Kevin was getting good at reading her mind, and he nodded toward the dead animals. “There used to be this restaurant in New York that specialized in exotic game—kangaroo, tiger, elephant steaks. One time some friends took me there for lionburgers.”

“That’s revolting! What kind of sick person would eat Simba?”

He chuckled and returned to his trout. “Not me. I had hash browns and pecan pie instead.”

“You’re messing with me. Stop it.”

His eyes took a few lazy tango steps over her body. “You didn’t mind earlier.”

She toyed with the stem of her wineglass. “It was the alcohol.”

“It was the sex we’re not having.”

She opened her mouth to cut him off at the knees, but he cut her off first. “Save your breath, Daph. It’s time you faced a few important facts. Number one, we’re married. Number two, we’re living under the same roof—”

“Not by my choice.”

“And number three, we’re both celibate at the moment.”

“You can’t be celibate for a moment. It’s a long-term lifestyle. Believe me, I know.” She hadn’t meant to say the last part out loud. Or maybe she had. She speared a carrot coin she didn’t want to eat.

He set down his fork to study her more closely. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m kidding.” She gobbled up the carrot. “Did you think I was serious?”

He rubbed his chin. “You aren’t kidding.”

“Do you see the waiter? I think I’m ready for dessert.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“No.”

He bided his time.

She fiddled with another piece of carrot, then shrugged. “I’ve got issues.”

“So does Time magazine. Stop hedging.”

“First tell me where you think this conversation is going.”

“You know where. Straight to the bedroom.”

“Bedrooms,” she emphasized, wishing he didn’t look so grim about it. “His and hers. And it has to stay that way.”

“A couple of days ago I’d have agreed with you. But both of us know that if it hadn’t been for Godzilla’s toenails, we’d be naked right now.”

She shivered. “You don’t know that for a fact.”

“Listen, Molly, the newspaper ad doesn’t come out until next Thursday. Today’s only Saturday. It’ll take another couple of days for interviews. Then another day or so to train whoever I hire. That’s a lot of nights.”

She’d wimped around long enough, and she abandoned all pretense of eating. “Kevin, I don’t do casual sex.”

“Now, that’s weird. I seem to remember a night last February …”

“I had a crush on you, all right? A stupid crush that got out of hand.”

“A crush?” He leaned back in the chair, beginning to enjoy himself. “What are you, twelve?”

“Stop being a jerk.”

“So you had a crush on me?”