Page 7 of True Soil-Mates

“Is this something we could discuss over dinner tonight?” I ask, a split second before my stomach clenches into a knot. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for helping me.”

“Yes. I’d love that.”

The rest of the experiment is spent tiptoeing closer and closer to each other, only to be interrupted by the bell. We chat about our favorite books, music, and coffee spots.

Not just that, I’m extrapolating the most important data of my existence.

All the evidence suggests Jasmine likes me. This is not merely going to be two new acquaintances sharing a meal.

This is about to be the hottest date of my life.

5

JASMINE

Ihope that pitching in to help with his project has made Alex see me as more than a girl who digs around in dirt. Although right now, I’m also lowkey kind of tired and itchy from being in this cleansuit.

“Annnd we’re done,” he announces, gesturing toward the airlock and gown room.

I watch as he peels off his protective gear and drops everything in the appropriate bins, then do the same. The second my gloves and mask are off, I scratch my cheekbone vigorously. “Yesss– I’ve been needing to do that for an hour.”

Alex turns to me, very close in this small space. I breathe in his scent…natural soap, along with a note of…something else. Oh, right – pure, warm, hulking man.

“Ha! I’ve been there. Annoying, isn’t it?” His hand lifts, and my breath stops as his thumb runs gently across my cheek several times. “Is that better?”

The way he looks directly into my eyes… There’s that connection I’ve been hoping to see. My pulse is racing.Pleasedon’t let me be misreading this. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“Where would you like to go for dinner?” he asks, leaning against the wall and pulling off his blue booties. “I have a list of the top fifteen restaurants in town.”

“As in your favorites?”

“As in they’re the highest rated by the health department.”

Of course.

“Honestly, I could go for pizza. Or maybe subs?”

We walk to his office, then he waves me to his desk chair, opens his laptop, and navigates to the page of a local pizza and sub restaurant. “Order whatever you want, and something you think I’d like. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Forty minutes later, I’m in the middle of the best date of my life. Alex used plastic sheets, boxes, and cushions from the lunchroom benches to fashion a table and “picnic fort” on the floor in front of his huge office window. He also turned off the overhead lights, so there’s just a desk lamp at the side and a soft glow from the hallway.

It’s the cleanroom version of being sprawled in the forest, but with the sparkling lights of the city spread out in front of us instead of trees. Honestly, it’s super romantic. Partly because Alex was so quick and creative to arrange it all, and also obviously trying to make this a real date.

After finishing my second slice, I roll my eyes. “This pizza is amazing.”

“Glad you like it.” He grins, which lights up his deep, soulful eyes. “I wasn’t sure about this place when I first saw it on the list of cleanest restaurants. It’s just a small shop in a strip mall. But it’s family run, and the food is consistently amazing.”

We shift at the same time, turning toward each other, leaning closer. His hand goes to my knee, then he looks down as if the movement surprised him.

“Jasmine.” His voice is husky. “I truly am grateful that you’re going to help me add some life to this space and fix this wholestressed environment thing. And I appreciate you helping with the project earlier. But I need to know…”

He hesitates, staring so deeply into my eyes that I feel it low in my belly. This man issexy, but I don’t think he has any idea how much.

“May I?” he leans in, lips an inch from mine. My heart practically explodes from how sweet it is that he’s careful to make sure I’m comfortable.

“Yes.” I’ve barely exhaled the word when his lips brush softly over mine.

My mind is flooded with a mishmash of thoughts and observations all at once. Like how the contrast of such a huge, strong man being so breathtakingly gentle is lighting me up. How his hand isdefinitelypressing against my lower back, nudging us closer. How our lips are parting at the same time as this kiss becomes deeper, sultry and warm and…oh,wow.

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