"Nick, are you alright?" he hears Diane ask over the phone.
Shit.
He clears his throat.
"Yes, fine… why do you ask?"
"You just sounded….strange. Kind of out of breath."
He clears his throat again.
"No, no I'm fine. Erm, what can I do for you?"
"Oh! Well, I was just calling because I realised I forgot to give you the zip code when I gave you my address earlier… Nick, are you sure you're ok? Have you been running?"
"No, no I'm just in bed."
"Oh ok. You just sounded….wait…" her voice changes, infused with the silky honeyed tones of a coy smile. "I didn't, uh…interrupt anything, did I?"
"No! I mean… what do you mean?" Nick is blushing furiously.
"Well, sometimes when you're lying in bed at night, don't you ever just let your hands…wander?"
What? Did she really just suggest….?
"Were you thinking about me?" she asks teasingly.
"No, I mean… well, yes…that is to say, I…" he stammers, unsure of himself and flustered at the direction this conversation seems to be taking.
"Because if you wanted I could stay and talk to you a while longer. I could…. help?"
He gulps. Nods. Nearly smacks himself when he realises she can't see that action on the other end of the phone, so draws up his courage and says in a quiet voice
"Yes, please".
A while later, as they both lie in a giddy haze of post-bliss, Nick shakes his head.
"I've never done anything like that before," he admits quietly.
She giggles.
"Neither have I. Did you like it?"
"God, yes. You're amazing. Although it made me wish all the more that you were here. Or I was there. Whichever, as long as we were together."
She sighs.
"I miss you too, Nick. I really wish you were here holding me right now. It's driving me crazy not being able to see you."
"Well, Christmas is only 5 weeks away. I know we didn't really discuss it, but perhaps – if it's not too much of an inconvenience – I could…"
"Yes! Please, come. Come and visit. Come and stay. I'd love to have you. Have you over, I mean" she finishes hurriedly and he'd bet anything she is blushing as furiously as he was when he first picked up the phone.
They talk until he can barely keep his eyes open. Diane laughs when he starts gently snoring and it's enough to wake him up. Enough for him to realise he needs to get to bed. Properly, this time.
When he awakes the next morning, he immediately does three things.
One, he calls work to book in his two weeks' leave over Christmas.
Two, he calls a travel agent to arrange a plane ticket to Dallas.
Three, he calls a jeweller and asks about a ring.