A/N: Is there such a thing as an Epilogue's Epilogue? If so, then here is the latest for Passionate Kisses. These versions of the characters kept wanting a look in.

Seth lay in his bed, struggling to get comfortable. Lately, he had been-they had been (it might be ungentlemanly, but it was only fair)-indulging in behavior that was just this shy of the line he didn't intend to cross. Take tonight, for example. Their evening had begun innocently enough. If he was being honest, all of their evenings began innocently enough. He'd cooked a meal for them, as he often did, and, after they cleaned up, which now involved a fair amount of touching and a few stolen kisses, they retired to the couch, ostensibly to talk. They engaged in conversation in a somewhat desultory manner, but only, it seemed, for long enough to meet some arbitrary criteria. Then one or the other would lean in close, and...he sighed. He wasn't joking about the cold showers, and tonight's hadn't helped clear his thoughts at all.

With each passing night, it grew more difficult to leave Jessica. He had always considered himself a gentleman, and he'd never intended for things to progress quite so far between them. At least not without a proposal of marriage. Once Jessica had made her feelings for him known (and once he'd recovered), he'd made a plan. He would court Jessica properly, woo her as she deserved, then propose marriage. It would all happen according to plan. There was one factor, however, that he hadn't taken into account: Jessica Beatrice MacGill Fletcher.

She was a cool drink of water on a warm summer day. She was the crisp tang of a McIntosh in the fall. She was a stiff ocean breeze. And therein lay the problem. She had awakened feelings in him that had lain dormant-not without effort, thanks very much-for many years. He had very particular, very correct-according to him-opinions about sex and its proper place in a relationship. Sex was something to be reserved for and enjoyed within the bounds of married life. He thought of marriage as a three-legged stool, and intimacy was one of its legs. Important, but not more so than the other two legs, commitment and integrity, the three of which combined to support a strong, stable marriage. He knew he was old-fashioned, out of step with this brave new world. Jessica had adapted much better than he, and now he was beginning to wonder if Jessica found his beliefs...outmoded. He had no desire to open up that can of worms.

Kicking the covers off, his thoughts strayed once again to Jessica.

Tonight, during a break in their activities, she looked into his eyes and smiled. "I rather like this."

"So do I," Seth was too addled to respond in any way other than obvious.

Jessica smiled even more mischievously. "In my day, we used to call this necking." She kissed him right underneath his ear. "Is that what you called it?"

"A-yuh," said Seth in what he hoped wasn't a strangled voice.

She continued kissing him softly. "One of my nieces told me it's now called "making out." She kissed him again, on the side of his mouth. Seth shifted in his seat. She was driving him mad. Was she doing it on purpose? "Have you ever heard it called that?"

"No," he groaned. It wasn't that he thought sex outside marriage was wrong per se, but it wasn't right for them. But they were testing his resolve.

"It sounds rather more risque, doesn't it?"

She must be doing it on purpose. "What?"

"Making out," she said in a throaty voice that sent shivers up his spine.

"Jessica," he began.

"Yes, Seth?"

He put a little distance between them, and took her hands, which were dangerously close to his lap, in his. "This," he flapped one hand helplessly between them. "This is new to us." She gazed at him with those clear blue eyes as warm and inviting as Echo Lake in July. "And, I've been planning, you know." She looked at him expectantly. "I mean, we've only been...more than friends...for just a few weeks now. I had a plan." This wasn't going well at all.

"A plan? To do what?"

"A plan to court you, woman!"

She leaned back. "To court me?"

Must she repeat everything I say? "Yes, to court you. To woo you, Jessica. You deserve..." He was hopeless with words around her. He brought one of her hands to his lips and hoped desperately that she would understand. He wasn't sure he had it in him to refuse her.

"Seth, do you love me?"

"Yes," he said simply. Simple was always best. Perhaps he'd been overcomplicating things.

"Do you know that I love you?"

"I think so." He looked at her, a little embarrassed. "It's still hard for me to believe."

She pulled her hand from his and stroked his cheek. "Don't you think I know that?"

"I'm not sure I follow, Jess."

"The old adage is still true: actions speak louder than words. Words can be misconstrued, but actions are usually much more clear and precise. Less open to interpretation." She leaned in closer. "I hope you don't think I'm this...forward...as a rule?"

"What are you saying, Jess?"

"I'm merely proving my point about words. I've been trying to show you how I feel about you." She kissed him softly. "You're the only man I could ever feel this comfortable with."

"But those other men-"

"Were, by and large, merely acquaintances. Dance partners, escorts, nothing more, Seth. You're the first man I've kissed in a long while, and the first I've kissed like this since Frank died. It's you I trust, Seth. I wouldn't...I couldn't, with anyone else." She was silent for a moment. "I feel rather foolish now."

"Oh, Jess, no! Not at all. I'm the foolish one!" He took a deep breath. "I haven't been this close to a woman since Ruth died. It wasn't that I'd forgotten, exactly, but I wasn't prepared..." He trailed off.

"Seth?"

"I suppose it's two things, really." He hung his head. "I know I'm not...I mean I can't compare to those other men. They were all... and I'm just, well...who I've always been. You've grown. Your world had gotten larger, and mine has stayed the same. I was feeling jealous." He smiled tentatively at her. "But now, after this..." He raised his eyebrows. "Well...I didn't expect that our evenings together would end with my taking a cold shower!"

Jessica looked surprised. "Every night?"

He stifled a groan. "Every night, Jess. You can't know how much I want you, but it's not just making love with you that I want. I want it all. My plan to court you was a way of showing you how deeply I care, how much I love you. But when we're alone together, like this, it's getting harder and harder for me to leave you at night."

"It's getting harder for me to let you leave," Jessica murmured. "And for the record, I agree that my world has gotten larger. I've seen a fair bit of it since Frank's been gone. Some parts of that experience have been wonderful and exciting, but other parts have reminded me of those things I value most." She stared at him intently. "Patience. Integrity. Love. Real love," she emphasized, "not mere attraction or a fascination with the outer trappings...am I making sense?" She laughed wryly. "I'm not sure I am."

He squeezed her hand gently. "I think you've just paid me one of the highest compliments I've ever received." He kissed her cheek.

She cupped one hand against his cheek and smoothed his hair back with the other. "It's very hard to talk about this, isn't it? I mean, it's much easier when it involves other people." She patted his cheek in response to the alarmed look on his face. "Don't worry. I'm only trying to tell you that-" Her voice dropped. "That I am attracted to you. I love you, but I'm attracted to you as well. Physically, I mean." She tipped her chin and began moving her hand from his face down his shoulders and rested them on his chest. Seth leaned in to kiss her tenderly, but soon he found himself getting carried away.

He pulled away from her. "Jess, I don't want to leave you, but I think it's best if I say goodnight." He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. "Any more and I'll pass the point of no return. I don't want to put you in that position."

"What if I want to be in that position?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously, but he knew her. He knew she was feeling the same combination of trepidation and desire as he. So often he had despaired during their long friendship, but now he was grateful. Grateful for the time they'd had to grow into such a deep, abiding friendship. He knew her.

Seth brushed a hand against her cheek. "You are a terrible flirt, Mrs. Fletcher, and I wouldn't have you any other way." He kissed her nose, then stood up. He reached a hand to help her up. They embraced for a long moment.

"You're not angry with me?" whispered Jessica.

"Angry? Heavens no!"

"Disappointed?"

He drew back so they could see each other's faces. "Woman, I'm flattered." They walked to the door.

"Will you really take a cold shower tonight?"

"Tonight I might have to take two!" He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Seth.

He sighed and turned again in his lonely bed. One thing was clear. He'd need to move his plan along. He grinned to himself. After all, he could always woo her once they were married.