Meg had followed Dean's directions and had them at the docks safely. Dean didn't even try to hide the laughter in his voice as she asked, "Here's the real question – Do you want to try to back the trailer to the boat?"

"Stop being a shmuck. I think I've done pretty good for a first timer." Meg said with her head held high.

She pulled her key ring from her bag and placed her foot on the side of the boat to disembark. Dean grabbed her waist and pulled her back into his arms. "Meg, you're phenomenal. Don't ever think otherwise."

Meg blinked up at Dean and then handed him the keys. "Know what? I think you'd better back up the truck. I know my limits." Setting her upright, Dean climbed from the boat and walked down the dock muttering about women drivers. "I can still hear you!" she called.

"You're supposed to!" he called back. "Next time, at least try to drive your own truck!" Meg watched the lights flash as he used the lock/unlock feature to find the vehicle and before long the truck was in motion. It was obvious that Dean was an expert at navigating vehicles and trailers. He thinks I am going to try this with him watching me? Not if I can help it! She untied the boat from the pilings and maneuvered it towards the front of the trailer. Once it was close enough, Dean was able to attach the hook and winch the boat the rest of the way up. Meg pulled the plug and went about securing the items that needed to be tied down or moving those that would need to be put into the truck up to the bow so she could hand them to Dean once they were in the parking lot. This is much easier when there is someone else around. "Did you pull the plug? Where is it? Did you…" He went through a checklist with her as he secured the engine for travel. Then he took the bag she wanted in the truck and set it on the ground before reaching for her. She'd gotten one leg over the side of the boat when his hands spanned her waist. "I've got you. Lean into me." Meg looked back over her shoulder. She swung her other leg over and let him slide her down. Once her feet hit pavement, Dean pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his nose against her neck. "Feels so good."

"Perfect ending to a perfect day." she agreed.

Dean lifted his head and nipped her earlobe. "Day's not over yet." Not letting her say anything in response, he snagged the bag from the ground with one hand and took her hand with the other. Pulling her towards the truck, he opened the passenger door for her. "Where we takin' the boat?"

"Home." she said quietly.

"Not the one you had with him?!" Dean's tone was high and incredulous.

"Oh no! I couldn't live there again." she said vehemently. "I bought a house in foreclosure. It needs a lot of work but it's mine and he can't say anything about it."

Dean closed the door and walked around the truck. He stowed the bag in the extended cab before sitting in the driver's seat. "So, where is this house?"

With the truck inside the garage and the boat cleaned and covered beside it, Meg and Dean walked inside her house together. "He doesn't know you are in town?"

"I think it would just cause unnecessary drama. I really don't want to see them or anything, they live their lives and I live mine. This house was a really good deal." She looked around at the room they were standing in. "It gives me choices. I've always thought the house was pretty but in need of some TLC. When I get done working on it, I can keep it and continue living here or I can sell the place for, hopefully, a profit. Not exactly a flip because it will take me some time but that's okay. I don't mind. It depends on being able to coexist amicably in a small space."

Dean looked down at her, his brow lightly furrowed. "You don't think you're causing yourself unnecessary pain?"

Meg shook her head. "That's what the time away was for. I needed time to let the, I guess the best analogy would be time to let the infection clear and a scab to form. The wound is still there but it isn't fresh anymore. The scab is bendable, pliable now. I'm healing and moving on with my life. This town is my home, too. I have a right to be here as well. I didn't do anything wrong, so why should I leave?"

"Great points. Remember them because he will probably try to make it hard on you." She nodded in agreement. Dean took her hand and started walking through the house. "Structurally the place seems sound. You did have it inspected, right?" Meg rolled her eyes. "Too much?" She nodded. "Sorry. The paint is flaking. I'm hoping that's not lead-based."

"It was tested and came back negative." Meg pulled him to a stop in the middle of the living room. Holding both his hands in hers, she smiled up at him as she spoke. "The first rooms I stripped were my bedroom and the kitchen. I wore goggles and a facemask. The bedroom has been repainted so I am sure that I'm not breathing in any paint dust while I'm sleeping. As for the kitchen, I don't want to eat paint so that has been thoroughly sanitized as well. I just don't know how I want to remodel it. The bathrooms' are next to be stripped. It's visualizing how I want to remodel that I am finding challenging. That will come, though."

Dean looked around the room. "You've had the chimneys inspected?"

"Better. I had a new flue dropped the one working chimney. The other chimney is used for the furnace. I figure I will need to upgrade that in the fall." Meg raised one of their entwined hands and poked his chest with one finger. "Stop it. Most rooms have ceiling fans and window air conditioners will work for the summer. Central air won't work for a house with clapboard siding like this." Dean started to open his mouth again. "I said stop. Don't even think about it. This isn't your project."

"I didn't say anything." His lips brushed against her temple. "You do have a massive independent streak." She pulled back to look up at him. "I admire that in you, always have. You don't cower back. You know what you want and what needs to be done and you do it. It's an admirable trait to have." Then he continued. "So is accepting help from friends."

"I accepted your help today." Meg reminded him with a smile.

He wrapped his arms around her in a bear-hug and pressed his lips to her hairline. "You really weren't given a choice, were you?" Meg wound her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest. "Alright, Meg." He sighed as he sat on the couch, pulling her down with him. "I know this is your home and your project." He cupped her cheek in his hand and tilted her head so he could look into her eyes. "We settled on 'friends' so I'll say that a friend wouldn't let you do all of this alone so you are getting help whether you want it or not." Meg opened her mouth to argue only to be silenced by a firm, quick kiss. Dean continued, his voice low and gravelly, "We both know that using the word 'friends' isn't going to work for long. Hell, we've had a hard enough time with this today…" He closed the distance and kissed her harder. Keeping their foreheads together, Dean spoke once more. "Now, Meg, be honest with yourself. I know I've felt the attraction and treasured your friendship for… a while. Acting on it now feels natural."

Meg gave a gentle squeeze before quietly speaking. "I understand that. And I feel the… attraction as well. But remember that I'm coming off a marriage that ended badly. Shush. Let me finish. If my heart was free and clear, no scabs and scars, I would be falling head over heels for you. Well, that's not completely true either. I'd still be cautious with this age difference but I'd be tumbling faster than I am. Less scared, I guess. The memories are still so fresh."

Dean's heart was racing as he asked, "But you are going to give this a chance. Right?"

She slid her hand up to caress his cheek. Carefully, she removed his sunglasses and placed them on the table behind the couch. Dean blinked at her as she hovered over him. Meg kissed his left eyelid and then his right. She dropped a quick peck on the tip of his nose. Then she zigzagged a series of light touches across his lips, starting at one corner and working her way to the other. Her voice was low and breathy as it ghosted across his ear. "You make me feel safe. You make me want to leap even though I am afraid. You make me feel…" She trailed off her last statement in favor of grasping the back of his head with her hands and opening her mouth over his. Tilting her head to the side, she fit her lips to his before letting their tongues slide together. Parry, retreat, parry, retreat, parry, parry, parry, retreat… Meg felt her pulse thundering in her ears. His arms were crossed on her back and his fingers were threaded in her hair, holding her head immobile. She moaned as he took control of the kiss, advancing after her last retreat. He kept her still as he took, thrusting the way she imagined he would… Dear Lord, Meg! She mentally slapped herself as a full-body tremor wracked her body at the thought. With a hairs-breath separating their lips, Meg sighed his name. "Dean." The way he had her sitting, she could feel the effect just saying his name had on his body. He is so hard… That has to be uncomfortable. "D-d-Dean."

Fingers ran through her hair. "Shh. No panicking. Shh." He tucked her head under his chin as he stroked her hair and back. "Shh. Nothing more than a kiss tonight."

"Harumph. Earlier you said that we were just catching up as friends today, no pressure for anything else. Now you say nothing more than a kiss. I just know that I don't go around kissing my friends and no one has kissed me like that…" she trailed off in a whisper.

Dean's arms reflexively tightened as he growled, "There'd better not be anybody else kissing you like that."

"I…"

"Hush. Just be. We're going to sit here and just… be." Dean's chin rested against the top of her head as they sat curled together. Meg could feel his body calming as they rested against each other. "Meg, I think I'm going to go now. I'd like to come over after work tomorrow, say around 6:30, with dinner. We can eat in and I can help with something around here."

Meg rubbed her hand across his chest. "I have to work tomorrow. Tuesday works, though."

"Tuesday it is. I will see you at 6:30 with dinner."