Page 40 of Floating Into Love

A little devil on her shoulder said, “You’re already half in love with him.You pine for him.You’ve baked a thousand cookies.Do it.Let him love you.”

Why not?Her other mental voice, the one that always urged caution, agreed.Do it.

He squeezed her fingers lightly, bringing her back to the conversation.

“Wanda Irvin, I want you to be part of my future.Maybe we aren’t meant to be together forever, but I’m betting we are.Give me the benefit of the doubt.Take me back.”

She raised an eyebrow at that.They’d never been together.

He grinned apologetically.“Okay, I admit, in my mind, you were my girl for the entire trip.You and me.Partners.I want to try that in the real world.I want to date you, get to know you.See how we fit.Then, I want to marry you and have ten kids.”

“Six,” she responded without thinking.“Ten is too many.”

“Agreed!”He jumped on her error with a gleeful grin.

The man was irresistible.Probably because she didn’t want to resist him.She considered his words.Then she thought about his serious and seemingly honest entreaty, and his vow to give up his cushy job.

“I have conditions.”

He nodded.“Anything.”

“First, all date expenses are split evenly.Second, you stop trying to spoil me.”He winced at that one, so she raised an eyebrow at him.

“I agree to the first.I’ll do my best on the second.”He crossed his heart.

“Third, you work normal hours.”

“Agreed, except in emergencies…when my staff actually need me, not when I just don’t want to be excluded.It’s hard to give up control, but I’ll try.”

“Fourth, —”

“How many conditions are there?”he blurted, laughing as he asked.

“As many as I want.”

He made a ‘go on’ gesture with his right hand.

“Fourth, there will be kissing.Lots of kissing.But no sleeping together.”At his crestfallen expression, she added, “Yet.”

He leaped forward and drew her into his arms.“I agree to all of it.Though that final one better not last too long.You are a temptation.”He looked down at her, his expression changing from joy to seriousness.“I am going to kiss you now,” he winked, “unless that’s against the rules.”

“I think I’ll allow it.”

Allow it?Hell, she couldn’t wait.She was half in love with him already, and she had a hunch that they’d be good together.Somehow, she just knew Eric Varner was her soulmate, and she was ready to step forward into life together.