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right path.” She sipped her wine. “And
     that inspired me to do the same. I’m not like you. I don’t know what I have a passion
     for—yet—but I do know that I want to be free of rules, and as you said, the nine-to-five
     existence.”
    “Did I have too many rules?” he asked.
    “No, they were mine. I always behaved the way I was expected to behave. I conformed
     to what my family wanted, and what society expected. I never really took the time
     to decide what I wanted. So now, with the generous severance Mr. Ranier gave me, I have the opportunity
     to figure it out.”
    “So you’re working at a coffee shop.”
    “I don’t intend to be defined by my job. That’s just what I do to make money. But
     working there means I have variable hours and some mornings free, and it’s the perfect
     time to paint and sketch—something I never had time for in the corporate world. I
     want to shake up my life, try new things, and question everything. Seeing what you
     did inspired me.”
    He smiled. “I’m glad. So what else do you want to do?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe meet a handsome guy and do something really wild and crazy.”
    His lips turned up in a grin. “You mean in the bedroom?”
    “Oh, uh…” Ever since Jessica had told her a little about how exciting she found it
     to be dominated in the bedroom, Melanie had dreamed of trying that herself, but she
     hadn’t meant to let that slip.
    She glanced at him and his eyes twinkled with mischief. Her cheeks flushed hotly.
    “I just meant we wouldn’t do the same old boring things.” This was not making it better.
     “You know, like dates where we go to the movies or whatever.”
    As he gazed at her speculatively, she stared at her wineglass, wrapping her fingers
     around the stem.
    “I don’t intend to fall into old patterns,” she continued. “I want to push the limits
     on everything I do. At least, for a while.”
    She took the conversation back to her art, and before long, the waiter took away their
     empty plates, offered dessert, which they declined, and the bill arrived. They stepped
     out into the warm evening air and walked toward his big motorcycle.
    “May I give you a ride home?”
    “Thank you. I’d like that.”
    She climbed onto the big machine behind him and they sped across the city to her apartment
     building. Too soon he pulled up in front of the entrance and got off the bike, then
     retrieved her bag from the storage container and walked her to the glass door.
    “Thanks again for dinner. And the ride home.” She opened her purse and pulled out
     her key. She gazed up at him. “And I really appreciate you staying with me while I
     got the tattoo.”
    “It was my pleasure. You know, today I saw a whole new side of you, and I found it
     very intriguing.” He smiled warmly. “I’d really like the opportunity to get to know
     you better.”
    She gazed at his handsome face, mesmerized by his twinkling, sky blue eyes, and returned
     his smile. “I’d like that.”
    She longed to reach up and stroke his spiky, dark hair. They stood in silence for
     a few seconds and she realized he was waiting for her to open her door.
    It had been a wonderful evening and she didn’t want it to end, but she was sure as
     soon as she opened her door, he would say good night and be gone.
    “I … uh … do you think it was a good choice? The tattoo I mean?”
    “Yours or mine?”
    “Yours is gorgeous,” she said. “Do you think mine looks as nice?”
    “Yours is beautiful. I can’t believe I didn’t know you had such artistic ability.
     And you said it represents freedom. Because you’re spreading your wings?”
    She nodded. “Freedom and happiness. The bluebird of happiness taking flight.”
    He smiled. “I like that. And I like that I got to see the tattoo that only a few special
     men will ever see.”
    The warmth in his eyes sent a quiver through her. It had been embarrassing pulling
     down her top to reveal her breast with Rafe