The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson

All I’m getting done here is creating more work. Please, give me a reason to leave.”
    She laughed. “I would love to,” Jennifer replied, twisting the telephone cord around her fingers.
    “Great. I’ll pick you up about six-fifteen.”
    “Sounds fine. What movie?”
    “I’m flexible,” Scott replied. “There is a comedy, a murder mystery, three action adventures, and a Walt Disney film showing now.”
    “Who is in the comedy?”
    “Tom Hanks.”
    “Let’s see the comedy.”
    “Done. See you after six.”
     
    Scott was early. Jennifer was trying to fasten her left earring when the doorbell rang. She was wearing dress slacks and a light sweater, but the earrings were her absolute favorites, and she was determined to wear them. Her mother had given them to her on her twenty-first birthday.
    Carrying the earring, she went to get the door. “Hi, Scott. Come on in. I won’t be but a minute.”
    He smiled. “Take your time. I’m early.”
    She retreated to the bedroom. “Did the rest of the day turn out okay?”
    He came to lounge against the door frame as she finished putting on the earrings. “Tolerable. I swear the paper just grows more paper.”
    She grinned. “The stories feel like that sometimes.” She began looking for her shoes.
    “They are under the bed, Jennifer,” he commented, having spotted the black flats.
    She pulled out the shoes. “Thanks.”
    “If you have a jacket, I would recommend you grab it.”
    Jennifer nodded. She went to the closet to retrieve her leather jacket. “I don’t have anything lighter. I left my windbreaker at Peter’s.”
    “This is perfect. You may need it before the night is over.”
    “Just what do you have planned?”
    He held up his hands. “Just dinner and a movie. But it’s good to be prepared.”
    She grinned. “Oh.”
    He smiled softly. “You’re in a good mood tonight.”
    “Quite a change, isn’t it?” She smiled, offered a slight shrug. “The book is about ready to go to Ann.”
    “Does that imply that when the writing is not going so well, you’re not in a great mood?”
    “How do you feel after a day dealing with one crisis after another?”
    “Touché.” He smiled. “You and Jerry had a warning system, didn’t you? A way to tell the other when it had been a lousy day on the book.”
    She nodded. “If I told him to order in pizza, he got the message. Jerry,” she grinned, “he would unwind by practicing on his trumpet.”
    “Was he good?”
    Jennifer chuckled. “No.” She picked up her purse. “Okay, Scott, I’m ready.”
    He locked the house for her. “Any preference tonight?”
    “How about something Mexican?”
    Scott held the passenger door for her. “I know the perfect place. About fifteen minutes from here.” Rounding the car, he took the driver’s seat. They left the subdivision. “I’m glad you decided to come tonight.”
    “So am I.”
    He looked over at her, shared a smile.
    “Scott, you’re driving. Your eyes are supposed to be on the road,” Jennifer reminded him.
    “You’re a distraction.”
    “Of course I am. Watch the road,” she replied with a grin.
    The restaurant was a small place, tucked out of the general flow of traffic on a side street. “You’ll like this place, Jennifer. It has great food.” He offered her a hand from the car. As they walked to the door, his arm came firmlyaround her waist. He had not forgotten what she said about first times.
    “Watch the number of hot peppers beside the name of the dish. They will tell you how hot and spicy it is,” Scott warned her when they were seated.
    Jennifer nodded. She read the menu with interest. “Everything looks delicious, Scott.”
    He smiled. “It is.”
    Jennifer finally settled on the burritos, extra spicy.
    “You like hot and spicy?” Scott asked, surprised.
    “I love it,” Jennifer replied, raiding the bowl of taco chips the restaurant offered as a courtesy. They were homemade. And delicious.
    Scott placed the order for