That Sunday Katniss headed back to the coffee shop, both excited and mortified to see Peeta. Everytime she thought about the parting look he gave her it felt like her skin was going to ignite on fire. Of course, thinking of his smouldering look always led back to the previous conversation that evening, when she had drunkenly admitted she was attracted to him, adding more nervousness to her excitement.

But she knew she couldn't hide from him for long. Besides, it was true: she was attracted to Peeta and she enjoyed spending time with him. She wanted to spend even more time with him, and if the way he acted at the bar was any indication, she thought he might like to spend more time with her, as well.

Katniss pushed open the coffee house door and shyly approached the counter, the fingers of her right hand twisting the end of her braid where it hung over her left shoulder.

"Katniss," Peeta greeted her warmly. "I was hoping you'd be in this morning. I made fresh cheese buns...and I, uh, I have something to ask you."

She smiled up at him, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Sure," she said, her smile widening with a renewed sense of confidence. Leave it to Peeta to erase any sense of awkwardness she might have felt about their last conversation.

Peeta set about making her chai tea and plating several cheese buns. He gestured to her usual place by the window, "Have a seat and I'll bring it out."

Katniss watched as he untied his apron and set it aside, then headed toward her with two drinks and the cheese buns. He took the seat opposite of her and she sighed with contentment as she wrapped her hands around the cup of chai.

"Is this okay?" Peeta asked and she thought she heard a hint of nervousness back in his voice.

"The tea?" Katniss wrinkled her brow in confusion. "It's perfect, just like always."

He chuckled, rubbed two fingers against his temple briefly. "No, I mean...is it okay that I'm sitting here."

"Of course," she murmured, casting a glance down at her cup and inhaling the spicy aroma she had grown to love. When she raised her eyes again to meet his, he was looking at her with what could only be described as adoration. The flush on her face caused by the heat of her drink deepened under his stare and she bit her lip in anticipation of everything that could be. "What did you want to ask me?" she said.

"Oh, yeah. A question-for you," Peeta began. "So I got concert tickets, and I'm not even sure if you like the this band or maybe you don't or maybe you've already been to one of their concerts, but I got two tickets and I was thinking, well hoping, that..." he rambled, holding out his phone so she could see the band's latest album cover on his screen.

"Peeta are you asking me to go to the concert with you?" Katniss asked, smiling at him.

"And dinner," Peeta added. "I want to make you dinner beforehand. Katniss, would you like to have dinner with me and then attend the concert?" His sigh was one of relief for finally expressing what he intended.

"I would love to," Katniss told him, unable to hold back her grin.

They sat there grinning at each other and making idle chit chat for at least an hour before they finally had to part ways.

...

The first thing Katniss noticed about Peeta's apartment was the amazing smell seeping out under his door and into the shared hallway of the fourplex. Peeta lived in a historic part of town and his fourplex was one of several on the tree-lined street that appeared to have been built in the 1940s.

Katniss wiped her hands on the front of her jeans, a nervous habit, although she felt more anticipation than nervousness to start her date with Peeta. Almost as soon as she knocked he opened the door, offering a her a breathy "hey," in greeting. She was stunned into silence by the scene before her. Peeta had apparently gone to a lot of trouble to ensure just the right ambiance for their dinner. His front door opened into the living room, which was impeccably clean with a couch and two chairs situated on a rug over gleaming hardwood floors. Soft music played in the background and Katniss saw at least three vases of lillies in the airy room, two on the mantel of the fireplace and another on a side table. Off to her right, the room opened to a large front balcony, where Peeta had strung up colored lanterns and twinkling white lights. A table was set up out there as well, and she could just make out the edge of a porch swing.

"Wow, Peeta, this is beautiful," Katniss beamed. "You really went to a lot of trouble."

"I just wanted it to be special," he said, shyly. "For you," he added.

"It's perfect," she said.

"You look amazing, by the way," Peeta said, taking in her skinny jeans, black tank and strappy open toe scarlet red heels.

Just then the oven timer buzzed and Peeta quickly excused himself to the kitchen, leaving Katniss to look around the space. The decor of the room was simple and included a few framed pieces of art, some she recognized as Peeta's own work and others she assumed were artists he liked.

She had just sat down on the off-white couch when Peeta called from the kitchen, "What can I bring you to drink? Wine? Beer? Something stronger?" She could hear him rummaging through a cabinet and the clink of liquor bottles.

"Beer is good," she called back. In a moment Peeta returned, offered her one of the two beers in his hand and sat down next to her on the couch. He had already removed the lid so Katniss took a drink before setting it down on the coffee table.

Peeta looked at her, raised his eyebrows and flashed her a smile. "Dinner is almost ready," he said.

"Well if it tastes as good as it smells, I can't wait," Katniss replied.

He laughed lightly. "Well, I'm mainly better at baking, but I know how to make a few other things. Just promise me you won't eat it all if you truly don't like it."

"I have a feeling I'm going to be asking for a to-go box, actuallly," Katniss teased.