It took me awhile to write this chapter, and I'm a huge procrastinator, so bear with me. Anyhow, more dialogue/arguments/story development in this chapter, I hope.
"...with mostly sunny skies and a high around 72 degrees."
The perky weather-girl on Grace's radio woke her up at 9 o'clock the next morning. Much to Grace's chagrin, the night before had not been completely imagined. Shit, she thought as she threw off her covers and half-tumbled out of bed, I'm supposed to meet him in half an hour.
All of the guilt Luke felt about being so happy while his sister had Lyme disease disappeared as soon as he saw Grace. Sitting on a bench, obviously chosen for its handy location behind a large tree in a section of the park that wasn't very crowded, she didn't look pissed-as-hell for once.
"Hey, am I allowed to talk to you in public?" He asked her with a smile, as he sat down next to her.
"Don't push it, Girardi." With a half-grin she added, "Unless you want your make-out time cut."
"Do I get to see this contract before I sign it? I don't even know what my make-out time is." He countered.
With a good-humored glare, Grace handed him a copy from her bag. "Those are the terms. Take 'em or leave 'em."
Twenty minutes and three shocked looks from Luke ("Keep reading.") later, Grace was about ready to grab the contract and leave. "Can't you speed-read or something, geek? I have a copy for you, if you're just concerned with remembering the terms." Even though she refused to admit it to herself, Grace was almost afraid that Luke wouldn't accept her ridiculous terms.
"Wow, Grace, you must be really embarrassed by me." He said with an amused, cynical chuckle. "'No use of any coupling-related words.' What am I then, your -"
"-Service Provider." She finished for him, with a half smile. He gave her a slightly bewildered look. "Hey, you picked a girl with a reputation to protect. Now you can pay the price."
After scanning the premises (he was infatuated, not stupid), Luke took the side of her jaw in his hand and brought her face to his for a soft, short kiss. "I can live with the terms. But I only get 5 minutes a day?"
"Minimum." Pulling him towards her, she decided to instate this particular rule right away. It was for the good of her reputation, after all.
To be continued!