Chapter 20

Kahlan and Hotch sat on a bench and watched their boys play. Wyatt was showing Jack some of his tricks and to Jack's surprise; Jack was picking them up pretty easily. Hotch looked at the woman beside him. "So why are you really here?"

She laughed. "Well, knowing the type of parents we both are, I figured we had to get our sons' approval before we moved any further."

Hotch knew the truth of that, and he was glad to see that Kahlan felt the same.

"And I did want Wyatt to see what it was like here. He seemed a little unsure of it when I was describing it to him; he has lived his whole life in Reliance."

Hotch laughed as he remembered the little town. "Did he play soccer there?"

"No, they don't have stuff for kids around there."

"So you really taught him to play?"

"Don't sound so shocked. I can play softball and football, too."

He smiled as he laughed some more. "There are so many things I don't know about you."

"Aren't we supposed to learn things about each other as we spend time together? Or are you referring to a certain promise I made?"

"Yes and yes."

"Well, the park isn't exactly a place to discuss that, but Garcia said she'd watch Wyatt if you want to talk tonight."

"Garcia knows everything before I do," he said with a smile.

"Yeah, she's awesome. So what sports do you play? Your suit probably gives people the impression that you're not that athletic, but I would bet you could probably play any sport."

He regarded her with a smile. "I can't play hockey."

She laughed. "Let's see. . . What's your favorite ice cream flavor?"

"Ice cream?"

"You can tell a lot about a person by their favorite ice cream flavor," she told him seriously.

"Really? What if someone doesn't have a favorite?"

"Well, then that would tell me something, too. And you can't just pick Jack's favorite because that's the only one you buy, either."

He took a minute to think about it. "I guess I really don't have a favorite," he told her honestly.

"I should have known."

"Well, what does that tell you?"

"The obvious. That you're more worried about pleasing the people around you than you are yourself."

"What's your favorite?"

"Peanut butter ripple."

He nodded and thought about it for a moment. "You like things simple mostly, but you'll go for the occasional extravagance."

"Not bad for someone who studies behaviors."

"Let me watch you eat it, and I can tell you a whole lot more," he said slyly.

"Oh really? I bet if you watched me eat it on a cone you wouldn't be able to do much thinking, let alone talking," she told with a flick of her brows.

"Oh God. I can only imagine what that would be like," he told her with a grin.

She laughed. "Who's your favorite singer?"

"Easy. Beatles."

"Really? Ouch."

"You don't like the Beatles?"

"I can say that is one group that is not on my iPod."

"So what does that say about me?"

"That you're a bit old fashioned. That once you like something you don't change your mind, even when it goes against what others think."

"Who's your favorite?"

"I like almost anything, but my all time favorite is Phil Collins."

"Which song?"

"In the Air Tonight."

He laughed at that.

"What?"

"Sort of like a demented theme song, don't you think?"

She thought about it a minute, and a sly smile crept onto her face. "Yeah I guess it would be, but I liked it before that."

"My turn. What's your favorite flower?"

"Easy. Roses."

"Classy. What's your favorite movie?"

"You're going to laugh, but it's 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back'. I've had a crush on Han Solo since I was five and saw 'Star Wars' at the theater."

He laughed again. "Reid is going to love spending time with you."

"I am a closet geek sometimes."

"That actually doesn't surprise me. Favorite meal?"

"Homemade or out?"

"Both."

"At home: Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, and biscuits. In a restaurant: crab, especially Maryland crabs. What's yours?"

"Out: Italian. At home: Roast beef, potatoes, and carrots."

"Cool. I make a mean roast," she told him with a smile.

The boys ran up to them wanting a drink. "You having fun, buddy?" Hotch asked Jack.

After a couple swigs from a water bottle, he smiled. "Yep. Did you see what Wyatt was showing me?"

"Yeah, I did. Wyatt must be a good teacher cause you were doing really well."

Wyatt beamed. "He's a natural."

"Wyatt gets to spend the night with Aunt Penny. Can I go too?" Jack asked after another drink.

"You can call and ask her if you want, but I don't know what she'll say. I don't know what she has planned."

"Ok," Jack agreed, and Hotch took out his phone and handed it to his son. Jack took it and walked away a little, apparently wanting privacy.

"Thank you for teaching Jack those moves," Hotch told Wyatt.

"No problem. He was teaching me how to actually play a game. I've only kicked the ball around." He looked at his mother. "We'll have to watch one of his games one time."

"Sure. Maybe when it starts up again you can get on a team, too."

Jack came back with a smile on his face. "She said yes, Daddy. She said to make sure we bring the soccer ball so she can see our moves."

Hotch laughed. "I bet." Just then a dog walker caught the boys' attention and they ran over to see the five dogs.

Kahlan shook her head. "You all have a dog?"

"With my job? No. But Jack has been begging for one since he was five."

"Wyatt wants one. I was going to buy him one for his birthday before he went missing. He hasn't asked about one since he's been back, but I got a feeling that that will change in about five minutes," she told him as she watched Wyatt rolling around on the ground with a big mixed breed.

Hotch watched the boys, too, and laughed as a big lab jumped up and put its paws on Jack's shoulders and licked him in the face.

"You like dogs?" Kahlan asked him seriously.

"Oh, sure. Cat's, too. It just never seemed like the right time to get a pet."

"Good. Cause that might have been a deal breaker. I love animals."

He raised his eyebrows at her. "A deal breaker?"

"Oh yeah. I dated this guy one time in high school. I saw him kick my cat, and needless to say, he was thrown out of the house pretty quickly."

"I can imagine." Hotch looked at his watch. "When are you supposed to take Wyatt to Garcia's?"

"She said anytime. Why?"

"You want to take them now and go grab some dinner?"

"Aaron Hotchner, are you asking me out on a date?"

He smiled. "I guess I am. Kahlan Hunter, would you do me the privilege of accompany me to dinner?"

She laughed. "Wow, that was formal." He shrugged. "Exactly where would you be taking me?" She saw the look on his face. "Not that it matters. I just want to know how to dress."

"Oh, well, let's see. . . It would have to be someplace nice. What are you in the mood for?"

She giggled. "Oh you mean what type of food?"

Hotch smiled. "Yeah, at least to begin with."

"Italian sounds nice. There aren't many places in South Dakota for good Italian."

"Then I know just the place," he told her with a smile.

"Well, as soon as the boys are done getting their dog fix, we'll have to take them to Garcia's, and then you'll have to give me an hour to get ready."

"Or I can take the boys while you go get ready, then I'll go get ready and I can pick you up."

"Sounds even better."

"Where are you staying?"

"The same place Jack and them stayed. Same room actually."

XXX

Hotch knocked on the door of Suite 204. He adjusted his tie nervously. When the door opened he couldn't breathe. Standing before him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She nervously ran a hand through her hair, mistaking his silence. "Too much?"

He finally took a deep breath. "Perfect," is all he could say as he looked her up and down. She was wearing a silk, blood red, knee high dress that accentuated her curves so well it looked like it had been made for her. The 'V' shape of its front showed just enough of her cleavage to tease.

"Let me grab my wrap," she told him as she turned and walked away. He then noticed the diamond cut out of the back that showed just enough of her skin that he almost forgot to breathe again. Her black high heels clicked across the floor. He swallowed and shook his head slowly. She had always been nice looking, but he had only seen her in jeans and a pony tail or ball cap. The way she looked now, though, with her hair falling about her shoulders in loose curls, made him think that he was dreaming. She smiled at him. "Were you spying on me?"

"Huh?" he didn't seem to be able to form complete sentences any more.

"Your tie matches my dress," she told him with another smile.

He looked down; he had forgotten which tie he had even put on. "It does," he told her as he flashed his dimples.

It was Kahlan's turn to stop breathing for a few seconds. "We going, or do you just want to stand here and stare at each other?"

He smiled again. "Do I have to choose?"

"Come on handsome. I want to see how good this restaurant is," she told him as she grabbed his tie and pulled him out of the door.

XXX

After a romantic meal and a couple glasses of wine, Hotch paid the tab and walked Kahlan to the car. His chest swelled a little as he noticed every man in the place watched Kahlan as she walked past them. His alpha was showing, but he didn't care. They had spent the time getting to know each other a little more. "It's still early. Anything special you want do?" he asked her as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Actually, I do have something for Dave. Could we swing by the hotel and then go over to his place?"

"Sure. He would probably love to be in on the conversation we were planning on having anyway."

"I figured."

She opened the door to her suite, put her wrap and purse down on the table, and headed to her room. Hotch sat down at the table and watched her walk away. He sighed heavily and bit his lip as he tried to will away the thoughts that were running through his mind. Finally, ten minutes later, she emerged, and he smiled as realized she had changed. The tight fitting black jeans, though, still showed every curve of her legs and hips, and the long sleeve t-shirt matched her eyes perfectly. "No fair. You didn't tell me you were going to change."

"That's because you would have wanted to help, and we wouldn't get anywhere doing that," she told him with a smile.

"You can read my mind?" he joked.

"We can swing by your place if you want to change."

"I guess I do look a little over dressed for a friendly visit to Dave's."