Chapter 170

“Wow, that would have been perfect.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “You are worth a thousand Gino’s, Alister, and I would love to take you out when I get back in town. Maybe not there, but somewhere just as nice. I want to get to know you better. Would…would you like that?”

I took a few calming breaths. “Are you sure? This isn’t some kind of pity date, is it?”

“Not even close. I like you and I think we could get along well together.” He likes me? Really? I sounded like a teenager, in my head.

What else could I say but “Okay.”

“That’s a ‘yes’?”

I laughed. “Yes.”

“Oh, good,” he replied, sounding relieved. “I didn’t want to have to fly down there and bang on your door on bended knee, though I would, if I thought it necessary.”

My face heated. “Well, it’s not, so don’t even think about it. I should go to bed. Have a good night, Jaiden.”

“You, too, Alister. Sweet dreams,” he whispered at the end before hanging up. I held the phone to my chest as I stared at the night sky.

A real date with Jaiden. I was too tired to run around the apartment screaming, but I did a little fist pump. Even with the Heathers of the world, a silver lining was possible.

I finished my water before heading to bed.

* * * *

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.