Reba woke up Tuesday morning with her cell phone cradled to her chest. She looked at it, puzzled as to why she had fallen asleep holding her phone, before she remembered her and Narvel's conversation last night.

"You too, beautiful." he had said.

A wide grin spread across Reba's face. It had been so long since she had recieved so much attention from a man. She forgot how wonderful it was.

Reba sat up and flipped open her phone to find out Narvel had already sent her a good morning text.

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty! You better not be late to work. Your partner is impatient to see you."

Reba giggled like a little girl. She loved their silly, and often pointless conversations they had. "My partner had better learn to be patient then. He doesn't want to see me when I've just rolled out of bed." she sent those words to Narvel before finally getting out of her warm bed and into the shower.

Reba came out 15 minutes later and immediately checked her phone.

"Trust me. I happen to know he would be delighted ;)"

Reba turned pink. He could turn anything around on her. "You'd better stop distracting me, otherwise I'll never make it on time." she scolded him.

"Alright! I'm done! Go!" he returned only moments later.

Reba laughed and set her phone on her bed as she finished getting ready.

-

A little while later Reba came into the kitchen where Van and Cheyenne were finishing breakfast.

"Morning, Mrs. H! Isn't it a beautiful, love-filled day?" Van greeted her over-enthusiastically.

Reba looked at him warily as she poured herself some coffee. "Good morning to you too, Van."

Reba took a sip of her coffee and saw Van try to casually wink at Cheyenne. She just gave him a warning glare in return.

Before Reba could question their strange behavior, Cheyenne quickly said, "Mom, what time do you take your lunch break?"

Reba raised her eyebrow. "That depends on how much work I have. Today I have an open house at 2, so probably right before that. Why?"

"I just thought we could grab a bite to eat together! That's all!" Cheyenne said innocently.

"Uh huh. That sure doesn't seem like that's all." Reba looked at Cheyenne closely. "This doesn't have to do with Na-" she stopped. She didn't need Van involved in this yet. "I mean, what we were talking about yesterday, does it?"

Cheyenne made Barbara Jean's famous lying face. "Noooooo."

Reba just looked at her.

"Maybe..." Cheyenne muttered.

"That's what I thought. No you are not allowed to come. You'll distract me from my work."

"Cheyenne will distract you more than a certain someone? I find that hard to believe, Mrs. H." Van wiggled his eyebrows at Reba.

Reba set her coffee cup down with a bang. "You told him?" she accused her daughter.

"Well I can't keep secrets from my husband!" Cheyenne defended herself.

Reba shook her head. "I'm going to be late for work." she went over to Cheyenne and kissed her head. She then turned to her granddaughter and covered Elizabeth's face with kisses before turning toward the back door. Van was standing there, jutting out his cheek and closing his eyes, as if expecting a kiss. Reba just patted him on the shoulder.

"I'll see you later, Van." and out she went.

Van walked over to Elizabeth. "You'll give me kisses, won't you Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth leaned forward from her high chair and gave her daddy a kiss on the cheek.

"That's my girl!" Van started tickling her, making her laugh uncontrolablly.

"Will you take care of her? I've got to go decide what to wear." Cheyenne cleared the table quickly and began walking out of the kitchen.

"Why? Are you going somewhere special?" Van asked.

"I've got a lunch with my mom and her boyfriend to go to!" Cheyenne said with a gleam in her eye.

"Wait, Cheyenne, Mrs. H just said no!"

"Sure she says that now. But I've got a plan." Cheyenne smiled and left the kitchen.

-

Despite Reba's comment to the kids about being late for work, she actually arrived early. Reba fluffed her hair a little bit, checked her makeup, and straightened her clothes before getting out of her car.

"He's making me into some vain person," Reba thought to herself, smiling as she entered the building. "It wasn't too long ago that I came here with my hair completely unbrushed!"

Reba waited impatiently for the elevator to arrive on her floor. When it did, she started walking before the metal doors had completely opened, nearly slamming into it.

"Calm down," Reba told herself sternly. "You act like you haven't seen him in a year!" Reba forced herself to walk a little more slowly after that. Finally making it to her and Narvel's office, she opened the door and walked in, finding Narvel with his eyes closed, feet on the desk, and singing along to his radio.

When Narvel heard the door, his eyes flew open and he threw his legs off the desk. Reba tried not to laugh at his frightened expression.

"You-you're early. I was just, uh," Narvel stammered. He turned off his radio. "I'm sorry." he said, hoping she wouldn't be mad.

"What are you sorry for?" Reba dropped her things on the desk, leaned over, and turned the radio back on. "Brooks and Dunn is never wrong." Reba smiled at him.

Narvel breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness." He took a good look at her. "You look...so amazing."

Reba put her head down bashfully and blushed. "Thank you."

Narvel got up and went around the desk. He took her hand and said sincerely. "I've always thought that. Everyday since the first time I saw you. I was just too afraid of being punched to say so." He gave a little half grin.

Reba laughed. "You were right to be cautious! I don't know what I would have done, but it probably wouldn't be good." she laughed again, then smiled sweetly at him. "But thank you, Narvel." Reba went on her tip-toes and kissed him gently.

Narvel bent down and put his arms around her. Reba's hands went around his neck as their kiss grew more heated.

Narvel made sure he pulled back before he got carried away. This woman made him go crazy.

Reba rested in his embrace and sighed. "We have to get to work." she said.

"Yeah." he answered. But neither of them moved.

"Want to go have lunch together before the open house today?" Narvel asked her.

Reba looked up at him. "I thought our date was on Friday?" she said, cocking her head to one side and raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah well, the idiot who suggested that should have made it sooner. It's too far away!" Narvel pouted.

Reba giggled. "So then what do we call all the lunches we have together if they don't count as a date?"

"Uhh," Narvel's eyes lit up with an idea. "A prep-date? Like, preparing for the date?"

"Prep-date?" Reba laughed. "Ok then. Prep-date it is."

"Reba," Narvel grinned at her. "Would you like to go on a prep-date with me this afternoon?"

"I would love to." Reba responded, her eyes sparkling.

Narvel kissed her lips once more before letting her go.

"Ok," Narvel said in a depressed voice. "Time for work."

Reba laughed and sat down in her seat. "What still needs to be done before the open house?"

Narvel sat down next to her and started explaining. "These brochures need to come with us. I've already grabbed enough for today so we just need to make sure we take them. Then we'll need these..."

-

Narvel and Reba worked hard for the rest of the morning. They wouldn't be able to deny that there weren't any sweet moments or a few stolen kisses, but when they started working, they were a team. A team that got the job done, and got it done right. Another plus that came from their teamwork was that the time flew by quickly. Before they knew it, it was 12:00.

"You reached a stopping point yet, Reba?" Narvel asked her. He turned his gaze from his work to the redhead. She was already cleaning up.

Reba grinned at him. "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

"Well let's get going!" Narvel smiled back, excited to have some time alone with her before work got in the way again.

Just then, there was a knock on their door.

"Come in!" Narvel called.

Reba looked up to see who it was, and was shocked to see her own daughter staring at her, smiling.

"Hey mom!" Cheyenne hurried over to Reba and gave her a hug.

"Cheyenne," Reba was still stunned. "What are you doing here? Is Elizabeth ok? Van?"

Cheyenne dismissed Reba's worry with a wave of her hand. "Oh they're fine! I just wanted to come see you! Oh! Is this your new partner you've been raving about?" Cheyenne turned her smile to Narvel, who's own smile grew when he heard the words, "raving about".

"Cheyenne," Reba's tone was warning, but she was too well-mannered to not introduce them. She reluctantly made the introduction. "This is Narvel Blackstock, Narvel, my oldest daughter, Cheyenne."

"A pleasure to meet you." Narvel offered his hand.

"The pleasure is all mine, believe me." Cheyenne said, taking his hand and looking back at her mom. "Way to go!" she mouthed.

Reba blushed. "Alright Cheyenne, thanks for stopping by! But we've got to get back to work."

"But isn't it lunch time? You guys have to eat! I haven't had lunch myself either, but I was going to stop by Jason's Deli or something. You two could join me!" Cheyenne spoke so fast, Reba didn't have a chance to stop her.

Reba gritted her teeth. "I don't know Cheyenne, don't you have a husband to feed?"

"Oh he and Elizabeth are eating together at home. They'll be fine. So? How about it?"

Cheyenne's bubbly nature made it impossible to say no. And as much as Narvel would rather be alone with Reba, he didn't want to deny her own child. Plus, this could be a way to find out more about Reba. And he was always up for that.

"Sure!" Narvel agreed.

Cheyenne squealed with excitment. She looked at Reba, who nodded in defeat.

"Alright," Reba said. "Narvel, can I ride with you?"

"Absolutely." Narvel answered without hesitation.

They smiled at each other, with Cheyenne almost bouncing with excitment in between them.

"Let's go!" Cheyenne pulled at her mom's arm.

"You go on ahead and make sure we get a table. We'll be there soon." Narvel said smoothly.

"Oh, ok!" Cheyenne winked at Reba and went out the door.

Reba sighed. "I'm sorry, Narvel. I told her this morning she couldn't come, but she's pretty stubborn. It comes from her father, of course."

Narvel chuckled. "Her father. Right." he gave her a knowing look. "It's fine, really! I've been dying to meet your kids anyway."

"Yeah, well, I wanted to be alone with you." Reba mumbled.

Narvel grinned. "What was that? Repeat, please?" He cupped his hand to his ear to hear her better.

Reba blushed, but answered him, louder this time. "I said, I wanted to be alone with you."

"And that," Narvel said, stepping towards her and putting his hands on her waist. "makes me so happy." He leaned forward and kissed her. Reba could pratically feel the sparks lighting up between them. She would never get tired of this feeling.

Narvel sighed with irritation when Reba pulled away. "I can't wait till our date." he said. "You won't have an excuse to stop kissing me."

"It's not an excuse! It's a reason." Reba protested.

"Well then I can't wait till you have no reason not to kiss me." Narvel decided.

Reba kissed him on his bearded cheek. "Friday." she said. She smiled and left his side to pick up the several things they needed for the open house.

"I should have said, 'Meet me at the park tonight' instead of 'Friday'" Narvel muttered as he helped Reba pick up. "Friday. Ugh. Idiot."

Reba just laughed and walked out the door.

-

Cheyenne sat in her car and whipped out her cell phone. She dialed Barbara Jean's number and waited for her to pick up.

Barbara Jean answered the phone quickly. "Well?"

"They're coming!" Cheyenne announced.

"Yes! We are genius!" Barbara Jean exclaimed.

"Oh my gosh, you were so right Barbara Jean, they are PERFECT for each other! He's a dream boat!" Cheyenne gushed.

"I know right? Not only does Reba have a new man, but she got a HOTTIE!"

"Totally. And he has an adorable accent. Ah! They're so cute! I can't wait to see them talk together! You have the table?"

"All ready!" Barbara Jean answered. "Hurry up!"

"Be there in ten!" Cheyenne said, starting her car.

"See you then!" And they hung up.

Cheyenne bounced a little in her seat. She was so ecstatic for her mom. This was gonna be a great lunch!