I have to start by saying how SORRY I am for how long this took. I took a break from this story and now I'm trying to finish it. Having trouble writing lately. Thanks for your patience. It has been so long you may have to re-read. Again, my apologies...

"Seriously Trace, what are you doing to my eyes? I don't want to look like a hooker," Andy warned her friend who stood back to look at Andy's face, makeup brush in hand. They were sitting in Andy's bedroom, and Traci had convinced her that she would do her makeup for tonight's dinner with Sam. Friday was finally here, and Andy was clearly more jumpy than usual.

"I will not make you look like a hooker. Stop worrying so much. You want to look good, right?"

"Yes, of course, but it's just Sam and he's not used to seeing me with a lot of makeup. It's just a thank you dinner, you know? I need to look casual. Well, and a little hot – casual-hot" she huffed out.

Traci shook her head and started to laugh. "I don't think I've seen you this nervous! Andy, it's going to be fine. Your apartment looks fantastic, you spent the week unpacking and decorating, your dinner smells delicious, you had actual grooming appointments this week, which, seriously I have never seen you get your nails and waxing done before any other dates...oh and by the way? The waxing alone means you are totally expecting something to happen this evening." Traci raised an eyebrow and grinned wickedly at her best friend.

"Traci, I do not expect anything to happen! I'll have you know I get my nails and waxing done on a regular basis, thank you very much. I'm nervous enough as it is, don't make it worse." Andy pleaded.

"Ok, ok. Calm down already...there, I think I'm done." She stood back once again and looked at Andy and smiled. "Perfect, if I do say so myself. Very casual-hot, McNally."

Andy looked sceptically in the mirror. "Hey, not bad Nash, I do kinda look hot..." she grinned.

"See? You need to trust me and my application skills! I have to go pick up Leo, but you have to call me tomorrow first thing to fill me in on the events of this evening."

"Will do, Trace." Andy smiled as she walked her friend to the door.

Andy had spent the week working shifts and then working on her apartment. By inviting Sam over for dinner, she had the goal she needed to get things organized. Now her placed looked pretty decent, if she did say so herself. Paintings were hung, curtains up (she can still hear Traci swearing from the step ladder), shelves organized, dishes put away. She was pretty impressed with herself actually. Every day she had a goal and stuck to it. She finally felt like she was starting a new part of her life. Everything here was hers and she was content for the first time in a long time.

And Friday night was finally here. She wished she had suggested they go out to eat. Her cooking skills were adequate at best. Poisoning Sam was not something she wanted to do this evening and with her luck that wasn't out of the question unfortunately. This is just a casual dinner, a thank you, she reminded herself. But she couldn't help thinking about how his lips had felt on hers and how his arms held her when they slept.

She sighed as she thought back to the dreadful shift they had today. The wind and rain hadn't let up the entire shift. Fifteen minutes into patrol and both she and Sam were soaked, driving from accident to accident and filling out reports.

She thought back to their conversation in the car earlier and grinned.

"So, McNally, what are you making me for dinner?" They were drenched, cranky, and enroute to yet another accident when he asked the question with a touch of worry.

"Why, you worried? Sam it will be fine, I'm sure you will like it," she replied, stressing the fine. Andy was going to make a baked pasta dish, one of the only things she knew she could do well.

"Um, yeah, I seem to recall a cooking story of yours that involved the fire department. A guy's gotta be prepared you know," he said smirking.

"Well, if a fire breaks out we can always order in, you know, once the fire is under control," she shrugged.

She saw an eyebrow raise and a dimple appear. "Ok, then I'll bring the wine, an extinguisher, and some take out numbers for back up…" he trailed off as they approached their destination.

She grinned as she looked at herself again in the mirror. Why was she so nervous? It was only Sam, but she knew tonight could escalate into something more and she desperately wanted something more to happen. She jumped at the sound of thunder. The storm was still in full force. Every so often her place would light up and then a crash of predictable thunder would follow.

She had spent a while getting ready but didn't want to look like she spent a lot of time. She shook her head at herself. This was a new level of pathetic. Exactly how much eyeliner says kiss me, she thought sarcastically. She had chosen dark wash jeans to keep things casual and a cashmere ivory sweater that accentuated her curves. The neckline was rather bare and loose and showed off her skin. Her hair was a touch wavy and fell around her shoulders. Looking at herself closely, she was definitely more put together than usual.

She checked the clock again and it was almost 7. She went to the kitchen to double check the dinner. Everything looked good, and she had even made them little chocolate lava cakes for dessert but they had to be baked right beforehand. Another crash of thunder had her jumping again. Geez, get a grip, she told herself.

After hearing a knock at her door, she took a deep breath, put on a confident face, and opened the door to a dimpled and damp Sam Swarek carrying two bottles of wine. God he was so sexy. He was dressed in his usual black T and dark jeans, and his leather jacket. Not exactly weather appropriate but she couldn't imagine him in a rain coat. The thought made her smile.

"Hey!" she said cheerily. "Come on in. It's still really coming down out there."

"Yeah, be happy we're not working tonight," Sam said as he walked in. His expression changed suddenly when he took in her appearance. He knew he was staring at her but he couldn't look away. That sweater clung to her in all the right spots, her hair was unbelievably sexy, and her eyes were made up more than usual, he noticed. He swallowed, trying to get some moisture in his dry mouth. He suddenly had visions of testing out that new bed of hers.

"Thanks for the wine," she took the bottles as he shed his jacket. "How did you get in?" Andy had expected a call up to open the security door.

"Someone was leaving so they let me in. Fantastic security as usual, McNally," he said in a dry tone, recovering.

"Hey, this is an upscale place – no serial killers here," she joked back.

"That's what you think," as he spoke he finally looked around and took in his surroundings. "Wow, what a difference, I'm impressed." It really did look great, a vast improvement over when he had last seen it.

"Thank you," she smiled widely, obviously proud of her accomplishments this week.

"So you like it here so far?"

"Yeah, you know, I actually feel great. Like I'm starting fresh, a new beginning." She looked directly at him. She realized she wasn't being very subtle but 'fresh start' Andy wasn't feeling patient anymore.

Things got comfortable for them quickly as they fell into their usual banter, talking about work and their co-workers. He teased her more about her cooking but then quickly stayed with her in the kitchen and helped her finish what she needed to do. He was actually quite good in the kitchen, her kitchen. She loved watching him. Yup, could definitely get used to this, she thought.

She handed Sam a cork screw to open the wine and turned her back to him to finish the dressing for the salad. Sam eyed some wine glasses in a clear cupboard above where Andy was standing and walked up behind her to reach for them. She jumped when she felt his chest up against her back as he reached. Hearing another loud crash of thunder was all Andy needed to completely unnerve her and she jumped back again, falling right into him. Sam immediately brought his arms down and caught her around her waist to steady her. Her back was completely leaning against his chest and she could feel his breath in her hair, not to mention his arms solidly around her middle. She was suddenly having difficulty breathing.

"Whoa, sorry… it's just me getting glasses, I didn't mean to scare you." He honestly didn't think she'd react that way. Not that he minded this position, actually, her back pressed against his front, his arms around her, and his face pretty much in her hair. She smelled amazing and Sam was not moving anytime soon.

"It's okay, sorry, I'm just jumpy. Thunder always gets to me." Not to mention you, she thought. This is when she needed to move away, to regain her composure. But she just couldn't move. God, she was having trouble breathing, how was she going to compose herself to actually stand up and move away from him? In fact, they both hadn't moved and the tension was unbearable. Andy closed her eyes and leaned back further into him and suddenly she felt her hair being moved to one side, an arm tightening around her waist, and then warm soft lips on her neck, slowly and surely making their way up to behind her ear. She could feel herself melting into him.

Sam's cell phone rang and briefly startled them, but he ignored it as he continued to kiss and nuzzle her neck. His mouth found its way back down her neck and to her collarbone as his hands slipped under her sweater and were slowly making their way to her breasts. He could hear her breath quicken and it was all he could do to keep his pace slow. Sam sighed loudly when his cell phone pierced the silence again, clearly frustrated at the intrusion.

"I'm sorry, I should get this. It's Sarah's ringtone and she never calls me more than once," he said as he moved back to grab his phone. "I just want to make sure everything is ok, I'll just be a sec."

"Yeah, yeah, of course…go ahead, I'll finish up here. Dinner should be ready in 5. You can call her from the living room."

As Sam answered and left, Andy quickly tried to finish up in the kitchen and pull herself together. She was actually shaking a bit, what he does to her she can't even comprehend.

Sam appeared back shortly with an expression on his face Andy couldn't figure out.

"Is everything ok?" Andy asked, concerned.

"Yes…." Sam began, looking at Andy with a weary expression. "Sarah's in labour, she's a month early actually so they are surprised and not quite prepared….anyway, she's in the hospital and they have a babysitter with Julia for a few hours but she asked if I could come down for a night or two to stay with Julia. That way Sarah's husband can stay with her in the hospital." He looked at her trying to gauge her reaction.

"Oh…so like, now?"

"Yeah, I'm really sorry but they are in a bind…I couldn't say no," he looked at her hoping she would understand.

"No, of course, go, go…we can do this another time, no big deal." She smiled at him, hoping to hide her disappointment. But she knew his sister needed him right now, and they could do this anytime.

Sam looked at Andy wondering if he should ask her the next question. She was busying herself at the sink and looked so beautiful with her hair falling slightly in her face.

He decided to go for it. "So, listen, this may sound crazy..." he cleared his throat as she looked up at him. "How do you feel about babysitting?"