It was ridiculously romantic, he knew that.
But it didn't stop him from stopping by the florist, or leaving the single red rose on her desk; not that she'd ever know who it was from. Part of him had wanted to leave a card, or maybe even gather enough courage to actually hand her the flower, but he still wasn't certain she'd appreciate the gesture and sometimes it was easier to remain anonymous.
Besides, this way he could watch her reaction, decide if it was even worth revealing himself. And maybe, if he was lucky, she'd even be flattered enough to agree to dinner. That was, if she didn't already have plans -it was Valentine's Day after all. He wasn't really counting on it, even though he'd pre-made reservations weeks ago. And maybe that made him a little pathetic, but Sam was worth any ridicule he might receive.
And alright, she was getting off the elevators and he could do this. Play it cool and act surprised like he had no idea where the gift came from. Maybe even pretend he was just getting here himself and yes, that worked.
"Morning Sam," he commented, hanging his jacket on the back of his chair and flipping on his monitor.
"Morning Martin," she replied, gliding past him just slow enough that he caught a whiff of her perfume. "What's this?" she asked, stopping short and staring at the rose adorning her desk.
"Looks like someone has a secret admirer," Martin laughed, a surge of pride rushing through him at being able to keep his tone even.
"Looks like," Sam replied, bending down and picking up the rose. "I wonder who it could be?" she continued and Martin didn't miss the hint of mischief in her voice.
"Could be anyone," Martin replied, swallowing hard and suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
"Something you want to tell me?" And now she was standing practically in front of him, so close he could just reach out and touch.
"Um...." So much for keeping his cool.
"Well?" Sam pressed, leaving him no other options.
"Sorry, I just thought, it's Valentine's Day and well, you deserve something...." he managed.
"Well thank you, it's beautiful," Sam replied, smiling softly and making eye contact. "I love it."
"Really? So would you like to have dinner tonight?" Martin asked, and this was turning out better than he'd expected.
"I'd love to," Sam replied, causing Martin to break out into a full-fledged grin. "Oh, and Martin, happy Valentine's Day."
And it really was.
But it didn't stop him from stopping by the florist, or leaving the single red rose on her desk; not that she'd ever know who it was from. Part of him had wanted to leave a card, or maybe even gather enough courage to actually hand her the flower, but he still wasn't certain she'd appreciate the gesture and sometimes it was easier to remain anonymous.
Besides, this way he could watch her reaction, decide if it was even worth revealing himself. And maybe, if he was lucky, she'd even be flattered enough to agree to dinner. That was, if she didn't already have plans -it was Valentine's Day after all. He wasn't really counting on it, even though he'd pre-made reservations weeks ago. And maybe that made him a little pathetic, but Sam was worth any ridicule he might receive.
And alright, she was getting off the elevators and he could do this. Play it cool and act surprised like he had no idea where the gift came from. Maybe even pretend he was just getting here himself and yes, that worked.
"Morning Sam," he commented, hanging his jacket on the back of his chair and flipping on his monitor.
"Morning Martin," she replied, gliding past him just slow enough that he caught a whiff of her perfume. "What's this?" she asked, stopping short and staring at the rose adorning her desk.
"Looks like someone has a secret admirer," Martin laughed, a surge of pride rushing through him at being able to keep his tone even.
"Looks like," Sam replied, bending down and picking up the rose. "I wonder who it could be?" she continued and Martin didn't miss the hint of mischief in her voice.
"Could be anyone," Martin replied, swallowing hard and suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
"Something you want to tell me?" And now she was standing practically in front of him, so close he could just reach out and touch.
"Um...." So much for keeping his cool.
"Well?" Sam pressed, leaving him no other options.
"Sorry, I just thought, it's Valentine's Day and well, you deserve something...." he managed.
"Well thank you, it's beautiful," Sam replied, smiling softly and making eye contact. "I love it."
"Really? So would you like to have dinner tonight?" Martin asked, and this was turning out better than he'd expected.
"I'd love to," Sam replied, causing Martin to break out into a full-fledged grin. "Oh, and Martin, happy Valentine's Day."
And it really was.