First Mates by Cecelia Dowdy

scent of freshly grilled meat filled the air as he took a paper plate and removed their food.
    He set the plate in the middle of the table and opened a cooler and removed two ice-cold sodas. He popped the tops and gave her one of the frosty cans. Drops of moisture clung to her fingers as she lifted the refreshing drink to her lips. He suddenly clamped her wrist in a firm squeeze. “Don’t drink that yet.”
    She looked into his hazel eyes. Her soda was still raised in her arm, and warmth traveled through her wrist from his touch. “Why not?”
    He sighed as he released her wrist and raised his can of soda. “Because. Before you take the first drink, I’d like to propose a toast.” He lifted his can into the air. “To us.”
    She raised her soda. “To us.” Her voice was barely audible in the secluded park. She sipped her drink while he fixed her hot dog, just as she liked it. “You know I’m dying to know why you suddenly wanted to go on this picnic. Why did you send me those lilies?”
    He placed her hot dog on a plate and poured potato chips from a cellophane bag alongside it. He placed her meal in front of her. “You don’t like the flowers?”
    She nibbled on a chip. “I love the flowers. But I sense you have a reason for suddenly doing all of this.” She gestured toward the simple impromptu meal.
    The wooden bench creaked as he sat beside her. He pulled her hand into his and kissed each of her fingertips. “I know we’ve only known each other for about aweek and a half, but I can honestly say that it’s been one of the happiest times of my life.” He cleared his throat as he continued to caress her hand. “But, you’ve got to be straight with me. I need to know where I stand.”
    Her stomach felt as if it was full of fluttering butterflies. She sighed as she gazed into his gorgeous hazel eyes. “What do you mean?”
    His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “My co-workers took me out to dinner last night. I saw you at Raymond’s restaurant with Jordan.” She cringed as she looked away. “I know you were pretty upset on the cruise about your breakup with your boyfriend. Now I know he’s back in the picture. Are you thinking about giving your relationship with him another chance? If that’s the case, then I need to know right now. Do you still have feelings for Jordan? What’s going on?”
    She pushed her plate aside as her appetite diminished. “I didn’t have a date planned with Jordan last night.” She explained how he’d cornered her after she left her job.
    He rubbed her back and warm currents of pleasure flowed through her. “Is this dude stalking you? Maybe you should call the police. Or I can talk to him and make sure he stops bothering you.”
    She sighed as he continued to massage her back. “I went to dinner with Jordan willingly. He didn’t force me to go with him. If you’d watched us long enough, you would have seen that I got upset and left the restaurant before we even ordered dinner.”
    â€œThat’s a relief. Is he going to leave you alone now?”
    She huffed. “I doubt it. He’s very competitive. Plus, I wonder if the Lord is placing him in my path for a reason. Maybe if Jordan attends my church enough, just to pursue me, some of the messages from the sermons might make him accept Christ.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I don’t know all the details about your breakup with him, but I do sense that he’s up to no good right now, and you should watch your back.” He continued to run his fingers over her spine. “Or, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll watch it for you.”
    She swallowed as her temperature rose. She tried to calm her racing heart. Being around Winston seems to have a big physical effect on me! She moved away from his eager hand as she toyed