LEAVING ON SATURDAY MORNING is hard, but not awkward. After our outing into the snow, we spent the rest of the day in bed and ordered room service for dinner. I used more than half the box of condoms, and told Danny I must have lost part of my groove because they all should have been gone. She got embarrassed and hit me with a pillow. We used one more condom after that.

I drive her to her apartment and walk her up. I kiss her at her door, and refuse when she invites me inside. There are so many things I want to say, but I say none of them. I had things to do in order to make Danny part of my life for good. I leave her after another long kiss.

I pull over about ten minutes away from her apartment and send her a text.

Date next Thursday? I feel like an idiot that I hadn't asked her before I left the apartment. Her text comes in a few minutes later.

Sounds good. Can I cook you dinner?

Perfect, see you at six.

I get back on the road. Danny cooking will fit perfectly into my plans. I need to keep her away from my house until I'm ready.

After work Wednesday and a late workout, I decide to stop by the tavern and grab dinner. I missed lunch, due to a phone conference. It didn't snow today, and one of the early college football bowl games is playing on television, all of which guarantees the tavern will be busy. It's packed. I see Mike with his wife and kids, and stop to talk.

"What's happening?" Mike asks as he grabs one of his younger kids from across the table next to his wife, swings her up and over, and plops her in his lap. Ruby, Mike's wife, slides over to make room for me.

I wink at his wife, who is cutting up food into small bites and separating them on assorted plates. Their oldest is ten, but he's not with them. I'm guessing he's at some kind of ball practice. Once we're all situated, I answer Mike's question, "I had a long day and thought I'd catch the game and have a beer before heading home."

"The rumors are still pretty hot and heavy about you and Danny. You want to make things clear, so we don't spread unsubstantiated gossip?"

Ruby adds to Mike's question, "Yeah, when Danny walked in with her friends, I heard them razzing her."

"She's here?" I say as my eyes scan the tavern. I see her and her friends in a booth farther back in the bar area. Danny is smiling, and listening to something one of them says.

"Excuse me, I have something to do." I stand and walk to Danny. She notices me when I'm about five feet from the booth. "Hi, ladies," I say as I head straight to Danny. Their necks crane and their eyes follow me as I stop next to her, bend down, and kiss her cheek. "Do you mind if I pull Danny away for a few minutes?" I say to her friends, my eyes on her. Her cheeks are flushed and her lips pressed together, letting me know she isn't pleased. I take her hand and keep it in mine as I pull her from the booth and head to the hallway in the back.

"I'm going to kill you," she grinds out as soon as we're no longer within earshot of her friends.

We hit the hallway, and I tug her arm and swing her around so her back is to the wall. I release her hand and bring both my arms up next to her head and rest my palms against the wall.

I'm looking at her lips while she continues, "What happened to keeping you and me quiet?" she demands.

She smells good and I move in closer to her neck. "You talked about rumors. I just made those rumors fact." I rub my thumb against the hair held tightly against her head by her ponytail. "I've missed you, Danny girl."

Her lips press tight together again, and I have a feeling she's about ready to douse me with some Danny temper. This isn't what happens. Her voice drops. "You haven't called."

She's hurt, and I realize I should have fucking called her. I thought about it, but wanted to give her space. My girlfriend knowhow is most likely a lost cause. "We're going on a date tomorrow," I say, and give her sealed lips a light kiss.

"Glad to know it's still on," she snaps.

I take advantage and deepen the kiss. The first one is soft, because I think I only need a small taste. I'm wrong. I need a lot more.

"Excuse me," a woman says as she walks by us and heads to the ladies' room.

"I'm really going to kill you," Danny grumbles.

I lean in and give her another quick kiss. "I need to get back to Mike. He was asking about the rumors, so I thought I would show him the truth." I reach over and pull the tie from her hair, so it falls. I smooth it out, so it hits her shoulders.

"What are you doing, Van?" Her voice is almost desperate.

"Making more rumors." I grab her hand and lead her back to her friends. At the table, I kiss her quickly on the lips and turn away. "Bye, ladies," I say over my shoulder.

Ruby has a huge smile on her face when I approach their booth. I grab a fry off her plate, and munch it before she can stop me. I look at Mike. "Not a rumor, it's all true. Danny and I are together."

"I can see that. Does Danny know? She didn't look too happy with you."

Ruby slaps my hand when I try to steal another fry. "We have another date tomorrow night," I tell them.

Ruby pushes a to-go box in front of me. "Here, have Dillon's. You can order another for him before we leave."

I open it and see chicken tenders and fries. It works, so I start eating after adding ketchup.

Mike looks over to the table where Danny is. I glance up, too, and several of her friends are looking our way. I give them a smile.

"Danny looks good with her hair down," Mike smirks.

Ruby throws a napkin at his head.

"She does, doesn't she?" I wink at Ruby.

I seriously can't wait for tomorrow's date.