand ghosting across her jaw. Lanie's eyes widened for a moment, but then she was kissing him back. It was slow and hesitant, neither entirely sure what to make of this unexpected step. She kept waiting for him to pull back, to stutter a shy apology.

Instead, he nipped at her bottom lip and then took it deeper.

Lanie was fairly certain she had never been kissed so slowly in her life. It set every nerve ending in her body on fire, and it all pooled in the pit of her stomach, making her want to squirm. She pressed herself against him and he pushed back, pinning her up against the wall as one of his hands snaked into her hair. Lanie let her hands roam, sliding around his arms and torso, pleasantly surprised. The man worked out, and she was suddenly itching to see what he looked like underneath.

She didn't stop to wonder when she had started thinking about Ryan in bed.

He was pulling back slightly, and she only barely heard the whimper that escaped her throat.

"I want to take you out," he breathed, kissing her again.

"You took me out tonight."

"I want to take you out again. Friday?"

She pulled him back down for another kiss. Three whole days. She did not want to wait that long for another kiss. Her mind was already thinking of places at work she could pin him and have her wicked way with him.

"Friday," she agreed, her voice breathless and faint.

He kissed her twice more and then took a step back. Lanie wanted to follow him, but he moved down one stair and smiled up at her.

"See you tomorrow?"

All she could do was nod and watch him disappear down the sidewalk.