AN: Same disclaimer applies. Thanks to everyone who reviewed my last chapter. I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I got a bit busy with the start of the spring semester. Then I had it written and decided it was kinda crappy, so I had to rewrite it. I hope you like it. And as always, any reviews are greatly appreciated...and I promise I will try to update a little more quickly.
The morning following her date with Leo, Piper was in an extraordinarily good mood. Her mood was further brightened by the vase of a dozen roses she found sitting in front of her door when she opened it to leave. She carried it inside and set it on the coffee table in front of her couch. Opening the card, she had to laugh slightly at what was written: "Told you I wouldn't bang your door down—Leo."
Piper arrived at Quake around 11 and was shocked when one of her employees informed her the dozen roses sitting on the bar were hers as well. The card read: "Last night was amazing; you were amazing. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did—Leo." She had barely finished reading the card when a stock boy from her club came in with another vase of a dozen roses for her. "You have got to be kidding me," she said lowly, even more surprised that apparently Leo had decided she needed a small rose garden. The last card read: "If you don't have any plans this evening, maybe we can do it again. I'll call you this afternoon—Leo."
Piper had just placed the card back with the flowers when her sisters walked in together, having apparently thought it best to double team her when it came to getting details of her date with Leo. Piper tried her best to appear busy, which unfortunately for her did nothing to deter her sisters from asking their questions and making teasing comments.
"Well, look who put out last night," Phoebe stated, being the least classy of the sisters and of course just assuming Piper had slept with Leo since she was looking at 2 dozen roses.
Feeling her cheeks get hot with a blush, Piper kept her eyes focused on the paperwork she was pretending to do. "The only thing I put out last night was the trash," she defended herself.
"Oh yeah? Then how come you have two dozen roses? Pretty friendly trash guy," Phoebe countered, picking up one of the cards in her typical nosy fashion.
"Three dozen, actually," Piper corrected with a little smile. "There were a dozen in front of my door this morning as well," she added, another blush rising on her cheeks.
"Mmmhmm..." Phoebe trailed off, reading the card. "So you were amazing during a totally amazing night, huh? Still want to stick to your no sex story?" she asked, definitely not believing that one now.
"You have to admit, Piper, it does sound like you had sex...and you shouldn't be ashamed of it, you know. You're obviously attracted to the guy, he seems nice...and you haven't had any for a very long time. There's no shame in indulging your needs occasionally...as long as you indulge safely," Prue spoke up for the first time.
"I didn't have sex!" Piper exclaimed a bit louder than she intended, causing a few people to look at her funny. "I didn't have sex with him. He took me to a nice restaurant, we danced a little bit, he walked me to my place, then he went across the hall to his. That's it...no sex. I woke up completely alone this morning," she explained a little quieter as she began to get a bit defensive.
"You're an adult, you don't have to be in denial about it...unless it was bad. Oh, was he really that bad, honey?" Phoebe asked then, not backing off since she believed the evidence spoke for itself.
"No! I mean, I don't know how he is in bed since I've never been with him in bed. God, Phoebe, I'm not obsessed with sex like you seem to think," she said, beginning to get a bit upset then that she was continuing to be accused of something that never happened. "But for the record, if his kissing is any indication, there is no way he could ever be bad," she added after a few seconds, finally giving her sisters a little something they could chew on.
"So he kissed you, huh?" Prue asked with a smile, glad her sister was finally getting back on the dating horse after so long. She deserved so much better than her ex-husband.
Piper blushed again. "Well, it was technically a date...and it was very nice...and it's customary to kiss a guy when he's a good date..." she tried to explain.
"Oh, so then you kissed him," Phoebe teased her.
"No...well yes...I mean, he kissed me first. He's a true gentleman you know...very sweet and tender. He's not like most guys who when they kiss you automatically shove their tongue down your throat," Piper couldn't help but smile.
"So you didn't use tongue? You have a totally hot doctor who took you to a romantic dinner with dancing included, and you didn't even use a little tongue? Where did I go wrong?" Phoebe asked with a sigh.
"I didn't say that," Piper smiled almost mischievously.
"So you did tongue him! I knew I taught you well!" Phoebe exclaimed victoriously.
Piper and Prue both rolled their eyes at Phoebe's immaturity. "I didn't say that either. You didn't let me finish. He kissed me very gently and innocently; then he pulled away. Then I kissed him...yes, Phoebe, with tongue," she shook her head at her sister's contented look. "It was very...nice."
"Nice? Just nice? All that, and that's all we get? Nice?" Phoebe asked a bit exasperated.
Piper had to laugh. "It was more than nice. It was slow and sensual...special," she told her sisters softly with a smile before looking back at her paperwork again.
Phoebe and Prue exchanged knowing looks with smiles. Their sister was finally falling in love again. It was about time she genuinely smiled again.
"It's nice to see you happy with a guy again," Prue told Piper with a smile as she squeezed her shoulder. "You deserve to be happy and feel special."
"Prue's right. You're too much in love with love to not get your happy ending," Phoebe added.
Prue then spotted Leo entering the restaurant carrying yet another dozen of roses. "Speaking of that happy ending..."
Piper looked up and smiled when she saw Leo. "Leo, hi," she greeted him a bit shyly.
"Hi," he replied, handing her the roses.
"Thank you, but you really didn't have to bring me more flowers. One dozen was more than enough, but thank you. It's very sweet," she kissed his cheek.
"That's it? The man got you 4 dozen roses, and you just give him a dinky kiss on the cheek?" Phoebe interrupted.
Piper shot Phoebe a look that clearly told her to shut up. "Leo, you remember my sisters Prue and Phoebe. They were just leaving," she said, speaking the last part very pointedly to her sisters.
"Right...because we have...um...stuff to do while you two do...stuff," Prue smiled, grabbing Phoebe's arm. "Come on, Phoebe, let's go. Leave the two lovebirds alone," she added teasingly, laughing at Piper's attempt at an angry look as she headed off with Phoebe.
"I'm sorry about them. We're working on their subtlety," Piper apologized for her sisters. "But really, thank you so much for the roses. They are beautiful; you're going to spoil me."
"You deserve to be spoiled," Leo told her seriously, easily getting lost in the deep brown pools of her eyes. "Let me spoil you some more tonight?"
"I don't know...I thought you were going to call me," Piper said coyly.
This made Leo chuckle slightly. "I thought you might find it more difficult to turn me down in person than over the phone."
"Why would you think I'd turn you down?" she asked with a smile.
Leo shrugged. "Because a beautiful, smart woman like you will come to her senses eventually and realize you're too good for me. I'm just hoping I can delay that as long as possible," he answered charmingly.
"I would love to go out with you tonight, but I have the Goo Goo Dolls playing at my club tonight, and I have to be there on nights a band is playing," Piper told him apologetically. "But you can come with me if you want."
Leo grinned. "Only on one condition. You let me take you to dinner first. Nothing fancy, we can grab something quick on the way," he promised.
"I have a better idea. You could come over to my place, and I could cook dinner. You took me out last night...tonight it's my turn to provide dinner," she smiled. "Can you be there at 6? I promise I'll actually have it ready this time...you won't have to cook it with me," she added.
"It's a date then," Leo agreed.
Piper smiled and leaned across the counter to kiss him softly on the lips. "I'll see you tonight."
"I can't wait," he told her quietly, stealing one more quick kiss before leaving to go back to the hospital.
