"So, the Lakers game..." Beck looks over at Robbie eagerly "How ya feelin' about that?"

"I..." Robbie shrugs "I think I'll be okay. I mean, a second date is already a step in the right direction...isn't it?"

Beck wanted to make sure that he saw Robbie at some point before he and Cat went to the game, just to make sure that he felt confident. Sure, the first date is important...that's how he got his foot in the door. The second date, however, is going to be even more important. She's interested, but he has to keep her interested now...show her that he's worth her time and trouble.

"It is..." Beck nods "But that doesn't mean you can blow it off. See, situations like these are crucial to the longevity of a relationship. One dance, one look, one kiss, that's all you get, Robbie. Just one shot to make the difference between happily ever after and...'eh, he was just some guy that I went to a thing with one time'. Alright?"

Beck turns to keep walking, but Robbie stays planted in his spot. After he takes a few steps, Beck turns to say something else, and notices that Robbie isn't with him. He turns to see him behind him and flashes a puzzled look.

"What?" He says to Robbie "You okay?"

"Did..." Robbie hesitates "You...you said kiss."

"Well, yeah..." Beck can't help but chuckle "Is that a problem?"

"N-n-no."

"You do realize if you want this to work, you're going to have to kiss her at some point, right?"

"Well, yeah..." Robbie shrugs "It's just that...well...she's Cat Valentine..."

"Robbie." Beck places his hand on the man's shoulder "Eight out of ten women believe that the first kiss will tell them...everything...they need to know about a relationship. And believe me, she has definitely thought about it."

"She has...?"

"Oh of course." Beck laughs "Not that she's going to act on it, so it's not really a big deal..."

"It's not?"

"OF COURSE IT'S A BIG DEAL, ROBBIE!"

"Right!" Robbie is startled "Huge!"

"Wrap your head around this..." Beck sighs, a serious expression on his face "Tomorrow night, Cat Valentine could have...her last first kiss."

"I..." Robbie looks terrified "I..."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an inhaler. Beck takes a step back as he shakes it and raises it to his lips, inhaling a puff of the medicine as he tries to collect himself.

"Alright...it's alright." Beck assures him "Just, show me what you've got."

"What...I've got?" Robbie raises an eyebrow at him, shoving his inhaler back into his pocket "What do you mean?"

"Show me how you would kiss me."

"I...I wouldn't kiss you." Robbie says as if it were the most obvious thing in the world "No offense, you're a very handsome guy and everything but I'm just not into-"

"I'm not me." Beck cuts him off before he can start rambling "I'm Cat."

"No you're not."

"Work with me here, Robbie." Beck rolls his eyes "C'mon, it's the end of the night, you're dropping me off at home. Show me what you've got."

"I'm not comfortable with this."

"Robbie, I had...such a wonderful time with you!" Beck grabs Robbie's hand and starts walking up the steps of the nearest building, slipping into character as Cat

"I..." Robbie sighs, knowing it's better to just play along at this point "Yeah, me too. It was awesome that we got to see the Lakers win!"

"See what I'm doing right now?" Beck reaches into his pocket for his keys "This is a signal, okay? I'm playing with my keys. A woman that doesn't want a kiss? She takes her keys out, puts them in the door, and goes inside. A woman that wants a kiss? She plays with her keys. Which is what I'm doing right now, as Cat."

"Okay, you have a good night, Cat." Robbie says, turning to walk back down the steps

"Nope!" Beck sticks his arm out and pulls Robbie backwards "See what I'm doing here?"

"Attempting to rob me?"

"No." Beck laughs "This is what most guys do. They rush in to take the kiss, but you're not most guys. The secret to a kiss is to go ninety percent of the way, and then hold."

"F-for how long?"

"As long as it takes..." Beck shrugs "For her to come the other ten."

"Okay, ninety-ten." Robbie nods

"Alright. Beck steps back from him "Your turn now. I'm playing with my keys...and then I say...'I had a really great time with you tonight, Robbie'."

"I had a really great time too, Cat." Robbie shifts uncomfortably as he stands face-to-face with Beck "Cat...with a face that looks an awful lot like Beck..."

"We're pretending." Beck reminds him "What do you do now?"

"Don't make me..."

"C'mon." Beck urges him "If you freeze up now, you'll definitely freeze up in the moment."

"Fine..."

Robbie leans in towards Beck, his eyes closed. Beck doesn't say anything, but motions for Robbie to move closer...so he takes a step forward and continues to lean in. Their faces are dangerously close together now, a bit too close for Robbie's comfort, but Beck doesn't show any signs that would indicate he's been successful in the exercise.

"What's up?" Robbie asks

"I dunno..." Beck shrugs "I'm not feelin' it."

"What do you mean? I came ninety!"

"Eh. I'm just not feeling like you want it." Beck admits "Look, I am Cat Valentine. The woman of your dreams. The woman who's brown eyes are liquid pools of desire. Now show me what you've got, Robbie. Show me-"

Before Beck can finish his statement Robbie leans forward and kisses him, startling Beck and causing him to jump.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Beck exclaims

"You told me to show you what I had!"

"I said come ninety and then I come ten!" Beck reminds him "You don't go the full hundred! My mouth was open!"

"Okay but other than that, how was it?" Robbie asks, running after Beck as he walks away

"Just..." Beck shakes his head "Stick to the plan, okay? Stick to the plan...do exactly what I told you...and you'll be fine. And never kiss me again."

"Kinda cool isn't it?" Jade asks as she loops her arm around Beck's and leads him inside "It happens once a month all around the city, different chefs from different restaurants open up to give a select few a look behind the curtain and teach them a thing or two. You any good in the kitchen?"

"I can stand the heat." Beck smirks "If that's what you mean."

"Good." Jade chuckles "Because that's Mark and his wife right over there."

"This is still pretty interesting to me." Beck admits as they approach the table "I've never met someone's boss before I've met, I dunno...their sister or their best friend."

"I don't have a sister."

"Well, I just learned something new about you." Beck smiles "Look at that."

Mark had meant it when he told Jade he would use whatever resources he had to help her get the scoop on Robbie, and followed through when she mentioned she had a lead. Beck and Robbie are connected...they just have to figure out how. Between the two of them and the alcohol they're all without a doubt going to consume, they're hoping they'll be able to get something out of Beck.

Jade does feel a little bit guilty, almost like she's setting Beck up. She did want to go out with him again, she's just...multitasking. An evening out with him, getting the information she needs, and hopefully looking good in front of her boss.

"Wow, what a concept." Mark rolls his eyes "We're paying to cook our own food."

"Oh shut up, it's an evening out." His wife, Louise, rolls her eyes playfully "Let me tell you two, the longer you're married...the less you go out. In a few years we'll probably be bricked into our house."

Mark shakes his head and Beck and Jade can only laugh as they exchange a look with one another. Mark then makes eye contact with Jade and nods towards Beck. She then shakes her head, a signal that it's not the right time to bring up Robbie. At least not yet.

"So Louise, are you in the magazine business too?" Beck asks

"No actually, I'm a psychiatrist." Louise answers him

"Well, then that will be the last thing I say tonight." Beck laughs, causing the rest of them to laugh as well

"So, Jade. You never told me, how was that Chris Dangle show you went to the other night?" Mark suddenly changes the subject, even though Jade had hinted that it wasn't yet time to start grilling Beck "Did you meet anyone? Anyone worth mentioning?"

"Uh...no." Jade shakes her head

She wasn't at the show, she didn't even know the show had happened until she saw the pictures of Cat and Robbie a few days later. For the sake of getting some information out of Beck though, Mark had asked her to pretend.

"Really?" Mark continues "I find that...very odd."

"I think you're being odd." Louise cuts in

"Well, I'm always odd." Mark teases "That's why you married me. Speaking of...Beck? What exactly are your intentions for the lovely Ms. West here?"

"You know what? There was someone at the Chris Dangle show..." Jade says suddenly and turns to Beck "Um, I think I met your friends Robbie and Cat."

"My friends who and who?" Beck is surprised

He doesn't know Cat at all...but how the hell could she have known that he knows Robbie? He keeps such a low profile with his clients and asks that they do the same. That's how and why his business works so well.

"Cat as in...Cat Valentine?" Mark acts surprised "Really? How do you know Cat Valentine?"

"I don't?" Beck is honest

He's done some research on her, but he's never met her.

"So, you know Robbie then?" Jade follows up

"No?"

"He had your tickets though." Jade informs him "You bought them for him.

At this point all three pairs of eyes, from Jade, Mark, and Louise, are focused on Beck. He suddenly feels very hot. How did he get into this situation? Who exposed him? What does he do? He needs to think of a way to get himself out of his and quickly.

"I mean..." Beck hesitates with a chuckle "How well do you really know your accountant? You talk to 'em on April fifteenth and then you don't talk to 'em again until...well, April fifteenth."

"Compliments of the chef." A waiter interrupts

The man holds out a tray of bite-sized appetizers for everyone at the table to sample. Beck hears that he's explaining what the dish is and the ingredients used to make it, but he isn't truly listening. He just grabs one and pops it into his mouth, praying that everyone's full mouths will be enough distraction from their previous topic of Robbie and Cat.

"Wow." Jade smiles over at him "This is really good."

"It is." Beck agrees once he's swallowed his food

They both exchange a genuine look, and Beck feels like he might just be in the clear.

Good save. He thinks to himself

"Beck." Louise says to get his attention "I must say, I'm very impressed."

"Oh yeah?" Beck smirks "Why's that?"

"Well, usually around these two people can't wait to start name-dropping." Louise informs him "And here you are being all humble and discrete."

"Yes, it's very...endearing." Mark sighs sarcastically

"Yes, it is endearing." Jade says seriously, smiling over at Beck "So, why don't we change the subject?"

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, Beck starts to feel very ill...almost like he might vomit. He tries his best to control the feeling, but he can't help but let a gag escape his throat.

"Whoa!" Jade looks concerned "Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah." Beck clears his throat "I'm fine."

But the nausea persists. He tries his best to ignore it, hoping it will go away.

"So, Beck...Jade told me you're a consultant?" Mark attempts to change the subject without staying from his intended goal of gathering information "Is that true?"

"Yeah." Beck nods, trying to choke down another gag "Mostly advertising, some marketing, a little brand management."

That's not entirely a lie either. He consults men about all of those things, just in their personal lives rather than in the business world.

"I have no idea what that means." Mark admits

"Yeah, no one does." Beck laughs "That's why I get to charge so much."

This earns another laugh from everyone at the table, and Beck is glad that he seems to be impressing Jade because he might have to bail-out soon. He's feeling even worse now, and has to try to suppress another gag. Unfortunately he isn't successful in doing so, and even though he turns away from the table to do it he can feel Jade grab his arm gently.

"Are you sure you're alright, Beck?" She asks him quietly

"I'm fine." He nods "I'm fine. Hey, uh...is it itchy in here, or is it just me?"

His neck feels like sandpaper suddenly, and his chest. Everything itches. Why does everything itch?

"Oh, I know what's happening..." Louise looks concerned

"No." Beck shakes his head "No, I know what you're thinking. You think I'm in a stressful state because I'm trying to make a good impression, while also dealing with the 'commitment issues' you all think I have. Trying to avoid all of this awkward conversations-"

"No, honey that's not it." Louise assures him "I think you have food allergies."

"Oh..." Beck says as he reaches up to scratch his ear

"Oh..."

"Oh my."

"Beck..." Jade gasps

"What?" He turns to face her

"Your ear..."

"My ear?"

He reaches into his pocket and grabs his phone, then opens the camera app and holding it up to his face. His ear is swollen to twice the size it should be and his neck is bright red with a rash.

"We need to go!" Jade tells him, then turns to Mark and Louise "I'm so sorry, we need to go! I need to...we have to take care of this."

"It was great to meet you both!" Beck says kindly to Mark and Louise as Jade grabs his hand "Whoa!"

"C'mon." She pulls him along behind her as she rushes out of the restaurant "I thought you said you could take the heat?"

"That's only when I pay attention to what I'm eating!"