A/N: While writing this chapter I realized it might be the first time I'm using Will's POV in a romantic D/W fic. I tried to do him justice, hope you'll like the result!
Special thanks to StrawberrySab for the beta-help, especially the suggested sports metaphors, they are much appreciated! 333
Chapter Eleven
During the day Will kept his distance from Diane on purpose. Their meeting in the morning had been awkward enough, this situation was still new to them. Even if he'd had his eyes on her for quite a while, he never really thought about what would happen afterwards, how they were going to work side by side on a daily basis. But he was sure they would figure it out together, with time. For now the only thing on his mind was their first date.
He had been planning it for weeks now, since he'd sent her the first bouquet. He had it all in his head, to the very last detail, and a few phone calls had been enough to bring his plan into reality. He wanted the night to be perfect, just like Diane was in his eyes. She deserved all the best, as he'd told her.
It was hard to believe it had taken him this long to realize what had been right in front of his eyes for years. It had probably started when he'd seen Brian flirting with Diane. He'd began to see her differently, to notice the desirable woman she was. He'd always respected and admired her, just like he'd said the other day. She was a person he'd always looked up to, who inspired him, and who brought out the best in him. They worked well as a team, they complemented each other.
The firm was her life, he'd always known that. And he'd rarely ever seen her dating anyone, while he'd been busy bringing a different girl home almost every week. He'd finally put a stop to that, realized it had been pointless. Those short lived relationships hadn't made him happy. He was only truly happy when he was with her. They shared success and defeat, laughter and tears. And the firm was like a child to them, they both cared about it more than anything in the world.
The changed feelings had emerged in the form of jealousy, when Brian had actually dared to ask Diane out, despite the age difference, despite that guy being so out of her league - and he had definitely proved it. Between them instead, there was a sort of parity, or so he thought. She may have been older, yes, but maybe that was exactly what he needed. If he never found what he'd been looking for with much younger women, there was probably a reason.
But he didn't even care about the age difference that much. Diane was definitely one of those women who only got even more desirable with age anyhow. He hadn't looked at her with those eyes before, but since he'd started, he'd found himself enjoying what he saw. How her short skirts kept her long legs in sight, how even the most tight dresses showed her perfect figure. She was possibly sexier than any woman he'd ever dated.
But the feature he admired the most about her was her smile, and he was fortunate enough to see it on a daily basis. And hear her incomparable laughter, the one that filled the office and enchanted everyone around her. He wished to hear her laugh all the time.
He wanted her to be happy, that's why he had come up with this plan to win her over slowly. Maybe it had been stupid after all, and he'd almost blown it. Actually he didn't understand where the plan had failed, why she had gotten frustrated. Maybe he shouldn't have played with her emotions, but it had seemed like the easiest way to express his feelings for her.
She had clearly enjoyed it at first. Even before she had told him about the bouquets he'd kept an eye on her reactions. The flowers had made her happy, he was sure of that. He hadn't mentioned anything on purpose, he hadn't wanted to give anything away. In fact he'd been practicing his best poker face for when she'd bring it up, because he'd been sure she would. Including Kalinda in the game had secured his anonymity. But Diane must have suspected something, no matter how much he'd tried to play it cool. Still, she'd chosen to stop the ball.
He'd been lucky she'd found the last box in his desk and reacted the way she had. When she'd confessed that she'd been hoping it had been him, he'd finally believed that those feelings he had for her might have been mutual. And that had been all he'd needed to know to finally ask her out, face to face this time, not hiding anymore behind anonymous gifts.
He was looking forward to tomorrow night with nervous excitement, but couldn't leave the office without talking to her first. Once the silence on the corridor became permanent he walked over to her office, where she was probably waiting for exactly this move, because a smile formed on her face when she peered up.
"We will get better at this," Diane noted, proving she had the same thought on her mind. Not talking to each other until they had the office all to themselves wasn't exactly a permanent option for them.
"We will." He smiled back at her, while he approached her desk.
What he really wished to do was stand next to Diane, pull her up from the chair and kiss her lips, but he didn't want to take the risk of anyone catching them here.
"Are you done for today?" Her question interrupted his thoughts and he observed her closing the folder in front of her. He suspected that she probably hadn't actually been reading that for a while now. Her thoughts must have been on something else too.
"I am," he nodded, not sure where she was getting at.
"Me too." She stood up and eyed him as if she was waiting for something.
"I'll go get my briefcase," he said, guessing her intentions, and once he was behind his desk to fetch his things he saw her stepping out of her office. And she stayed there, clearly waiting for him.
He just stuffed a pile of papers in his briefcase in a hurry to get back to her sooner and tried not to tumble when he rushed out of his office.
"So… tomorrow," she spoke again once they reached the elevator together, "what time are you picking me up?"
"I made the reservation for eight, so seven-thirty, if that's okay?" Will mentally kicked himself as he became aware that he shouldn't have waited for her to have to ask. It was almost embarrassing.
"Sounds good," she responded just when the elevator opened in front of them, so they stepped inside. "And where are we going? Or is that a secret?" she inquired with a lightness in her voice, while he was still very tensed inside.
"I'd like it to be a surprise," he smiled at her, appreciating how she was trying to keep the conversation going.
"Fair enough," she returned his smile and for a moment he was tempted to close the distance between them and actually kiss her, but the elevator arrived before he was able to make a move.
He didn't understand how it all happened so fast. Time seemed to fly while they were together, but surviving the day without talking to her had felt like an eternity.
He walked her to her car in the quiet garage, gathering his courage to do what he hadn't been able to a few minutes ago. There had to be a reason why she'd initiated for them to leave together. He just needed to be smart enough not to miss the opportunity again.
Diane turned towards him when they arrived at her car, but before she could open her mouth he placed his briefcase on the ground and stood right in front of her. He took her face between his palms, making his intentions very clear, and she didn't move away.
The kiss wasn't any less gentle than the one they'd shared the previous night. He chose to hold back a little longer, even if it wasn't the easiest thing to do. But he wouldn't have any more reason to restrain himself tomorrow. In fact, he intended to sweep her off her feet completely, so she would land right in his arms. And then all he had to do was keep her there and don't let go.
