Fool for Love

By

Javakamp
Chapter 3: Would you prefer Carl Riner

Later that day Lorelai walked into the kitchen at the Inn calling out, "Sookie?"

"Over here sweetie," Lorelai heard Sookie reply from over by the freezer.

Lorelai walked towards the sound of her friend's voice and said, "Hey, Sookie, do you have the menu ready for the Elks dinner next week."

Sookie stepped into view dressed as a pirate, complete with a scar on her face, and an eye patch. An accident earlier in the day had forced her to wear the patch above her eye. Sookie was holding a large bowl in one hand and stirring its contents with a wooden spoon in the other. She pointed with her shoulder and said, "It's over on the desk."

"Thanks," Lorelai replied. As she retrieved the menu she asked, "How's your head?"

Sookie stopped stirring and used the free hand to touch a spot on her head concealed by the bandana that was part of her costume. When the hand encountered her head, Sookie winched and said, "I think I'm going to have a bump."

"Oh I'm so sorry," Lorelai apologized. "Now you know that I love you don't you?"

"Sure."

Good," Lorelai started, "so you know that I when I say that next year if you want to participate in the Halloween dress up, you might want to pick a costume that doesn't restrict your vision, I'm thinking about your best interest."

Sookie nodded and said, "Yeah. I should have known better. You know that whole depth perception thing. Maybe next year I'll try your idea and dress as a fairy princess."

"How many times do I have to tell people," Lorelai said sounding a little flustered. "That I am not a fairy princess, "I'm a…" Lorelai stopped when she saw the look on Sookie's face, and said, "Now you're teasing me, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Well, in that case I think maybe I'll see you later," Lorelai said with a friendly smile. "Bye sweetie. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye."

Lorelai turned and walked from the kitchen into the lobby as she scanned the papers from Sookie. As she crossed the lobby, her foot unexpectantly encountered something on the floor. The unanticipated obstacle caused her to give out a surprised shout and to spill forward onto the ground. The papers she had been holding flew into the air and floated to the ground.

She landed hard causing pain in her hands and knees, while dislodging her tiara and allowing her hair to fall forward over her face. Before she could stop herself she muttered, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"

She spent a few seconds on her hands and knees trying to determine which was damaged worse, her body or her dignity. From somewhere above her, a concerned but unfamiliar male voice asked, "Miss, are you alright?" Despite her injured pride, Lorelai couldn't help noticing that the voice sounded like a sexy version of that guy who did those car commercials a few years back. The one's that said, 'This changes everything'.

With more anticipation that she was willing to admit, Lorelai slowly pushed her hair out of her face and looked up at the speaker. The image of the man standing above her did not disappoint. He appeared to be in his mid to late thirties, and had Brad Pitt's jaw, Matt Damon's smile, and George Clooney's eyes. Topping the man's Ocean's 11 face was short nearly jet-black hair. His hair had a slight wave, and just a few specks of grey that added character instead of making him look older.

When she didn't answer the man again asked, "Are you okay?"

Lorelai straightened up so she was on her knees, and with a dismissive wave said, "Yeah, I'm fine, just clumsy."

The man held out a hand to help her up and said, "I am so sorry about that. I'm afraid I left my briefcase sitting right in your path."

Lorelai glanced at the offered left hand and noticed the absence of a ring. Smiling she took the proffered hand, and as the pretty man was helping her to her feet, she said, "No it's my fault. I should have been looking where I was going." After regaining her feet, she held onto the man's hand for a little longer than necessary.

"No," the man responded, with a shake of his head. "I shouldn't have been so careless."

Playfully Lorelai said, "You're right." She looked around and continued, "Maybe I should complain to the management." She paused a second then said, "Oh, wait. That'd be me."

"So you are the manager of the inn?" The man asked.

Lorelai smiled, held out her hand and said, "Yes I'm the General Manager, Lorelai Gilmore."

The man took her hand and said, "Pleased to meet you Lorelai. My name is Colin Fletcher, and may I say that you have an exceptional place here."

Still holding Colin's hand she smiled and said, "That's very nice of you Mr. Fletcher. Are you checking in or out?"

"I'm checking out, and please call me Colin."

Lorelai looked disappointed and said, "I'm sorry to here that you're leaving us. I hope you enjoyed your stay."

"I enjoyed it immensely. How could I not in such a nice place."

Casually Lorelai gave her hair a little twirl that she had cultivated over the years, and said, "That's very kind of you. I'm glad you like it."

Colin gave Lorelai a hundred teeth smile that caused her a slight flutter in her stomach, and said, "Yes I enjoyed my stay so much that I just finished making reservations to stay here next week when I'm back in the area."

"Well, there's no higher complement that a repeat customer."

"That's a real nice costume you have today," Colin said as his eyes traveled down then back up Lorelai's body.

Lorelai noticed the way he took in her body and admired the way he managed to do it with more of an attitude of admiring a work of fine art, as opposed to making her feel like a slab of meat. Lorelai noted his method and thought to herself, 'This guy is good.'

After completing his visual appraisal Colin continued, "I take it you're suppose to be a Ballerina."

"Why does everyone think that…?" Lorelai stopped herself when Colin's words fully registered. She smiled and said, "That's right. How did you know?"

Colin shrugged and explained, "I have nieces."

Lorelai nodded as she smiled flirtatiously then said, "Well, I hope to see you next week then." She held out her hand and continued, "It was really nice to meet you Colin."

Colin took her hand and held it in a firm grip, then said, "Pardon me if I'm being forward, but next week would you give me the pleasure of letting me take you to dinner?"

Lorelai acted surprised and said, "Oh, that's very sweet of you to ask, Colin, but that's really not necessary."

"Oh it's the least I could do after I nearly crippled you with my briefcase."

Lorelai paused while she appeared to think about it. Then she smiled, and said, "Okay, but on one condition."

"Anything you say."

She pointed to his briefcase and playfully said, "You can't bring that thing along. I don't think that my dignity could take another spill like the last one."

They spent the next couple of minutes finalizing plans, and saying goodbyes, then Lorelai glanced around the lobby and caught site of a gorilla near the door. "Tommy," she called across the lobby.

The gorilla turned hurried across the lobby and said something that she couldn't quite make out.

"Tommy, "Lorelai started, "could you help Mr. Fletcher with his luggage.

Lorelai smiled to herself as she watched Colin's retreating form. Smiling, she continued to stare for half a moment after he walked through the door. Suddenly she turned and nearly ran for the door leading to the kitchen. Once through the door, she shouted excitedly, "Sookie, Sookie. You'll never guess what just happened…"