Chapter 19

Miranda opened the door with a smile on her face and greeted AJ warmly. "Would you like to come in Admiral?" she asked, holding the door open for him to enter.

"Yes, I would," he responded.

Once they were in her chambers and the door was closed behind them, Randi became less formal and said, "It's good to have you back AJ. I couldn't believe the change in the feel of this place without you here."

"Thank you, Miranda, it's good to be back and even better to have the charges cleared up."

"I'm sure that no one who knew you would believe a word of them! I know I didn't and I hardly know you at all."

"Well, that is part of the reason I stopped by, I was hoping that if you didn't have any other plans, you'd have lunch with me."

"I'd love to AJ," she told him with a smile.

"Where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere is fine really, I like pretty much any kind of food, unless its raw fish…can't stand that stuff!" she laughed.

"Neither can I so we are safe there. You seemed to like Callisto's…"

"Sure do, and practically have the menu memorized," she teased.

"They have a menu?" he teased back.

After settling on Callisto's and a time, AJ left to go back downstairs. He had a smile on his face when he walked into the bullpen and then to the break room for coffee. Speculation in the office was high at the change in his regular behavior since he was back.

Lunch was casual and fun, but AJ learned what he wanted from it. Miranda was someone that he could be interested in, given the chance. Because of that, he felt there was something he needed to do before asking her out to dinner again. Opening up his cell phone, he dialed his old friend Tom Boone. "Tom?"

"Yep, who else would be answering my cell, old buddy?"

"Just didn't sound like you at first, something wrong?"

"Trying to come down with one of those summer colds I think," Tom grumbled.

"Well drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest," AJ told him.

"Thanks doc, where do I send the bill?"

AJ laughed and then got down to the point of his call, "Tom the reason I called was to talk to you about Miranda Love. She and I had lunch today and I'd like to see more of her, but know that the two of you have been dating…"

"We have a very casual relationship, AJ. Miranda and I are practically in-laws together, and go out for companionship. There is nothing special between us. But she is a 'special' lady and I want you to be sure that if you're going to date her, that you treat her well!" Tom warned his friend.

"I always treat the ladies that I go out with well!" AJ protested. "I just want to make sure that even though she said the two of you were just friends that it wasn't more on your side. I would never try and horn in on things if you're hoping for more…"

"Maybe at one time there could have been something between the two of us, but by the time she got over the death of her husband, we were such good friends that neither of us wanted to take a chance on ruining that. Be good to her and if things work out well, I'll be happy to dance at your wedding!"

"Wedding?! It's a bit soon to be thinking along those lines, but I would like to see more of her, like I said."

"Just treat her well, old buddy. And for the record she loves African Violets and Bird of Paradise."

"Well if you're telling me her favorite flowers then you must really mean that it's okay for me to be seeing her. Thanks Tom," AJ told his friend.

"No problem at all, old buddy."

When they had exchanged a few more minutes of conversation, both admitted that they needed to get back to work. AJ just took a minute after that to place one more call. He called his favorite florist and ordered an arrangement of African Violets for Miranda to be delivered that afternoon with a card that read; 'I had a wonderful time, will you have dinner with me one night this week?' he also had them put his home and cell phone numbers on the card so she could answer his question.

To Be Continued….