Dating for Keeps (7 page)

"So this whole time you've only been with me because of a bet?" Lucas looked hurt.

"No! I actually liked you. It wasn't hard to date you and I would have stayed with you regardless of whether or not I had made the silly bet. The only thing that was holding me back was the fact that you never told me much about yourself. Now as it turns out, what little bit I did no about you was fake. I fell for the guy who took me on all those fancy dates, but how am I supposed to know how much of that was you and how much was acting?  As it is, I still can't get over you speaking without the British accent. I don't even feel like I'm talking to the same person."

Lucas looked at her longingly. "Well, how did you feel about the guy who helped you move last Saturday?"

Tessa thought back to the previous Saturday and she realized that it only held wonderful memories. "I liked you then. A lot."

"Right? We got along great, and the conversation was wonderful. Other things were wonderful too," he winked at her again.

"Listen, I want you to know that despite everything else, that guy last Saturday was the real me. Not the FBI guy, not the British actor, just the real me. Can you give that guy a chance?"

"I'd like to," Tessa said slowly. "But how do we do that?"

"Well, I think we both need to start over. We've both come clean and aired our dirty laundry, but that means we kind of have to start back at the beginning." He looked at her. "I want to start back at the beginning. Clean slate. What do you think?"

"But what about your job and the assignment? Won't being with me get you in trouble?"

"No, not anymore. The assignment is done and was successful. Michael is going to be behind bars for a very long time. His drug operation will crumble without him at the helm, I am sure of that. As a matter of fact," he went on chuckling, "I've been chasing him for so long that I don't know what I'll be doing next. Anything else will seem strange. You should know though, before you commit to anything, that even if we are dating there may be times when I have to travel for work or I can't tell you exactly what I am working on. I'll always be straightforward though and won't deceive you like I did now."

"I think I can handle that," Tessa said with a smile, "As long as I am no longer part of the investigation."

"Fair enough," he said raising his glass. "I propose a toast. To us - and new beginnings."

"To new beginnings," Tessa repeated, clinking her glass against his.

"You know," she said after a moment. "I know you would like to start over, and I agree that that is a good thing, but I think there is one portion of our relationship that we can bypass."

"Oh," he said raising an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"Well," she said coyly, "We've already had our first kiss. Since that's out of the way, I don't see why we have to delay kissing any further."

She leaned across the table and her lips met his.

He leaned back and smiled at her, "You're not only beautiful, you're smart too. I think we're going to be just fine." He grabbed his jacket and stood up from the table. "You ready?"

"Where are we going?"

He smiled and took her hand, "We have a master bedroom to move you into. If I am correct, you just won yourself a bet."

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