Lorelai was starting to wish that she could change at the venue like Rory would be doing. She was in the dress she bought while shopping with her mother. It was the only dress that both of them liked. It was a strapless, floor-length, fitted gown, hugging all the right curves. She wore her hair down with large waves and Rory added a few crystal clips "for glamour". She rushed down the stairs when she heard the doorbell ring.

"Rory, we gotta go in five minutes," she called on her way to the door.

"We can't leave without Dean!" Rory yelled back.

Lorelai opened the door and her heart skipped a beat. There was Luke, hair washed and combed neatly. His face looked smoother than she'd ever seen, it looked touchably soft. He looked incredibly dashing in his tuxedo, Lorelai was sure that no man had ever been this sexy.

"Wow Luke," She gasped. "It's going to be very hard to see you in jeans and flannel after this. You look -"

"Oh my gosh, Luke! You look great!" Rory interrupted as she came around the corner.

Luke blushed, "Thanks."

"There's Dean!" Rory exclaimed. "Finally! Okay I'm grabbing my bag and my dress and we gotta go!" She then disappeared leaving Luke and Lorelai staring at each other.

"You were saying that I looked -"

"Hi. Sorry I'm late," Dean said from behind Luke.

"Come on people, let's move!" Rory called. She tossed Lorelai her purse and coat and made her way to the car. "Are we all going in the Jeep?"

"Sure," Lorelai answered.

Luke gave her a once over, "Do you want me to drive? Those shoes don't look like they were made for driving."

"Thanks. This way I can drink, which always comes in handy when I'm with my parents," Lorelai smiled.

Luke and Lorelai were quiet in the car, they both would sneak glances at the other and smile. Rory was the only one talking, going over the evening for Luke and Dean, explaining how the night would go, warning Lorelai not to make rude comments until they were in the car again and promising Dean a 'Lord of The Rings' marathon to make up for this.

Once at the venue, Rory was whisked upstairs, Dean made friends with the other escorts and Luke followed Lorelai to the bar.

"I don't see my parents. There's no way I could have beaten my Mother here!' She was looking around the room and then smiled at the bartender. "I'll have a martini with two olives, please."

The bartender nodded and then turned to Luke, "Sir?"

"Scotch neat, please"

Lorelai smiled at him and raised her eyebrow.

"I gotta blend in with this crowd," he grinned at her.

They each got their drink, clinked their glasses and took a sip.

"We'll be back Steve," Lorelai called to the bartender.

Luke smiled and without thinking, placed his hand on the small of Lorelai's back as they walked to their table.

Lorelai's heart stopped and all she could feel was his hand on her and she never wanted it to leave. It was shocking to her how Luke had gone from 'just a friend' to someone she was crushing on so hard, so quickly.
Luke leaned over and whispered in her ear, "While we're alone, let me just say that you are the most beautiful woman in the place, or any place for that matter. And that dress is incredible!"

Goosebumps covered her skin and she smiled. It was taking her longer to respond than normal which made him smirk.

"Well, you my good man are hotter than James Bond in that tux," She purred, while looking straight ahead knowing she couldn't say that and make eye contact.

"Wow," he chuckled at the fact that she wouldn't look at him. "You think I look better than Roger Moore?"

"Umm hmm"

"Sean Connery?"

"For sure!"

"You can't think I look better than Pierce Brosnan"

Lorelai bobbed her head side to side and pretended to really think about it, "Well, now that you mention it."

"Hey!" Luke laughed.

The two turned to face each other and it was as if everyone else in the room disappeared, they were inches from touching and they locked eyes.

"Where's Rory? This place is a disaster! Can you believe the chairs they've used? And votive candles? Where is the elegance in that? The hideous colour of the table clothes!"

Lorelai jumped and took a step back the moment Emily began her rant. She almost fell but Luke reached out and steadied her by holding her hand. She smiled at him appreciatively.

Emily halted her rant when she noticed her daughter looking lovingly at a man she'd never met.

"Lorelai, aren't you going to introduce me to your companion?"

"It's me Mrs. Gilmore," Luke smiled. "Luke Danes, we met at Rory's birthday party last year and at the hospital. I own the Diner in Stars Hollow."

Lorelai relished the shock on her Mother's face when she realized who Luke was.

"Oh yes, you're walking Rory down the stairs. It was awfully kind of you to step in at the last minute." Emily didn't hide the fact that she was giving him a thorough once over.

"I would do anything for Rory," Luke stated.

Before anything else could be said by anyone there was an announcement that the father's should go take their places as the event was about to begin.

Luke nodded, placed his glass down on the table and winked at Lorelai as he left. He had no idea that his wink sent shockwaves through her entire body and she wanted to grab him and pull him into the closest closet and tear the tux right off of him. Instead she gave him a small wave when he looked back at her before turning the corner.