"Yeah?" he asked amusedly as he set the table, careful not to disturb the tissues on his thumb. It wasn't more than a scratch really, and it had practically stopped bleeding already. "Don't be surprised if I don't let your aunt. I'd rather not know what's in the cards for me."

On his way back to the kitchen space, she twirled again, and he almost bumped into her. It was close, but he managed to catch her before they both fell over. Once more, he looked into her eyes and seemed to lose himself in them, in the way his arm fit around her waist and how this was a much more intimate position than when they'd danced. Because it wasn't part of a dance. They were so close that all he had to do was lean in and... He sucked in a breath as the timer for his pasta went off. Talk about saved by the bell, he thought wryly and let her go.

"I, uh--" he cleared his throat and focused on draining the pasta. "I was thinking that we could do a couple of songs together at Christmas. If your dad will let you sing at the diner. A few carols, a few more modern ones, stuff that fits the holiday. I don't write stuff like that, and it's usually what people wanna hear, so... If you're up for it too, of course."