Angel in Disguise by Patt Marr

like he’d done something great. “I guess it’s like riding a bike,” he joked, pulling away. “You never forget even if you’re out of practice.”
    Sunny knew her ex had practiced more than most, but he had never kissed her like that. One more of Pete’s kisses and she would melt where she stood.
    “That dazed expression on your face is perfect,” he said. “I think that’s the look you’re going for.”

    That was fortunate. Dazed was all she could manage. “Do you think we’re overdoing this?” she muttered, daring a peek at the enthusiastic crowd.
    “I don’t think so. Act like I’m talking sexy to you,” he murmured, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
    It felt as if he were.
    “Where’s your gear?”
    “At your feet, I think.” Funny how a person could lose her bearings on her own driveway.
    They parted, and he hoisted her pack.
    “Looks like it’s seen some wear. Dream Date didn’t supply you with new?”
    “They offered, but I preferred to bring my own.”
    He took her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “Don’t forget to look wild about me.”
    That would be easy. With his dark hair gleaming in the early-morning sunlight, with those eyes and that smile, who could forget? What woman wouldn’t appreciate Pete?
    Certainly the crowd of teenage girls did, judging from their noisy approval. She waved to them as he slung her gear in the truck, opened his door and stood aside for her to climb in.
    “Nice truck,” she said, sliding to the middle of the seat.
    He raised an eyebrow at the way she’d left him barely enough room. “This must not be your first date in a pickup.”
    “As a matter of fact, it is, but I’ve observed. Unless they’re married, the girl sits by the guy in a pickup.”

    “All the better to cuddle up to her guy,” he agreed, climbing in beside her.
    Sunny draped her arm around his neck. “How’s this?”
    “Nice move.”
    She looked into his eyes with what she hoped was a dreamy expression. “Now, I’m going to ask you something very personal.”
    He tipped her chin up with one finger. “How personal?”
    “Very.” She loved the smell of his woodsy aftershave.
    “Ask away.”
    “Okay. Let me see. How many miles per gallon?”
    His blue eyes crinkled at the corner and his stomach shook with quiet laughter. “I don’t know. The pickup’s a rental.”
    “You rented a pickup?” She brushed a lock of soft black hair off his forehead as if she had the right. “A pickup isn’t really your choice of ‘Transportation on a First Date’?”
    “Actually, it is,” he said, nuzzling her chin, “but Old Red is kind of shy.”
    “Your truck has a name?”
    “It’s a rule. Keep a vehicle over ten years, it gets a name.”
    “I’ll have to remember that.”
    “You don’t have a pickup, do you?” he said, testing his instincts.
    “No, that was something else the girls dreamed up for me.”
    “And your favorite form of transportation is…?”

    “I have a Chevy that I drive to school and a Jaguar that was a engagement gift from my parents who thought a champagne convertible was the perfect car for Bruce’s wife.”
    “You don’t like it?”
    “No, I love it. But it’s a little hard to explain on a teacher’s salary.”
    “Still, it was a nice gift.”
    “They gave Bruce a house.”
    “No wonder he wants to stay engaged.”
    He rubbed his nose against hers before kissing the tip. She’d always thought nose-kissing was rather silly, but it wasn’t bad, not the way Pete did it. It wasn’t easy, keeping this light. Trying, she murmured, “That was a virgin nose you just kissed.”
    His stomach shook again. “Nobody ever kissed your nose before? How about this hand?”
    He took her hand and placed a sweet kiss in the palm. It was such a tender gesture Sunny nearly forgot to breathe.
    “Is our audience getting this?”
    Sunny stole a look. “There’s a cop grinning at us, and my girls are going to hurt themselves, the way they’re