A Covert Dinner Date

 Maria took a deep steadying breath, bracing herself as the door across from her opened. She was sitting in a small, private room in the restaurant. Royce had reserved it for them alone thanks to their status as famous musicians. This was their first real date and she found herself nervous as a chicken facing a fox. She shook herself, annoyed at the feeling.

  Royce stood there in the open door for a moment, before a grin stole across his face. He closed the door behind him and walked quickly to the table. Before she could move, he'd taken her hand and gently placed a kiss on the back of it. Flushing, she pulled her hand back.

"It's not like you're a knight," she grumbled.

  Royce outright laughed at her annoyance. "I honestly wasn't sure you'd be here," he confessed easily as he sat across from her. Propping his elbows on the table, he rested his chin on his hands, still grinning with delight.

"I keep my promises," she protested, offended he'd implied she wouldn't have the courage to show up.

"Oh, I know you do, but you can't fault me for being not sure after our last encounter." Maria's annoyance faded as she became somber at the reminder. She'd been in a car accident and had woken up to find Royce at her bedside, a hat pulled low over his face to hide the bright blue hair.

  "It's not like I didn't know who you were," she finally said, picking up the fork and twirling it nervously between her fingers.

His grin became a soft smile. "I'm just glad you're alright. Getting into that wreck scared me." He'd known she was ok, thanks to the long chain of text messages and the few phone calls that'd passed between them, but this was the first time since the wreck that he'd seen her in person.

"I'm mostly recovered," she reassured him. "I've got one follow-up left and then I'm released." She rotated her arm to prove her wrist had recovered. "Then the tour starts again."

"How did Raini and Jo take it?" he asked, obviously restraining himself from reaching out to study her wrist himself.

"They were great," she reassured him. "Raini helped me get to all my doctor appointments and Jo made me rest. I’m just glad it wasn't my leg. I would've gone crazy."

Mischief twinkled in his eyes at that comment. "Yes, I can see things going badly all the way around if you hadn't been able to walk. So, where are you starting the tour?"

They continued the small talk for a little while until the waiter took their order. After the waiter left, leaving them alone again, an uncomfortable silence fell between them. Maria picked at her napkin, unsure what to say now that their flow had interrupted.

"Maria," he said softly. "If you really don't want to be here, I'm not going to be angry. I was just worried about you."

She shook her head in denial. "It's not that," she got out. "I don't mind having dinner with you. I'm just not sure what we are."

"Well, I have some ideas," he said slowly.

  Maria laughed out loud. "I'm sure you do," she said, her grin returning. "But it's more about our schedules. The only reason this worked out was because of the car wreck and we happened to be in the same city. What about in the future? What would that look like?"

  Royce gave a heavy sigh, but before he could say anything, their food arrived. Once they were left alone again, Royce let his fork hang slack in his hand before he spoke. "I suppose that's what modern conveniences are for," he finally said. "And chance that we'll be in the same city. Perhaps we could take a short train ride to see each other. I'm not going to pressure you into a relationship, Maria. Or ask you to step away from doing what you love."

Now a true smile bloomed on her face and she looked up to meet his eyes. "Good. I'm glad. I don't think I could have dealt with you if you tried to make me stop singing."

"Hell no, I wouldn't ask you to do that," he retorted. "That'd be like you asking me to quit singing. Not gonna happen."

"Good." That was the end of the conversation and she let it ease into other topics, arguing with him over various things, refusing to let him get the upper hand. To her dismay, the dinner plates were soon empty and the wait staff was getting edgy about them sitting there talking.

  "I suppose we should leave before they close for the night."

"I guess," she said grudgingly, shooting a glare at the now closed door.

Royce laughed. "We can do this again," he promised.

"Are you coming to the concert this week?" she asked.

Royce stood up and came to her side of the table. Wrapping his hand around hers, he pulled her to her feet. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said, bringing her hand to his lips again.

"Oh, for god's sake," she snapped and leaned forward, kissing him. Royce stilled in shock for a moment, before he reciprocated and she felt his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Time seemed to pause for a moment and Maria didn't want to leave this place. Finally, Royce pulled back slightly, letting his forehead rest against hers. "That's my Maria," he said softly, one hand brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Your Maria?" she shot back, but there was no sting to her words. Royce pulled back a little more before laughing.

"Perhaps it's more accurate that I belong to you then," he said.

"Hmmm, I'll accept that." Without another word, she leaned forward and kissed him again. Royce didn't resist and tightened his arms around her waist, his other hand wrapping around her neck. It took a few more moments before they unwound from each other, but a distinct click from the door finally made them separate. They glanced at the now open door, an obvious sign from the restaurant and Maria rolled her eyes.

"Hey," he said, unwilling to let go of her waist. "Come back to my place?"

"They'll have a fit over this," she warned and he grinned.

"Who cares? It's the last city we'll be together in for a few months."

"You make a good point," she mused and took just long enough that his grin started to fade. "You're right, let's go," she finally said with a grin.

His smile returned and he let go of her waist to grab her hand. "Let's go then!" She laughed as he pulled her to the door, somehow knowing it was the right thing to do tonight, this last night they'd be together for a while.