Howard was a man of his word, digging into the cold steak with relish.
Nate Jennings took a bite. The steak was a bit overcooked and hard to chew. Looking slightly embarrassed, she snatched his plate away. "Hey, don't eat that. It's too tough..."
"It's fine. I've got strong teeth." Howard took the plate back and insisted on finishing everything she had made.
Watching the man before her grin at her like a big kid, she offered a small, silent smile in return.
They took a flight that afternoon, arriving in Imperia two hours later.
The sky over Imperia was still hazy, but the summer heat was beginning to set in. Someone was waiting at the airport to pick them up, but Nate didn't want to head back just yet. Instead, she tugged on Howard's sleeve.
