Kisses Sweeter Than Wine. Heather Heyford

sooner we can get back to the good stuff.”

      “Well,” she said, “I want to ask you if you’d be willing to try something called Sensate Focus Technique. It’s a process that was designed for couples with sexual dysfunction, although—”

      “Keep it down, would you?” Frantically, Sam looked around at the closely packed tables. “You want people to think I have a problem in the sack?”

      “Sorry,” she whispered loudly. “As I was saying, strictly in general terms, because IN YOUR CASE, SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IS DEFINITELY NOT—REPEAT, NOT—A PROBLEM.”

      Heads turned.

      “Jesus.” He couched his forehead in his hand.

      Red continued with her candid description. “SFT is a well-established method to treat things like, oh”—she licked her fork and waved it in the air—“erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation...” She ticked off the examples as if they were architectural styles or wedding dresses instead of the most emasculating conditions known to mankind.

      Sam leaned across the table and hissed, “Do you think maybe we could talk about this someplace else, where there aren’t thirty-seven people eavesdropping?”

      Out of nowhere, Liz reappeared. “Listen to you two. Sound like an old married couple instead of one on their first date. Will there be anything else?”

      “No,” he said, running a finger between his neck and collar. “Just the check.”

      Liz bent over to within a foot of Sam’s ear. “Don’t worry. When Scott and I first got together, he had a little problem with delayed ejaculation. You know, when men can’t reach orgasm? Sometimes they call it inhibited ejaculation. It’s not unusual for a man Scott’s age. Anyway, I sent him over to Dr. McDonald, here, and now he’s as good as—”

      “Please.” Sam stuck his fingers in his ears. He’d survived two wars, but don’t make him listen to his friend’s dad’s problems getting it up. “Stop.”

      Liz straightened her spine and drew in her chin with a hurt expression. “I was only trying to help. I’d hate for your sexual shortcomings to come between—”

      “Just the check,” Red repeated cheerfully.