When Andrea returned, I was still sitting on the couch, scrolling through emails on my phone. I didn't want to push her, but I hoped we could pick up where things left off.

"That was Nigel. There was an issue with the—you know what, forget it," she said, interrupting herself. "It's handled."

I could sense that she was nervous around me—more so than usual. Thinking back to that look in her eyes just a short while ago, or the conversation I heard days ago between her and her boyfriend, I wondered if there was something there—if maybe, by chance, she felt as strongly for me as I did for her. That maybe she was struggling to contain her emotions as unsuccessfully as I was.

Now is my only chance, I thought. If she turned me down, I could always blame it on the medication or the scotch. I set down my phone and looked up at her.

She was doing something on her phone, but she must have felt my eyes on her. Like me, she set her phone down and looked up, eager to help with whatever she could. I hoped and prayed I had observed correctly.

"Andrea, I want to ask you something."

"Sure."

"Not as my employee," I added.

"Oh, um, okay," she said, nervously.

"Have I been keeping you from anything?"

"No. I just—no."

"Do not lie to me, Andrea. I find it hard to believe you have zero obligations outside of Runway. And I'm not blind—you've spent the last three days at my side."

"Nate and I were supposed to have dinner the other night, to talk about maybe getting back together. Well, I missed dinner because I was at work, so that's kind of a moot point."

"I'm sorry that I kept you from him."

Andrea rolled her eyes. "Don't be. I lost interest in him a while ago," she said.

I took a deep breath. Now or never, I told myself. "So, I have another question for you."

"Yes?"

"Will you have dinner with me?"

Her eyes widened and I detected a hint of a smile. "You mean, like—"

"Yes," I said, smiling. "Like that."

She smiled and asked, "Tonight?"

"Why not?"

"Will I also have to prepare said dinner?" she asked with a smirk.

At this, I laughed. "Of course not. I will order everything to be delivered. Dinner will be at 7:15. Dress is casual. Do you accept the invitation?"

"Yes," she said, smiling brightly. "I'm going to go get ready—I'll see you downstairs in an hour or so?"

I nodded, smiling as she left the room. My observations had not been wrong.

When the doorbell rang, I quickly went to answer it. I had taken my pain medication about an hour prior, so my back was feeling good. I opted to skip the muscle relaxer just to be safe. I had the delivery boy from Smith & Wollensky help me carry everything into the kitchen, where I had the island set for an intimate dinner for two. I had even pulled my wax tapers from the hutch and lit them, giving me an excuse to dim the lights.

Once everything was set and I had changed into linen pants and a soft brown cashmere off-the-shoulder sweater, I waited in the kitchen. I poured her a glass of prosecco, and myself a glass of sparkling white grape juice, so as not to interfere with the medication twice in one day. My heart was thrumming with nervous excitement as I wondered if tonight she would hold me in her arms, if she would be the one to cup my cheek and ask what she could do for me.

"Hi, am I late?" she said, stepping into the kitchen. "I know you said to dress casual, but, well I didn't bring anything casual besides my pajamas. I am barefoot, though, so that makes it less dressy, right? Okay, I'll stop talking."

"Andrea, you are right on time, and looking lovely. Please, sit," I said, holding the chair out for her. I took two salad plates from the refrigerator and set them down before joining her at the counter. "Cheers—to tonight," I said.

She clinked her glass with mine and looked at me with the most gorgeous brown eyes I had ever seen. "Miranda, you look stunning as well. I wasn't able to tell you that earlier, but the off-the-shoulder look is by far my favorite on you," she said, blushing profusely. She quickly put a forkful of lettuce in her mouth to deter my questioning.

"Thank you," I said, as I racked my brain for other times she saw my bare shoulders like that. The first time would probably have been the custom Valentino at the benefit. After that, I suppose she had seen me at least once in this camel cashmere sweater, which I often wore if I was at home. I smiled as I finished my small salad plate. "I was a little worried this look would be too risqué on someone my age."

"Seriously?" she asked, her mouth full of food. Under any other circumstances, that would be an incredible turnoff, but somehow, I tolerated it with from Andrea. Actually, it was beyond that, I found it endearing. "It's only risqué if the top falls off, right?"

I nearly choked on my juice. She did have a point there. "Touché, Andrea."

"This sweater material is like the dress yesterday. It's softer, and it moves with you. The Valentino was gorgeous, but it was also more structured. When you turned, the dress really didn't. I think if you would have arched your back enough…" her voice trailed off. "I'm sorry. How is your back feeling?"

"My back is fine," I said, standing to gather our salad plates and place them in the sink. I pulled the salmon out of the oven where I had placed it to keep warm, and carefully plated two filets, along with some asparagus and quinoa.

"This looks delicious," she said.

As I was walking back to my chair, I paused behind her and placed my hands gently on her arms just below the shoulder. "You look delicious, Andrea," I whispered, softly squeezing her arms before heading back. I heard her breath hitch and felt the goosebumps prickling her skin. That was exactly the reaction I had been hoping for.

We both ate dinner rather quickly—either we were both hungry or eager to finish. I almost wished I hadn't rushed things so much, since I really did want to get to know her a little more, so I thought about ways in which I could recover the evening.

She was the first to finish. She took her own plate to the sink and returned with the bottle of sparkling wine, helping herself to another glass. "What else do we have planned for the evening?" she asked.

I finished my glass of sparkling juice and pushed my plate away. "Well, there is one gigantic piece of french silk pie in the refrigerator, but I was thinking before dessert, we could get to know one another a little better, perhaps through a game," I said.

"Oh, okay. Like, a board game?" she asked.

"No. I was thinking of Two Truths and a Lie. Have you ever played? I'll confess, my daughters taught it to me."

"I'm familiar. We used to play it as a drinking game in college," she said, rolling her eyes. At my questioning look, she clarified, "You just drink whenever you're wrong."

"Well that would be no fun tonight, would it? Not only am I not drinking alcohol, but I am also never wrong," I said with a wink.

"Oh, please. You have no idea how competitive I can be."

"Try me," I said, standing from my chair. I took my dishes to the sink and poured myself a glass of sparkling water. I motioned for Andrea to bring the wine bottle with her, and she followed me out onto the back terrace.

"It's lovely out here," she said. I rarely entertained at home anymore, so the patio didn't see much use, but it was actually quite cozy with the string lights around the fence and the two sofas and chairs arranged around the fire pit.

"Please make yourself comfortable. We obviously won't need the fire pit tonight," I said. I walked over to the corner of the patio and reached into the control box next to the shed, turning on the fans and the music. The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" came on very quietly. "Pet Sounds has always been one of my favorite albums, and it's the only thing I have on this iPod out here—I hope you don't mind indulging me this tonight," I said.

Andrea smiled brightly. "I do not mind at all. And having those fans around the perimeter, aimed upwards, really helps to keep the mosquitos away. That's ingenious," she said.

"My idea."

"Of course it was."

She was seated in the corner of one of the sofas, so I took the other sofa, in the corner to be nearer to her. Everything about this night was perfect. I was terrified to ruin the relationship we have, but at the same time, I couldn't deny that I wanted more…much more.

.

.

TBC

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