Page 43 of Just Beachy

My chin goes up. I am not that pathetic teenager anymore. “All I know is that we have sex whenever possible, but we’ve barely gone out in public together.”

“We’re in public here,” he points out. “We’ve been in Harley’s together. I’ve eaten dinner with you at Grand’s. It’s not like weonlyhave sex.

“But you’re right. We have leapt over some very important steps in building a relationship. And we’re going to rectify that right now.”

I check to see if he’s teasing but he appears completely serious. “Want to do ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to decide who gets to plan our first official date?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I get to plan it because it was my idea.”

“Okay,” he concedes with mock reluctance. “But it can’t be anything embarrassing, or overly girly.”

“Who me?” I ask with the most innocent look I can manage.

Twenty-One

“I guess I should havebeen clearer about what most men might consider ‘too girly.’ ”

“I don’t know what you mean.” We’re at my favorite nail salon with our feet plunged into warm, scented, swirling water. Sarah and Angela, my favorite nail technicians, are taming our cuticles while Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Adele, and Dolly Parton play on the sound system.

Other patrons sneak looks at Luke as if he’s “eye candy” provided for their entertainment, and I suspect if he were willing, the salon would payhimto come back then quietly spread the word to their best customers.

“You owe me big time,” he says with an exaggerated sigh as our hands are dipped into warm paraffin three times then slipped into heated mitts.

“It’s heavenly, isn’t it?” I practically purr. “I knew you’d enjoy this.”

“That was not my happy sigh. And while I appreciate Sarah’s skill as a manicurist, this is not a ‘date’ I would have agreed to.”

“Which is exactly why I decided to surprise you. Sometimes you just need someone to help you push your boundaries a little.”

“I’m as open to new experiences as any man, but I can’t help noticing I’m the only male here.”

“And I can’t help thinking that if you would relax and give this a chance, you’d enjoy it.”

Sarah looks up at us. “Lots of men have manicures and pedicures on a regular basis. Sometimes they come with their girlfriends or wives. Many times, they come on their own. Because if you’re man enough not to feel emasculated by the idea, it can be quite relaxing. And hygienically, it’s good for you to keep your nails clean and trimmed.”

After this faultless explanation, Luke flashes Sarah a smile and thanks her profusely when our appointment ends.

Afterward, I drive us to Woody’s on St. Pete Beach for dinner, where we grab a table outside and watch boats go by as we wolf down our food. Then I drive us a bit farther down Gulf Boulevard to Larry’s Ice Cream, where we choose cones filled with scoops of their duly famous homemade ice cream, which we lick contentedly on the way to Luke’s. Our good night kiss is cold and creamy and eminently satisfying.

Once I’ve pulled into Grand’s driveway, I check her mailbox and find it empty. Which is when I realize thatalthough I’m not the one who always checks, I haven’t seen so much as a postcard or letter lying about since I moved in.

I find Grand at the kitchen table sipping a cup of tea and plop down across from her.

“How was the mani-pedi experience?”

“Let’s just say it was not a hit and I’m a little concerned about what kind of date revenge he might be planning.”

Grand snorts and takes a long sip of her tea. “Paybacks can be hell,” she says. “But I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when he realized what you’d planned.”

I laugh. “Itwaspretty epic. You should have seen all the other customers eating him up with their eyes.”

“Ha!” Grand says. “The salon should payhim.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Did you manage to get any pictures or video?”

“Unfortunately, no. My hands weren’t available to me at the time. And I suspect he would have bailed immediately.”

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