Wow... oh, I love this. They're making much more progress than I'd hoped for, but it's all handled very believably. They kissed! She kissed him! Even the part where she pushed him away was progress. And he's stopped being quite so terrified of scaring her with everything he says or does. smile1 So many great touches in this section -- I liked the point about how a goodnight kiss outdoors is less stressful than a kiss in his apartment.

Now I can't wait for his post-auction visit <g> You're using the auction to great effect in this story thumbsup It's allowed Lois to realize what she feels and motivated her to express it, without being any sort of direct threat.

Can't wait for more -- feel better, and have a great week! smile

PJ

"You told me you weren't like other men," she said, shaking her head at him when the storm of laughter had passed.
He grinned at her - a goofy, Clark Kent kind of a grin. "I have a gift for understatement."
"You can say that again," she told him.
"I have a...."
"Oh, shut up."

--Stardust, Caroline K