Frasier knew the menu by heart but he continued to listlessly look it up and down as he waited for his date. He had been looking forward to this dinner all day, Roz had set him up with one of her friends whom he had found rather attractive. He sighed as a few minutes late turned to five, then to ten. He had just sent his waiter to fetch him a bottle of wine when he heard someone call his name. Turning around, he was surprised to be met not met by his date, but by Roz.
"Hey Frasier."
"Roz! I'd say what a pleasant surprise seeing you here, but I'd wager you have some not so pleasant news to give. "
She shrugged gently, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Melanie did send me, she said something came up last minute at work and she couldn't make it. She felt so bad I had to tell her I'd come down here and tell you in person to make her feel any better."
At that moment the waiter came back with the bottle of wine he had ordered and began to pour it in the two glasses set on the table.
"Why don't you join me Roz? This night can still be saved."
She raised a weary eyebrow as to ask 'are you sure?'
"Oh, just sit down already. "
Roz debated what to order and let Frasier talk her ear off about their wine until the waiter came back and they placed their orders.
"This place is real swanky Frasier."
"It is one of my favorites. I'd like to think one of the most important parts of a date is the atmosphere and I must admit this place just exudes l'amour."
"What else do you think is important?
"In a date?"
"Yeah a date, just in general."
Frasier tapped his chin thoughtfully with his forefinger, "Good food, good wine, good conversation and if I may be so bold to say, usually, the promise of good sex."
Roz chuckled before replying, "Well three out of four isn't too bad for tonight is it?"
"Oh Roz, don't be so hard on yourself. You're a wonderful conversationalist."
"Ha ha. Very funny Frasier."
"I do try."
She smiled at him, and even though he smiled back, but she could tell something was a little off, "Come on cheer up, you'll have plenty of other opportunity to woo the ladies of Seattle. You've only been here a few months."
"So far my track record is less then admirable." He said dramatically sighing.
"You're worse then my girlfriends."
"I am not." He paused as Roz gave him a knowing look, "Oh dear I am aren't I. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong."
"Wellll…" She was tempted to reply with something snarky but, looking at him from the other side of the table, his dejected state prompted her to soften a little, "If you really want my opinion, I'd say you're a little overeager. You're such a romantic Frasier and it is sweet, really, but sometimes it's just too much." She grasped his hand briefly from across the table, " Maybe don't jump into thing so fast. Try a nice slow burn, you know, let the tension grow a little first."
Frasier seemed to liven back up a bit, with a hint of a smile, " A slow burn you say?"
Roz nodded knowingly, picking up her wine glass.
"Well I'll toast to that." Frasier stated raising his own glass, " To a slow burn."