"You asking me out?"

Johnny's gaze deepened. "What if I am?"

Unable to hide her smile, Carmen felt her skin warm at the thought of where this might end up going. Johnny had certainly come a long way since they'd first met. She'd watched him man up from a pathetic drunk into something resembling a catch. And she already knew how good he was to Miguel.

Maybe it was the lingering insecurity, the residual embarrassment from being stood up by Graham that motivated her decision.

But still. Why not give it a shot? "Alright then," she said. "It's a date."