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“I’m done experimenting,” he snapped. He ran a hand through his damp hair. “I just don’t want to hurt you in the process.”
“How about you let me decide what I can handle? Until then, let’s proceed with caution.”
He looked wary as he opened his door. “Okay, but you have to tell me if it’s too much for you.”
“I will.”
Jason cleared his throat. “Want to get something to eat?”
A grin split across her lips. “Sure. It’ll be like our first official date.”
Their dinner arrangement was as intimate as their little office. There were three other couples in the tiny diner, but Hannah’s Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes didn’t disappoint. The last time she’d tried that combination was in a TV dinner, and this was ten times better.
“It’s nice here,” she said, looking around. It was a small mom-and-pop diner that served home cooking. “And this food is amazing.”
He held out a leg of his fried chicken. “Try this.”
She took a crunchy bite and moaned. “Mmm, I will have to get that next time.”
“The biscuits and gravy are good too. And so is the blackberry pie.”
His eyes lit up as he talked about his favorite things to eat. Everything about the man was nearly perfect. The world was really missing out on a wonderful person. If anything, his carefulness made him gentler.
“So,” he said, “what did you decide we should do after dinner? Is it too late to go somewhere?”
“No way. This is our first date, and I want it to last until you drop.” She put her fork down and leaned forward. “Let’s do something very traditional. There’s a new movie I want to see.”
“Oh, that sounds great. We can go back to my place. I still haven’t given you a tour since everything is in working order again. The construction team did an amazing job. I have to admit, even though it’s been a pain with insurance and dealing with the city, my house needed a facelift, and it got a mandatory one.”
“That’s a good way to look at it, and I’d love to go there another time. But this movie is only in the theater.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob.
“Are you sure we can’t stream it somewhere?”
She shook her head. “I like the excitement of a theater. The popcorn smells, the noise, the joined laughter in a group setting, even the upcoming-show ads.”
He pushed his plate away and shook his head. “I haven’t gone inside a theater since my parents stopped making me.”
How sad. “If you don’t want to . . .”
He reached for her hand. “If you’re there, I want to go too.”
She smiled. “Aw, you’re the sweetest. I think it’ll be okay. The movie starts in an hour, and we’ll show up early and stay long after everyone leaves.”
He raised a brow. “Tempting, but I’m still not convinced.”
She reached for his hand. “And... I’ll hold your hand through the whole movie.”
His expression masked his indecision, but finally he nodded. “All right, fine. But if I need to leave, I need you to be understanding.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He gestured to her half-eaten steak. “Hurry, I want to be extra early. Standing in a busy popcorn line is going to give me hives.”
Stifling a giggle, she picked up her knife and fork and got to work.
Fifteen minutes later, he paid for their meal, and they headed to the center of town where the biggest theater was. Even though she offered to pay for the movie tickets, he strongly objected. “I haven’t been on a date since... well, I don’t think I ever did go on one. Meeting up with my parents at a restaurant and sitting down with a stranger and her parents doesn’t count.”
“They did that to you?”
