Her Two Lovers

She was in love. Not with her boyfriend. With Jon and Brian.

They were wonderful men, good souls, and of course, extremely physically appealing. She’d fantasized about them for years. The love had come gradually. Now, inside her heart, they were both omnipresent. A part of her.

She smiled into Jon’s dark gaze. “I might be able to accommodate you. But maybe we should eat first. What sounds good?”

“Well…there’s this great new place that opened up next to the gym. It’s gourmet food that’s healthy.”

“Healthy, huh?” Eve grimaced. “I don’t know, Jonny.”

He let out a laugh. “I know you’re a good Italian girl who likes her good Italian food, fat, carbs, and all. But healthy food can be delicious, I promise.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Let me show you.”

He kissed her cheek again, leaving a spark where his lips had touched.

“Come on,” he squeezed her hand, “we can walk from here.”

She sighed. She wanted to experience a date with him, after all. She just hoped she didn’t have to eat some kind of tofu burger. The last time Jon had cooked, she and Brian had sneaked out for pizza afterward.

“Ha, I know what you’re thinking.”

She smiled. “You do, huh?”

“Yeah. I do. I know every little look, every nuance on your beautiful face, Eve. Right now you’re thinking about the food I try to make at home.”

Amazing, how he could read her. Truth was, she could read both him and Brian just as well. “How did you know?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I admit I’m not much of a cook. But the chef at this new place is, I assure you. You won’t be disappointed.”

Hand in hand they walked the two blocks to the restaurant, talking about nothing in particular. Eve relished the warmth of Jon next to her. He was so big, so ruggedly beautiful. And those eyes… Though he wasn’t as talkative as Brian, Jon said so much with his dark, blazing eyes.

As Eve perused the menu at The Zodiac, she was surprised that most of the choices sounded pretty good. “How’s the Caesar salad?” she asked Jon.

“Good. The dressing is made with low fat yogurt and olive oil.”

“Yum.” Eve rolled her eyes.

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, honey.”

When her Caesar salad arrived, complete with the anchovies she’d requested, Jon’s face twisted into a grimace.

“How you can eat those is beyond me.”

“You know I love ’em.” Eve flashed a grin. “Don’t knock ’em till you’ve tried ’em.”

“I’ll pass.”

“If you really loved me, you’d taste one,” she teased, holding out her fork.

“Hairy, smelly fish have nothing to do with love.”

Eve let out a laugh before she took another bite. Banter was fun. They talked about Jon’s job, about runn

ing his own business, and Eve picked his brain about the business side of the dance studio she wanted to open.

Jon possessed brains as well as brawn. He’d run a successful training business for three years now, and Eve soaked up ideas as they chatted and ate their meals. Her entrée was remarkably tasty.

“I can help you with your business plan,” Jon said. “Have you thought about what your mission statement will be?”

What the hell was he talking about? “Mission statement?”