Chapter 24

I was at lunch two weeks later when I received a text from Jaiden,asking me if that evening would work for dinner.I replied that yes,it would work,and we sorted out where and when.

I grinned as I enjoyed a spicy turkey sandwich,only to have the mood change when Heather seated herself uninvited at my table.She looked the same as she always did,but I knew her true character now.

“So,how was dinner at Gino’s?”she asked,her smirk saying she knew good and well what she’d done.

“Oh,it was fine,”I replied with a smile,slowly wiping my mouth as I had the last bite of my sandwich,then taking a sip of my ginger ale.“I had a salad,which was fabulous.”

Her look of triumph faltered at my careless response.“You…I thought you’d be…”

“Crying in my beer,maybe?Not at all,especially since I’ll have the real thing tonight with Jaiden.You have a nice afternoon,hon.”I stood and gathered my trash before leaving her gaping at the table.Heather would never have that much power over me ever again.

I was a little late leaving work,but I made it home with enough time to get ready for my date.Jaiden would be picking me up at the apartment.Anderson was spending the week at Albert’s place so it was up to me to pick out an outfit.I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and khaki pants,along with a brown blazer.I added a USS EnterpriseInsignia badge to the left pocket of the jacket.Jaiden might as well know what he was getting into,if he was really interested in getting to know allof me.

I had just grabbed my keys and tucked the wallet in my pocket when the doorbell rang.I took a deep breath,shook out my shoulders,and headed for the door.When I opened it,I about passed out at how handsome Jaiden looked in his navy suit and crisp white shirt—no tie.He had a pink rose in his hand.

“Hi,”I said,somewhat breathlessly.

“Hey,yourself,”he replied,smiling as he handed me the rose and leaned in to kiss my cheek.When he pulled back,his fingers brushed the insignia on my jacket.“Star Trekfan,are you?”

I flushed as I nodded.“Be warned.It’s a thing,right down to the underwear.”

He laughed.“Thanks for the warning.You look wonderful,by the way.Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,and you look fantastic,too.”I locked the door behind me and took his arm.

When we got to his car,he opened the door for me and waited until I was settled before heading for the driver’s side.Once we were on our way,he said,“I have Sirius.What kind of music do you like?”

“I like a lot of things.Choose what you want.”

He ended up settling on a blues station.

“How was your trip to Canada?Fruitful?”

“Oh,yeah.The company wants to expand,and they sent me to look into some possibilities in Toronto.”He turned left at the traffic signal.“We’re laying the foundation now and it could happen in the next six months or so.”

“Wow.Do you think they’ll move some of the staff around,once the merger takes place?”

“It’s possible.Too early to say.”I hoped that Jaiden wouldn’t be transferred.

“So,this place we’re going for dinner,have you been there before?”

“No.First time.I heard about it from a friend and thought we’d try it out.”

“Cool.”

We pulled up in front of the restaurant fifteen minutes later and Jaiden handed the keys to the valet.When we got inside,the hostess seated us quickly.The atmosphere was subdued,and a violin trio played on a raised platform in the middle of the floor.

“This place is…I had no idea,”I mumbled,hoping I wouldn’t embarrass myself here.

“It’s marvelous,isn’t it?I’ve seen pictures of the place,but in person,it’s something else.”He grabbed the wine menu.“How about champagne to start with?”

I nodded just as a young man came to take our drinks order and fill our glasses with water and ice.Once he was gone,we decided on appetizers and the main course so we would be ready for the waiter when he returned.

“Tell me about you,”Jaiden said,leaning on his elbows.“I want to hear everything.”

“I’m not sure you do,”I replied.“There’s not much to tell,really.I grew up an only child,raised by my grandpa,who died just as I finished college.He was my family and I miss him dearly.I won an internship to the company where I still work,and I live in a nice apartment with a roommate who thought he was straight but recently discovered he’s a little bent and is enjoying the hell out of that.”

Jaiden laughed.“I see.What about hobbies?Though I suppose being a Trekkie would be one of them?”

I grinned.“Can you tell?I love all things Star Trek,from the shows to the movies to the books.I also like to watch things like Gotham,Arrow,anything in the Marvel/DC universe.I’ve been that way since I was a kid.My grandpa was a Trekkie before the term became cool.Maybe I do it in honor of him,but I do enjoy the genre.And now,feel free to run away screaming.”

After sipping his water,Jaiden said,“A couple of my exes were into cosplay and Comic-Con,all that stuff.I’ve been to a few conventions,though I’ve never dressed up.I enjoy the shows and movies,but I’m not as into it as you are.I’m always busy with work and travel,especially lately,and then I’m too tired to even turn on the TV when I get home.”

The waiter returned at that moment with our champagne,then took our food order.When he left,Jaiden raised his glass in a toast.“To friendship,and maybe more.”

I raised my glass to his,then clinked it.I was a bit too enthusiastic,however,and caused us both to spill champagne on our hands and the tablecloth.