Page 3 of Lion's Legacy of Flame

She seems to like that. “Well, let’s go have some dinner.”She takes my hand and pulls me over to the host podium. We were walked to our table. It’s a very nice, private booth.

We sit and look over our menu. It doesn’t take her very long. “I come here quite a bit for pick-ups for Mealtime.”

“Ah, well, then you would know if the chicken parm is any good.”

“Everything here is sensational, and that is especially good. Also, the portions are huge.”

“Okay then, chicken parm it is.”

She smiles again and I feel like our table is hit by direct sunlight.

The waiter comes back and we put in our orders. A moment later, we’re left alone again, but this time with no menus to get in the way.

“So, you go to restaurants for food as well?”

She nods. “Oh yeah, restaurants and grocery stores and even convenience stores. We make a lot of deals with restaurants, though, to also come and teach some free cooking and meal prep classes. We try to teach people to make the most of the food they get from us. That’s why we started the gardens, too.”

She explains a little more about Mealtime and I find I just love the sound of her voice. So, it does take me a minute before I realize that she’s talking about the fire.

“...so, I suspect that fire might be connected to Danton Steele. It’s just too coincidental.”

“You think Danton Steele of Steele Development is responsible for Mealtime burning?”

She tilts her head and looks at me a bit quizzically. “Yes, I think that’s...I mean, I think, having dealt with him, he’s entirely capable of arson, in my opinion. He wants that property badly enough. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“Well, I can see what the reports say, if they’ve found any accelerants. Maybe I can go back and take a look myself.” I liked playing hero for her before. I can do it again.

Our food arrives and we talk a little more about ourselves. And she’s right, the chicken parm is excellent.

Time seems to fly by, something I’ve never experienced on any other date, but wait. Is this an actual date? I feel drawn to her, but I can’t assume she’s looking at things on any similar level.

These thoughts swirl around in the back of my mind as she talks about growing up in the area and her drive to make a difference. I find I just want to let her go, that I just want to be with her here for as long as possible.

“Oh wow, it’s getting pretty late. We didn’t talk about the thank you dinner. We’ll have to reschedule doing that. I think I should, um, probably get going. I love this neighborhood, but I don’t want to be walking home too late at night, you know. Stranger danger.”

“You walked here?”

“Yeah, I only live like three blocks from here. That’s why this is one of the first places that signed up to help me build Mealtime. I love Antonio’s.”

“Well, let me drive you home.”

She gives me a look that could almost be called coy, if this were a date. “That would be very nice, thank you.”

We leave and head to my car. I want to hold her hand or, maybe, do something more. I have to put on repeat in my mind that this is not a date.

The drive is indeed a very quick one. In just a minute or two, we’re at her house. It’s a nice little place with a huge yard. I hurry out to run around and open her car door.

She gives that smile again. “Thank you.”

I walk her up to her door and suddenly feel as lost as I did after my first freshman dance in high school. This, though, is just business.

She unlocks her door and swings it open.

“Thank you very much for ...”I don’t finish because she turns around and kisses me.

Her arms are around me and she’s on tiptoe. Her body presses against mine as she kisses me, and my mantra dies.

This is most definitely a date.

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