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But it is so

In my entire adult life, I’ve never had a man make me feel the way Tacker does just by his mere presence While we’ve talked about serious issues and shared iether

Talked as friends

Co sessions via phone and text, especially the week he was gone for away games

That in and of itself is a breach ofis probably moot I not only can’t have an intimate relationship with him, but I also can’t have a friendship with him Not really There’s too much room for exploitation, which is e have these rules

Regardless, tonight is not a date, no matter how he makes me feel

There’s a knock onI give a quick wipe of them on my butt, which is clad in a pair of nice jeans Not the type I wear on the ranch, but skinny ones with frayed ends I tella pretty blouse and a pair of flirty wedge espadrilles doesn’t mean this is a date

Taking a breath, I send up a silent prayer for guidance and open the door

There’s no other way to say it other than Tacker is a beautiful ht him handsome But as I’ve watched his transforain—he’s simply beautiful

I don’t notice he’s got one hand behind his back before he whips it out, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers out to me

God

When was the last tiht me flowers before a date?

Never, Nora It’s never happened

And it’s not a date

“I can’t accept those,” I say, sadly eyeballing the beautiful blooms