The warm Dallas air wrapped around them as they stepped out of the restaurant.
Lillian Parker exhaled softly.
"That was really good."
Sebastian Wolfe glanced down at her.
"Just good?"
She laughed.
"Fine. Amazing."
"That's more accurate."
They walked slowly down the sidewalk together.
The city buzzed around them.
Neon lights.
Distant music.
Cars passing in steady streams.
Lillian tilted her head up at the skyline.
"Dallas looks different at night."
Sebastian followed her gaze.
"It does."
"You've been here so many times," she said. "Does it ever get boring?"
"Business trips?" he replied.
"Yes."
"Most of the time."
She smiled faintly.
"But not this one?"
He glanced at her.
"No. Not this one."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
They reached the corner and stopped as the pedestrian light turned red.
A warm breeze lifted a few strands of Lillian's hair.
Sebastian noticed immediately.
Without thinking, he reached out and gently brushed the strands away from her face.
Lillian blinked up at him.
"You do that a lot," she said softly.
"Do what?"
"Fix my hair."
He shrugged casually.
"It bothers me when it's in your eyes."
"That's… very specific."
"I notice things."
She smiled.
"Yes. You do."
The light changed.
They crossed the street slowly.
Halfway across, Lillian spoke again.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"This is the second time we've come to Dallas together."
Sebastian nodded.
"For the smart-home interface deal."
"Yes."
She looked thoughtful.
"The first time we were here…"
"You were very bossy to me," he said.
She laughed.
"I was intimidated!"
"You still are."
"Not the same way."
He looked down at her.
"Oh?"
She nodded slowly.
"The first time I thought you were terrifying."
"And now?"
"Now I know you're just difficult."
He chuckled quietly.
"Careful, Miss Parker."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll stop buying you dinner."
She gasped dramatically.
"You wouldn't."
"You're right," he admitted.
"I wouldn't."
They reached a small plaza where a fountain shimmered under soft lights.
Lillian slowed down.
"Oh."
Sebastian followed her gaze.
The water reflected the city lights beautifully.
"Pretty," she said quietly.
"Yes."
They sat on a nearby bench.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The fountain splashed softly.
Distant laughter drifted from nearby bars.
Lillian leaned back slightly.
"Today went better than I expected."
Sebastian nodded.
"The Dallas team was already leaning toward the deal."
"But the interface demo helped."
"It did."
She looked at him.
"You seemed very confident during the meeting."
"I was."
"You're always confident."
"Not always."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"When aren't you confident?"
"When something actually matters."
She blinked.
"That meeting mattered."
"Yes."
"So why weren't you nervous?"
He looked at her calmly.
"Because you were there."
Her heart skipped.
"Me?"
"You keep things balanced."
"I… do?"
"You remind me to slow down."
Lillian smiled shyly.
"That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"I've said nicer."
"When?"
He thought for a moment.
"When you were sick."
Her face turned pink instantly.
"Oh."
"You were half asleep," he continued.
"You carried me," she mumbled.
"Yes."
"And you stayed."
"Yes."
She glanced down.
"Thank you for that."
His voice softened.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because most people wouldn't."
Sebastian studied her quietly.
"Most people aren't me."
She looked up at him again.
"That's very true."
They sat there quietly for another moment.
Then Sebastian stood suddenly.
"Come on."
She blinked.
"Where are we going?"
"Dessert."
She laughed.
"Again?"
"You barely ate."
"I did eat!"
"Not enough."
"You sound like Chloe."
"I like Miss Jones."
"You would."
He offered his hand.
"Come on."
She took it.
They walked down the street toward a small café glowing on the corner.
Inside, a display case showed rows of cakes and pastries.
Lillian leaned forward to look.
"Oh wow."
Sebastian crossed his arms.
"Pick something."
"That chocolate one looks amazing."
"Done."
"You didn't even look."
"I trust your judgment."
"That's dangerous."
He smirked.
"You've proven reliable so far."
Two minutes later they stepped outside again.
Lillian held a small dessert box.
"You spoil me," she said.
"Yes."
"You admit it?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because you deserve it."
Her smile softened.
They returned to the plaza and sat again.
Lillian opened the box.
She took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh wow."
Sebastian watched her reaction with amusement.
"That good?"
"Yes."
"You're welcome."
She laughed quietly.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you keep spending time with me."
"Yes," she admitted.
Across the street…
A man stood near a lamppost.
Watching them carefully.
The reporter from the restaurant.
He had followed them outside.
Quietly.
Patiently.
He adjusted his glasses.
Sebastian Wolfe.
Sitting on a bench.
Relaxed.
Laughing.
With a woman.
That was unusual.
Very unusual.
The reporter slowly pulled out his phone.
Click.
The camera captured the moment.
Lillian laughing with the dessert box in her hands.
Sebastian leaning slightly toward her.
Comfortable.
Close.
The reporter lowered the phone.
"Interesting," he muttered.
Back at the bench…
Lillian finished the last bite.
"That was worth it."
Sebastian nodded.
"I knew it would be."
She leaned back, looking up at the stars barely visible above the city lights.
"You know…"
"What?"
"I like traveling with you."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Only for the desserts?"
"No."
"For everything."
"Even the meetings?"
"Even the meetings."
He studied her quietly.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because there will be more."
She smiled.
"I figured."
He stood again.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
They walked back toward the waiting car.
Halfway there, Sebastian slowed down.
Then he gently placed his arm around her shoulders.
Lillian blinked.
"That's new."
"You were cold."
"I'm not cold."
"You might be."
She laughed softly but didn't move away.
They continued walking like that.
Comfortable.
Easy.
The driver opened the car door as they approached.
Lillian slipped inside.
Sebastian followed.
As the car pulled away, she looked out the window at the glowing city.
"Today was a good day," she said.
"Yes."
"The meeting succeeded."
"Yes."
"And we celebrated."
"Yes."
She turned to him.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For bringing me with you."
His expression softened.
"There was never a question."
Her heart fluttered slightly.
Outside…
The reporter watched the car disappear into traffic.
He looked down at the photo on his phone.
Then opened his laptop bag.
Inside a small notebook waited.
He wrote a single line.
Sebastian Wolfe spotted in Dallas with mysterious woman.
Then he added another.
Not a business associate. Something more.
He closed the notebook slowly.
A small smile appeared.
Tomorrow…
This story might become something much bigger.
But for now—
Sebastian Wolfe and Lillian Parker had no idea.
And their quiet night in Dallas continued…