The waiter cleared their plates. When he was gone, Hudson said, “I’m serious, you know. About being ready for a relationship.” He leaned forward, his face unreadable, his hand mere centimeters away from hers on the table.

“S-so am I.” She couldn’t look away. “About dating.”

Soon, the waiter began his trek down the aisle, depositing people’s third courses as he went. Hudson held Annika’s eyes. “I’m not that hungry anymore. I think I might go to the viewing deck for a bit.” He paused, and Annika’s pulse beat against her throat like a trapped hummingbird. “Will you join me?”

Join him. On the viewing deck. They’d be the only two there, because everyone else was enjoying their award-winning dinner. She swallowed. “Okay.” Her voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.

Hudson dabbed his mouth with a napkin, set it on the table, and walked down the aisle, murmuring something to the waiter as he went. The waiter glanced at Annika—who felt her cheeks redden—and nodded with a knowing smile.

Relax, Annika, she told herself, patting her lips on her napkin and reapplying her lipstick quickly.

Taking a breath, she slid out of the booth and walked down the aisle to the viewing deck, doing her best to ignore the wild thrumming of her pulse.

Dusk was rapidly spooling into nighttime. The viewing deck was a small, secluded balcony-like setup on the far side of the train, just big enough for two people to squeeze in side by side. The car attached to it was empty and shrouded in almost complete darkness. Outside, a full moon had already risen, coating the vineyards with its silver light, purple shadows dancing in deep pools. Annika slotted in beside Hudson, who was watching the vistas pensively as they trundled on.

She glanced at him, her head swimming pleasantly from all the wine. “I like this train. I wonder if I could pay rent and just live on it.”

He smiled, still looking straight ahead. “You could do yoga on the roof.”

“Yeah, kind of like a Polar Express situation, but less creepy.”

Hudson laughed and turned to her, the tips of his blond hair blowing in the wind. “You found Polar Express creepy?”

She turned so she was facing him, too. “Didn’t you? The Tom Hanks character on the roof gave off major predator vibes.”

Still chuckling, Hudson tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his warm hand caressing her skin. Without thinking about it, Annika leaned into it. “You have a very unique view on life,” he said, his handsome face serious, no sign of his trademark smirk anywhere.

They reached for each other at the exact same time. Hudson’s hands wound around her waist, hers around his neck. He pulled her against him with urgency, his desire burning in his eyes like green embers.