Jared shifted uncomfortably in his chair and sighed with relief when the waitress came to refill our water glasses.

“Where was I?” he asked after the waitress left.

I blotted my lips with a napkin. “We’re moving too fast?”

“No…I mean yes, that’s where I was at, but no, I don’t think we’re moving too fast,” he paused for a moment and then looked warily at me. “You don’t think we are, do you?”

I giggled and shook my head. “No.” My eyebrows moved in as I watched him get increasingly nervous. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good. I’m perfect. You okay?”

“Yeah…you’re kinda freaking me out, though,” I turned my head to the side slightly as I eyed him with suspicion.

Jared closed his eyes and then took a deep, relaxing breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little keyed up.”

“Relax. It’s just dinner,” I said, reaching across the table to his hand.

“Huh…yeah,” Jared said, laughing once at my suggestion, and then looking down at his plate.

“I was thinking St. Lucia for our vacation. They have air conditioners, there,” I smiled.

“I’ll make the calls tomorrow,” he said, distracted.

I pondered that for a moment and then narrowed my eyes. “My mother must pay you well.”

“Very well,” he nodded.

I rolled another piece of broccoli to the side of my plate. “Well, technically, I pay you well.”

“What?” Jared said, freezing in the middle of a bite.

I shrugged. “Well, when Jack died—his estate, his assets, everything…it’s mine.”

“What? I thought your mother….” Jared shook his head, taken off-guard.

“Oh, she can live there, she can deal with the bills and the taxes and the rest of it until I graduate. I can’t deal with it all right now.”

“So…you pay me?” Jared asked, grimacing. He didn’t seem happy at the idea.

“Why? Do you want a raise?” I smiled.

Jared laughed. “As much as I love my job, maybe I should be paying you.” I smiled at his words, and he worked to relax his expression. “So, it’s been a month since you moved in. Are you comfortable? Does it feel like home, yet?”

I sighed, looking into his breathtaking blue-grey eyes. “It felt like home before I moved in. You’re my home, Jared.”

He beamed at my words and reached down into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Nina, there’s something I….”

The waitress approached the table and Jared slumped against his chair, looking slightly disappointed. She took our plates and left us alone with the dessert menu.

“Angel Food cake is on the menu,” he smiled.

“I’m definitely going to have a slice of that.”