“Have I ever told you why I like you?” Nathaniel suddenly asked just when Chloe was contemplating crushing the chicken bone in her hand.

So far, they have done nothing but eat and stare at the scenery ahead. But his question returned her to one of the purposes of the date— knowing more about each other.

She gently placed the thigh bone on her cleared plate, pulled off the nylon glove and answered. “I don’t think so.”

With a small laugh, he stretched his legs. “To speak the ...