"I want you."

Mary's heart thudded inside her chest. Simon's body provided the warmth she craved, his tender touch lighting the fire deep within her. Those fingers tracing her skin, teasing at what was to come. Why was it like this every time he was near? He easily melted away the cold so often flowing through her veins, bringing her to life. Being in the same room with him felt like being in another world, full of colour, passion, and life. It simply wasn't like this with other men.

Simon moved closer, his lips only inches away, the contact she desired finally within reach. At the last moment, his trajectory changed, his hot breath tickling her ear instead. "One date and you can have me."

The yes was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"Well... what I meant..." She started to clarify, explain the yes was about having him, not going on a date, but the words caught in her throat.

Before her Simon grinned like a man who held the winning lottery ticket, bright blue eyes the colour of a cloudless sky on a sunny day, dancing with delight.

What had she just done? Was she really going to go on a date with the local bartender? Be seen with him in this small slowpoke town where gossip spread like wildfire.

The way Simon beamed at her made her thudding heart pound twice as hard. She couldn't take the look, the feeling away from him. Not right now. She'd find an excuse to back out of the date later. After she got what she came for.

Simon let go of her and backed away. "You won't regret this Mary."

With the loss of the warmth of his body, she already did. She'd spent most of last night coming up with her justification for trying to seduce Simon again.

She and Hunter were not yet exclusive. She had time. But the window would close fast. She'd sleep with Simon one last time. Do all the things she'd dreamt about since their time together at the wedding. Scratch the itch once and for all. Get Simon out of her system and then give herself over to Hunter.

Hunter was her future. Simon her past. It was time to put the past in a box, tie a pretty bow around it, and put it away on a top shelf.

Of course, she'd said this before. Two years ago. The lake house had just sold, and it was her last night in Bridgetown. With the knowledge she'd never see Simon again, never return to this backwater town, she'd allowed herself one final indulgence. A treat before she went cold turkey. Above and beyond their usual routine, bending her rules. She'd let him take her back to his place. Slipped into his bed and stayed, spent the night - one fantastic night - with Simon.

It worked. Basically. She still had nights when he came to her in her dreams. Nights when only the memories of him could satisfy the beast brewing inside. Even though temptation tortured her, she never returned to Bridgetown. Never saw Simon until the day he walked into her sister's hospital room, looking hotter than ever. Once she fell into those brilliant blue eyes again, it was impossible to get him out of her mind.

So back to Bridgetown she came. Because of Simon. Who had the nerve to deny her, to no longer play by the rules of the game, to ask for a date. Which somehow, she had just agreed to. Wickedly, she tried to use her acceptance of his terms to her advantage. If she could get what she wanted tonight backing out tomorrow would be easy.

With that goal in mind, she reached out and stroked a button on his white cotton shirt. "Can I get a taste to hold me over?"

"Can I get a day for our date?"

Who was playing who here?

"The sooner the better," she offered.

Another grin. He looked so cute she wanted to kiss his face off. "How about Sunday?"

"Can't." It thrilled her he wanted to see her so soon. "Dad's coming down for dinner. Monday?"

Simon's eyes fell to the floor. "That's my night for dinner with Finn... and Emily. I made a promise."

Mary made a mental note to get the story on this promise from Emily. "Emily and Finn are headed into the city on Monday. Some appointment. I'll be all alone. Keep me company? We could do lunch."

"I don't know." Simon's right hand flew to his temple and started massaging it. "That doesn't sound like a date."

"Oh, c'mon. It's a meal. Out somewhere. I'll arrange everything. We'll make a day of it." Why was there this tingly feeling in her stomach at the thought of planning a day with Simon? "It'll be fun. Please."

When the corners of his mouth twitched, Mary knew she'd won.

"Okay. Monday. I'll pick you up at noon."

"It's a date." With those words, a thrill shot through her. They were going on a date. Like an actual couple. Mary caught herself. This was a pretense. Back to the main event. "So, now can I get my kiss?"

Simon leaned forward. Mary closed her eyes in anticipation of his mouth on hers. A soft pressure hit her forehead as Simon placed his lips against it. "I'll see you on Monday, baby."

The endearment turned her anticipation sour. "Right." The thrill of the moment lost as memories of the reason she'd never dated Simon in the first place flooded her mind. "I'd better get back to the girls." Without looking back, she bolted from his office, back to the table occupied by two old friends from town, and tried to look non-plussed.

For the rest of the evening, they returned to their regular song and dance of ignoring each other. Simon serving drinks and Mary catching up with her friends on all the gossip she'd missed in her two-year absence. Who dated who, who cheated on who, who married who. She barely paid attention, almost missed the tidbit about Tony.

"... sold his father's shop."

"What was that? What happened to Tony's father?"

Regina's curly hair bounced as she shook her head. "Died. Cancer. Luckily, it was... quick."

Yes, everyone thinks it's a blessing to have a loved one not suffer long. In Mary's case, it was far too quick. One moment her mother was arranging their annual July 4th barbeque at the lake house, the next she was confined to a bed, a morphine drip trying to keep the pain at bay. There were too many painful memories in this town. Mary drained her drink, letting the sharp alcohol give her something else to focus on.

"And what about Tony?"

"I was saying, he came back, sold his father's place in a matter of weeks and tore out of town first chance he got. Never one for sticking around long, that guy."

"No, that's for sure," agreed Mary. After all, she knew from firsthand experience.

A server she didn't recognize refreshed their drinks. Mary searched the room for the reason Simon didn't do it himself. Found him laughing with a lean brunette sitting at the bar in her plain white t-shirt and faded jeans. The woman looked perfect for him, relaxed, unpretentious, casual, fit in with the small-town crowd.

"Who's that?" she asked Regina as she pulled on the thin straps holding her tight dress up. Barely.

Her friend's dark eyes followed Mary's gaze to the end of the bar. "You mean Hope?" Mary nodded. "She owns the Cupcake Café. Came to town a few years ago." Regina leaned in as if what she was about to say was a secret. "Simon and her were an item for quite a while. Then one day, they broke up. Still friends though... maybe something more. I suspect she wants him back, spends a lot of time in here."

I bet, thought Mary. "When was this? The breakup?"

"Sometime last year. Just before his brother moved back to town." Regina licked her lips. "Finn is quite the catch. Your sister is one lucky woman. Does he have any single army buddies looking for some company?"

"Doubt it." Mary wasn't sure why, but the knowledge Simon ended his relationship with this woman about the time he came back into her life moved the lump that had formed in her throat at the sight of them together.