“Three months stuck on this rock.”

Jim eyed his brother dispassionately as he set a box behind the counter. “You got some place better to be?”

“Any where’s better than here. They don’t even know how to party in ShiKahr.”

Jim shook his head. “You’re engaged to Aurelan. It’s time to forget about partying.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “I don’t mean screwing around, I mean drinking. I haven’t found a single bar. Mom said there would be.”

Jim bent down to open a box. “Probably said that so you’d come.”

“Yeah, I figured. Soon as summer’s over, I’m leaving. Supposed to meet Aurelan in Illinois September the first.” Sam ran his hands through his hair. “Anyway, who’d be stupid enough to open a non-dairy ice cream place in the capitol city of Vulcan.”

“Give Mom a break, will ya? Anyway, she was asked to open it. To give it a try by her company. If it doesn’t work out, she’ll go home.”

Sam leaned against the closed door of the shop. “What about you? You’re not staying beyond the summer, are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“No? Thought you were thinking of taking after Dad and getting yourself killed in Starfleet.”

“Shut up. I haven’t even decided about any of that.”

“Well, you’d better decide soon or Mom will take over your life for you.” Sam straightened. “I’m gonna go get more boxes.”

Jim watched Sam leave the shop, and he left the door open. Jim considered closing it again, as they weren’t even close to being ready to open, but considering it was super warm and stuffy, he left it that way and continued getting ready.

It was about ten minutes later when he heard someone sort of shuffle inside. He was down below the counter, stocking goods, so he stood up, ready to tell whoever it was they weren’t open yet.

But the words stilled in his throat as he looked at the most gorgeous guy he’d ever seen. Most gorgeous Vulcan guy. Any guy, sure. But his gorgeous guy was Vulcan.

“Uh.”

Smooth Jim.

The Vulcan looked anxiously from the door to Jim, a slight furrow between his brows. “Who…”

Jim came forward from behind the counter, wiping his hands on the apron, subconsciously. He knew Vulcans didn’t shake hands or anything.

“Jim. Jim Kirk.”

The Vulcan’s lips quirked very slightly. “Spock. Who owns this place and what is it?”

“Oh. My mother. Winona Kirk. She’s with the Tastes Like Real Ice Cream Co. This is the, uh, the first shop of its kind on Vulcan.” Jim shifted. “Non-dairy. Vegan.”

“I see.”

Jim glanced toward the counter. “I can offer you a sample.”

“You are not open, are you?”

“Well, no. Getting set up.”

Spock nodded. “Forgive me for the intrusion. I am meeting my mother for lunch in ShiKahr and just saw someone I hoped to avoid. I ducked into the first open door.”

Jim smiled. “My fortune then. Sample?”

“I really should not. My mother will be waiting.”

Yet he followed Jim to the counter when Jim went there and behind it.

“I’ve only got a couple of flavors available. Uh. Not chocolate.” Jim winked.

Spock arched a brow. “No indeed.”

Jim put the little sampler spoon in the vanilla and handed it to Spock. “Not that I think you’re a vanilla kind of guy or anything.”

Spock did not react to that, so Jim figured it had gone over the Vulcan’s head.

“It is quite good. I will have to return to try other flavors when you are open. Something more adventurous than vanilla.” He quirked that brow again and Jim couldn’t help but grin in response.

“Yeah, yeah, definitely.”

“I must go now.”

Spock turned around and went to the shop door. Then he looked back at Jim.

“When do you get off work?”

“Oh. I guess somewhere around six-thirty.”

“And do you live nearby?”

Jim nodded. “Yeah. We’re staying in an apartment above the shop, actually.”

“I would like to ask you to dinner, Jim. May I come by at seven to have you accompany me?”

Jim couldn’t agree fast enough. “Yes. Yes. I’ll be ready.”

Spock inclined his head. “I will see you then.”

He made it through the door just as Jim’s mom was coming in with a box.

“Good day,” Spock murmured.

She watched Spock walk down the street.  “Who was that?”

“Spock.”

She laughed. “Spock? Who is Spock?”

“My date for this evening.”

“Figures. Only here a day and already has a date.”

“Who has a date?” Sam asked, coming in, arms full of boxes.

“Jimmy?” She put a box down on the counter. “With a very handsome Vulcan.”

“What? I wasn’t even gone but a few minutes!”

“That’s Jimmy. Charms them every time. Let’s break for lunch. I’m starving.”