End of Previous Chapter:
She looked at him a moment, unable to read behind his expression. She feared that perhaps she'd offended him with her assumption he had no other plans. But a moment later, his face broke out in a shy smile. "A nice dinner sounds perfect." He sighed dramatically. "Besides, the last time we had burgers, I distinctly recall spotting a rather large spider crawling up the wall over the counter." He glanced at her and noticed her eyes widen. He leaned closer to her. "I wouldn't want you to be traumatized twice in one night," he stated matter of factly, as he reached out to press the elevator button.
A Nice Dinner 2 – First Course: Amuse-Bouche (A bite sized course served to prepare the palate before the main meal)
As they descended to the garage, Jo couldn't help but steal sideways glances at Mac. He seemed completely content to spend the ride in silence. Jo, on the other hand, felt she should be making conversation but was momentarily at a complete loss for words.
She knew she'd had a crush on Mac for some time now. Hell, maybe even since she'd started at the Lab. But she'd never seriously thought about pursuing it. However, since Mac's shooting and his breakup with Christine, Jo had found herself thinking more and more about that emptiness in her personal life. And the possibility of filling it with her boss had started to seem just a bit more plausible over the past weeks.
By the 4th floor, Mac finally met her gaze and quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Are you ok?" He asked. "You seem nervous."
"I'm fine. Just pent up energy. You know, stuck at my desk for the past several hours." She smiled back.
His face remained impassive as he continued watching her. Since they'd entered the elevator, some part of her had been in constant motion, whether her foot tapping the floor, her knee banging the back wall, or her fingers playing with one of her necklaces. "Perhaps we should walk to the restaurant instead of driving. I think you need to burn off some energy. Because right now, you're reminding me of the last time I went out to breakfast with Lindsey and Lucy." He smiled over at her.
She frowned. "Now you're comparing me to a four year old?" But suddenly her expression changed and she looked at him mischievously. "If we walked, we could share a nice bottle of wine along with that nice dinner."
He laughed. "Trying everything to get me drunk tonight?" He said, thinking back to her earlier encouragement that he join the team getting drinks.
She burst out laughing, then got a sly look on her face. "Mac Taylor drunk, that might make for an interesting evening," but before she could continue, the elevator door opened and they glanced at each other, unsure of what the plan was now.
Mac moved first, stepping into the garage. Jo followed suit, only to stop a foot away from him. "So where shall we go?" She ventured.
He nodded his head towards the Avalanche, motioning for her to follow. "I've got an idea. Friday night, nearly 9:00, we're going to have a tough time getting in anywhere. How about we drive back to my place, drop off the car, because I need it this weekend. I know this little Italian place a block away from my building, we can walk to it. Relaxed atmosphere, great food, never crowded because it's on a quiet alley. I think you might find it perfect for a 'nice dinner', maybe even that "nice bottle of wine'." His eyes twinkled as he repeated her words.
She smiled. "I love it already." He opened the car door and she climbed up, glancing back at him with a ravishing smile as he shifted to close her door. He caught her eye just as he pushed on her door – damn he loved that smile of hers. He was about to tell her as much when the door, set in motion by his earlier push, slammed suddenly, startling them both. He remained outside, glancing at her through the windowpane, but she turned her face, grabbing for the seat belt.
Mac got in and glanced at her. She was looking out the side window of the car; at what, he wasn't sure since he was parked against the wall. He cleared his throat and reached over her, unlocking the glove compartment and placing his piece inside. "You wanna lock up your gun?" he asked. She turned to him, confused – she hadn't really heard him. He shrugged. "Unless you think you might need it during dinner. You never know; a couple glasses of wine, I might get out of hand." She chuckled, realizing what he'd said. "I doubt I'll need my gun to fend you off. Sorry. I was daydreaming."
She retrieved her gun from her purse and stowed it away. He locked it and started the car, pulling slowly out of the garage. They chatted comfortably about the day, and a few short minutes later, they were pulling into the underground parking lot at Mac's building. He parked, shut off the ignition, and looked to Jo. "You need anything or shall we just head over to the restaurant?"
Jo paused a moment, not exactly sure what she might 'need'. He noticed her hesitation and reached out a hand, her heart skipping several beats as it approached her. But he very gently pulled a wayward strand of hair from one side of her face, over to the other, straightening out her part. "There, better." he smiled at her. She let out her breath, not even realizing she'd been holding it.
She laughed, nervously. "Oh God, I never even thought to look at myself after my journey under Lindsey's desk. I must look a fright." She held out her hands in front of her. "Not to mention I still have dust and spider web all over me." She glanced down at her clothing, brushing them randomly. "I should have cleaned up in the ladies' room before we left."
He shrugged, "We can go up and you can use mine if you want . . ."
She eyed him slyly. "Mac, if I didn't know better I'd think you were trying to get me up to your apartment."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Well, you have been pushing me to get drunk all night."
She crossed her hands in front of her chest and gave him her best glare. "Oh I have not." She uncrossed her arms and reached down to grab her bag. "Let's just go – I'll make myself presentable when we get to the restaurant."
"Jo, I don't think you could ever NOT look presentable."
"Well, maybe you should see me first thing in the morning sometime . . ." she started off rather cockily, then trailed off, averting her gaze as she realized how that sounded.
He noticed her blush as she turned her head – she wasn't usually shy. A sudden pulse of playfulness coursed through him. "Well, you'd have to get me drunk and I'd have to get you up to my apartment before I would see you fresh out of bed . . ." Damn, that didn't sound right at all. He hesitated a moment. "Sorry, I didn't mean that would only happen if I were drunk, or . . ." He sighed. Maybe he better just stop before he made it any worse.
She looked back at him, her blush having dissipated, a silly grin on her face, noticing his clear embarrassment. "Don't worry Mac, you never did strike me as the drunken, one night stand type. Unless you're starting a new chapter of your life . . ."
He blew a breath out quickly and glanced down at his watch. "No. I think we'd better get going or our nice dinner is going to turn into a greasy pizza at the all night diner down the street." And without a further word or glance towards her, he climbed out and quickly came round to let her out.
Jo couldn't help but smile. He had actually been flirting with her – hadn't he? At least until his boyish shyness got the better of him. She loved it when that happened. She thought that in those moments, he must look just like he did when he was a kid and had gotten into trouble. Her previous nervousness at the prospect of doing something more than grab a quick burger with her boss began to diminish in light of his sudden playfulness.
They walked towards the bank of elevators and just as Mac pressed the button, the doors to one opened, revealing a young couple caught in an intimate, clearly heading up from the garage level below them. As Mac and Jo entered, the couple immediately separated, their eyes downcast. The elevator opened again on the Lobby Level and Mac and Jo exited.
She glanced over at Mac. "Well, we better get movin' – they clearly have the upper hand in this whole get drunk and get up to the apartment routine." She said teasingly, indicating the couple in the elevator with a backwards wave of her hand. She was trying to find his playful side again.
But it seemed to backfire. He paused before opening the front door of his building, turning to her. "You think that's where we're heading tonight?" He wasn't sure himself whether he was asking seriously or just playing along with what he'd thought was just her usual flirtatious self.
She looked directly into his eyes, hers narrowing slightly, her lips pursed for a moment. She decided that tonight she'd just throw caution to the wind and go for it. She leaned closer to him and whispered seductively into his ear. "Well, I guess that depends on how dinner goes, don't ya think?"
And with a sudden toss of her head, causing her necklaces to jangle wildly, she pushed through the door and out towards the sidewalk, leaving Mac looking after her and wondering what exactly was going on with her tonight. He enjoyed her company immensely, he always had, but tonight she seemed to really be pushing the limits with her flirting and it was beginning to make him feel a bit disoriented. But he had to admit, it wasn't necessarily a bad feeling.
They walked in silence to the alley behind his building. Mac led her to the small restaurant, the doorway framed by large bay windows on either side. He held the door open, his face unreadable.
She passed him and stopped just inside, taking in her surroundings. The place was small, but the atmosphere was warm and inviting and the smell of the food made Jo's mouth start to water. She smiled over at him as he joined her in the entryway, waiting for the waiter to seat them. "This is perfect, Mac. Thanks."
The smiling waiter approached them and they were greeted by his heavy Italian accent. "Buona sera signora, signore, we hava two table to choose," and he indicated one table for four next to them, in one of the bay windows at the front, and another smaller corner table in the back, with connected booth seats at two adjoining sides of the table. They looked at each other a moment. "Mac, I'm going to go wash my hands. Go ahead and pick whichever you prefer." And before he could speak, she took off towards the back of the restaurant.
The waiter eyed Mac pleasantly, waiting until Jo disappeared down the hallway leading to the restrooms before he spoke. "Back table - nice for romantic evening." Mac frowned slightly. He really wasn't pushing for a romantic dinner, but he also didn't want to sit in the fishbowl table at the front of the restaurant. He sat surrounded by the glass windows of his office all day so he thought he'd prefer a bit more seclusion at the moment. He nodded towards the back table and the waiter smiled, leading him to it and handing out the menus.
Meanwhile Jo pushed open the door of the restroom and locked it. She glanced at herself in the mirror, sighing. She needed to think a moment about what she was doing. She moved to use the toilet in back, sitting and pondering the evening. She'd been flirting with Mac incessantly since beginning her job at the Lab; she did that to everyone. But now that she'd finally admitted to herself that she really liked him, that perhaps there could be more between them - now every interaction between the two of them seemed laden with meaning. It wasn't just for fun; it was real now. At least for her. She wasn't sure about Mac yet. He certainly seemed more responsive than usual. But was that because he actually liked her, or just because he was enjoying their camaraderie? He had seemed more relaxed in generalopen since his shooting, connecting on a more social level with the team. Maybe that's all this was tonight. But she hoped it was more.
She exited the stall, washed her hands and attempted to fix her hair a bit. She sighed deeply, deciding to go with her earlier thought outside his building and forge on ahead. Here goes she thought.
As she walked back into the main room of the restaurant, she was surprised to see Mac at the smaller back table. She smiled and walked over, taking off her coat. He stood to take it from her, hanging it on a nearby hook with his. She on the booth at a right angle to him, but as she did so, her knees knocked into his and they both jerked their legs back from the other. "Oh, sorry." She laughed. He smiled slightly. "It's ok. Maybe we should take the bigger table . . ."
She shook her head. "This is better. The front table would feel like we were on display."
She picked up her menu and glanced over it quickly. "So you've been here before I take it. Any suggestions?"
"The spaghette con cozze is good if you want a pasta dish; or the fish - that's what I'm getting." He offered.
She glanced over at him. "Ok. I'm gonna get a salad too; I'm absolutely starving. You should get something else; you didn't eat any more than I did today. You can't tell me you're not just as hungry."
Mac smiled at that. "Ok. I'll get a salad too. Red wine or white?"
She pursed her lips a moment. "I really prefer red, but isn't the rule that white goes better with seafood?"
"Let's get red if that's what you like.
She raised her eyebrows in feigned awe. "Mac, I would never have guessed you have a rebellious streak in you."
He scoffed. "I wouldn't call ordering red wine with seafood 'rebellious'."
"Well, it's a start anyway."
He looked at her quizzically but the waiter approached so he let it go. They ordered, the waiter gathered the menus and left them.
Jo smiled. "So how are you doing really? You don't seem much different than before the shooting, but I'm wondering if you're just putting on a valiant face."
He shook his head. "No, I'm really feeling pretty good. Sometimes I still experience some pain, especially at the end of the day."
"But emotionally?"
"Jo, I'm fine." She frowned. He rolled his eyes.
"What about Christine?" She pressed on.
"She's fine too. We had coffee last week. She asked about you." Now it was Jo's turn to roll her eyes. "That's not what I meant. I mean how are you dealing with her decision to end it?"
He looked away a moment. He'd known that's where she was heading. "It was for the best, I'm realizing. We were already moving very slowly with the relationship. I told myself we were just being careful, but in retrospect it was more – I think we were both hesitant as to whether we were right for each other and the shooting made it clear, certainly for her, that we weren't."
"And for you?"
"I completely understand her decision. It takes a certain kind of person to be with a cop, or anyone in law enforcement. You know that. She already came from a family of police officers – she knew the risks, the stress, the worry. She wanted to make it work, thought she should be able to, but she realized it was just too much for her right now."
Jo nodded slowly. Mac looked at her. "What about you? Anything new in your life? Ellie enjoying high school this year? Tyler's getting along at college?"
Jo smiled at the mention of her kids. "They're fine – growing up so fast. They're both gone this weekend. So independent now. You know, I was going to plan a trip to Paris over the summer." Mac's eyebrows raised. She continued. "They didn't want to come with me."
His mouth raised in a half smile. "Really? Then I suppose I got shot and you felt you couldn't abandon the Lab and just go by yourself?"
Jo shook her head, causing her necklaces to jingle again and Mac to smile. "No. The dates I wanted to go conflicted with some soccer camp Ellie wanted to go to, and Tyler had just set up a summer internship and didn't want to have to ask for time off." She threw up her hands. "I mean Paris! I'd have given up my driving permit for a year just to go to Paris when I was a kid."
Mac smiled widely. "Jo, you said it yourself, they're just growing up. Tyler's already grown – he's got his own life. And Ellie, she's at that stage where her friends are most important. I remember when I was her age, I would've chosen my friends over a family trip any day."
She smiled. "Yea, you're right. I know. But I'm just not quite ready to be an old divorcee, sitting at home alone every night haunted by memories of her kids back when they loved her."
"Oh please. They still love you. Maybe they just don't need you quite as often anymore. But when they do, you'll know and you'll always be there."
She nodded silently. He continued. "Maybe you should think about what you want in YOUR life and start working on that."
She eyed him a moment, but the waiter appeared with their food and their conversation turned away from the more serious topic of their respective love lives to a comfortable banter about work, family, politics even sports.
Almost two hours later, the waiter finished clearing their dishes. "Oh Mac, that was delicious. Thanks." Jo was feeling great now. A full stomach, enjoyable conversation with Mac, who had truly seemed to be enjoying himself, and a couple glasses of wine had served to move her beyond her earlier funk; she now felt ready for anything and desperately didn't want the evening to end, thinking of her empty apartment and impending long weekend.
The waiter smiled, placing dessert menus on the table. "Dessert? Perhaps to share?"
Mac opened his mouth to decline as Jo did exactly the opposite. They glanced at each other. "Jo, I'm stuffed. I don't think I could eat another bite."
She eyed him playfully. "Mac you have to get dessert when you go out for a nice dinner. It's not about hunger; it's about enjoyment."
He laughed slightly. "I won't be enjoying much if I'm too full to move."
She waved her hand dismissively at him, staring at the menu before her.
His phone buzzed suddenly and he glanced at it. His brow furrowed and he leaned towards her. "I need to take this. But I tell you what. You pick whatever you want and I'll share a bit. And I'll have a tea." And with that, he excused himself, raised his phone to his ear and walked out to take the call.
Mac returned a few minutes later just as the waiter brought their dessert and tea.
Jo glanced up at him. "Everything ok?"
He nodded. "Fine –an old buddy – I'm helping him move his daughter into a new apartment at NYU Sunday. He was just confirming the time."
She picked up her spoon, digging into the chocolate. Her eyes rolled up into her head and Mac laughed. "That good?" "Oh my God, Mac, you have to taste. It's divine." She offered him a bite from her spoon and he took it, nodding his head in agreement.
"You know, chocolate mousse is a poor replacement for a trip to Paris."
He looked at Jo, but she seemed suddenly saddened and his smile faded. He shouldn't have said that. He put his hand over hers on her lap. "You should have just gone to Paris anyway."
She looked down at his hand covering hers. It was warm and felt so right she wished he would just keep it there. "Oh Mac, I didn't want to go alone, that's the point – that's the kind of trip you take with someone you care for, someone to experience the magic with. I would have just been lonely by myself."
He sighed and his finger began caressing her hand very softly. "Jo, ever since you started at the Lab almost three years ago, you've been on my case about my social life. Maybe you need to start working on your own." He knew that perhaps that sounded harsh, but he was coming to realize it was the truth. "When was the last time you went out on a date?"
She looked at him boldly. "Isn't this one?" She knew the wine was bolstering her confidence but she just couldn't help herself.
He paused a moment before replying. He'd initially thought she was just joking, but saw now that she was dead serious. "Do you want it to be?" His voice seemed lower suddenly. His hand was still on hers, calling back to mind the feel of him against her earlier while untangling her necklaces. She stared into his eyes, her heart suddenly thrumming loudly in her chest. She wondered absently if he could hear it.
She leaned towards him slowly, her eyes never leaving his. His hand was still on hers, his finger still stroking hers. He hadn't moved, hadn't reacted in any way and she took this as confirmation that what she was doing was right; or at least what he wanted. She closed the gap between their mouths, barely brushing her lips to his when he suddenly jerked his head away and pulled his hand back from hers.
She gasped at his sudden reaction. Her lips still tingled where they'd made the briefest contact with his and she brought her hand to rest gently on her mouth. She'd gotten only the slightest taste of his lips, a mixture of chocolate and wine and something else that she presumed was just his taste. But it made her want more, more of his lips, more of his touch, more of him. She tried to look in his eyes, but he was looking away. "Mac?" she whispered.
He slid back from her on the booth. "I . . .I uh . . . need to use the bathroom." He stammered, and nearly leapt out of the booth towards the men's room.
A/N: I know, I know. Patience, patience, please. I promise the next chapter will be up soon – it's almost done anyway. And the rating will be changing to "M" as well. They need to have some fun eventually, right?
Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed and alerted and added me to their favorites, etc etc. I really, truly appreciate knowing what you think and it's definitely encouragement to keep going.