She got in the car without waiting for him to hold the door. As he walked around to the driver’s side, he thought about where they were and how they were dressed. Not fast food, he thought. Somewhere nicer, but casual.

They drove a few miles north to the Hyatt on Lake Washington. Thaddeus valet parked the car, then led the way to a restaurant right on the water. They were shown to a table with a view.

She glanced around at the quiet restaurant, then back out at the water. He had no idea what she was thinking, but she looked delighted with the world. He supposed, if nothing else, he should be pleased that he’d given her that.

She was still a puzzle. Beautiful, in a girl-next-door, I-don’t-care-about-my-looks kind of way. Unselfconscious, yet incredibly closed off. He should have walked away after that first meeting, yet he hadn’t and now he found himself wanting to know more about her.

“You’re glowing.”

She laughed. “I’m emotionally floating as much as I was physically. Now I’m wondering if I want to try the real thing.”

“Whole different ball game.”

“Have you been?”

He didn’t have a problem with heights, but actual skydiving was a push. “No, and while I would be happy to drive you, jumping out of a plane isn’t my idea of fun.”

“What is?”

Had any other woman asked that question, he would have assumed she was flirting. But not Unity. He doubted she knew how.

“I find my work fun, which makes me a lucky man. We’re in boating season, so I enjoy that. Snowboarding in the winter. Basketball with my friends when we all have time.”

“You have a boat?”

He nodded.

“A big one?” Her tone was teasing.

“One big, one small. The larger one is for weekend trips, the small one is for playing around on the lake.”

Her eyes widened. “Two boats? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. You’re really successful, huh?”

He held in a smile. “Yes.”

Their server appeared. “Good afternoon. Welcome to Water’s Table. What can I get you to drink?”

Thaddeus opened the wine list and scanned a page. “It’s early for a bottle, but I see you have Veuve by the glass. We’ll start with one of those.”

The twentysomething woman smiled. “Of course.”

Unity waited until she left before leaning forward. “What did you order?”

“A glass of Veuve.” He paused. “Veuve Clicquot. Champagne, to celebrate your uplifting experience.”

“But it’s lunch,” she said, sounding shocked.

“Should I cancel the order?”

“No. Sorry. It’s just not how I spend my day.” She looked down, then back at him. “I don’t think I’ve had champagne before. It just wasn’t our thing. I know people often have it at weddings, but we were only eighteen, as were all our friends. We didn’t have much money. Ellen’s parents gave me some, but I didn’t want to take advantage of them.”