“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.
“Next Monday night at my place. It’s the most open for me.”
“You cook?”
“No. I’m going to have to add that to my list of things to learn, but no.”
“Nina cooks.”
“No, but her mother does, and she’ll walk us through something if you’re willing to risk it.”
“Adventure’s my game. Is seven good?”
“Sure. Seven’s great.”
“I’ll be there. Got an address?”
She held out a hand for his phone, added it to his contacts. “I can give you directions.”
“I’m good friends with Mr. Google. I’ll still be dropping by the bar. I might even try my hand at darts.”
“Roddy’s a killer.”
“I’ll risk it.”
He leaned in then, and she’d have called it a subtle nudge. Just the right amount of nudge the way his lips met hers. He didn’t push, but made an impact. And the flutter she hadn’t experienced in a long, long time added the perfect cap to the evening.
“Good night, Morgan.”
“Good night. I had a really good time.”
“Me, too. Drive safe.”
She drove safe, though she floated a bit on the quiet rush of a good-night kiss.
And when she floated into the house, Nina, glowing from her self-care, cozy in her pj’s, waited.
“Okay, I can take one look and know this was a major success in first dates. Tell! Did he hit on you?”
“The perfect amount. I really like him.” With a happy sigh, she dropped into a chair. “He’s just easy and fun to talk to. He’s been so many places and tells a good story. He listens.”
She lifted her shoulders, let them fall. “And when he kissed me good night, my stomach fluttered.”
“What kind of kiss? Be descriptive.”
“I’m going to say soft, and just a little dreamy. No push, no blast of heat. Just easy, and effective. I ended up asking him to dinner next Monday night.”
“Whoa!” Jumping up, Nina did a quick dance. “Holy shit. He didn’t drug you, did he? Or use some sort of mind trick?”
“He’s a nice, great-looking, interesting man. That’s it.”