"Is that what you're wearing?"
Danny looked down at his shirt. "Well, yeah. It's a nice shirt."
Mindy wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, for a trip to the pier to pick up fish at two in the morning. Don't you have something more formal?" She stepped forward and plucked at the front of it.
Danny stepped back quickly. "Hey, keep your hands to yourself. I'll find something else, ok?" He slipped back into his room.
Mindy tapped her clutch against her palm and walked over to mirror hanging by Danny's front door. She'd asked him to go to her parent's anniversary party because she didn't want to show up alone, yet again. She didn't want to field questions about her singlehood from her aunt Gita.
Danny was a perfect choice. He was her best friend, and there were no ulterior motives, but she really had to supervise his clothing choices. Denim on denim was not going to work.
"Is this ok?"
Mindy turned to look at him standing in his bedroom doorway. He was wearing gray slacks and a dark blue button down. She stepped over to him. "Yes, much better, now you don't look like a dock worker. They might actually believe we're dating."
He grimaced. "Alright. I owe you this for getting me out of that sticky situation with Amy, but don't get any ideas."
She stepped up toward him. "You still don't quite look the part. Your hair is a mess. How did you get this 'bed-head' look in the thirty seconds it took you to change?" She reached up and started smoothing down his hair.
He ducked away from her, grabbing at her wrist. "Hey, stop that."
Mindy smiled and started using her free hand to finish the job. He shifted again and grabbed that wrist too. "Seriously, Mindy, stop."
The atmosphere shifted. Danny's eyes were suddenly serious, his hands still cuffed her wrists. "Danny, what…?"
He looked down at her, a serious expression settling over his features. "What's with you and the constant invasions of personal space? It's like you want…" He stopped and swallowed.
"I want what?" She was suddenly breathless. His fingers were still tightly clutching her, holding her close to him.
He pulled her even closer, crushing their bodies together. "This." He captured her lips in his, releasing her wrists only to clutch at her shoulders. The kiss was angry. All of the pent up frustration Danny had felt poured into it.
Mindy responded immediately, sucking hungrily at his lips, slipping her own hands between them to clutch at his shirt.
Danny pulled away, panting. He stared down at her, unsure of what to do. She frowned. "Why'd you stop, Castellano?"
He hadn't meant to do it. Their proximity tonight had just been the final straw. He stepped away from her and stomped over to the coat rack by his door. Angrily yanking his jacket off the hook. "Come on, Lahiri. We better get a move on or we'll be late."
He opened the door and strode out into the hall, not looking back to see if she followed.
Mindy stood still for a moment, stunned. She touched her lips as a slow smile spread across her face. "Oh, Danny." The grin grew. She hurried skipped out into the hall after Danny.