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In the meantime, I’ve used every spare moment to watch my next target. I’ve become a master of standing in plain sight without being seen, and tonight is no different.

So far, everything I’ve seen of Camille tells me she’s a creature of habit. She wakes at the same time every morning, works out on her treadmill, then makes a disgusting-looking green health smoothie. After that, she showers, puts on a suit, and takes a ride-share to her office two streets over from Alden. She takes lunch at her desk or goes out with clients, and dinner is the same. Then home, shower again, some television with her cat on her lap and bed. Tonight, though, she is out on a date with none other than Alden’s cousin Malcolm.

Once I’ve followed them to his place, I decide that’s enough for tonight. I’m just heading home when my phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Emily, it’s Alden.”

“Hi there.” I glance at the time. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I’m sorry to call so late. Is this a bad time?”

“No, not at all. I was out, and I’m just on my way home.”

“Oh,” he says.

I know he’s dying to ask where I’ve been, but I’m not going to explain. Let him think may be a date.

“How have you been?”

“Busy,” he says, and I love that he is trying for normal. “I pushed a few meetings around, so I’ve been playing catch-up. You?”

Alden is anything but normal, and calling a girl to chat is out of his comfort zone, which makes this call special.

“Insanely busy. I don’t know if I told you, but I just signed a contract with a new company. The owner is a real task master and wants a third of the flowers delivered tomorrow,” I tease, and Alden chuckles.

“If he’s so terrible, why work with him?”

“He’s not as mean as he thinks he is, and we kind of had a moment,” I say, tossing him a bone.

“A moment…well, that sounds mysterious,” Alden says, as I stop at a red light.

“You can say that. I’m still trying to make sense of it.”

“I see. Well, maybe we can talk about this moment over dinner tomorrow,” Alden asks.

I silently cheer and probably look insane to the car beside me as I dance in my seat.

“Dinner…hmm. I don’t know. As I said, I’ve been very busy.” I say, forcing my voice to stay even.

“Everyone has to eat.”

“That is true,” I drawl.

“Plus, I want to know more about this shared moment,” Alden says.

I chuckle softly. “Alright, dinner it is.”

“Well…then it’s a date. Six-thirty? I’ll pick you up.”

I’m tempted to accept the ride, but I need to keep some control over the night.

“Or I can just deliver the flowers a little later and hang around until you’re done with work.”

“Alright, that sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it.”