After Love by Kathy Clark

to be out late, so I’d just be eating alone….” She looked down at the ground and shuffled her cowboy boots in the dust. “It’s Saturday….Of course, you probably have plans….”
    Nick stepped closer and hooked his finger under her chin, lifting it until she was forced to look into his eyes. “I was hoping you’d ask. I love lasagna.”
    Nervously the tip of her tongue moistened her top lip, completely unaware of the reaction the act had on Nick. Hell with the lasagna. He wanted to taste Jamie, to kiss those lips and strip her clothes off piece by piece, savoring every revelation of bare flesh.
    He must have telegraphed his feelings to her because her attitude changed. She studied him with a curious expression that he couldn’t identify.
    “Let’s go inside. I’m starving.” Jamie unclipped Harley’s leash. “Harley, go pee.”
    The dog trotted around the yard, his nose to the ground as he searched for the perfect spot. When he found it, he squatted and did his business.
    Nick was horrified. “What the fuck? He pees like a girl.”
    “That’s because he’s been trained not to lift his leg. Service dogs can’t go around tinkling on posts and furniture.”
    “Are you kidding?”
    “No, it’s to help make them more socially acceptable in public situations.”
    As Nick considered her answer, he could see the logic in it. But it was emasculating, and he felt sorry that Harley couldn’t just be a dog. However, that would mean he couldn’t be Nick’s partner. They were both making compromises for their jobs.
    Nick followed Jamie into the house. “Is it okay if Harley comes in?”
    “Are you kidding?” Jamie snorted. “Look around. Dogs have the run of this place. Just not on the furniture.”
    Harley was standing on the porch, waiting for an invitation. As soon as Nick opened the screen door, the dog trotted in as if he belonged there. He stretched out on the cool tile floor in the kitchen and snoozed while Jamie and Nick worked together to prepare the meal.
    Jamie handed Nick a bottle of wine to open.
    “Is this the feed-store wine?” he asked as he twisted the corkscrew in.
    “No, this is the good stuff. I got it the last time I was in Austin.”
    Nick’s dark eyebrows lifted. “Wow…what’s the occasion?”
    “Your graduation.” She watched as he poured the red wine into the jelly jars she had put out for him. “And I have a proposal I want to discuss with you.”
    “Shoot.”
    Jamie took a sip of wine and shook her head. “Not yet. After dinner.”
    Of course, that planted seeds that bugged him throughout the rest of the meal’s preparation and even when they were sitting at the table, enjoying the homemade lasagna. What could she possibly want from him? Maybe she just wanted him to give her a reference or a good review. Hundreds of possibilities tumbled through his mind, distracting him so much that he was barely able to carry on a conversation.
    But he was able to eat, and when his plate was cleaned for the second time, he leaned back in his chair and groaned. “Is there anything you’re not good at?” he asked.
    “Oh, lots of things,” she answered with a laugh. “You just haven’t been around me long enough to find out.” She stood and started gathering up the dirty dishes.
    Even though dishes weren’t really his favorite chore, he jumped up to help her.
    “I can get these,” she protested.
    But he didn’t take no for an answer and insisted on helping her load the dishwasher. She rinsed the dishes and handed them to him, and he placed them in the racks.
    As they stood side by side in front of the sink, Nick was very aware of her every movement. Their arms brushed against each other, and every time she passed him a dish, his hand lingered longer on hers. He wished they had had more courses, but all too quickly the dishes were loaded and the table, sink, and countertop wiped off.
    Jamie looked around, checking to make sure everything was put away. She saw that there