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000

"So, second date in as many days."

Traci looked at Gail and shook her head. "It's not like that."

"Are you saying that you're not dating my brother?" Gail teased her. "Coz, he seems to think that you guys are dating."

"Well, I won't exactly call it dating," Traci said, "I mean we had a drink at the Penny yesterday and all you guys were there as well."

"Yes we were," Gail agreed. "But you two sat alone, together, staring at each other like there was no one else in the room."

"No we did not."

"Did too."

"Gail, you're exaggerating."

"Traci, it would have been sweet and romantic except my brother was looking at you like …like you -"

"Stop," Traci interrupted her. "Don't finish that sentence."

"So you're dating, huh? Look who's dating."

"Since you're being girlie and so persistent," Traci said, "but mostly because I know that Steve will tell you if he hasn't already, we're just taking it one day at a day, see where it goes."

"He really likes you, you know."

"I do," Traci replied. "Like I told you before, I like him too."

"No, he really, really likes you," Gail repeated. "I've never seen him like this before."

Traci nodded and smiled at her friend. She wasn't quite ready to admit it aloud but she really, really liked Steve Peck.

"So where's he taking you?"

"It's a surprise."

Gail laughed at the expression on Traci's face; she seemed really worried about the surprise.

000

"I can't believe you talking me into doing this."

"Talked you into doing this," Steve replied, "Traci, if I recall you forced me to do this."

They were cycling through a small wooded area forest and Traci was surprised at how much fun she was having.

"I must admit this isn't what I expected," Traci told him.

"What, you thought I take you to a movie?" Steve asked her. "On a bright sunny Saturday afternoon like this, shame on you."

"I didn't know what to expect but it was certainly not this."

"Traci, give me some credit," Steve told her. "I've been thinking about going out with you for weeks so I've had time to come up with some creative ideas."

"You succeeded, this is very different."

"Besides, if Leo had been able to join us," Steve said, "I wanted something that we could all do together."

Traci nodded; she liked that Steve didn't seem to have a problem with her being a single mother but as much as she liked him she wasn't quite ready for Steve and Leo to meet. Luckily for her Leo was staying with his grandparents for the weekend so it wasn't going to happen. Not today anyway.

"And I wanted to see you almost naked."

Traci braked suddenly and looked at Steve who was smiling at her mischievously. "You can't really ride a bike in your work clothes; I mean you could, but anyway, so I thought to myself how do I get Traci Nash almost naked without her suspecting my intentions and, drumroll please, riding a bicycle was the best idea I could come up with."

Traci couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing.

000

"So was a lot of fun, although I haven't done this much exercise in years." They had taken back the bicycles and were walking back to the lodge where they'd left the car.

"I knew this would be good for something I -" Steve began only to be silenced by Traci's lips on his. Steve had been thinking about kissing Traci for days and he had decided that he would go with the goodnight kiss. He'd pictured it in his mind, he'd walk her to the door at the end of their date and after he was sure that everything was alright at her place he'd say goodnight and give her a small kiss.

Even as he deepened their kiss Steve was smiling to himself. It was amazing how reality worked so much better than dreams in many cases. This kiss, the spontaneous, unexpected first, initiated by Traci no less, was amazing; and Steve allowed himself to be lost in it and not wonder about how it was even possible that it was happening.

000

"So how was the date?"

Traci stared at her friend, as Gail made her way past Traci into the living room.

"Great."

"Not according to my brother."

"What did he say?" Traci couldn't help the question.

"He said, and I quote, 'yes'?"

"He said that?"

"Yes," Gail replied, "what did you do to him? He's so happy, smiling, making those silly jokes that aren't funny at all."

"Really?"

"You two are as bad as each other; if I didn't love both of you I'd be plotting your demise."

000