Carl nearly dropped the box of blank DVDs. "What?"

Auggie dropped his head to his chest. He should have known not to confide in his employee. "I said I can't come out with you and your friends after work tonight because Annie's coming over."

Before he completely let destroyed of the merchandise, Carl set the products on the shelf and walked back to his boss. "Annie, the blonde chi—woman who came in earlier this week, and who you said you really like, is coming here, to your apartment upstairs?" When Auggie nodded, Carl's face broke in a wide smile. He whistled low. In all of his four years of working at Geeks-r-Us, he'd never known his boss inviting a woman to his apartment. He knew he'd dated, gone out, but it's never been more than once or twice with the same woman. And as far as he knew, none of them ever crossed the man's threshold.

"So, she's coming over. For dinner, I guess?" Auggie nodded again. Carl asked, "You did clean the place, right?"

"Yes, of course," Auggie said, meeting Carl's eyes.

"You've put up all items that could be construed as offensive?"

Auggie rolled his eyes, "I don't keep porn lying around, Carl."

"I know you don't, Aug, but is Annie the type of woman who would enjoy coffeetable books about manga anime?"

"Oh, I don't –"

"Or your Superman figurine collection?" Carl pressed.

"Come on!"

Carl raised his hands in defense, "I'm just saying, Auggie, you don't want to scare her off too fast, do you?"

"No, of course not," Auggie said, thinking hard. He'd been planning this evening for the past two days, ever since Annie accepted his invitation two nights ago. He'd decided what to wear, what food to prepare, and even a selection of movies.

But he never thought of how Annie might actually perceive him or his apartment. His first thought is to just wing it and hope Annie was a lover of sci-fi memorabilia, too, but he quickly pushed that thought away. She was far too sophisticated and world-wise for that. Did he really want to scare away the one woman he'd finally felt something for all these years?

"Carl, can you watch the place? I'll be right back."

At precisely 5:55pm, Annie opened the door to Geeks-r-Us and stepped inside. The display floor was empty of anyone, and she took a couple of steps inside, looking around. She swallowed nervously, smoothing her hands down her white sleeveless summer dress. She hoped Auggie didn't mind her dressing up, but she figured this was a date, right? Even if it was just upstairs in his apartment, and he was cooking for her.

Suddenly the door at the back of the shop opened, and Auggie walked out. Annie's mouth dropped open slightly. She'd never seen him in anything but a t-shirt and jeans, but now he was walking toward her in a crisp white button-down, tucked into tight black jeans. He still work his Chucks, though, and she smiled.

"Hi."

"Hi," Auggie replied, never stopping as he steadily advanced on her.

Annie felt rooted to the spot, and as he comes within a foot of her, she has to angle her neck up to meet his eyes. Then they blurred as his head descended towards hers and his lips brushed over her mouth.

When he stepped back, Auggie smiled and said, "Sorry, but I've been wanting to do that –"

"Yeah, me, too," Annie replied.

"Are you ready to go?"

Annie nodded, and he opened the door to the shop, ushering her out. When he'd secured it, he took her hand and led her around to the side of the building. A nondescript door stood halfway down, and Auggie unlocked it and walked in.

Annie squeezed his hand in anticipation as they climbed the lit stairs. She couldn't see anything yet that screamed "Auggie" at her, and she couldn't wait for him to open the door.

A small landing with one closed door was soon in front of them, and Auggie let go of Annie's hand to unlock and open it, ushering her in first. She took a couple of steps in, and once Auggie had flipped a switch, his apartment came to life.

Auggie watched as she looked around, wide-eyed, at his apartment. She could see everything, save the bathroom, with one glance from where she stood. Though it took quite a bit of repair work, he was able to convert the former dance studio to a livable place a few years ago. The hardwood floors and open space appealed to him. The far wall was his "bedroom" area, the near area the "living" area which held his couch, tv and computer desk, and the kitchen and dining table took up the rest of the space.

"Why don't you make yourself comfortable?" he said, motioning to the couch. "Are you thirsty? Can I make you some tea?"

Annie sat on the black leather sofa and said, "Yeah. How did you know I prefer tea?"

Auggie winked at her while he walked to the kitchen. "You were drinking it the other night while we were Skyping."

While he busied himself, Annie took another look around the spacious apartment, noting the details. Beautiful hardwood floors, free of carpets. White walls with no paintings or posters or pictures on them. The color palette was simple, as well, with black sofa and armchair, glass and silver tables.

Even the bed she could see in the far corner – a king-size, no less – was draped in a dark grey comforter.

Auggie brought her the mug and laid it on the table in front of her. "I don't know how you take it. Do you need sugar or –" His words stopped as took in the look on her face. Her brow was furrowed, and she was frowning. "Is anything wrong?"

"No, not really. It's just –" she waved around at the décor. "It looks different than I expected."

Remembering the box of books and paraphernalia he'd stashed under his bed, Auggie straighted up, rubbing his suddenly damp hands on his jeans. "What do you mean?"

"It's beautiful, really, but it looks more like an hotel suite than a single guy's apartment," Annie said with a shrug.

Sighing, Auggie shook his head at himself. Realizing he couldn't do this anymore, he said, "Wait here a minute."

Wondering what he was doing, Annie picked up her tea and took a sip. When he dropped to his knees by his bed, her eyes widened. What was he doing, she thought.

Pulling out the heavy box, Auggie took a deep breath and picked it up. Well, he thought, it's now or never. He walked back over to the couch and sat the box on the floor, taking a seat beside Annie.

Without a word, he began pulling items out and setting them on the table in front of them. The books were first, and he placed them on the table. He was reaching for the first of his figurines when Annie's hands reached out and stopped him.

"Auggie, what is all this?"

"It's my stuff, what I have lying around, hanging up. I – I didn't want you to think I was this overgrown boy, or a nerd or –"

Annie pulled his hands out of the box and tugged on them until he was turned to face her on the couch. "I know you're not a boy or a nerd. You're a geek."

"Annie, come on –"

Shushing him with a hand on his cheek, Annie waited until his eyes met hers. "You're my geek, and what makes you think I wouldn't like all of this stuff?"

The warmth of her hand settled his nerves a bit, and he half-smiled at her. "Well, I didn't see any sci-fi books at your place, and the only thing you had on your shelves had nothing to do with superheroes."

"That's because you never saw my bedroom," Annie said, cocking an eyebrow.

"You mean –"

"Well, I don't have quite the collection you seem to have," Annie said, peeking into the box between them. "But I have been to a couple of Comic-Cons in my life."

"Oh, my God, seriously?" Auggie asked, scooting closer to her. "When?"

"Not the past couple of years, 'cause it's interfered with my schedule, but I first went during my senior year in college with some friends, and then the year after that, and –"

Her words were cut off as Auggie's lips crashed into hers. After the initial shock, she raised her hands to his shoulders as his cupped her jaw. Though sudden and not with as much finesse as when they'd kissed after he'd installed her computer, Auggie still tasted sweet to her. Like cinnamon and coffee.

For Auggie, she tasted of sunshine, citrus and the tea she obviously had just taken a drink of. She also lit something within him, and he had to fight an urge to pull her to him again, onto his lap, and never let go. He had to remind himself that this was only their second date, and though she felt like a welcome rain after a drought, he couldn't push this.

"Hey, Auggie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll start putting all this stuff back if you want to start making dinner."

Dinner? Auggie thought. What's dinner? Then, as she pulled his hands off her face and leaned forward, pulling the box toward her, Auggie remembered. "Oh, yeah, dinner. You like stir fry?"

"Sounds great."