Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. Here we go again. Please keep all hands and arms inside the cart at all times. Remember reviews are welcome, and we're off.

8:00AM, the following Monday, Blush Magazine Headquarters

Maya opened the doors leading into Blush. She quickly scanned the room for Finch but didn't see him anywhere. Unbeknownst to her, he was kneeling behind his desk pretending to search through a drawer. He wasn't quite ready to face her this morning. Finch sighed and pondered, *I hope that everything doesn't go back to the way it was before last Friday. That would really suck. You're going to have to face her sometime today, buddy.*

Disappointed, Maya sighed and headed towards her office. *Oh well, not to worry. I'll just catch him later. I need to pay him back for the sandwich anyway. I can't believe that Dennis Finch actually paid for my food. He was actually being nice last Friday. I certainly hope everything doesn't regress back to the way it was before.*

Elliott DiMauro approached Maya and tapped her on her shoulder. "Hey Maya, I just wanted to apologize for being such a jerk on Friday. I know that I overstepped my boundaries as a friend. It's just that I don't want to see you hurt, and Dennis Finch is bad news."

Finch muttered angrily to himself behind the desk. "Jerk, I'm not the one that's bad news. I'm not the one who uses women like toilet paper. I actually know what the word commitment means…unlike some people."

Sighing, Maya shook her and replied, "Elliott, I appreciate the apology, but I'm not the only one that you owe an apology to. You were extremely rude to Finch on Friday, and he didn't even do anything to you. And Dennis is not 'bad news.' Yeah, maybe he's a bit of a prankster with a sarcastic attitude to boot, but underneath all that, there's actually a half-way decent human being…well sometimes." Seeing the way that Elliott scoffed at her, Maya rolled her eyes and said, "I'm serious Elliott. I learned in the car the other day that Finch isn't really that bad of a guy…once you get past all of his bullshit. Maybe I need to lock you two in a car for a few hours. Maybe that would clear up your problems too." Elliott looked at Maya like she was insane before retreating to his desk.

Dennis smiled to himself from behind the desk. *Yeah, she still likes you buddy. Now it's all a matter of getting her to see you as more than a friend. And I hope she really isn't serious about locking me and Elliott up in a car together. It would turn into a blood bath.*

Nina Van Horn, the company's neurotic fashion editor, entered the room with a steaming cup of coffee and called out, "Hey Maya, who was the present from?"

Maya looked at her in confusion and asked, "What present?"

"The one sitting on your desk. I shook it, but couldn't figure out what was in it."

"Someone left a present on my desk?" Nodding her head, Nina made her way to her own office. Curiosity filled Maya as she opened the door to her office. There sitting on her desk was a beautifully wrapped present. The only problem was that the wrapping paper was Christmas paper with little penguins and snowmen. *Christmas is still months away. Why would anyone be giving me a Christmas present now?* Approaching her desk, Maya searched the package for a card. Not finding one, she picked up the package and tentatively shook it. Finally shrugging her shoulders, she pulled off the paper to reveal a box. Lifting the lid off the box, she peered inside and started laughing.

Finch heard her laughter from his spot behind the desk and smiled to himself. Giving himself a pat on the back, he turned around and started to work.

Maya's laughter was now reduced to giggling as she looked down at the blanket, crackers, bottled water, flashlight, and deck of cards nestled in the box. Maya's mind flashed back to her and Finch's conversation in the car where he said that he would buy her all this stuff for an early Christmas present. Shaking her head in mirth, she spotted a note card and pulled it out. The card read, "Early Merry Christmas, Maya. From Your Favorite Co-Worker." *I can't believe Finch actually bought all this stuff for me. That is just so sweet…I'm sure using the words sweet and Finch together alot lately…huh. But it is sweet.* Heading towards her office door, she decided to go and thank him for his thoughtfulness.

As she opened the door, Nina was there looking excited. "So who was the present from? A secret admirer maybe?"

Maya smiled at her and said, "It's a secret, Nina."

As Maya made her way to Finch's desk with some papers to be filed, Nina smiled and thought, *Yep, it must have been a secret admirer. I wonder if Elliott is trying to woo her again. Looks like Nina Van Horn…Private Eye is on the case.*

Maya approached Finch's desk and handed him the files that were in her hand. As he turned around to put them away, she leaned over his desk and whispered, "Thanks for the present, Dennis. Now you won't be finding me dead of dehydration on some back woods road."

Finch thought to himself, *Good. Definitely don't want that. That would sure put a crimp in my plans.* He flashed her one of his trademark cocky grins before turning back to his filing. Still smiling, Maya made her way back to her office.

Both Maya and Finch were totally unaware of their secret observer…Nina Van Horn, Private Eye. Although she was too far away to make out their words, she did, however, note their friendly exchange. Nina muttered, "Hmm…interesting," before disappearing into her office.