Chapter 22 – Not Yet

Daniel opened the passenger door for her.

Emma smiled as she slipped into the seat.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

He closed the door gently before walking around to the driver's side.

The soft thud of both doors closing wrapped them in silence.

The basement parking garage was nearly empty.

Rows of concrete pillars stretched beneath the restaurant, washed in cool fluorescent light. Somewhere in the distance, an engine echoed before fading away again.

Daniel rested both hands on the steering wheel.

Almost absentmindedly, he pressed the ignition.

The engine came to life.

A second later, he switched it off.

Emma glanced at him, unable to hide a smile.

"...Changed your mind?"

A quiet laugh escaped him.

"I suppose I did."

Neither of them reached for their seatbelts.

Neither seemed particularly eager to leave.

The silence between them wasn't awkward anymore.

It was comfortable.

Full.

Emma leaned back against the seat.

"I had a really nice time."

Daniel turned toward her.

"I'm glad."

She shook her head.

"No... I mean really."

His smile softened.

"So did I."

For a moment, they simply looked at one another.

Then Daniel looked away, almost amused with himself.

"I've been trying very hard not to kiss you all evening."

Emma blinked.

"...Really?"

He nodded.

"I thought I'd wait until we said goodnight."

She smiled.

"How gentlemanly."

"It was surprisingly difficult."

A laugh slipped from her lips.

"I'm impressed by your restraint."

"It may have been unnecessary."

The corners of her mouth curled upward.

"I think it probably was."

Daniel looked at her.

Really looked at her.

"You think so?"

Instead of answering, Emma shifted slightly across the center console.

Not much.

Just enough to close part of the distance between them.

His eyes followed the movement.

"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.

"I'm helping."

"Oh?"

"I don't think you should have to wait anymore."

For a heartbeat, Daniel didn't move.

He searched her face carefully.

Not because he doubted her.

Because he wanted to be certain.

Emma held his gaze without looking away.

That was all the answer he needed.

His hand settled gently against the small of her back.

Warm.

Steady.

He drew her closer.

His other hand rose slowly, cupping the side of her neck beneath her jaw.

His palm was broad enough to make her feel completely surrounded.

Strong enough to make her feel safe.

Gentle enough that she never once felt hurried.

Emma instinctively leaned into his touch.

"So..." she whispered, smiling.

Daniel smiled back.

"So."

Then he kissed her.

Slowly.

Tenderly.

As though there were nowhere else in the world he needed to be.

Emma's fingers curled around the lapel of his blazer as she kissed him back.

The kiss lingered.

Patient.

Unhurried.

Daniel never held her too tightly.

Never rushed her.

Never assumed.

Every movement seemed to ask rather than expect.

The rest of the world quietly disappeared.

Somewhere outside the car, footsteps echoed across the concrete floor.

A vehicle rolled through another row of the garage before disappearing again.

Neither of them noticed.

When they finally pulled apart, they remained only inches from each other.

Emma let out a tiny, breathless laugh.

"I think that one lasted longer."

Daniel smiled.

"I wasn't keeping track."

"Liar."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"I was trying very hard not to."

"So was I."

Emma looked at him quietly.

Then, without warning, a thought drifted into her mind.

This feels... different.

Her mind wandered somewhere she hadn't expected.

To another pair of hands.

Another face.

Another kiss.

She frowned almost imperceptibly.

She remembered how she'd never really liked it.

How she'd often wished it would be over.

How she'd quietly convinced herself that maybe kissing simply wasn't for her.

She'd believed that for a long time.

Until now.

Daniel had kissed her as though there was nowhere else he'd rather be.

Patient.

Careful.

Never asking for more than she was willing to give.

She hadn't realized a kiss could feel gentle.

Or safe.

Or... like this.

The thought made her smile before she even realized she was smiling.

Daniel's thumb brushed lightly across her cheek.

"I've realized something."

"What?"

He smiled, though there was something almost vulnerable in his expression.

"I don't want to say goodnight yet."

Emma's smile came easily.

"...Neither do I."

Neither of them reached for the door.

Neither of them made any move to start the car.

For a little while longer, they simply stayed there beneath the quiet fluorescent lights of the underground parking garage, hands still intertwined, neither of them quite ready for the night to end.