Page 28 of Fierce-Dane

“Exactly what I’m going to do too,” she said. “I believe I’ve got one staff finishing up now and then it’s food thoughts only.”

“Well, if you’re not too busy or tired, there is a cafe two down we can walk to and grab something. I noticed they were open until nine the last time I was here.”

She debated two seconds and said, “That sounds good. If you want to just wait until my last staff leaves and I’ll start checking the building to make sure it’s locked up.”

The surprised look on his face said that he hadn’t expected her to say yes and she wasn’t sure what that was about, but maybe she’d find out.

8

AT A DISADVANTAGE

Dane didn’t know where the words came from that asked Sloane to grab dinner with him and wasn’t sure if he was more surprised he asked or that she said yes.

Now he had a few minutes to get himself mentally ready for the first date he’d asked someone on since Mel.

Or maybe it wasn’t a date and just grabbing food.

He’d think of it that way instead so he didn’t put a ton of pressure on his shoulders.

He took his card out, paid for his massage, added the tip on it since she was standing right there and would see it anyway, then booked his next massage a month from now.

Then he took his seat in the waiting room until she was done.

“I’m all set,” she said ten minutes later. It was ten minutes before eight and he’d seen a client leave five minutes ago and who he assumed was a staff after the client.

The two of them walked to the cafe a few doors over, leaving their cars in the parking lot.

Not surprising when they walked in, it wasn’t that busy. More than half the tables were empty.

“Is it too late to get some dinner?”

“No,” the hostess said. “Take your pick of any empty table.”

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Hi, Sloane,” a server said when she walked by with some food in her hands. At least it wasn’t like everyone was going to be heading out.

“Nicole, good to see you.”

“I didn’t think you’d know people here,” he said.

“We get takeout a lot from here,” she said. “Not a big deal.”

That was good. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable about that.

They took a seat and Nicole rushed over. “What can I get you both to drink?”

“I’ll take water with lemon, please,” Sloane said.

“Iced tea,” he said. “Unsweetened.”

He saw the server’s face and then laughed when she walked away.

“You know that is almost criminal to order that in the South. Are you not from the South?”

“Born and raised here. Or I think born here but raised here at least. But I went to college up north for my undergraduate and got into the habit of drinking it that way. It’s much better.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “I’m not much of a sweet person but will admit I’ve never had unsweetened iced tea, but I do drink it hot like that.”

---