Elizabeth smiled at herself in the mirror. It was the night of their first official date. Rosie had assisted with her clothing choices and Elizabeth was certain that Jack would love her casual, yet sexy, outfit.

The dark skinny jeans paired with a white deep neck blouse showed off a bit more in the chest area than she usually did. The strappy heels made her legs look a mile long and the silver bangle bracelets completed the ensemble.

She grabbed her purse as she heard a knock on the door.

When she opened the door he grinned. "Holy moly."

"Good evening, Jack. You look…"

"So do you," he told her, kissing her cheek. He mentioned her grabbing a jacket, not that he wanted an inch of her more covered up.

She grabbed it but didn't put it on. He offered his hand and she took it immediately, loving the butterflies that were flapping in her stomach. This was actually happening. A date, a real date, no chaperones or teenage boys around.

He held her hand as he led her to his truck and opened the door for her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He tried to calm his heart by taking a few deep breaths as he walked around to get in the driver's side. She certainly didn't look like the shy accountant he had fallen for. She was drop-dead gorgeous and somehow he had a date with her.

"So where are we going?" she asked.

"I figure we can start with The Earle. They have great food."

"Oh, that should be good. I've never been there."

"No?"

"No. I don't go out to eat a lot."

"We do it constantly. I can't cook so it's either frozen pizza or go out."

"Well, I'll have to cook for you more often then," she told him, slipping her fingers into his grasp.

"Sounds perfect."

They parked in the street down a few blocks and walked to the underground restaurant. It was very unique and very romantic.

The lighting was perfect. They sat in a table for two lit by a single candle, far enough away from the live jazz music so they could talk but close enough to get the feel for the atmosphere.

Their server came over immediately and handed them a menu. "My name is Drew. I'll be your server this evening."

Jack picked up the drink menu. "Would you like wine, Elizabeth?"

"Actually, I think I'll try the apple martini," she told the Jack and the server.

"Very good. And for you, sir?"

"I'll take whatever is on tap."

"Very good. I'll be back soon."

"This is really happening," Elizabeth spoke softly.

"Yes it is. And not a moment too soon. I'm not sure I could've held out much longer."

"Same here. Though I think our time so far has been good for us."

"Agreed. We've got a good foundation here. Now it's time to build on it."

"What does that look like exactly?" she flirted.

"Nights like this, just you and me. Lots of smiling, hand holding… kissing perhaps." She blushed deeply. He loved it. "Deep, real conversation about our lives and what we want for a future."

"Sounds perfect. How do the boys fit in?"

"If we want to make a real go of this, I think dinners together often would be nice. Family nights, are important too. Isaac is thinking of running cross country. Maybe you could come cheer him on."

"Are you sure? Sounds like a family thing."

"That is my intention, yes."

She reached for his hand which he gave readily. "Can I be honest?"

"Always."

"I'm feeling nervous."

"About tonight?"

"Well, no. But all of it. It's really new to me and I've never done this dating, family thing."

"So we will do it together. We don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. You don't need to cheer Isaac on at his meets. It was just a thought."

"It's a good thought."

The server returned. "Alright folks, one apple martini for the lady and a Coors lite for the gentleman. Have you decided what you would like for an appetizer?"

"Maybe the portabella mushrooms?" Jack asked Elizabeth.

"Yes and the risotto, please."

"You got it."

They chatted about random things until their appetizers came. Then thankfully they had something to keep them occupied.

"This is really good," Jack gestured with his fork to the mushrooms. "Want to try?" She nodded so he took his fork and held a bite to her lips. She opened her soft mouth and accepted it.

"Yes, so good."

She was so distracting. She blushed when she caught him staring at her mouth.

"Jack…."

"Let's dance," he said, standing and holding his hand out.

"But, no one else is dancing." She looked around, a bit unsure.

"So, maybe they will if we do it."

She stood and melted into his arms, her left hand resting on his upper arm, her right in his, tucked against his heart. They didn't speak, they just stared into each other's eyes as the music played.

He held her closer still, his right hand on her lower back, his lips close to her ear. "I'm so glad we are here together," he whispered.

"Me too."

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

The feeling was back. She wasn't nervous anymore. She just wanted everything that came with him. His gentle touch, his smile, his life. And more than anything, she wanted to experience their first kiss.

They ate their dinners and then decided to take a walk a few blocks down to the park. It was a beautiful night and the sun had just set.

Jack held her hand as they strolled slowly down the gently lit brick path that led to a fountain and beyond, a pond.

After reaching the edge of the pond, he reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Are you enjoying tonight?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah."

His eyes moved from hers to her lips and back before he leaned down and slowly, softly tasted her lips. He pulled away ever so slightly to make sure she was okay and when she slipped her arms around his neck and smiled, he took that as a good sign and covered her mouth with his, all of his senses coming alive. He could smell her lotion and feel the gentle pressure of her mouth moving against his. He could taste the sweetness of her lips and hear crickets and frogs in the background.

It was perfect. His breath tasted minty although she wasn't sure when he had put a mint in his mouth. His hands moved to rest on her lower back, keeping her close which is right where she wanted to be.

He pulled back slightly and wrapped his arms tighter around her. "So worth the wait," he told her with a laugh.

"Yeah."

He took her hand again and led her back to the truck. "So I have an idea for where to go next," he told her as he opened her door.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Ever been to Insomnia Cookies?"

"Nope."

"That's where we will go then."

About ten minutes later, they entered Insomnia. Elizabeth ordered a cookiewich with Cookies and Cream ice cream between two Double Chocolate Chunk cookies. Jack got a snickerdoodle and a peanut butter cookie with a glass of milk.

They sat next to each other in a small booth and enjoyed their dessert. Then he slipped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"I'm so full," she giggled, leaning against him.

"Me too."

"Let's just stay here for awhile."

….

He walked her to her apartment door about eleven o'clock.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. It felt so natural to do so. To hug her boyfriend after a perfectly romantic date.

"I'll call you tomorrow," he told her before leaning down and kissing her again.

"Night, Elizabeth."

"Goodnight, Jack."

She watched him walk away and headed inside to call Rosie. Rosie had made her promise to call no matter what time it was.

"Hello?" she said in a tired voice.

"You fell asleep? Seriously?"

"Its late, Beth. You took forever."

"Sorry, not sorry. It was a perfect night and I wasn't going to end it early to call you, no matter how much I love you."

"Perfect, huh?"

"Absolutely, one thousand percent, unequivocally perfect."

"Where did he take you?"

"First to The Earle."

"Oooh…I love The Earle. It's so romantic. That jazzy, dark atmosphere."

"It was. Then we took a walk in the park."

"The park? Is that where he kissed you?"

"Yeah. It was, for lack of a better term, perfect. Then we went to Insomnia and had dessert and talked for a few hours."

"I'm happy for you, Beth."

"Me too."

Rosie yawned. "Okay, I need my beauty sleep so I'm going to hang up now."

"Alright. Night, friend."

"Night."

….

For the next week, they saw each other daily. He met her before work at The Village Cup and they drank coffee together and she cooked dinner for him and the boys again too.

Now it was time for him to meet her parents. He was nervous. It had been a long time since he had to meet a girlfriend's parents.

"Jack, it's going to be fine. My parents will love you." She grabbed his hand and squeezed, sensing his nervousness. They arrived at her parents home and sat in his truck for a moment. "Ready?" she asked with a smile.

"Maybe a kiss to help settle my nerves?" he asked, leaning toward her, a grin on his lips.

"You're silly, Jack Thornton," she told him before meeting him halfway and placing a brief, soft kiss on his lips. "Let's go."

She led him by the hand to the door and walked in. "Anyone home?" she called.

"Kitchen, Bethie," Grace called.

"Bethie?" he whispered.

"Shush. It's a nickname."

"A cute one. Can I use it?" he teased.

"Nope. Only them. You'll need to come up with your own."

She took him further into the home, past the living room and down a short hall to the newly remodeled kitchen.

"Hi, Mom," Elizabeth said to the older woman in the kitchen.

"Hi, Bethie!" The woman came over and gave her a hug. "You look nice tonight."

"Thanks, Mom. This is Jack Thornton. Jack, my mom, Grace."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thatcher."

"You too, dear."

"Where's Dad?"

"At the barbecue. Let's head out there. Go ahead and grab a drink."

As soon as she walked out onto the deck, Jack smirked. "Lizzie?"

"Nope. Reminds me of a name of a goat."

"A goat?"

"It just sounds like it." She nudged him making him chuckle.

She handed him a beer and grabbed a wine cooler for herself.

"Betsy? No! I got it. Bessie."

"Cow."

"Huh?"

"Sounds like a cow. Try again, Professor."

"Ugh. I hate that you call me that."

She winked and walked out the sliding door. He of course followed.

"Dad, this is Jack. Jack, William Thatcher."

Jack stuck his hand out and shook William's hand. "Good to meet you, son."

"You too, sir."

"Come help me barbecue so the women can talk."

"Oh well…I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Which part?"

"Me being anywhere near fire. Things happen. I'm a terrible cook."

"Nonsense, my boy. You can't be all that bad."

"Yep. Burned water once."

"Hm. Okay, well, I can give you some pointers."

"Alright," he said, hesitating slightly. "I'll do my best."

Elizabeth watched as her dad and Jack cooked, well mostly William. Every so often, Jack would gaze at her and wink or smile which of course made her blush.

"Bethie?" Grace whispered.

"Yeah?"

"You really like him, don't you?"

"Yeah. I really do. He's everything I never knew I needed or wanted."

"Well, I'm glad. He seems kind and honest."

"He is and a good father and he is very artistic. He used to be a painter years back."

As they ate the well cooked meal, Jack found her fingers under the table and slipped his between them.

"Bethie says you used to be a painter?" Grace asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Seems like a lifetime ago."

"I guess it makes sense you are an art teacher now. Using your talents and such to help others."

"I suppose that's true. I couldn't really make a living doing occasional art work while being a newly single parent so I got a job at the college."

"Single parent?"

"Yes, ma'am. When we married, my wife and I were fine with my job being occasional. She made regular income as a manager at a bank. Then we had our two boys and I did some part time work to supplement my painting."

"So you have custody of the boys?"

"Mom, I…."

"Its okay, Elizabeth. Mrs. Thatcher, about ten years ago, my wife passed away. Our boys were five and three and I needed to find a way to keep them fed and keep our home so I became a teacher."

"I'm so sorry, Jack."

"Its alright. My boys are a reminder everyday of the sweetness and strength of my late wife. Her memory will always be with me, even though I've moved on."

He gazed at Elizabeth and squeezed her hand.

Grace wiped her eyes and nodded. "Do you have any pictures of your boys?"

"I do. Of course."