Page 47 of Night's Fall
He glanced at me, a lazy (thus phenomenal) grin on his face. “Wehave just a few less than a gazillion,Laura.AndAllaintravels with me.”
Of course he did.
I shook off the effects of that grin.
“WhatI’msaying is, this means a lot, butIfeel badly you had to change your plans.”
“It isn’t that big of a deal.”
“What time is your meeting?”
“Nine.”
I gaped at him. “Nine?”
“Yes.”
“In the morning?”
His voice was rustling velvet with his humor when he repeated, “Yes.”
“What satellite are you going to?”
“Thoth.”
HolyHecate!
“That’s six hours away.”
“I can sleep on the ship,bissi,” he said gently. “Yourconcern is heartening but…relax.”
I snapped my mouth shut and looked forward.
I did this because his gentle voice did a number on me.
I did this because his change of plans was a pain in the behind for him, but he did it anyway, to be with me, and that took sweet to a new level.
I did this because he called me “bissi,” which was old-world language, a term of endearment for females only, used for all ages and all relationships, but it was definitely affectionate.Now, even more so, because it wasn’t used that often, so it was usually used only for those who meant a good deal to you.
And it meant “my little love.”
No one had ever called me that.Mymom, dad, evenMr.Truelock.
So yes.
Oh yes,Ineeded to take a big, long pause and think about what was happening here.
I wasn’t seeing a midnight mass marriage in the future.Notat all.
But this was…something.
I just had no clue what it was.
And on our first date, it wasn’t the time to ask, “Hey, whatisthis?”
I knew one thing.Itwas without a doubt he was going that extra mile, even if he barely knew me.Soto him, it was definitely…something.
Still, no female in her right mind would press a male she liked very much, and liked more every time she was with him, to share his intentions for the future on the first date.
