"Hello, Dr. Crane," Daphne said as she opened the door to him.
"I trust you slept well after our little adventure last night." For his part, Niles hadn't gotten much sleep at all. He'd been too busy replaying the feeling of holding Daphne in his arms. Yes, his heart ached remembering her comment about it all being an act. But he refused to dwell on that. His imagination ran wild, making him envision scenarios: the two of them eloping, still in their evening attire. Or, him taking her back to his apartment, and waking up to find her lying there next to him. It was all nonsense. But his heart just couldn't believe that. There had to be some way, something he could do.
"Dr. Crane? Are you all right?" Daphne's words jolted Niles' mind back to the present.
"I'm sorry, Daphne. I guess my mind wandered a bit."
Daphne smiled. "Thinking about dancing again?" she teased. She was incredibly grateful that they'd been able to find their way back to friendship after last night. All of the thoughts she'd had as she laid awake were silly. It was just an evening with a friend and nothing more. A pleasant diversion.
"I could only do that if I had the right partner," Niles replied, without even thinking.
Daphne remembered the woman he'd glanced at as they left the ball. "Well, I'm sure you'll find her." She involuntarily looked at the ground. Why did remembering that moment have to hurt?
"There could never be a better dance partner than you, Daphne. You were wonderful."
Daphne blushed at the compliment. "Thank you. You were quite good yourself."
Niles looked at her in silence for a moment. He was mesmerized by her. He hadn't been prepared for the way it would feel to see her now, when he could clearly imagine holding her in his arms. He swallowed nervously. "Daphne, would you like to do something else together sometime?" He heard the words, barely able to believe it was his own voice.
"Well, sure. I mean, if you want to, that is," Daphne replied.
"I was just thinking, you did me an awfully big favor, helping me impress those friends of Maris'. I'd like to repay your kindness if I may. I thought perhaps I could take you to dinner. Not as a date, of course, but simply as a gesture of thanks."
Daphne thought fleetingly of Joe. He was out of town for the week visiting family. She felt a little twinge of guilt, but Dr. Crane was her friend. Last night had been a once-in-a-lifetime thing. One innocent little dinner couldn't change anything, could it?