“In a good way,” she said. She danced from one foot to the other, waiting. Would he ask to see her that evening? Did she want that? Physically, things had heated up between them fast...but she couldn’t deny that emotions had played a role in the night before. She liked him. A lot. He was a part of her past that she’d temporarily forgotten, but after only a few days together, an odd, comforting sense of familiarity was mixing with exciting newness to create undeniable chemistry between them.

But she was going home in a little over a week.

And that was just one of the reasons they should be thankful for the amazing night they’d had and go their separate ways.

“So, seeing as how I promised you dinner last night and you didn’t get a chance to eat...at least not while the food was hot, how about a do-over tonight? A real restaurant with real plates and no convenient uncomfortable cot to distract us?” He stepped closer and touched her cool cheek. Heat radiated through her.

She’d readily go for paper plates and uneaten pizza again, but they really should cool it a little. Still, the idea of seeing him that evening had her heart leaping with excitement, so she didn’t even consider saying no. “Okay. Seven?”

He checked his watch. “That’s eleven hours from now. Pretty girl, I’ll never make it that long without seeing you. I was thinking more like five.”

She laughed, loving the feelings of warmth that were flowing through her at his words. Loving them and also terrified by them. “That’s a little early for dinner...”

“If the restaurants opened earlier, I’d suggest three.”

Happiness like she hadn’t felt in a long time had her practically floating. “Okay. Five it is.”

* * *

REED WATCHED ERIKA walk away, fighting the urge to jog after her for one more kiss. This was crazy. She was literally still within sight and he missed her already.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He had to get a grip.

Seeing Wade’s truck pull into the parking lot, he waved as the older guy got out. “Hey...was that Erika I saw walking away from here?”

“Yes it was,” Reed said, unable to hide a grin as he followed the other guy back inside.

“So, you two?”

“Are having dinner tonight,” he said, forcing the new recruit out of his chair and sitting behind the desk. “You’re getting pizza sauce on your shirt. Use a plate, man.” He liked giving the new recruits a hard time and that morning, nothing could deflate his mood.