LOVE is irresistably tempting,now its given way for affaira,flings

Most days I take either the train or bus to work. Today I took the bus and as I sat in my seat this morning, staring out the window (that's all I can do on a bus since I get sick reading) I noticed Hot Guy lined up to get on at the stop after mine. He was so cute—maybe in his late 20s with a six o'clock shadow (a littler heavier than 5 o'clock, sort of a la Brad Pitt). He had on this cool suit, but no tie. Now yes, I'm married. And yes, I'm happy. But in my head, for my 35 minute ride, I was going to have an affair of the mind with Hot Guy, who was now boarding. I looked up at him and in my mind I pleaded, "Oooo sit next to me!" Thankfully, my subliminal message flew right over the extra-large girl who had so many bags she looked like she was running away from home, and landed directly into Hot Guy's head. And he sat down next to me. Over the course of the next 30 minutes, I just stared out the window, listening to love songs, fantasizing about Hot Guy courting me, Hot Guy and me laughing over a bottle of wine, Hot Guy and me having a passionate kiss in the rain, all wet and sexy. I surreptitiously turned my engagement ring around, but I suspect Hot Guy already spied it. Then all of a sudden Hot Guy sneezed.

"Bless you," I said, breathy and sweet, conjuring up my pre-married, flirtatious self. I even batted my eyelashes—a little.

"Thanks," said Hot Guy.

Inside, I was bubbling with delight! Of course Hot Guy was completely taken not only by my coquettish demeanor, but he was thoroughly turned on by my impeccable manners! If only we weren't on the bus. If only we were somewhere else, like, oh, I dunno, Spain. If only I wasn't spoken for. If only....

I picked up on the sexual tension that was mounting between us somewhere around Exit 7. Then I quickly changed my thought—obviously, I was mistaken. Why would Hot Guy have sexual tension for me? Clearly, I'm married. I had a coffee stain on my rain coat. I was listening to the Karate Kid Soundtrack on my iPod. I'm a homeowner for crying out loud! I'm a total dork!

But when the bus pulled into our final destination, Hot Guy, who had the aisle seat, stepped back, held out his hand, and said, "After you" with a smile only Hot Guy could smile. I walked down the aisle secretly elated, knowing that if I were single, if I were looking for a man, if I didn't have darling Dan, I could have Hot Guy. Mission accomplished.

I felt Hot Guy follow me through the bus station, but I knew we had to part ways. I started to lag, and stopped in front of a store window. I turned my head to watch Hot Guy pass me. "Good bye Hot Guy," I said to myself. Perhaps in another lifetime, we will meet again.

Platonic LOVE/FRIENDSHIP....FLINGS CAN THEY BE PLATONIC?

A friend of mine—who've I've mentioned in the blog before—is getting married this weekend. But on a business trip a few weeks ago, she had what she's referred to as her "last platonic fling." Basically, she met a C list celebrity, spent the night flirting with him, and got all tingly inside,. But did not pursue anything more—not even a kiss. Even though she wanted to. Even though she still thinks about him. She admits that had she been single (and not so in love with her fiance) she totally would have made out with this guy. But her platonic fling has lifted her mood for a the past coule of days...well, she's actually been floating on a cloud. It reminded me of my own kinda, sorta platonic fling:

When I was engaged, I went to another friend's crazy out of town bachelorette party. I drank and smoked dubious amounts of marijuana for several days. On that third day of party insanity, I found myself flirting with the cutest guy and doing shots of cointreau (gag!). As the night and our conversation wore on, I was more and more attracted to him. At that moment, I longed for a good, drunken, public makeout session, that was par for the course on a Saturday night in my 20s. In my drunken, drugged out haze, I said to the guy, who I knew was married, and who knew I was engaged, "If you want to kiss me, I'll let you. But it can only be the one kiss. That's it."

But he grabbed my hands and said, "Thank you. I would love to. Really. There is nothing right now that I would want to do more." I smiled and batted my lashes, waiting for my smooch.

"But, I have a 3 month old daughter at home and I just can't. I can't do it. I'm sorry. But thanks for the offer—it made my night," he continued.

I wanted to throw up. Maybe it was the shots of cointreau (enough to make even the most steel-stomached person puke). But I think it was the rejection. Combined with the sobering realization of what I had just proposed to this man and what would have happened had he taken me up on my offer.

So my question is this: Is there such a thing as an "innocent flirtaton"? When does it cross the line? And would kissing that guy (or if my friend smooched the celebrity) would really have been that bad?

Better yet—did you have a final fling before you got hitched? If so, do you regret it, or are you happy you cashed in when you still had the chance?