I don't claim any of these characters.  Read chapter one if you're confused.

One quick note:  It occurs to me that I've left Donna's new guy Jack out of the equation.  Let's just pretend for this story that he doesn't exist or something.  I'm sorry if you like him.  Really.  But he's not a factor here.

Enthralling Sam Seaborn    

"I could have told you he's an ass man," CJ said.  She and Donna were out to lunch Wednesday, and Donna was keeping CJ posted on her quest.

"I guess I just never thought about Toby being all the sexual." 

"You should have known him when he was younger.  He hides it well, but he's got a passionate side to him that you wouldn't believe."

"And quite frankly wouldn't want to know about."

"So, are you making progress with Josh?"

"I don't know.  Maybe.  But then again, it may be that I've never paid that much attention to him before."

"Well, your assignment for tomorrow ought to really get you warmed up, plus it will make Josh crazy."

"Who else is possibly left, unless you want me to seduce Leo.  CJ, I'm just not—"

"Lord, no.  Not Leo.  Although…but no.  Sam's coming in."

"When?"

"Tomorrow.  Just for a couple days, to visit and meet with some DNC people.  He has a dinner date with Josh, but I'll make sure Josh isn't available.  You, however, will be there to pick up the slack and make the reservation with him."

"What will that prove?  Sam's not really around right now."

"Let's just say I'm satisfying a hunch of mine that Spanky's always been attracted to you.  He's just never had the opportunity to act on those feelings."

"But I'm not sure I really want Sam."

"That's not the point.  The point is to see if he responds to your overtures.  The bonus will be how insane with jealousy Josh is.  Believe me, if you look as hot as I think you will, Sam will notice and he'll go straight to Josh.  By tomorrow night, men will feel your power when you walk in the room."

"You're being a little unreasonably melodramatic.  Suppose Sam sees me the same way Josh does?"

"In the dress you'll be wearing, I'll be surprised if he can close his mouth during dinner."

The next day…

Donna sprayed on her trusty new perfume and looked herself over in the mirror.  The outfit was casual, or at least casual enough for a dinner meeting with a colleague. A red peasant top that hung slightly off her shoulders, paired with a knee-length pattered skirt.  The high heels made her feel tall and proud.  She went with her usual makeup, so as not to arouse suspicion.  Just a hint of red in the lipstick and little eye makeup.

Donna knew the place they were going.  It was an old stand-by.  The restaurant wasn't the horribly expensive kind.  Since the date was originally for two guys to catch up, it was a stroke of luck that the place was the dark, moody kind, with a dance floor Donna in her wildest scenarios planned to make use of.

Sam had been warned of the change in plans, but he seemed receptive to meeting Donna anyway.  Josh had made them promise to bring him some dessert in the office, where he was working on whatever CJ's scheme had set up for him.

Sam looked a little rumpled when he came in.  He'd been on the plane and then in meetings all day.  He said it would be nice to sit for a while and just talk to someone about something other than politics.

"By the way, Donna, you look nice.  Or maybe it's just been a long time since I've seen you."

"Yep.  There you go.  Men never know when to quit."

"I was actually going to finish with, 'so I'd forgotten how beautiful you are.'"

"Not that you ever noticed."

"You're right.  It's easy to forget when you see someone every day."

"See, that's where you're wrong.  Every time I saw you, I thanked God for giving me such a gorgeous coworker."

Sam smiled and shook his head.  "Still keeping Josh in line?"

"Struggling.  But he's been manageable since you left.  Almost morose."

"Then you have had your work cut out for you.  Josh is absolutely no fun when he's upset."

"He pouts like a little boy."

"And denies that anything's bothering him."

"Exactly."

They talked for a while about the other staffers and ordered dinner.  Talk soon turned to general things, and Donna found herself laughing a lot and forgetting her plan of action.  She was supposed to be seducing Sam.  She decided she wouldn't tell CJ how much fun she'd had just being herself for the first time that week.

Sam said, "Do you know I've gone an hour now without talking about my campaign.  Why haven't you asked me about it?"

"You haven't volunteered, and I figured that you're tired of it."

"A little.  It's going well, actually, which I guess is really all you need to know."  He smiled and remained silent for a moment.  "Would you care to dance before we get Josh's dessert?"

Donna was taken off guard, but her confident, tempting Donna act kicked back in and she took his hand assertively.  The song was fast paced with a latin flavor and she soon found herself flirting shamelessly, mainly because Sam was.  He looked into her eyes and motioned enticingly for her to come closer.  She grabbed his arm and squeezed his bicep, giving herself over to the music and the way it felt to interact with him.  She was reasonably sure acting the way they were in public would be bad for his campaign, but she thought, who in the world will see us in such an out-of-the-way place?

Since he had obviously shed his inhibitions, she did too, and they play-acted a very sexually charged dance, at least as much as they could in a place where not many were taking advantage of the dance floor.  He dipped her once, and she felt light-headed.  She was seeing a side of Sam that usually only came out for CJ.  She decided she liked it.

When the band played a slow song, they returned to their table and shared a sinfully rich chocolate sundae.  Josh's cake sat waiting in a box. 

"Don't tell him I said this, but I'm kinda glad Josh was tied up at work."

"I won't breathe a word."

The two hit the West Wing still laughing and talking.  Josh eyed them suspiciously.

He said, "Sam, how many glasses of wine did Donna put away?"

Donna answered, "Donna drank one glass with dinner.  Sam, how jealous is Mr. Lyman of the fun we seem to be having?"

"Very."

Sam dropped the box with the cake in it on Josh's desk and excused himself to the bathroom.  Donna flopped herself down on Josh's couch.

"You almost done?  Need any help?"

"You're too happy to possibly help me, Donna," he said, not looking at her.  In an offhand manner he added, "You've been holding out on me.  Here I thought you had a new man and I find out it's Sam."

"What?"

"You've been acting strange all week, and I thought you had a new gomer.  Imagine my shock when you picked a candidate for the California legislature."

"Use your head, Josh.  Sam just got in today.  There's nothing going on between us.  And I do not have a new gomer."

"Whatever you say, Donna.  I just hope this guy is worth you completely changing your personality."

Donna stood.  "Changing my personality?"

"Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed it.  You've looked nice and smelled nice and acted nice nearly all week, but I liked you better when you weren't trying."

"You mean, when I wasn't attractive at all."

"When you were more attractive because you didn't know it."
"So you think women are sexier with no self-esteem?"

Josh's was speechless.  His face twisted as he tried to phrase a response that made sense.  He quickly took a deep breath and said, "When did I get into an argument with you about whether you're sexy?"

"When you started making judgments about me based on a couple of new shirts and some new perfume.  Tell Sam I had a great time."

She whirled on her heels and walked out to the sound of Josh sighing in frustration and Sam asking him how he ruined a good mood in five minutes.

Josh's voice echoed down the hallway.  "It's a gift."

Continued…