He had seen the longing in her eyes, and he was more than happy to comply.

"So, they say," he said leaning in towards her.

Tino couldn't remember ever feeling anxious about a girl but the way she was looking at him made is stomach do somersaults.

Then she frowned slightly and said, "I've always wondered who "they" are?"

Tino smiled. He could tell by her features she had sidetracked herself, "Missy?"

"Hmm?" she mused and was shocked by the look in his eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he warned. 

"You are?"

"If you want me to?"

Oh hell yes, she wanted him too.

The smile on her face was confirmation enough. He leaned in further and so did she. His hand caressed her cheek, and he closed his eyes a moment before claiming her lips. Only he didn't get to claim her lips. In fact, he was startled half to death as Missy let out a blood-curdling scream.

His eyes flew open and she flew back. She was terrified pointing to something, yelling, "Get it! Kill it! Get it!"

Tino who was beginning to wonder if Missy was mentally unstable and prone to fits of hallucinations, had suddenly spied the problem. There dangling in the air between them was a common house spider. It was so small it was nearly invisible.

Tino reached out and captured it in the palm of his hand.

"KILL IT!" Missy demanded, as she shook with fear.

Oh, this is bad. This is beyond fear. She is afflicted with arachnophobia.

Missy couldn't understand why Tino was just staring at her. Bear would have squashed the thing by now and removed it from her presence.

"I'll put it outside," Tino said and walked out the door shutting it behind him. He opened his hand and the little spider curled up immediately from the cold. Tino shook his head and went to his car. He grabbed his travel mug, which was thankfully empty and placed the spider inside.

"Hope you survive little guy until I get home. Charlotte won't care if I add another spider to her basement and at least you'll earn you keep by eating bugs in her house, she'd rather not meet."

He came back in and found Missy sitting with her back to him. Just rubbing her arms. He knew it had nothing to do with the cold blast of air that came from him opening the door.

"Missy?" he said cautiously as he approached. "Are you okay?"

He sat down next to her, but she couldn't quite bring herself to look at him. "I'm sorry," she said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

Missy looked at him. She couldn't help noticing that he didn't kill the spider so obviously this was not something he would understand. She just shrugged and shook her head.

"You don't have to talk about it. If you don't want to."

She felt so foolish and knew he deserved an explanation. After all she just screamed in his face. 

She let out a long slow sigh before she began.

"My baby brother had a pet spider when we were little. One of those big hairy things. It got out of its container and for days my parents searched but couldn't find it anywhere. They gave it up for lost or dead."

"A week later I was sitting on my mom's little footstool. I loved it because it was just the right size for me to use as a seat and was eating my favorite food, watching cartoons when suddenly I feel something crawling up my leg. I look down to see the spider just taking its time as it traveled along my body I was so terrified that I couldn't move, until it decided to get off and sit next to me on the chair. Then I just ran away screaming."

"It never bit you?" Tino asked.

Missy shook her head no. "I know it sounds silly but you forget I was a little girl. And to make matters worse once my brother and others learned of my fear, they'd use it to torment me throughout my childhood. I suddenly had spiders popping up everywhere, to scare me."

"I'm sorry that happened to you."

Missy shrugged. "I'm all grown up now, and most times I can just keep my distance but every once in a while, when they get close enough that they can touch me, I freak out. I just can't help it. They terrify me."

Missy gave a visible shudder. 

Tino this was bad as if just the thought can have an effect on her.  Even with all his knowledge of spiders, and how harmless most were, he knew this was not something he could convince her to overcome. It was a matter of the mind and getting involved with him is probably the worst decision she could make, considering where his interests lie.

Missy saw that same disappointed look come across Tino's face as before and hated thinking she was the cause. "Tino?"

Tino looked up at her, and she smiled at him. "Can I make it up to you with dessert?"

"Sure," he said, he didn't want the meal to end on a bad note. She went through so much trouble.

Missy was over the fear and self-pity and moved right on to anger. She was angry with herself and the spider for ruining her dinner; her date and that almost kiss. She sighed... that kiss.

Missy quickly came back out with a decadent brownie warmed, drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream hoping beyond hope to salvage the evening.

Tino still had a bit of a sad look about him, and she wondered what he was thinking of. She placed the dessert in front of him. "Enough about me. What about you?"

"Huh?" Tino asked, still absorbed in his own thoughts.

"Well, you know that I run my own store, I'm a baker, and I have fear of spiders. So, your turn."

Tino laughed. "Well, I have a PhD in Biology. I can't seem to find a job in my field. So, I got a job with my Uncle cleaning out gutters from which I've recently been fired."

Missy's brownie paused before it reached her lips, and she put it down. "Fired? Why?"

"Mostly because of the damage to your roof but also because my Uncle thinks I should be doing more with my life and I guess I can't disagree with him there."

"Doesn't he realize you could have been killed today? What kind of heartless person..."

Tino laughed at her fervent defense of him. "It's okay really. I'll still be fixing your roof and I'm sure I'll find something else."

"What are you qualified for?" she asked finally taking a bite of brownie, a bit of fudge sauce caught at the corner of her mouth until she flicked it with her tongue. The desire to kiss her again came back full force but Tino knew it be irresponsible of him.

The brownie smelled so good, but he suddenly lost his appetite. "It's complicated... I... um... I'm sure something will turn up."

He felt like such a coward. Why not just tell her? It was a perfect opening to fess up with the truth. Then it would be over and that would be that. The thought however, seriously depressed him.

No matter how hard they tried they couldn't quite seem to recapture the mood from earlier. Tino made some excuse about having to get up early, so he had best be going, and Missy was clueless on how to make him stay. He had his coat and scarf back on, and they stood by her front door a moment.

"I'll be back tomorrow to finish your roof. Will I see you?" Tino asked.

"I'll most likely be working," Missy said looking up at him, feeling disappointed about that, the evening, everything.

"Everything was delicious. Thank you for having me over for dinner," Tino told her.

"You're welcome."

He knew he should leave, but he just didn't want to go. Missy looked up at him and again saw that look in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as his hand touched her cheek. He leaned in, and she closed her eyes, puckering her lips ever so slightly, and then frowned when she felt his lips on her forehead.

"Good night, Missy."

Her heart broke as she opened her eyes, and he opened the door to leave.

"Good night," she said, quietly closing the door behind him.

Tino just didn't have the heart to do it. He wanted to, so badly, but it wasn't fair. He wasn't being honest with her. It was for the best. He got into his car and checked on his friend in the cup. The spider was huddled at the bottom for warmth.

"I really ought to kill you for ruining what had the potential to be an awesome night... but then again it was only a matter of time, so I guess you did me a favor. Let's go home, buddy."