Harvey settles into the evening's work with Scottie. Harvey manages to resist the familiar trap going home alone. Several busy days pass as Harvey realizes that he has not seen or heard from Tess. He has actually lost count of the days. With the twists and turns in the case Harvey has truly lost track of time and feels quite guilty about it. Harvey is surprised, happily surprised, to see Tess waiting for him outside of the office. Tess is leaning against a light post near where she knows Ray drops him off everyday. Harvey is unable to hold back the smile that instantly manifests at the sight of Tess. With the last few days, Tess is a sight for sore eyes.
"Hey you." Tess gives Harvey a smile as he walks up to her as she hands him a coffee. "Morning." Harvey is truly happy to see Tess. Tess wasn't sure if this was the right move by Harvey's smile melts away the doubt. Harvey is surprised that Tess knew what kind of coffee that he likes and seems unfazed by the fact that he has not called for a few days. Harvey notices that she is not in her work attire. She is dressed casually in jeans and a jacket. "Walk with me." Harvey motions for Tess to follow as he gently guides her with his arm. Tess smiles and follows Harvey. He pauses at a place where they could talk away from prying eyes and Scottie's inevitable arrival at the office. "Tess, I am sorry it has been a crazy few days."
Tess smiles as she flips the paper to the cover. "I have noticed." Harvey takes the paper from her hands. "Damn." The cover is all about Ava.
Tess can see the signs of stress on Harvey's face. She smiles at him as their circle reaches the office. Tess gently straighten's his tie with a gentle caress down his vest. "Dinner, tonight at 8. I'll pick you up." Tess ends her sentence with a flirty look up into Harvey's eyes.
Harvey is stunned that Tess is asking him out. This is definitely uncharted territory. "Tess, I.." Harvey stumbles on his words as Tess smiles again pulling a play from his own playbook. "You still gotta eat. 8. It's dinner Harvey… not a proposal." Harvey laughs at Tess using his line on him. She is right and he could use the distraction. "It's a date."
Tess gives Harvey the same wicked little smile that he uses when he delivers the line as she walks away. "Have fun storming the castle, Harvey."
Mike walks up next to him, folding his arms in mock judgement. "Think it will work?" Harvey knows that he must have heard Tess. "It would take a miracle. Rush a miracle man… you get lousy miracles." As the boys head to the office, Tess heads to meet Daphne who is ironically waiting for her a few feet away. "You have an interesting approach. I like it." She is thrilled that her Tessie... is going back to being the way she once was. Harvey has sparked the fire in Tess and if she can... Daphne is going to make sure the flames get fanned. She has truly missed this side of Tess.
"If you can't beat them, be different… at least you'll be remembered." Tess smiles at Daphne. Daphne taps her coffee cup against Tess'. She is glad that Tess is getting back to herself. Life is more fun that way. The day passes again in a whirlwind of activity around the Hessington case. Harvey sends Mike to flush out a witness. Cameron is being a royal pain in the ass. Edward seems to be everywhere along with Scottie and then there is Jessica. Harvey is having a hard time keeping that internalized.
Donna pops her head into his office. "Harvey, It is 7:55 vamoose you don't want to be late." Mike looks up from the papers that they are working on. Mike attempts to speak but the look on Harvey's face tells him silence is a virtue. Mike holds his tongue. Harvey looks at Mike and uncharacteristically tells him that they will pick this up in the morning. Mike watches Harvey like he is witnessing history in the making. Harvey is taking the rest of the night off. Hell, according to their former schedule, this is practically a half day but he is not going to inhibit himself getting out a bit earlier too so he rolls with it.
Harvey walks out of the office to see Tess leaning against a car. A huge smile crosses Harvey's face on his approach. To Tess' satisfaction, her hunch was right. Harvey is a car guy. Tess is dressed jeans and a velvet shirt leaning against a vintage muscle car. Harvey's eyes light up as he surveys the car. "Is that?" Tess nods. "It's a '69." Harvey fanboys the car. "Don't tell me…." Tess nods at Harvey knowing the question before he finishes. "It has a COPO 427."
"Oh Darling, this is a beauty." Harvey circles the car running his hands down the lines of the car with true appreciation. " Tess smiles again with a wicked grin and a wiggle of silver in her fingers. "You want to drive?" Harvey returns a wicked grin and an exaggerated answer. "Yes."
Tess tosses Harvey the keys as Harvey opens the passenger door for Tess. Harvey circles the hood to get to the drivers door. He takes off his coat and loosens his tie before slipping into the driver's seat. Harvey takes in the details of the interior as they drive. "Tess, this is beautiful. Who did the restoral?" Tess fiddles with the radio as she answers Harvey. "I did." Harvey does a double take with a side eyed glance as he follows the directions that Tess is telling him. "You did this?" Harvey's hand waves Vanna like across the empty space between them.
Tess smiles with pride. "Yeah, I did." Harvey is amazed at that piece of information. "Where are we going anyway?" He is enjoying the drive and the company. Harvey has not even thought about the firm for half an hour. "Jersey, I have a surprise for you." Harvey shoots Tess a quizzical look but he is enjoying this temporary escape from his current problems and will follow orders with out question.
They pull into a converted gas station. The building is unique and retro cool. He notices the sign "Gasoline Monkeys" as they pull toward the entrance to park. He is definitely intrigued as to what this evening is going to hold. So far, it has been an interesting date and that was just on a drive to Jersey. Tess pulls out keys and shuts off the alarm as Harvey realizes that he has just walked into his automotive fantasies. He literally stands in shock and awe with his jaw dropping.
"You have keys, is this yours?" Harvey takes in the scenery in front of him as he begins to wander. Tess smiles. "I have partners but yes." Tess hangs back enjoying Harvey's very apparent bliss. "How did you know I was into American muscle?" Harvey runs his hand across the hoods of several vintage beauties as he turns back towards Tess for an answer. This experience came with some kind of insider information. Tess gives Harvey a wicked grin as she responds. "Where do you think the Shebly you rented came from?" Harvey is truly stunned that Tess knows that particular detail.
"Come on." Tess waves for Harvey to follow. He is wondering what could possibly be better than this as he follows Tess into an area of lower light. "You'll dig this." Tess turns for a moment for dramatic affect. She walks him to the back bay of the garage. The smile that flashes across his face is sign enough that she has figured out at least this part of Harvey's world with a little help from a friend at Exotic car rentals.
"Is that?" Tess winks. "Ferrari F40. The last model with Enzo's touch." Harvey touches like he is running his hands over the curves of a woman. "Damn, Tess, this is a million dollar car." Tess leans against a rolling tool chest as they talk. "Actually a million five but this one met with a bridge… so it will only be 800k , I have to get the restoral certified by Ferrari first." Tess is quite enjoying Harvey's practically orgasmic expressions. "Can I?" Harvey temps fate that Tesla might just indulge him. Tess gives him a smile like she is reading his mind. "Sure, the keys are in it." She motions to the driver's seat.
Harvey starts it up and it purrs like a kitten. While Harvey plays, Tess heads a retro fridge, pulling out a couple of beers. They walk up and down the shop as Tess and Harvey talk about the cars. As they are leaning against a classic coupe that is under a tarp, Harvey starts to ask the questions that Tess anticipated.
"I have to ask…how did you get into cars?" He takes a sip of the beer shifting his gaze from Tess to the bounty of before them. Tess smiles as the memories of her actual story floods her mind but for now, Harvey can have the abridged version. "Harvey, I have five brothers and countless uncles both real and adopted. I grew up around cars. I came into some money about 10 years ago and the opportunity presented itself when I was restoring the '69 so I bought in."
As he looks around, Harvey thinks to himself, Tess could not possibly know how much he needed this tonight. "You hungry?" Tess realizes that she has not eaten since brunch and she is quite hungry. Harvey thinks about the question. Actually, he is starving. "Starving."
"It's not Nobu, but there is a great pizza place around the corner." Tess points through the wall in the generally eastward direction. "Perfect." Harvey had forgotten what simple was like and this is really nice.
They head over to the pizza place where Tess is greeted like a regular. Harvey is hugged and kissed like family by the older woman who seats them. They eat and talk. Harvey learns about her brothers and sisters. He is surprised that almost all of them work for the city. He gets the fire department connection. Two of her brothers are also with FDNY. One is a detective, one is in a band and one is a priest. Her sisters are stay at home moms, married to FDNY. Harvey is astonished as to how strong the tie is to the department. He doesn't realize is that it actually runs even deeper but that story is for another time. She doesn't need to tell him who her father is just yet. The brothers are enough. Tess shares how she ended up at Penn. Harvey shares how he went to NYU and then Harvard. He is actually enjoying dealing with someone who doesn't know who he is. This is different.
Tess lets Harvey drive the car back to his place in the city. They both get out to exchange positions in the car. As he hands Tess the keys, he takes the moment to give her a good night kiss. He pulls her close pinning her against the car. She can feel the heat of his body. She can smell his cologne and the scent of his skin. He holds the side of her face and kisses her with passion. Tess is caught slightly off guard but… wow. That was a nice kiss, she thinks to herself. Harvey enjoyed the kiss and realizes that he does not want the evening to end. "Would you like to come up?"
Tess smiles. "Can't, got work in the morning." Harvey takes in the way she looks at this moment, the soft smile, her perfume… just the look about her. He pulls her close again as he whispers in her ear. "Thank you, Tess, you don't know how much I needed this." He leans his forehead against her own. He gently places the keys in her hand as he pulls away lingering fingertip to finger tip has he begs her a good night.
Tess gently takes the keys from his hand with a wink and a smile. She blows him a kiss as she rounds the front of her car. "Sleep well sweet prince." Tess slides into the car with a wave to Harvey as she pulls away. So far her instincts have served her well where Harvey Specter is concerned. Harvey watches her pull away. Tess definitely intrigues him. She is not like the others. The others would be swooning by now.