Kate was nervous, the idea that she didn't belong in Jack's world weighing heavy on her mind as he escorted her into the black tie affair. He could sense she was uneasy and placed a comforting hand on her lower back.
"Relax, it's not a big deal." He whispered as he pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit down.
Kate sat quietly, nodding and smiling at what she hoped were all the right moments as she poked at the food on her plate, unsure of what it was exactly she was eating and not really that fond of the taste. The couple they were sharing the table with excused themselves, leaving the two of them alone. Jack glanced at her plate of food and then made eye contact with her.
"I'm not a big fan of lamb either." He said.
"Oh no, it's fine, I'm just not that hungry." She lied.
"Liar." He grinned.
"Do you eat like this often Jack?" Kate asked.
"You've seen what I eat Kate, what do you think?" He chuckled.
Kate started to answer, but was interrupted by a man, the same man who had made the slave remark in the restaurant.
"I see you took my advice. My wife is so disappointed." The man laughed, obviously more than just a few drinks under his belt.
"Your wife is not disappointed. She's had her eye on the new guy from oncology all night." Jack argued.
"Yeah, she's a bit of hussy that one. You certainly are beautiful. What was your name again?" The man asked Kate.
"I'm Kate." She answered.
"Well Kate, in my opinion you're the most beautiful woman in the room tonight and therefore you must dance with me." He said.
"I don't...." Kate tried to resist.
"No, no miss. I always initiate the first dance, it's tradition. Tell her Jack." He said.
"It kind of is tradition Kate. Go ahead." Jack encouraged her and smiled.
Jack sat back along with everyone else and watched Dalton Carmichael, the chief of staff and most highly respected and feared individual present at the stuffy affair slowly waltz Kate across the dance floor and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by how incredibly beautiful she was. Carly was right. He was denying the depth of his feelings for Kate. He cared a lot, probably too much and he wasn't blind, he'd noticed how attractive she was the first time he met her, but she never seemed interested in him that way. He'd convinced himself he was okay with their relationship because what he did share with her was very special to him and he never wanted to do anything to mess that up, but now he wasn't sure.
As he sat and watched her he could feel himself wanting more and he began to realize that he'd probably wanted more for a very long time, but that it was just easier for him to deny those feelings then take such a huge risk and act on them. Kate wasn't like any other woman he'd known, she was in his heart and he had no idea how she got there, but it unnerved him. As he watched her glide across the dance floor he finally admitted to himself that he could fall for her, and probably fall hard and he wondered if Carly was right about Kate also wanting more.
He could see them talking, noticed Kate's uneasy smile and decided it was time to rescue her from his well-meaning, but drunk colleague. He walked to the dance floor, tapped Dalton on the shoulder and the man gracefully bowed out and allowed Jack to take his place.
"You okay?" Jack asked, feeling how tightly she was holding onto him.
"He's quite a character." Kate avoided the question.
"That he is. You didn't answer my question. You seem really anxious. You aren't going to throw up on me are you?" He teased.
"They are all staring at me Jack. I know I'm not as classy as your typical date, but is the difference really that striking?" Kate sighed.
"You're the classiest woman I know Kate and they are staring at you because you are beautiful. All the men are awestruck and all the women are jealous." He told her and pulled her closer, feeling her relax into him and let go of light laugh.
"You're so full of shit Jack." She said and let her head rest on his shoulder, allowing him to slowly guide her across the dance floor, feeling like Cinderella and not in any hurry to let go of him.
He walked her to her door and stood with his hands in his pockets as she unlocked it. She opened the door and turned to face him.
"I had a good time Jack." She said.
"No you didn't." He said and laughed.
"Well, I didn't have a bad time, not the whole time anyway." She said sheepishly.
"It's okay Kate, I'm not a big fan of those stuffy events either, but having you there with me made it much more enjoyable than any I've been to in the past." He said.
"You're sweet Jack, but I think we both know I was out of my element tonight." Kate told him.
"I hadn't noticed." He said, looking down at his feet and shuffling them from side to side before stilling them and looking at her again.
"Listen, it's your birthday on Tuesday and I...." Jack started to say.
"How did you know Tuesday is my birthday?" She asked.
"When I wrote that prescription for your shoulder I needed your date of birth and address so I could get the pharmacy to fill it. I called Mac and he gave it to me." He explained.
"And you actually remembered?" Kate asked.
"Of course." He replied.
"I'm going to have to have a talk with my boss about giving my personal information out. Did he give you my height, weight and social security number too?" Kate asked, pretending to be annoyed.
"Let's see, about five foot five inches and 110 pounds?" Jack asked and smiled at her.
"Oh good job cutting about 10 pounds off the weight there bud." Kate laughed.
"So anyway, back to your birthday. I was wondering if you might want to go out..........on a date.........with me?" He asked nervously.
Kate was momentarily stunned. Was he seriously asking her out on a real date, like a man and a woman and not two buddies hanging out? Jack bit nervously on his bottom lip, took her stunned silence as him having crossed the line, their line and immediately began to backpedal.
"It's okay Kate, I just thought maybe....um, shit this was a bad idea....I know I'm not the type of guy you usually....." He stammered finally silenced by her grabbing hold of his face and closing her mouth over his.
He didn't react at first, shocked into submission and okay with allowing her to eat his face off if that's what she wanted to do. He finally pulled his hands from his pockets and cupped the sides of her face, slowing her down enough to open his mouth and accept all that she was attempting to give him, returning the kiss with equal fervor and then finally separating, both breathless and gazing into each other's eyes.
"Um, great. I'll see you Tuesday then. Uh, what time is good for you?" He asked, seeming as though he was no longer capable of forming a coherent thought.
"How about six?" She asked.
"Six it is. Goodnight Kate." He said and slowly moved away from her open front door, finally turning his back to her and smiling a big smile as he walked to his car.
