Dan took to the streets of New York. It was almost two in the morning, he had had six glasses of scotch, been held at gunpoint and been kissed by a woman that curled his toes and left him lightheaded. All in one day.

So, what did he do?

He should have gone home, that's what he should have done.

But, he didn't.

Eve tossed and turned in her bed until the sheets were all tangled and twisted. With a loud sigh, she flicked on the light, which displeased Moses. He yawned, stretched and went to find somewhere darker and quieter to sleep.

"Fine! You leave, too! I didn't need you anyway!" She made a face. "I'm talking to my cat." She made another face. "Now, I'm talking to myself!"

Silently, she remade her bed, but found she didn't want to go back to pretending to sleep.

Padding into the kitchen, she made herself a glass of warm milk and sat down in the living room with a book she had been attempting to read all evening.

But, she couldn't concentrate! Her emotions, emotions she was proud to keep under control and checked at all times, were jumbled around in her mind so badly, she thought she would tear her hair out.

That kiss! God, that man knew how to kiss!

"Watch it, Cantrell." She threw up her hands, the book going with it. "There I go! Talking to myself again."

The book it the floor with a thump, startling Moses, who was asleep in a chair. He jumped up and gave her a dirty cat look, then proceeded to lick his paws.

She knew she did the right thing by ending that kiss when she did, although her body was telling her she was a complete and total idiot. But, it would get her no where. He only wanted a quick lay. That's all he ever wanted. And she wasn't the quick lay type.

But, boy, what a lay it would have been!

However, she was pretty sure she'd crossed a line in the hallway, asking who had slept with him. The number of women who admitted it was higher than Eve thought it would be.

"Idiot," she mumbled to herself. When she reached over to get her fallen book, her front door buzzer sounded. She almost fell over, it startled her so badly.

"Probably someone complaining about the noise I'm making," she mumbled. "Or a wrong number." She got a lot of those. Apparently, the single girl a floor above her did a lot of entertaining.

Still mumbling to herself, she stomped over to the floor. "What is it?"

It was silent for a moment. She pushed the button again, fleeting thoughts of Josh momentarily scaring her. "Hello? Who is this?"

"It's Dan."

Her eyes widened for a moment. "What are you doing out at this hour?" Probably catting around. But, it seemed like the question to ask.

"I need to talk to you."

Eve rubbed her eyes. "You need to go home. I'll see you at work." If I don't run screaming back to Kentucky.

"Please?"

Maybe it was because he didn't normally use that vulnerable tone. But, she did what she shouldn't have. Again.

She buzzed him up.

Damn him for having that power over her.

And caught a glance of herself in the mirror next to the door.

"Ohcrapohcrapohcrap." She thought about rushing to her room and throwing on some decent clothes, maybe a little make-up. But, it was two in the morning, and she would look silly in make-up.

And, why should it even matter? It was her apartment, and if she wanted to lounge around in her pjs and ratty robe, she would.

When he knocked on the door, she took a deep breath before she opened it, pulling her robe tighter around herself.

Like that's going to keep him from taking it off you.

When she saw him, all thoughts of that nature fled. He looked dog tired, dark circles underneath his eyes from lack of sleep. And, he was still wearing the plaster-covered suit, minus the tie, he had worn all evening. "Where in the world have you been?"

She didn't wait for an answer, ushering him inside and sitting him down on the couch. She took his jacket off and brushed it off a bit before she draped it over the chair. The vague smell of cigarette smoke and booze wafted from it.

"Let me get you something to drink." She thought about the booze and figured he had already had plenty to drink. "Something non-alcoholic. Why haven't you been home? What are you doing out so late?"

He leaned back and shut his eyes. "Just like my Eviegirl. Always trying to take care of other people. Even at two in the morning."

Eve tried not to notice that her heart did a little flip-flop at his claim to her. But, before she could disappear into the kitchen to collect herself and his drink, he grabbed her arm with surprising strength.

"Just sit down here for a moment. With me." He opened one eye to look at her. "Please?"

"Uhh, sure." He let her go, and she settled on the far end of the couch, trying to stay out of his reach. Unbidden, their kiss surfaced in her brain, and she was suddenly uncomfortable.

He opened both eyes. "That's not what I meant, and you know it." He held out his arm.

She made a face, but slid over until she was next to him. He draped his arm across her shoulders and with just a moment's hesitation, she snuggled into his side, her head on his shoulder. It was nice to sit like that for awhile, and Eve could actually feel her body relaxing for the first time that night.

"Dan?"

"Mmmm?" Apparently, he was as relaxed as she was.

"Why're you here?"

He didn't even bat an eyelash. "Because I wanted to tell you that you were right."

"About what?"

"I do hide the real me from people. And, in a way, I do play mind games with everyone. It keeps them from getting to know me. I don't get close to anyone, and I don't have anything to lose. That's what you said. But, I'm alone. And, I don't like it."

"If it's one thing you aren't, it's alone. I've seen all those women . . ."

"Just trying to fill a void. And you know something, it didn't work. But, I think I found someone who can"

She leaned back a bit to get a good look at him, to see if he was serious. He still had his head laid back against the cushions, but he was watching her closely.

"You're drunk." That would explain the very un-Danlike confession.

She should have been mad. But, for some reason, she wasn't.

"No, I'm not."

"So, is that why you smell like a refinery?"

"OK. Maybe I'm a teensy-weensy bit drunk."

"You probably won't even remember this conversation in the morning."

He took his arm that wasn't wrapped over her shoulders and reached out to softly stroke her cheek, pushing her hair away from her face. She almost blushed under the scrutiny.

"Aww, that's one think I could never do is forget about you." He said it so sincerely, Eve's heart melted. But, she didn't want him to know that.

She broke his gaze and snuggled back against his side. "I think you're full of crap."

He could tell she said it with a smile. "Maybe si, maybe no. But, one thing's for sure. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Eve wanted to bring up the fact that the longest he ever dated a woman was two weeks, and that was apparently some sort of record. She wanted to bring up the fact that she wasn't anything like all those others.

But, she didn't. She wanted to enjoy this closeness while she had it.

"Dan?"

When he didn't answer, she leaned back.

He was sound asleep, his head at an impossible angle.

"Oh, good grief." She struggled to her feet and stared at him a minute before silently shaking her head.

Somehow, she managed to get his shoes off and shove him over to where he was actually laying on the couch. Throwing the afghan her Gran made over him, she leaned over him for a moment before heading to her own bed.

"Goodnight, Dan," she whispered in his ear.

"G'night, Eviegirl," he mumbled, half-asleep.

Eve had to smile at that.

At least he didn't call me Samantha.

Hey, you take your blessings where you can get them.