Steve sat down in the chair he had used the night before next to the fire pit. He took a drink of his coffee before setting it down in the grass. He leaned back, pulling his cell phone out of his shorts pocket and brought up Danny's cell number.

He answered on the fourth ring just before it went to voice mail. "You do realize there is a two-hour time difference," he yawned.

Steve looked at his watch. "It's seven you should be up by now."

"My boss is on vacation. I'm taking it easy."

"Slacker."

Danny poured the milk in his bowl of Fruit Loops and opened the drawer at his hip, pulling out a spoon. "So how's wilderness life? Have you taught everyone how to kill a deer with a bow and arrow and then skin it?"

"Nah, that's after lunch. We drank a lot last night though."

Danny laughed, "Good! So you're having a good time?"

"Yes, thanks for talking me in to it."

He leaned over the counter so as not to drip milk on his shirt and took a bite of cereal, talking with his mouth full. "Have you seen the girl yet?"

"Carly? Yea, she got here yesterday. She's exactly the same. Funny, sweet. I swear to god my stomach hurts today from laughing so much last night."

Danny smiled, liking the sound of that. "How does she look?"

Steve glanced over his shoulder making sure he was alone, "Jesus Danny I'm telling ya, she looks better than she did in high school."

He liked the sound of that even more, remembering her picture. "Have you met her husband yet?"

"No, he's supposed to be getting here sometime today. Jack and Jules said he's a real tool, but I don't know. I can't picture her married to someone like that."

"Well, I guess you'll find out."

"I guess so." He took a drink of his coffee and saw Craig walking toward him. "Good morning,"

Craig motioned with his hand toward the boathouse, whispering to him, "Hey, when you're done will you give me a hand getting the boat out?"

"Sure." He spoke into the phone to Danny, "I got to go. I'll call ya in a couple of days."

"Hold on! You didn't tell me, so did you talk to her about…you know her sister?"

"Yes. We did last night. It went really well. We both got some things off our chest. It reminded me of old times. She's so easy to talk too. I feel really comfortable with her."

Danny pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, hearing something in his voice. He put it back up, "Hey."

"What?"

"She's married."

Steve expression showed irritation. "Thanks for the news, but I think I'm the one that told you that."

"I'm just saying."

"I have no interest in that Danny, besides she feels the same way about me. We're friends."

"That' s how it always starts out, be careful of the friends card."

"Thanks for the advice," he said sarcastically. "I'll be expecting a bill in the mail for your services."

"One more piece of advice for ya,"

"What's that?"

"Even if she's unhappy in this marriage, that doesn't give you permission."

"All right!" he growled, "I get it. I'll call you in a couple of days."

Steve entered the boathouse as Craig was just opening the garage style door that led out to the lake. The pontoon boat was about twenty feet long and had a row of cusioned seats that ran along each side. There was a ladder in the middle that went up to the top deck that was used for sunning. Craig was under the hood that led to the engine compartment, which was located toward the back of the boat.

"What do you want me to do?" Steve asked.

"Do you know about boats?"

"I live on an island surrounded by water. I know a little," he smiled.

Craig leaned his head to the side of the cover so he could see him, "Smart ass."

He squatted down next to him, "What's the problem?"

"Last time we were here, we couldn't get it to start. It sounds like it's going to turn over, but won't."

"When was the last time you had it running?"

Craig narrowed his eyebrows contemplating that question, "About two summers ago."

"It's probably the gas."

Craig looked up at him; "There's gas in it."

"I know but if it sits for too long, the gas can go bad. You should drain it and then refill with fresh."

"Ok," he said satisfied with his knowledge, "my next question. How do you drain the old gas?"

Steve stood up and leaned over the back of the boat. "There should be a plug in the back but it's probably under the water line."

"So we hoist it up." Craig declared, jumping over the side.

The boat lift was angled so the front end was hirer than the back. He and Steve held a bucket over the drain hole as the gas poured in.

Craig glanced over at him, "So what do you think of Marissa?"

"She's a pretty girl."

"Yes she is," he agreed. "Is that all?"

"Well I really haven't had a chance to talk to her. She seems really nice, friendly."

"She can be a bit of a flirt too, so beware."

Steve wondered if he had been aware of that, I guess that answered his question. "Does it bother you?"

Craig shrugged, "I think it makes her feel powerful." He looked over his shoulder, making sure they were alone, "She's not the sharpest tool in the shed, if you know what I mean."

Steve laughed, but didn't comment. It was better to just listen than make an opinion when talking to a buddy about their lady. Comments could come back and bite you in the ass.

"She has her looks and even in a room full of intelligent women, she gets the attention." He glanced around again, "Plus, she's great in bed. I mean she's crazy good."

Steve laughed again. "Well there you go, that's half the battle right there. Congrats."

They pulled the bucket away and Craig stuck the plug back in. "What do we do with the old gas?"

"Dump it in the empty gas can and take it to the boat dock where you get your gas and they should be able to dispose of it for you."

Craig stood up and slapped him on the shoulder, "I'm glad you came along. I probably would have paid someone $1000 to just empty out the old gas."

"And I'm only going to charge you a beer."

"Deal," Craig agreed.

They filled it with five gallons that he had in the garage and Craig backed it out of the boathouse, preparing to take it to the main dock for a fill up. Craig stood at the controls while Steve sat across from him with his legs stretched out in front of him, feeling relaxed. They began to pull away as Carly came down the dock, wearing a pair of cut-off jeans and a tank top.

"Hey, where are you guys going?" she yelled out.

Steve stood up, going to the edge, "To the main dock for gas. Do you want to come?"

"Yes." She kicked off her flip-flops.

Craig went to put the boat in reverse when she surprised both of them by diving into the water and swimming over. Steve looked over at him and they just shook their heads. That was Carly.

She grabbed the ladder that was built into the side of the boat and started to climb up when Steve leaned over, taking her hand and easily pulled her up the rest of the way.

"That felt good!" she laughed, pulling her hand over her ponytail, draining the excess water from it.

"I think you're still drunk," Craig said, tossing her a towel.

She looked over at Steve who had the same wondering expression on his face.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing crazy. I mean Carly." He dodged her hand and sat back down.

"It's going to be a beautiful day," she smiled brightly as Craig steered the boat out into the open water.

Steve watched her profile as she began to dry off her long tanned legs. She ran the towel down one and then slowly back up the other. As she stood up her tank top stuck to her body, showing off her spectacular figure. She wasn't too thin but athletic. Her shoulders were defined and showed that she still swam on a regular basis. Her breasts were full and he could see the tops of them coming out from her bra through the wet shirt. The shorts came just below her butt, which was also perfectly round and firm. He glanced over at Craig who was watching him enjoy the show.

Craig raised his eyebrows at him, nodding. Steve felt like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "What?" he mouthed too him, "I'm a guy."

Craig mouthed back, "She's a woman."

They both laughed as Carly turned around and caught them. "What," she demanded, glaring back and forth between them? "What were you saying?"

Steve shrugged his shoulders pretending like he didn't know what she was talking about.

"Steve was checking out your legs," Craig blurted out.

He shot him a look, "Seriously dude?!"

"You were. Would you have rather me told her you were checking out her breasts too?"

Steve felt like his whole body turned a crimson shade of red. "Wow!" he looked at Carly, "Did you happen to get the number of the bus that just ran me over?"

She plopped down next him with a wicked smile on her face, "So you like the goods huh?" She couldn't help but torment him.

"I was just…" he stuttered, "you know," he motioned to where she had been standing, "you were right there in front of me."

"Oh, so you couldn't help but look?"

"Yea!" he looked at Craig for help who was going to do nothing of the sort. He was enjoying it as much as Carly was.

"So if I was standing over there drying off," she pointed toward the other side, "you wouldn't have looked?"

"Probably not," he lied.

She crossed her arms, "Why not? You don't think I look good enough to glance over another fifteen feet? It's only worth your while if I'm right there in front of you?"

He looked at her confused, "Yes. I mean, no! You look really good." He was trying to dig himself out of a hole that Craig had dug and she had thrown him into, "I mean, I'd look. I guess. I don't know. What do you want me say?!"

She and Craig both busted up.

"You guys are cruel."

Craig imitated him in a slow, dense voice. "Yes, no, I don't know." He laid his head back laughing, "You're real smooth with the ladies aren't you?"

"Shut the hell up!" he laughed with him. He glanced over at Carly who didn't say anything but just stared at him with a satisfying smile.

She was beyond flattered and even a little excited by the fact that he still saw her that way. It made her feel young and sexy, which she hadn't felt in a while. She wrapped the towel around her body and sat back next to him. She leaned over just a tad and whispered to him, "Thank you for looking, it's always nice to be admired."

"You're welcome," he whispered back, "the pleasure was all mine."

She wasn't expecting that and she blushed this time, rolling her eyes.

Each individual filled the lounge chairs on the deck that afternoon. Jack was sleeping; Jules and Carly were sharing People magazines, passing them back and forth. Craig was reading a book and Marissa had her headphones on. Steve was just sitting, looking out over the lake and enjoying doing nothing.

He watched Carly and Jules as they commented on the celebrities in the magazine, saying whom they liked and whom they didn't. He thought it amusing that they acted as if they truly knew that person to form an opinion. He put his hands behind his head, studying them. Women could be such odd creatures to him. He had been trained to interrogate people and know the way the mind worked when a person is feeling threatened or how to handle them when they are aggressive, but he had never been able to figure out the logical mind of a woman. They were so different from men it was like night and day. Even Kono, he thought to himself. She was one that he thought he knew pretty well, but then at the drop of a hat, she would floor him and leave him wondering.

Jules said something funny and Carly laid her head back and laughed. There it was again, that laugh. He caught himself smiling without even realizing it. She had that ability.

Jules glanced up over the top of her magazine, noticing his attention on them. He had a slight grin on his face with his arms still tucked behind his head.

"Enjoying yourself?" she asked.

"I'm entertained by you two and the way you comment about the people in those magazines."

The two women looked at each other, curious over his statement.

"How so?" Carly asked.

"You act as if you know them or that they are attainable."

"They could be," Jules said hopeful.

He laughed, "In your dreams."

"Hey!" she barked out defensively holding up the magazine, "There are at least five people in here that Jack has given me a free pass for. Don't ruin that for me!"

Carly gave her a high-five, "You go Jules! I truly believe that you will run into Bradley Cooper at the grocery store and he will fall madly in lust with you and want you immediately in the backseat of his truck."

"Thank you Carly," she glanced over at Steve giving him the stink eye.

"Oh yea," he defended himself, "that's really going to happen, and monkeys might fly out of my butt."

Jules looked disgusted over at him while Carly roared with laughter.

"So you don't have any fantasies?" Jules asked sarcastically.

"Well, if I came home from work sometime and there was a beautiful woman cooking dinner for me in my kitchen, wearing nothing but an apron, that would be ok."

"You mean Angelina Jolie, don't you?" she tried to trap him into admitting he was just as bad.

"Nah, too much maintenance. I'd much rather have the girl next door."

"Amen brother," Jack blurted out with his eyes still closed.

"Right Jack!" Jules rolled her eyes, "If Angelina Jolie was in our kitchen naked, you would pass out from excitement."

He opened one eye and slid off his lounger, crawling over to her on his hands and knees, "Angelina Jolie," he snuffed, crawling up on her lounger with her, "she's nothing compared to my wife." Jules put her arms around him as he laid his head on her chest.

Carly watched the sweet display between the two of them, missing Allan; even though she couldn't imagine him ever doing what Jack just did. A public display of affection was something he never took part in. It never really bothered her until she was around other couples that were affectionate, especially when she would see an old couple holding hands in public. Sometimes it made her sad. She had learned to live with it, but she often worried that he would be that way with their children as well, and that she would never get used too. Before she could finish her thought her phone rang. She reached down next to her chair seeing Allan's number on it.

"Hi! Are you almost here?" she asked excitedly and then in the same breath her face turned disappointed. She got up and walked down the steps to the yard. "Why not?" she asked as the conversation moved out of hearing distance of the others on the deck.

Jack lifted his head, looking up at Jules, "Don't say it."

Her irritated expression said it for her, but she couldn't help voicing it too. "He's going to stand her up again."

"Stand her up?" Steve asked as if he was surprised that it seemed to happen on a regular basis. Who stood up their wife? And why would you stand up your wife?

"Yes, he can be famous for this."

Steve looked down by the lake as Carly spoke on the phone to her husband. By the sound of the conversation before she left and Jules announcement it was clear that her husband might not be coming. Part of him was glad, which surprised him. He had been enjoying his time with her and not necessarily wanting to share it with someone else, even if it were her husband. It was a selfish thought on his part, but he didn't care, which surprised him again.

Carly came walking back up on the deck, sitting on the edge of her chair, speaking to Jules, "He's not coming until the day after tomorrow."

"How come?"

Carly shrugged, "There's a convention or something going on in Sacramento that he wants to go too. New client prospects I guess."

She tried to sound positive about it, but everyone around her knew it was a put-on.

Craig set his book down on his chest, hoping to lighten the mood. "Hey you know what? There's a great bar and grill just up the road about half a mile. We should walk over and have dinner, a couple pitchers of beer, play some pool. They have a dart board too."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Jules said, reaching over touching Carly's arm, "it'll be fun."

Carly nodded, keeping her eyes only on Jules, feeling slightly humiliated that her husband would have rather spent time at a convention with a bunch of strangers than on a vacation with her. It wasn't so much why he was not coming, but the way he told her. It was very cold and very direct as if telling her it were set in stone and there would be no discussion. She could almost smell the liquor on his breath through the phone as well, which bothered her even more.

Carly trailed behind Steve and Craig on the way to the bar as they traded deep-sea fishing stories. They talked easily to one another, neither one trying to dominate the conversation. She loved that about the three men she was on this vacation with. They all seemed so easy-going and relaxed, comfortable with themselves just like they were back in high school.

Her eyes focused on Steve. He had on a pair of black and white basketball shorts, a white T-shirt and Nikes. Simple, but somehow he made it seem fashionable, like he had just stepped out a of GQ photo shoot. His hair from behind was neatly kept but she could see he was almost ready for a cut due to the ends that were beginning to curl just slightly. His build was just as impressive from behind as it was standing in front of him. He had a casual swagger when he walked, that drew her eyes down to his backside, which she believed to be just as muscular as the rest of him. She slowly moved up his body to his shoulders that were defined and sculptured. She could see his body flex without even trying as he moved his arms back and forth as he walked. Her eyes drifted to his hands and her thoughts to what they would feel like on her body. He was so strong but she knew somehow his touch wouldn't be. It never was when they were young, she remembered fondly. He was a good kisser, although they didn't get to do their share since the relationship didn't last very long. She compared him to Allan whose kisses had become short and to the point, even during sex lately they were sometimes avoided all together.

She scanned the whole package again, her fantasy moving from his hands on her, to his whole body on her. She looked away quickly, scolding herself. 'Stop! You're just mad at Allan. He's working trying to make a good living and here you are fantasizing about another man. Steve of all people.'

"Hey."

She heard his voice and looked up as he and Craig had both stopped, looking back at her.

As she approached next to him, he put an arm around her shoulder, "Come on pokey."

They began walking again but he didn't remove his arm. She was between them as they continued on with their conversation. She felt his hand slide down from her shoulder and gently caress her back. He looked beyond her to Craig, fully engaged in a conversation about some tuna he had caught or something. He was completely oblivious to the way in which he was touching her; it was just as natural to him as walking. She on the other hand was reveling in the moment.

As they walked through the parking lot to the entrance, to her regret, he removed his hand and stepped in front of them to hold the door open. He and Craig were still talking only now it was Craig's story about a marlin off the coast of Mexico. Steve motioned to Jules, Jack and Marissa who had already occupied a table in the back.

Steve pulled a chair out in front of Carly and was laughing at Craig's hand movement as he described reeling in the fish. She waited for him to sit down so she could get to the one on the other side. Craig walked around him taking a chair by Marissa. Steve finally looked up at her.

"Are you going to sit?"

"Oh," she said surprised, "is that for me?" another trait that Allan had lacked. She had forgotten how the little things were sometimes the most impressive.

"Yes, or you could sit at the bar," he said with a teasing smile.

She took the seat, graciously bowing to him, "Thank you."

Six burgers, two orders of wings and a pitcher of beer later, they sat feeling satisfied hunger wise. Carly looked across the room at a jukebox. She reached behind her chair and suddenly realized she had forgotten her purse.

"Oh my gosh," she laughed, uneasily, "I didn't bring my purse."

Craig raised his hand, "I know the owner, he'll let you wash dishes and you could buss our table."

"I didn't bring mine either," Jules announced like it was not a big deal.

"Yes, but you have a husband here."

Steve put his arm around her, "I'll be your husband, if I have too," he volunteered like he was doing her a huge favor.

She smiled over at him with her hand out, "Ok hubby, I need some money for the jukebox too."

Jack and Craig both enjoyed that gesture.

"And they never want anything in that hand except for money," Jack whined.

"Ahh," Jules rubbed his back soothingly, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

Steve pulled his wallet out of his pocket, opening it up. He flipped through some twenties until he came to a five, taking it out. "Here."

Carly went to take it and he pulled it back.

"Only one thing you have to promise."

"What?" she asked.

"No country music."

"Do you consider the Eagles country?"

"Of course not."

She took the money and noticed a picture in his wallet of a young girl. She looked at it and then at him, wondering if he had a daughter but just never said anything. "Who is that?" she asked, pointing at the photo.

"That's Gracie. My Partner's daughter."

Carly was intrigued, "You keep a picture of her in your wallet?"

"Let me see," Jules leaned over, giving him the same surprised look.

"Yes," he wasn't sure why they thought that unusual. "She's a great kid. We're pretty close. Danny's divorced and he doesn't do water and we live on an island so I take her surfing and snorkeling. We went hiking a couple of weeks ago. This is pretty recent." He took it out, "They just had school photos taken."

Jules reached for the photo, "That's so sweet of you."

"I know, isn't it?" Carly agreed as they admired Gracie's picture. "She's adorable."

He never thought of it that way, it was just Grace, and he had just as much fun with her as she had with him.

"Ahh," Jack tormented him, "Isn't that sweet! Steve is such a sweet guy. What a sweetheart."

Craig joined in, "I bet that's a picture you cut out of a magazine. There is no such thing as a Gracie, is there? You just use it to attract women."

"Yea ok," Steve laughed, "I'm busted. Now I'm going to have to find a new strategy to use to pick up on women."

Jules handed him the picture back as she stood up, "I doubt very much that you have any problems picking up women." She motioned toward the jukebox, "They're just jealous. C'mon Carly let's see what they have for music." She turned to Marissa who had been quiet most of the afternoon. "Come with us."

Craig nudged her to go, hoping she would begin to interact more with the group.

"Ok," she said, but it sounded more like saying yes to a chore.

When they were out of hearing distance Jack leaned over the table, "So are you seeing anyone?" he smiled cunningly, "or are you seeing many? C'mon truthfully, you get laid on a regular basis don't you?"

"Oh yea," Steve huffed, "I have revolving front door and a secretary that keeps them all scheduled."

"Seriously man. Throw me a bone here. I've been with Jules since my freshman year in high school. It's no secret I've never been with another woman. You're the only guy I know that I can live vicariously through. All the others are either married, and I don't want to hear about cheating, or they're lucky if they get laid. You on the other hand, Christ they must be lining up," he snorted. He used his fingers to count off Steve's attributes, "You live in Hawaii, which is like a utopia. You're a cop, which is just as good as a firefighter. You're an ex Navy Seal. And let's not forget the obvious, you look like a fucking movie star."

Steve looked over at Craig and they both laughed over his fantasy of his life.

"I'm starting to think that maybe you want to date me, Jack," he smiled.

He got the finger for that.

"No way," Craig shook his head, "Steve's a one woman kind of guy, always has been always will be." He looked over at him, "Am I right?"

Steve lifted his hands up in defense, "I'm not saying a word. I actually kind of like both of your scenarios. I'm going to live vicariously through your perceptions."

"Seriously," Jack badgered him, "when was the last time you got laid?"

"Probably longer than you," he admitted.

Jack and Craig both gave him a look, like c'mon give us something.

He looked over his shoulder not wanting the ladies, or actually just one in particular to hear. "About two months ago. I met her at an event. She was a friend of a friend and she was on vacation from Boston. We got to know each other and spent a few days together before she left. She didn't leave a number or an address." He raised his hands, "But that's not a usual case for me at all. It was just a mutual attraction between two adults."

Jack sat back in his chair, "So you spent two days screwing each others brains out?

Steve just smiled not answering, even though that was pretty much what happened. He also didn't mention that before that it had been almost seven months since he'd been with a woman. His life wasn't like what Jack thought at all; it was more in comparison to Craig's idea. He didn't like one night stands or even the casual liaison like with the girl from Boston. It was a quick fix for an urge that any red-blooded male needed, but it wasn't satisfying emotionally. He'd spent the majority of his years traveling from country to country in uniform, but was never in one place long enough to build a relationship with anyone. Even after moving to Hawaii he'd never dated anyone that he really felt the urge to settle down with. Not that the urge wasn't there, it just didn't nag at him like he thought maybe it should have. He wanted kids, family, but that one person that could fulfill that desire just eluded him, for now.

"You know Jack," Steve started, "you and Craig, you got it pretty good too."

Jack looked over at Jules as they sorted through the catalog on the jukebox, "I know, I really lucked out with her. A majority of our friends who have been married half as long as we have are already divorced or separated."

"I have to agree. Sometimes Marissa will say or do something that makes me shake my head, but in the long run, it's really nice having someone that's there." He looked at Steve, "Jack can't back on me on this because he's only been with Jules, but when you find someone and you fall in love and I mean really fall in love. The sex is mind-blowing, better than you thought it could be."

"You're starting to sound like a woman Craig," Steve grinned.

He sat back and shrugged, "You'll see. I just don't think you've ever been in love before. It'll change you, man. You'll say and do things that you never thought you would." He glanced over at Jack for clarification, "You can vouch for me on that, can't you?"

"Hell ya," he agreed, with an annoyed look, "fucking pisses me off."

"Oh yea," Steve agreed sarcastically, "that's exactly what I'm looking for. To do things I'm against, say things I don't believe and change myself for that other person, all so I can have," he raised his fingers in quotations, "mind-blowing sex. I'll tell ya what, I'll stick with the Boston girl sex," he smiled at Jack, "because that was pretty damn good."

"I knew it!" Jack slammed his fist on the table, "that pisses me off too!"

They all three laughed over that.

"Seriously though guys, you should be pretty happy with your situation." He focused mainly on Jack, "You get to come home every night to a wife and kids who are happy are to see you. I come home to an empty house, and with my job, sometimes I don't make it home at all." He shrugged as if it weren't a big deal, "it would be nice to have what you have too."

Jack considered his life for a just a fraction of a second without Jules and his boy's, suddenly Steve's life wasn't so glamorous after all. "The grass is always greener, huh."

"Exactly," Steve replied.

Jules and Marissa came back to the table and took their seats.

Steve glanced over his shoulder, "Where's Carly?"

"Ladies room," Jules answered.

Marissa toyed with her water-glass, pouting, "We got some ok music coming on, although they wouldn't let me play any Pink."

"We only had a choice of four songs," Jules reminded her, "you chose two and Carly and I each chose one." She felt like she was talking to one of her kids.

"I know, but still, the ones you chose are pretty old."

"They're not that old!" Jules defended.

Jack put his hand on Jules knee under the table, telling her to let it go. "Anything we can dance too?"

She put hers over top of his, "Yes. Carly's and mine at least," she whispered to him. At that moment one of their selections came on. Everyone at the table knew instantly it was Marissa's choice because not one person knew the rap song that bellowed out from the speakers.

"Let me guess," Craig raised his hand and then pointed at Marissa, "her choice?"

Steve wasn't paying attention to them; his eyes were on Carly and the guy at the bar that was standing next to her as she spoke to the girl behind the bar. He could see from where he was sitting that the guy was going to make a play on her. He said something and she smiled curtly at him but kept her main focus on the bartender. He said something else and Carly slowly turned her head towards him as if what he said was ridiculous. She stared at him for a second and then slightly shook her head. The guy then turned and leaned his back against the bar with his elbow on it and slid down it so he was facing her. Carly leaned back away from him.

"Ok," Steve stood up, "time to play my role as husband again."

Jack caught on to what was happening and chuckled, "If you get into trouble over there with the local, you just let me know. I'll take care of the guy for ya," he joked.

Steve pointed at him, "Thanks buddy."

Carly held her hand up, showing the guy her ring at the same time that Steve arrived. He stood on the other side of her and put an arm around her waist, leaning over so the man could see him, "Do you need some more money, sweetheart?" he said to her but kept his eyes on the guy. "How's it going?" he said to him next.

She looked over, surprised to see him and smiled, "No, I'm just getting some darts, honey."

The guy backed off sitting back down on the bar stool, "It's cool," he said to Steve as he slightly wavered in his seat, "I was just admiring your lady," he smiled lazily.

"Pretty isn't she?" he said, knowing the guy was harmless he was just drunk.

Carly gave him a look as if telling him not to encourage him.

"She's beaufull man," he slurred.

"Yep, I'm a pretty lucky guy."

"You are!" he agreed a little too loudly, "my wife," he shook his head, "not so pretty."

Carly reached over as the bartender handed her the box of darts trying not to laugh. "Ok, all set," she looked over at Steve with wide eyes, biting her bottom lip.

"Catch ya later," Steve said to him.

"You hold on to that one now," he said, taking a drink of an empty beer.

Steve ignored him, putting an arm around Carly's shoulder as they made their way back to the table, "You little heartbreaker."

"Oh my god, shut up," she giggled, but inside she was blushing over the attention she got from Steve not the drunk at the bar. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, pulling it out. She stared at Allan's cell phone number for a couple of seconds and then ignored it, putting it back in her pocket.

Jules clapped her hands excitedly as the song came on the jukebox. "This ones ours Carly!" She tilted her head, smiling at Steve, "Do you remember the significance of this song?"

Steve listened as Angel from Aerosmith began to play. "It's Aerosmith, I know that."

Carly laughed, "I told you he wouldn't remember."

"Oh shit Steve," Jack warned him, "you're in trouble now buddy!"

Jules turned to him, "Do you remember?"

He looked confidently at his wife, "Yes! This was the first song we danced to at our Senior Prom."

She smiled, giving him a kiss.

Steve defended himself, "Hey, I may not remember the song," he turned to Carly, "but I remember the dance and I remember the dress you wore." He used his hands to describe it, "It was off the shoulders, dark blue, really thin material and it was tight until just above your knees and then it kind of fanned out, and" he continued, "you wore your hair up with these little tiny flowers in the back." He pictured her the night he came and picked her up. She was beyond beautiful, stunning was more like it.

"Wow," Craig said, "I think we all know why the song was so unforgettable, he was preoccupied with the unforgettable girl."

Carly didn't know what to say. She was speechless. He described everything perfectly, she had even forgotten about the flowers in her hair, but he hadn't. She remembered everything else about that night including their kiss. She remembered fondly running up the stairs to Karen's room and flopping down on her bed face first and then rolling over with her hands over her heart, looking up at her sister and telling her, "I'm in love with Steve."

Jack stood up and took Jules' hand, "Come on let's dance."

Craig stood up next, taking Marissa's hand, "Dance with me sweetie?" She smiled, going with him.

Steve reached out, brushing Carly's hair off her shoulder, "And you thought I forgot."

She barely heard what he said; she was still reeling over the memories of that night and wondering again as she had so many times before, what would have happened to the two of them if things hadn't turned out the way they had.

He stood up, "C'mon let's salvage what's left of this song."

She walked behind him as they joined the rest on the dance floor. He turned around and without missing a beat he took her hand and an arm around her waist and stepped into her, moving her close up against his chest. She breathed in his cologne that smelled divine. His hand gently held hers and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. That was also divine. His shoulder was the perfect height so she rested her head on it. She forgot about Allan for a few minutes and just pretended that things had turned out differently. It was her little secret.

The second he took her in his arms, he regretted it. Her body moved against his in a slow rhythmic motion. She leaned her hips into him, or did he pull her in, he wasn't sure, but it felt too good. Her small hands were soft against his rough ones. When she laid her head on his shoulder, he had to restrain himself from burying his hand in the black silk that fell over him. This was a mistake he told himself, but as the song came to a close the only regret he felt was that he had to let her go.

They took the path around the lake back to the house from the bar as the sun was slowly inching its way down over the lake. They walked in pairs, Craig and Marissa led the way, holding hands, followed by Jack and Jules that were several steps behind and who clung to each other like teenagers on a date. Steve and Carly trailed behind them about the same distance away.

"So tell me about your job in San Diego?" Steve asked.

Carly shrugged as if it was a boring subject, "I help people sell their homes, and then I help them buy a new one. Really exciting," she chuckled.

"What's the most expensive house you've ever sold?"

She knew that one right away, "I helped Keith Jermain buy a house in La Jolla a couple of years ago. That was fun!"

Steve looked over surprised, "The quarterback for the Chargers, Keith Jermain?"

She nodded, "The perks were great. Free tickets to the games," she turned to him, "and I mean great seats, up in the owner's boxes. Plus he hooked me up with some other players that were new on the team and I made some good commissions."

"Nice!" Steve nudged her, "you still like football, huh?"

"Oh yea, I try to go to a game at least once a year. Season tickets are just way too much, but its fun to catch a game evey now and then."

"You should come to Hawaii and see the Pro Bowl."

She looked over at him wondering if that was an invitation or just small talk. "That would be fun. Allan likes the games too. That's one thing we do together that we really enjoy."

He smiled, forgetting for a second that she was married. The idea of her coming to Hawaii was nice, but with her husband, the idea suddenly became not so great. He was starting to become jealous of a man he'd never met. He heard Danny's voice in his ear warning him. He looked down at the ring on her finger, and for once, listened to that voice.

"No chick flicks!" Jack requested with enthusiasm as Craig sorted through a drawer of movies.

"No way!" he glanced over his shoulder at him, "how about Iron Man?"

"I'll watch that," Jules announced.

"Sounds good too me," Carly agreed.

"Robert Downey Jr.," Jules smiled, licking her lips.

Steve sat down on the couch next to Carly, "Is he one of your free passes?"

"Number three," she held up three fingers.

"Who's number one?" he asked.

"Bradley Cooper," Carly answered for her.

He looked at her next, "And what about you?"

"Bradley Cooper is quite fine, but I'm like you. I like the guy next door."

"Really, how does a guy get a house in that neighborhood?" he said it, and then realized he had crossed the line just a little too far and tried to cover his tracks, "because I could let Bradley know."

"Hey," Jules rang out, "if he's moving into anyone's neighborhood, it's going to be mine!"

Jack hugged her from behind, "That's right baby, you keep that dream alive."

Steve glanced across the room at Craig as he gave him a look, informing him he knew exactly what the comment meant. The movie started in the DVD player and Carly grabbed a pillow and laid it back against Steve's body as he sat in the corner of the couch.

She went to lay back on him and stopped, looking over her shoulder at him. "Is this ok?" she asked innocently.

He smiled at her, "Sure." He kept one arm on the back of the couch and the other on the arm of it, so he wouldn't touch her. He looked back over at Craig with an uneasy expression as she laid back with her head on the pillow that was nestled against this body. His feelings for her were shifting and he wasn't the only one that noticed it.

By the time the credits rolled, Carly was sound asleep. Steve reached down to wake her as Craig turned the TV off and the others said their goodnights and started up the stairs. He gently shook her shoulder.

"Carly, wake up." He went to move when she rolled over, putting an arm around his waist. He growled and shook her again. "Carly."

Craig stood in front of him, shaking his head, "Got yourself in a little predicament there." He put his hands on his hips, "You kind of like it though, don't you?"

"Not really, my legs starting to fall asleep. Help me get her up."

"Don't bullshit me." He squatted down, "I saw the way you were looking at her this morning on the boat and then at the bar."

"Hey," he pointed toward her, motioning for him to keep his voice down. He whispered to him, "I think you're mistaking our friendship for something else. She's married and I'm well aware of that."

"I also think you're well aware that she could make you say things you never would, or do things you never would," he described the details of falling in love that they had discussed earlier in the bar.

Steve shook his head at him, "You make it sound like we've already done something wrong. Jesus Craig, don't make me feel guilty over something that doesn't exist."

A look of regret flashed over his face. He put his hand up, "I'm not. I'm sorry." He rubbed his fingers over his mouth; "It's just that after Mary left me for that other guy…" he shook his head, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I know you would never do that. And I know Carly wouldn't either. Forget what I said. I'm sorry."

Steve nodded like all was forgotten, but it wasn't the accusation that bothered him, it was the fact that he was right.