JENNIE

"Is it too busy for you here?" Lisa asks. "We can go somewhere else if you're not comfortable. Honestly, I won't mind."

"No, it's perfect." I smile at her and sit back, enjoying the gorgeous views over the water from all angles. The restaurant's big, private dock is fully booked, and waiters are rushing from the main building and back with drinks and steaming plates of seafood on huge, round trays. There are votive candles on each table and we're surrounded by white hydrangeas growing from the planters on the railing. "Have you been here before?"

"Only for drinks during the day. At night it's a little too romantic for me and Jackie," Lisa jokes. She's looking sexy as always in a light-blue tshirt and jeans and I'm wearing a casual, off-the-shoulder white dress with simple leather sandals. Although I planned on driving, Lisa insisted on picking me up—she even brought me flowers—and we walked here from the street where she parked.

I never thought I'd be wined and dined like this at thirty-nine; not by someone I'm head over heels with and certainly not by a woman. "I don't think it could get more romantic than this." Meeting her intense stare, I blush. When we're together, Lisa looks at me like nothing else matters and that makes me feel desired in a way I've never known. Anyone can see we're on a date but once again, I find myself not really caring about the few looks cast our way. In fact, I'm proud to be here with her.

"You look irresistible in that dress," she says, glancing at my bare shoulders as she lowers her voice to a whisper. "I can't wait to take it off."

Licking my lips, I shoot her a flirty look, heat flaring between my thighs. "I've thought of little else than being naked with you. This week seemed never-ending."

"Good, because I have plans for later."

"Ooh…" I say in a dramatic singing tone. "What kind of plans?"

"I just thought you might want to try something new. Since you're discovering your sexuality and all…" Lisa grins. She loves teasing me, making me wait.

"Tell me."

She looks around to make sure no one is paying attention to us and leans in closer. "I want to use a strap-on."

"What's a…" I swallow hard when it hits me what she means, at least I have a vague idea. "Oh." It's suddenly feeling way warmer than it was a minute ago and I brush my hair away from my shoulders, letting the breeze hit my clammy skin. "Jesus, Lisa."

"Sorry. Too much? We can forget I ever mentioned it."

"No, it's not that." Anticipation flares inside of me and I shift in my chair in an attempt to sooth the ache in my center. "I can't talk about it here," I whisper. "It turns me on too much."

Lisa chuckles, her hooded eyes holding the promise of a long and steamy night. "Okay, let's change the subject."

"Thank you. At least until we're alone." I try to wipe the image of Lisa wearing a strap-on from my mind and note that I'm probably the most clueless and innocent woman she's ever slept with.

"So… when was the last time you went on a date?" Lisa picks up the bottle from the cooler next to her and refills our glasses.

"Hmm…" Raising my eyes to the string light covered canopy above us, I try to remember. "It must have been at least four years since Mark last took me out on a date. There wasn't much dating in general after the kids were born and even our anniversaries were skipped sometimes when he was away for business. I guess the last time I can think of was a dinner at a restaurant on Madison Avenue. I dressed up and we had nice food. One of his clients was there, dining with his wife and they ended up sharing dessert with us. It's funny, I don't remember that much about it, but I think it was an anniversary dinner." I shrug. "What about you? When was the last time you went on a date?"

Lisa frowns, digging through her memory, then laughs. "Never?" She shrugs. "I took a girl out for lobster rolls in Montauk when I was sixteen. Does that count?"

Laughing along with her, my core flutters at her smile that makes every nerve in my body zing. "Sure, that counts. So it's been…" I pause, mentally doing the math. "Seventeen years."

"That's right." She shoots me an amused look. "So forgive me if I'm a little out of practice."

"You couldn't be more charming," I say with a playful smile, then ask the question that's been on my mind for a while. "Does it bother you that I'm almost forty?"

"No," Lisa says resolutely. "Age is the last thing I'm worried about." She winces. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's a total mood killer."

"It's okay. I know you're worried."

She reaches for my hand over the table. "Look, it's not just Lily," she admits. "This is new to me and I just need to get used to… to feeling vulnerable, I suppose."

"I make you feel vulnerable?" Her words don't come as a surprise. I've seen her put a guard up a couple of times.

"Yes, because I adore you and I'm falling in love with you." She swallows hard and bites her lip nervously, as if she's already regretting saying it.

My breath hitches, and I stare at her, my heart singing with joy. "I'm falling in love with you too. And I'm just as scared as you are. Not because of what people will think of me, but because this is the most intense thing I've ever felt. But this is not a phase, Lisa. I won't hurt you."

Lisa lets out the breath she's been holding, and the corners of her mouth pull up into a smile. Our mutual confessions hang thick in the air as the waiter puts a plate of oysters between us. "I won't hurt you either. I promise."