Private Finished Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth

At first, Zora thought Stefan was serious and glanced up at his handsome face, a perplexed look on hers. But when she saw his grin, she gave his leg a small playful tap with hers under the table.

"You had me there for a moment, you know," she said with a smile, feeling some of the tension leaving her body.

"And you needn't worry, stealing me away from a demi-god like yourself will be no easy feat. You have captured me completely with your godly wiles," she stated jokingly as she squeezed his hand lightly.

And when Stefan kissed the knuckles of her one hand, Zora, despite his words of concern being slightly ominous, felt herself and her worries melt away at the gesture.

"I don't want that either," she told him with a sigh as her thumb caressed the hand that he had lifted to her lips.

"I imagine it won't go that far. I mean it's just been pastries, no? " she pointed out, now wanting to reassure not only Stefan but herself that everything would be okay.

"More like the other way around," Zora said with a loving smile. She felt the same way about Stefan as he did about her. She could easily see herself having to shoo people away from him. It was a good thing she was telekinetic and could just push them away if she had to.

"You are the sexy love god here," she teased. Zora was not overly jealous, and fully trusted Stefan - she knew she had to - his power made it so. If she didn't she'd go nuts worrying that women and men alike would be throwing themselves at him.

Interlacing her fingers with Stefan's, Zora nodded. "Don't worry, I will. I promise you that you'll be the first to know if things change," she assured Stefan.

"Besides, I'm honestly afraid that on Monday I'll go back into work and find the office full of roses or expensive chocolates," she admitted with a tiny grimace.

The idea of her office being filled up with bouquets of flowers sent by an anonymous admirer made her skin crawl a little. She hated to think her admirer could also be a stalker.

Zora burst out laughing at Stefan's silly, yet very endearing, attempt to lighten the mood and get her mind off all the dreaded "what ifs" she had been obsessing over for a good part of the day.

"Nice try.... but I still expect a large box of fancy chocolates from you, gorgeous boyfriend of mine," she stated matter-of-factly, playfully admonishing him just as a waitress came over to take their order.

Deciding that she wasn't too overly hungry... at least not for dinner. Zora ordered herself a large piece of Tres Leches cake and a side order of fresh berries along with a pot of Earl Grey tea.

She then waited patiently while Stefan ordered before she asked him how his day had been.

"Work has been good," Zora replied as she leaned forward in her seat and rested her folded arms on the table.

"Busy as usual, we acquired a new client a few days ago. Big investor, though we had to go to him instead of him coming to the office," she explained. It was unusual for a client to insist on meeting in situ , but not too unheard of.

"How about you? You had a meeting with Shiloh after the concert, no?" she asked curiously as their food started appearing at the table.

Zora couldn't help but blush softly and in pleasure under Stefan's high praise of her. The way in which he believed in her was .... well, moving... and it made Zora want to do better, to live up to his expectations.

"Thank you .. though it really is a team effort," she admitted as her cake and fruit arrived at the table. "Without my them, I'd probably not have made it as far as I have," she conceded as her pot of hot tea arrived at their table.

When the waitress had left, Zora smiled warmly at Stefan. She was happy that Shiloh was considering them as part of her growing list of artists.

"That's great. It means they are really interested in you and your music, no?" she inquired as she searched his face questioningly.

"I have heard they are quietly snatching up artists from private labels...? she added as she broke a piece of cake off with her fork.