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think of the perfect place.”
    Mark couldn’t help but smile as well. Trevor’s enthusiasm was contagious.
    “Any special likes or dislikes?” Trevor asked.
    “Not really. Nothing too heavy, though; it is a late supper.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” Trevor’s expression grew serious as he seemed to be mulling over possibilities.
    “Just surprise me.” Mark laughed as he watched the wheels turning in Trevor’s mind. He stood up and looked toward the door. “Right now I have to get back to work or I’ll never get out of here on time. I’ll see you later.” Mark briefly touched Trevor’s shoulder as he walked around the table.
    Trevor felt his entire body react to the touch. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, wondering what it would feel like to have both of Mark’s hands on his body. Feeling a little guilty, he looked around to see if anyone was watching him. Beaming, he walked down the unit to check on one of his patients.
     
     
    T HE rest of the day passed in a hurry for Mark. More than once, his mind wandered as he thought about having dinner with Trevor. He was definitely looking forward to the prospect of seeing Trevor outside of work. Guess I do need to get out more , he mused to himself as he realized how excited he was to have something out of the ordinary to do after work.
    By seven o’clock, he had caught up on all of his work. There was nothing left to do except report to the nurse taking over care of his patients. At seven thirty, he left the hospital and drove the short distance to his condo.
     
     
    O NCE inside his home, Mark gave the condo a quick appraisal. Thank goodness I cleaned yesterday, he thought as he walked into his bedroom. He pulled off his scrub uniform and tossed it into the hamper. He took a shower to freshen up and unwind. He wasn’t sure what to wear since he didn’t know where they would be going to eat. He decided on a royal-blue polo, a pair of faded jeans, and plain brown loafers. The phone rang just as he finished pulling on his shoes. He asked the concierge to send Trevor up and walked out into the living room to wait.
    A few minutes later, he heard a soft knock on the door. Mark opened the door and stopped. He inhaled sharply as he looked at Trevor. Trevor was wearing a rust-colored silk button-down shirt that looked as though it had been dyed to match his hair. The top two buttons of the shirt were open, revealing the ginger-colored forest underneath. The tail of the shirt was tucked into his jeans, giving him a casual but neat appearance. “Umm, come in.” Mark’s mouth had suddenly gone dry. He swallowed and turned, waving Trevor into the condo.
    “Are you okay?” Trevor asked. He frowned slightly as he walked past Mark into the living room. “You seem a little weird.”
    “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just surprised, that’s all,” Mark replied, slowly feeling his composure return. “You look very different in regular clothes.”
    “Different in a good way, I hope?” Trevor asked, raising one eyebrow.
    “Digging for compliments?” Mark giggled, rolling his eyes. “Well, yes, you look absolutely gorgeous.”
    Trevor’s eyes widened and a huge smile spread across his face. “Gorgeous, huh? I’ll take that. By the way, you look really hot too.” He handed Mark a bottle of chilled white wine. “You might want to put this in the refrigerator for later.”
    “What’s this for?” Mark asked as he took the bottle. “I thought this wasn’t a date.”
    Now it was Trevor’s turn to roll his eyes. “It’s a peace offering, for Pete’s sake. Or maybe a bribe, to soften you up for when I actually do ask you out for a date.”
    “Thank you,” Mark said, grinning as he placed the bottle on its side in the refrigerator. “Would you like something to drink?” Mark looked at Trevor expectantly.
    “No, thank you. I’m good,” Trevor replied as he stood, watching Mark.
    They stood in the middle of the room, staring at one another