Cat People

Available HERE

I’m a cat person, always have been. I’ve had both cats and dogs most of my life, but I’ve always had an affinity for the feline species. I love their independence. Owning a cat is slightly more a chore than owning a house plant. And when they want to cuddle then you feel super special for the attention.

Sure, my four dogs all but maul me with their loving excitement when I go outside for a few minutes then come back in. I might as well have taken a trip around the world. I love them for their undying loyalty and enthusiasm, but they also look completely put out when I’m not nearly as excited to see them. (Guys, seriously, I took the garbage out, CALM DOWN.)  Meanwhile, the cats eye me curiously, wondering if I’ve brought anything back of interest. If not, then it’s yawns and back to naps.

This is the type of person I am. Low maintenance and I value my independence.

Are you a dog or cat person? Leave a comment with email and you might win my F/F 1NS release, RescueMe!

Blurb:

When Abigail Winter’s stepsister sets her up with 1Night Stand, she can’t deny she needs a night away from the constant worry. Her cat rescue A Purrfect Home is in danger of closing, and she’s nearly out of options. Her date, Carlita, is gorgeous with soft curves that leave Abigail hungry for a taste. A perfect and passionate distraction for the evening.

Carlita Menedez is thrilled when she first lays eyes on her date, Abigail. Beautiful, and an animal lover, who more perfect for a former veterinarian? Her lithe form proves irresistible, and her kisses incredible. Their chemistry sizzles and when they come together, they find pure bliss in one another’s arms.

But disaster steals their night, and A Purrfect Home may already be lost. Will Carlita be the one person who can help Abigail save everything she’s worked so hard for?

 Excerpt:

Thunder boomed louder, jarring the windows, echoing her pounding heart. Carlita met her gaze and Abigail couldn’t resist reaching out and taking one of her ebony curls, letting the silken texture slip through her fingertips. The simple act did obscene things, a tight ache settled between her thighs. Abigail cupped the other woman’s cheek. “What do you think? Can two strangers like us have a passionate one night affair?”

Carlita’s tongue darted out, moistening her lips, her brown eyes smoldering. A tantalizing tease.

“I think it’s why we’re here, right?”

What an unsatisfying answer. She had to know for sure the other woman felt the same as she did. She stroked her thumb over Carlita’s bottom lip. “Do you want me?”

Carlita looked away and Abigail’s confidence faltered. What if the chemistry was one sided? God, it’d been years since she’d dated, and she’d never been good at reading body signals. To top it off, she was feeling pretty desperate; never a good thing while figuring someone else out. She took a deep breath, ready to back off. Carlita covered her hand with her own before she could pull away and moved the platter with the cheesecake to the nightstand.

“I want you to kiss me, Ab—”

Abigail moved before she could finish the sentence. Carlita’s lips were soft, yielding to the urgency of her kiss. She pulled her forward until Carlita straddled her thighs, the kiss deepening, their tongues meeting in foreplay. She tasted of chocolate, champagne, and desire, a delicious combination, and Abigail couldn’t get enough. Abigail stroked the smooth skin of her exposed back, feeling her muscles moving while Carlita worked the buttons on her blouse. When the other woman palmed Abigail’s breasts through her cotton bra, the heat within her bloodstream turned to liquid fire. She yanked the halter ties to Carlita’s dress, fumbling with the knot.

“Damn it.” The ties wouldn’t give. More than anything she wanted those incredible breasts free to bury her face between them. Live out one of the fantasies she’d been denied all night.

“Oh god, I’m sorry,” Carlita said as grabbed the ties, trying to help. “I didn’t want to fall out. I tightened it into a double knot.”

Abigail gave up and let her work the knot, taking advantage of having free hands.

One Night Ride

Available HERE

I’m excited for my debut 1Night Stand story, OneNight Ride!

Madame Eve knew what she was doing when she paired up these two cowboys for a date in Denver.

Blurb: Brett's ready to get back into the dating game. Now that he's done with the rodeo and focusing on his ranch, he’s ready to get back into the dating pool. Competing in rodeos across the country kept him out of the game, so when he finds out about Madame Evangeline from a friend he takes the chance.

Jace lost his first love a year ago to another guy. For his thirtieth birthday his friends decide it's time for him to end the self-imposed dry spell. They contact Madame Eve to pass on his information. Knowing his friends won't leave him alone, Jace goes along with the plan for a

one-night stand with Brett. He expected some flirting and fun. What Jace didn't expect was to find a man he might be willing to spend more than one night with.

Excerpt:

One night. Nothing more. A chance to break his dry spell.

Jace held his phone like a lifeline and glanced at the message on the screen when it beeped.

Happy Birthday, bro. Go get laid already.

Nosy, pushy friends. If he didn’t love them like brothers, he’d tell them to fuck off. Instead, he shoved the cell in his pocket and chuckled.

Go get laid. Right. Thanks to his intrusive, gossip-worse-than-a-bunch-of- women friends, he stood in a bar in Denver. Preparing to meet his date. Shit. What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to that?

People packed the bar at the Castillo Resort. Denver in the middle of winter and the best ski conditions in a couple of years, kept high-end resorts full any time of day. Tourists, regulars visiting the same winter lodges every year, and snow bunnies galore.

No, the stranger he’d planned to meet was coming for him, not vacation. Madame Evangeline, the owner of 1Night Stand, told him in the confirmation email not to worry about the location. Pay attention to the man. She’d said the match arranged would offer exactly what he needed: a way to end his dry spell. He hoped what she had said in her email and the reality of real life were alike.

Find out if Madame Eve’s email was a true representation of reality!

Author Bio:

Jennah Scott resides Kansas City, Missouri. Until she started writing she didn't know what she wanted to be. Which is why she has degrees in education, business, and medical assisting. All that uncertainty has provided her with plenty of ideas for new books. When she isn't writing she's causing trouble on Twitter, hanging out with family, or she's lost in a book. There's one thing about Jennah, there will never be a dull moment when she's around.

Contact:

Website: www.jennahscott.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jennah_scott

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjennahscott

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/Jennahscott

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/jennahscott

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jennah-Scott/e/B00B1MQ9X8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1391394567&sr=8-1

Exposing Ellen

Available HERE

By Skylar Kade

The first four dates in a new relationship are crucial. The first date measures chemistry; the second tests it. By the third date, you’re past most of the niceties and into the nitty gritty—can you sustain a good conversation? Are the manners and primping for the first date still present? Can you relax around each other? The fourth date, though…that’s always been my tipping point. After four dates, you can tell whether this guy (or gal) is going to stick around for a bit, or whether you’re calling it quits sooner rather than later.

Even if your first date is a 1Night Stand, like the women in Exposing Ellen, the four date rule holds. But after a romantic night at a Castillo Resort, what the heck are two women in Southern California going to do to get to know each other? Because, let’s face it—this is a romance and even if Ellen and Aimee get their happily for now in the book, we ALL want to know they have a happily ever after (I’ve talked to them—they do!)

On their first real date, Aimee—a professional makeup artist—invites Ellen up to Los Angeles to go to a taping of The Big Bang Theory. What, you didn’t know you could see shows being filmed live? (If you’re ever in the Los Angeles area, you can get tickets here) Since its a few hours of sitting around to film even a 30 minute show, they have lots of time to talk, hold hands, and sneak a few kisses.

Ellen came up with the next date and introduced Aimee to the Huntington Library and Botantical Gardens in Pasadena. Ellen, a library and bibliophile (naturally), dragged Aimee straight for the antiquarian books on display. Aimee would never let on that she was far more fascinating in watching Ellen ooh and ahh over the books than the books themselves.

Now the pressure was on—the first three dates were wildly successful, which made Aimee, in particular, really nervous. The fourth date had always been make it or break it for her, so everything had to be perfect. After nixing a handful of ideas, she decided to keep it simple—she took Ellen on a sunset whale watching cruise out of Newport Harbor. And if Ellen needed anything else to convince her that Aimee was a keeper, that did it.

Of course, Madame Eve knew it would work out in the end…but it took a night of convincing to get Ellen and Aimee on board with her plans. See how it all started in my new release, Exposing Ellen.

***

To celebrate my newest release (and the romance of Valentine's Day), I'm giving away a slew of F/F romance e-books!

If you haven't read these authors yet, here's your chance to discover an amazing new writer. And if you've never read F/F, welcome to an addictive new genre!

Huge thanks go out to Louisa Bacio, Kate Richards, Lucy Felthouse, Erzabet Bishop, Scarlet Chastain, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Harper Bliss, and K.T. Grant.

Entering is simple: each action below earns entries! The contest opens 2/6 and closes at midnight on 2/17, so you have over a week to rack up the entries. Each book will go to a different randomly-selected winner!

To enter, use the widget below or visit http://bit.ly/1euEgWo

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A Picture and a Challenge

Everything He Wants available HERE

by Megan Slayer

Sometimes stories are character based. I get an idea in my head of what this character will look like and act like...so I run with him. Other times, I’m given an image of what he’s going to look like. For Everything He Wants, the picture ruled. My dear friend, Stephanie Burke—aka Flash, posted a picture for Hump Day on Facebook. She tagged me and said, this totally called to me and I needed to write this guy’s story. Well, there were two guys. One had angel wings on and both were wearing what appeared to be police officer hats and aviator glasses. Immediately, two characters came to mind.

Originally Trace and Jeremy were much more flamboyant. They were there in the G-string and angel wings. But the more I dove into what made them tick, the more I realized they might have wanted to be flamboyant, but weren’t as out there as the guys in the picture.

Not a problem.

I sat down and let them talk. Jeremy is an artist and Trace works air traffic control.  Trace showed me early on that he’s a happy-go-lucky guy who loves order and knowing what’s going on. His life hasn’t been easy, but compared to some it’s a piece of cake. Then there’s Jeremy. This poor guy is hurting. His past is a mess and even though he’s tried to get beyond what’s hurting him...he can’t. But he sees a ray of light in Trace.

But how do you hook up with someone you hardly know, especially when you’ve lost their phone number? Madame Eve of course. I won’t give away too much of the plot, but Eve does her best and there are certainly sparks.

I believe love at first sight can happen and I believe second chances are very much worth the effort. What about you? What do you believe? How have you worked to get everything you wanted?

Here’s a little bit more about the book:

Everything He Wants

A 1Night Stand Story from Decadent Publishing

M/M, Anal Sex

A Short Story Available now!

Trace has almost everything he wants—a great job and a well-ordered life, but he’s ready for more—the right guy to share it with. A chance meeting after a hockey game with the man of his dreams spurs him on to turn to the one source he knows will help him out—Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand service.

Jeremy can’t forget the difficult childhood and subsequent bad decisions he made while trying to forget it. He wants the gorgeous air traffic controller, but he’s afraid his past will get in the way like it always does. If all Madame Eve can give them is one night…he’ll take it.

With Eve’s help, can the men forge the relationship they both want, or will they crash and burn?

And a hot excerpt...because I can!

   Jeremy sat in the back seat of the cab and swayed forward as it came to a quick stop opposite Club Ramrod. What a crazy name for a club. Then again, what a crazy place to meet his date. He checked the messages on his phone one more time. Sure enough, the same email from Madame Eve popped up.

   Your date awaits you at Club Ramrod, located next to the Mason Players Club Hotel. Look for yellow by the bar and you will find your heart’s delight. Tell the bouncer Eve sent you.

   He sighed and paid the driver with a shaky hand. His mind wouldn’t stop racing. What the hell did I get myself into? Sure, the club scene worked for him, but he hated the grind. Hated the clawing bodies and hangers-on. Crossing the street, he took his place in line. Maybe no one would recognize him. Finally reaching the club entrance, he dropped Madame Eve’s name to the bouncer.

   The hulking man nodded and shuffled him to the bar. “Don’t cause a fight.”

   Don’t cause a fight? Did he look like the type to cause trouble? Well, I did change my hair from green to blue tips. Jeremy snorted. Whatever. He scanned the crowd in the massive black and white bar. Men talked and laughed, some cuddled each other or sat on each other’s laps. At the far end, he spotted a flash of yellow. His heart pounded faster and his mouth went bone-dry.

   “No way,” he murmured, nibbling on his lip piercing.

Trace Robeson, the man who featured in every one of his naughty fantasies, clutched a beer and hooked his thumb in his jeans front pocket. The man oozed classy sex. A faded T-shirt cradled his body like a second skin, giving teasing glimpses at the chiseled flesh underneath. His ripped jeans cupped and outlined his package and showed off his natural tan to a T.

    Jeremy wobbled on his feet and thanked the gods, or Madame Eve, or whoever, for granting him his wish, and strode across the club. Making eye contact with Trace, he grinned.

   “Hey, man. Good seeing you here.” Trace offered his hand.

   “Yeah. It’s nice to see a friendly face.” Jeremy gestured the bartender for a beer. “I’m here to meet my destiny.”

   “Are you....” Trace didn’t finish.

   “Your date?” Jeremy replied. “I’m looking for a man in yellow. Don’t see too many others rocking that color, so….” Christ, he sounded so lame.

   “I was told my date would find me.” Trace matched his smile. “Want to dance?”

When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.

When she’s not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school. She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best. The cabana boys are willing to serve, unless she needs them. She always need them. So be nice to Javier or he will bite--on command.

She also masquerades under the name Wendi Zwaduk as well.

Megan’s site: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Megan’s blog: http://theauthormeganslayer.blogspot.com

Megan on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meganslayer

Megan on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer

Megan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theauthormeganslayer

Megan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

AuthorGraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MeganSlayer 

Remembering Romance and Starting Over’s Second Anniversary

Starting Over available HERE

By Starla Kaye

When I was first married (what seems like a gazillion years ago), I loved creating special romantic nights for my husband and I. He is an accountant now and was studying to become one back then. Accountant type should immediately give you a certain expectation: on the boring side at times.

Actually it was, and still is, more that he has no imagination outside of the accounting world. That doesn’t mean I don’t love him dearly. But the “fun” stuff and special nights have always been basically up to me. Of course, he has always been more than pleased to join in. From my experience, men are really not all that complicated when it comes to romance/sex. You even hint at offering and they are all over it.

I can’t believe that it has already been two years since Starting Over was published as part of the 1 Night Stand Series. In celebration of this special event, I want to share with you a look into Corbin and Matt’s life as it is now. It’s something just for fun because I love looking back at my characters.

At this time Corbin and Matt are settled into their relationship. Life is good for them, their businesses more successful than ever.

Matt’s love for the man who has trusted him to guide him into the world of male loving is so strong that he worries about something happening to ruin everything. This is their second anniversary of finding one another. Neither he nor Corbin are particularly sentimental, but he wants to do something extra special in honor of this moment in time that changed their lives. Corbin has been exceptionally busy these last few months. He drags home after long days at the office. He isn’t eating right. Tossing and turning at night as he struggles with work-related details is far too common, leaving them both tired the next morning. And all they seem to have time for lately is a quick brush of the lips before Corbin races out of the house. Sex has become little more than a fading memory.

Today that all changes.

***

Corbin sank into his desk chair with a heavy sigh. Yet another lunch meeting done with. Thank God. He was so damn tired. If he kept up this crazy schedule, he didn’t think he’d survive. Matt. The man was a saint, putting up with all of it, putting up with him. Corbin couldn’t remember the last time they’d…

Best to not go there. He sure didn’t have time for thinking about sex. Certainly not for enduring the hard-on he got whenever he even thought about Matt in that way.

He forced his mind back to business. He hadn’t had a day free in over two months. It felt like there hadn’t been an hour free of client meetings, staff meetings, or meetings in connection with the complicated merger his firm was involved in. Some days he thought he even needed to schedule time to go home and drop exhausted into bed. And wasn’t that just pitiful!

Resigned to spending the rest of this Friday afternoon and night in August in some kind of meeting, he flicked on his monitor and pulled up his calendar. There had to be a mistake. Every hour for the remainder of today clear up to midnight was filled in with GYSAH. What the hell?

He looked down at the midnight spot and leaned forward to see the words more clearly. GYSAH: Get Your Sweet Ass Home.

He smiled, feeling immediate pleasure and relief. His work day was finished. Matt had seen to that. Matt had found a way to get them time to be together. Corbin should have marked time off for his lover himself. But he wasn’t going to waste any more precious time worrying about feeling guilty. He was out of here!

I had originally planned to go into more of their romantic night together, but now I’ve decided to just leave to your own imagination.

CONTEST: To celebrate this happy anniversary for Corbin and Matt, I am giving away a KamaSutra Weekender Kit for spontaneous romance to one lucky commenter. The contest ends September 1. Please leave your email address.

Dirty Love

DIRTY LOVE

A 1Night Stand story by Olivia Starke

Buy Links HERE

With Decadent Publishing’s popular 1Night Stand series, the most unlikely pairings are put together by Madame Evangeline, 1NS owner. Though her clients originally plan one hot night of passion, she has other ideas for a happily ever after.

I can’t pin down what inspired Dirty Love. I was blessed to have come up with a title first (nothing’s more frustrating than drawing a blank on a title!) and I wrote the story around it. I’ve thrown in some vampire and werewolf fun BUT I don’t let on who is what in the beginning, you have to read to find out.

I admit Kat and Jared are an odd couple, and even more so as you move through the story. I enjoyed throwing together two people who shouldn’t have ever met, and playing with their lives. It’s the author sadist in me. Kat is a fiery woman with a devil may care attitude, while Jared is conservative and cautious. Party girl meets computer nerd, or to paraphrase Jared, a fireball meets a wet towel.

Don’t get me wrong, Jared is hot. Physically fit, with a libido which can rise to meet any challenge, he won’t disappoint.

BLURB

Kat goes on the prowl looking for a one night stand to rile up her new friends. A little shock and awe to keep her sane in a life no longer hers. When she’s matched with Jared through 1Night Stand, he seems perfect for her plans. Conservative, sweet, and sexy as sin, she’s ready for one hell of a ride.

But Jared is more than she bargained for—much more. And when her plans for amusement turn dangerous will the two find a way to stay alive?

EXCERPT

  “Come on.” She winked. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “I thought these things were urban legend. I never imagined I’d see one in real life.”

  His date’s gaze glimmered with mischief. “There are lots of big hairy surprises out there for those brave enough to search for them.”

  “Like you, for one.” He cleared his throat. “Except for the hairy part. I hope, anyway.”

  A slight blush colored her cheeks, and he brushed his knuckles over the soft skin there. Shadows marred the smoothness beneath her eyes. Had she been sick? Or maybe her party girl lifestyle drew out too much. She stepped back.

  “Cowboy up, sugar.” She grasped his hand and pulled him forward, again surprising him with her power. Under the softness of her curves lay a fair amount of muscle. He swallowed. She could ride him without tiring, take his maddened pounding for hours. It’d take all night to spend the pent up energy boiling in his veins. He’d passed the point of return; jerking off wouldn’t satiate his needs. Without sex, and soon, he’d run howling through the streets, a crazed animal.

  After taking an elevator to the basement level of the parking garage, she led him to a red door and rapped on its freshly painted surface. Dark corners closed in on them. The hairs on his arms and neck rose. He sensed being watched. More cameras. Were as many inside? And maybe a live Internet feed his family could run across in some improbable way?

  Don’t create imaginary monsters. He squared his shoulders.

  A partition slid open. Dark eyes narrowed, focusing on Kat who lifted a pale brow. The panel slammed closed, and Jared let a small sigh slip. Could he be off the hook? This night had turned out to be more than he’d bargained for, leaving him ready to tuck tail and run. Find somewhere else to indulge his feral wants with his date. The door swung open, and the odor of incense assaulted him. His escape option evaporated.

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BIO

Olivia Starke calls the Ozarks home. One of the most beautiful areas in the country, she loves hiking trails with her dogs, kayaking on the numerous waterways, and enjoying southern Missouri's fresh air and sunshine.

She's also 'Mom' to four dogs, a growing number of kitties that show up at her door, and four VERY spoiled horses that do little to earn their keep. Not that she'd ever hold that against them.

She's a HUGE fangirl of Doctor Who and to a lesser extent, Supernatural, and has a pretty interesting love triangle (or square?) going on in her head between the Doctor and the Winchesters.

(Cowboy Dreamin’) – Back to cowboys

by Starla Kaye

I am thrilled to announce that I have a new contract with 1Night Stand for Cowboy Dreamin’. My first two books with 1NS didn’t have cowboys, nor did my Edge book, but my gay romance that wasn’t part of a series, The CEO and the Cowboy, got me back to writing about some of my favorite men: cowboys.

Cowboy Dreamin’ not only has one cowboy hero but two, plus a spunky heroine.

Kendra Barlow has a lousy good track record with love and romance, and she doesn’t have time in her life to try again. That doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize about it. Her dreams always include a hunky cowboy showing her a real good time in bed or out of it. And she envisions him eventually coming to her wearing a white hat, riding a white stallion, and carrying her off to a Happily Ever After.

But those are all dreams. It won’t ever happen to her, especially if she never even dates a cowboy.

Then her best friend convinces her to at least try Madame Evangeline’s matchmaking services for one special night with a cowboy. Kendra is resistant, unsure if she wants to have reality ruin her fantasies. What if he’s a jerk? What if he’s a real disappointment? What if….

But Madame Evangeline goes that extra step for Kendra. She makes an arrangement with two cowboys! They’re ranching partners with emotional baggage of their own. The Kansas cowboys are totally out of place when they come see her in Kauai. They are denim-wearing, six-packed, absolute stud muffins in low-tipped Stetsons. And they are hers! For one night only, God help her.

I had such fun writing about my purple-haired heroine who shakes up Shane’s and Carson’s lives from the moment Kendra comes hip shimming in a pink grass skirt into their world. Nobody gets what they expected. And nobody cares. 

Ann Mayburn Book Bundle - It Could Be Yours!!

Buy Ann Mayburn Book Bundle HERE

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Love and Romance is Everywhere

Buy Starting Over HERE

by Starla Kaye

I was trying to figure out what to write this time and then decided to go with my favorite topic: Love and Romance. Duh, it’s what I read, write, and enjoy observing in the world around me. And I’m pretty sure I have that in common with the readers and Decadent authors, who handle the subject so well.

As a long-time observer of people, I have witnessed so many beautiful romantic moments. Those “ahhhh” moments that stick with you. Yes, there are a lot of sad moments in life, too, but I prefer not to dwell on them. I’m all about that HEA (Happily Ever After) or even the HFN (Happy For Now). My two stories with 1 Night Stand, Maggie’s Secret Wish and Starting Over, are examples of special people finding their HEA. Starting Over could possibly be a HFN story, but I prefer to see my guys as living happily together the rest of their lives.

Sometimes I let my mind wander and think about how my characters could continue on with their lives together, go through the ups and downs of life, but stick together on into their older years. Or sometimes I write short stories strictly abut older relationships and that special love few younger people take the time to consider. It is easy to think romance and romantic relationships only revolve around people in their 20s and 30s, because most romance books focus on that. So not true. There are some amazingly beautiful older romances.

As an example of this, I want to share part of one of my older romance stories, “A Special Night.” I hope you enjoy it and I hope it reminds you to look a little deeper at the relationships around you.

Ted glanced with frustration out the picture window in the living room. Dark clouds tumbled across the sky as they had done for most of the day. They had spit snow off and on as well. If any night was made for staying in where it was warm and toasty, it was this one. His seventy-five-year-old body wasn’t really up to getting out in this mess.

He shoved the thought aside and yelled, “Are you coming, Marie? It’s almost five o’clock.” Not that it was such a late hour, unless you were used to settling in for the night about now.

“What’s your hurry, old man?” his beloved wife called back, using the “endearment” she used when he tested her patience. He smiled fondly at the notion. They’d tested each other’s patience for a whole lot of years and he hoped to be doing that for a whole lot more.

“Just dab on your lipstick and let’s go.” He knew she’d be rolling her eyes at him for that.

Any other night Ted would just as soon have stayed home, tucked into his well-worn recliner, TV tuned to whatever ballgame was on that day. But tonight was different. When Marie had gone next door to visit their neighbor earlier, he’d set the DVR and called Trombolli’s Restaurant, the best Italian food in town. He’d even arranged for one of their special corner tables. He was darn proud of himself for all of it, too. Mr. Romantic, he was not. Today was different, though.

She stepped into the living room doorway. “Usually I have to practically drag you kicking and screaming out any time after three in the afternoon.” Her expression mirrored confusion. “What’s up with you? Not that I’m opposed to going out.”

Patience. A man had to have patience with a woman, and didn’t he know that well after all these years. “What’s to understand? I said we’re going out tonight and we are. Now, get your coat and hat. It’s cold outside.”

The urge to question him more flashed across her time-wrinkled face. A face he loved to look at any time of any day. He didn’t even really notice the wrinkles she complained about. All he saw was the woman he’d married fifty years ago, the one who still took his breath away.

She shook her head, smiled in resignation, and moved to where he had her black leather coat with the big fur collar that she loved so much draped on the arm of the sofa. For a second, he missed the woman who had once seemed to challenge him over every little thing. Her spirited Italian temper had mellowed over the years, especially this last year. She’d started forgetting things more, too. Her health had gone downhill as well. His heart ached with the knowledge that they might not have a lot of time left together.