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Sam fell back against the door, trying to catch her breath.
“You scared me,” she admitted as he came to stand in front of her.
“Sorry. I don’t usually stay this late.”
“Then why are you here?” she asked, realizing that sounded rude. “I’m sorry. I mean, is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just had to get something working before I could leave.” He pointed over at where he had been standing.
“Did you fix it?” Sam asked, curious.
“I did.”
They watched each other for a moment before Sam’s stomach grumbled again.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, glancing down at her middle.
“Um, yes.”
“Is it because I ate your sandwich?” Aero cocked a brow, and Sam couldn’t help but smile.
“No.” She chuckled. “It’s dinnertime.”
“I suppose it is,” he murmured. Before he could stop himself, Aero asked, “Would you like to get something to eat?”
Sam blinked in surprise. “With you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay,” Sam agreed.
“I’ll get my tools.” Aero stepped away from her and moved down the hall.
Sam watched as he picked up a heavy tool bag and slung it over his shoulder. She followed him down the hall, out the side door, and into the staff parking lot.
“Want me to drive?” Sam asked, glancing over at her car.
“Um.” Aero hesitated. He had no idea what he was doing. If it hadn’t sounded rude, he would have told her they should just part ways and forget about dinner. His spine tingled uncomfortably as anxiety took over, making him regret asking Sam. Not because she had done anything wrong, but because he wasn’t a proper dinner date.
“I can follow you if you’d rather,” she suggested, and he nodded.
Sam got into her little red KIA and watched as Aero climbed behind the wheel of his white Ram truck. There was a magnet with the “Warrior Security Services” logo on the passenger side door. He turned the engine over and pulled out to the edge of the lot. She followed.
At the exit, Aero contemplated where to go. He didn’t know where to take Sam. He didn’t date and didn’t go out much, so he was at a loss. Feeling foolish and fighting the urge to turn toward the compound and hide behind the iron gates, he turned left and headed toward the main drag of Havik Falls, Sam following along behind him.
They passed a few fast-food restaurants before a steakhouse rose on his left. It wasn’t fancy, but would have to do on such short notice. He hit his blinker and pulled in.
Sam parked beside him, and they both got out of their vehicles, meeting at the front of her car.
“Is this okay?” he asked, shifting nervously in his boots.
“Yes.” Sam gave him a shy smile. She hadn’t dated much since college, all of her time and energy going into her lessons and her students. Not that this was a date. Was it? They could just be friends having dinner, right? It didn’t have to mean anything. Maybe Aero was just hungry and being polite.
Sam forced herself to take a breath and calm down, falling into step beside Aero as they crossed the parking lot. He held the door open for her, letting her enter before him. He kept an almost excessive distance between them as they were greeted by the hostess and then seated in a booth in the corner of the restaurant.
The hostess handed them menus and left them to decide.
Sam looked over the menu, which was pretty standard for a casual restaurant, and decided she needed a drink.
