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I shake my head “Nope I want you to sit here and keep me company” I nod toward one of the stools on the other side of the kitchen island, and she so to the wine cellar and retrieve the bottle I was thinking about, uncork it, and then pour a glass for each of us

“Thank you,” she lass to her I watch as she takes her ti the wine sit on her tongue for a et the full flavor of it

And it hits me then: she fits into my world just fine

No No, no, no I don’t do that kind of thing Freedom Independence No

Samantha smiles at me “Wow”

I grin “That pretty much sums it up”

I go to work chopping onions and garlic, and she sits, watching, occasionally sipping her wine

“You said before that your father’s construction business wasn’t your ‘thing,’” she says “Is this your thing? Cooking?”

I glance up at her and shakeI don’t do often enough”

She nods, but she doesn’t press

“My father builds luxury high rises for rich people People who already have it all but wantit “The thing is, with a background and skills in construction, you can actually change the world At least for some people”

She’s studying me “Not just for rich people, then?” she asks with a smile

I shake my head “What I want to do…what I’ll be able to do, once I finish this current project for my father, is help build homes and other facilities for at-need communities in Third World countries Places otten” I take a breath This isn’t so I do I’ myself up to make myself look important “It just doesn’t seem fair All this luxury here, and not even basic shelter in other places”

She’s watchingto see far too much, as always

“How did you get started on that path?” she finally asks