Chapter 39

"Technically, though, you still haven't, remember?" I said to break the growing silence between us.

She choked on her laughter and old sorrow, but it was enough to fight off the chill of bad memories. She put her hand on my chest.

"Dinner. Just... Let's..." Her voice trailed as she tried to express something. I kissed her cheek and hugged her. As I relaxed my grip, she looked up at me, and smiled again, warm as the heat of her body against me.

"Dinner," she said, with certainty.

"I know. I didn't mean to go there," I said. "Dinner, old friends, no strings. That... other.. was crocodile hindbrain taking over."

"S'okay," she excused, and then asked with a shy grin, "You reacted that strongly to me?"

"Definitely," I answered. "You need to pick better pictures to send to your Internet boys. You're unbelievable, woman."

My answer def