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“Productive. I did take your advice, spent a little time at the Inner Harbor.” He gave the waitress that smile when she brought the wine.
“Have you decided on what you’d like?”
“Maybe give us a few more minutes.”
“No problem. Take your time.”
Luke lifted his glass. “To a pleasant evening in good company. I really thought you might change your mind.”
“And miss free pizza?”
He laughed. “What do you like on it?”
“Anything, everything, or nothing. Pizza is never wrong.”
“You’re talking my language. Now, how was your weekend?”
“Also productive. Nina and I planted some pansies. They make me smile every time I come home or leave the house.”
“The housemate who works in a garden center.”
“That’s right.”
“You’re good friends.”
“We are.” The first real, permanent friend she’d made in her nomadic life. “It’s great having someone who gets your rhythms. She’s generally up and gone before I get up for work, and usually in bed by the time I get home from the Round.”
“That probably helps. I mean you both have your own schedules, so it adds to having your own space.”
“Yeah, so when we share that space, we enjoy each other. Is it odd not having a regular routine, neighbors, friends around?”
“Right now, this works for me.” He sat back, a man comfortable with himself, confident in himself. And she found that very appealing.
“One day I imagine I’ll want to stick, settle. But I get to see a lot of the country, meet a lot of interesting people.” The quick, dazzling smile flashed. “Like you.”
He had a good rhythm himself, she decided. Just flirty enough.
“You must like the work, and I have to think you’re really good at it.”
“I love the work. Creating systems that suit the clients. Fixing problems, making people’s lives easier, expanding their horizons. Maybe you’ll show me your house one day, and I could give you some ideas.”
“Maybe.”
He smiled again. “So, pizza.”
She ended up drinking two glasses of wine, and enjoyed every minute. He told her stories, how he’d designed the smart tech for a ranch in Butte, Montana, and watched bison graze in the field.
And he listened to her plans for a new kitchen, even offered suggestions. Ones good enough to add to her list of hopes and dreams.
He suggested the walk.
The evening breeze kicked a bit, but felt good after the heat of the restaurant. And it had been so long since she’d taken a walk with someone, had someone hold her hand.
It was nearly ten, much later than she’d planned, when he walked her to her car.
“I’d like to see you again, like this. Not that I don’t enjoy riding a stool at the bar while you’re working. But I’d like to see you again. My schedule’s flexible. I can work around yours.”
Maybe Nina had crawled inside her head, but she found herself inviting him to dinner.
