Nick stood at the front door of Sara's apartment and he was nervous. He'd been to her apartment numerous times, but this time was different. Tonight he was taking her out on a date. They were good friends, and since they'd shared a remarkable kiss in his Tahoe in the middle of a rain storm, things had changed between them. She had suggested dinner and a movie, so that's what they were going to do. He had taken great care in dressing for their date. He didn't want to look too dressy and make her think he was trying too hard, but he also didn't want to be too casual and just show up in a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt. He finally settled on a pair of black jeans, a gray ribbed knit shirt and his black leather jacket. He raised his right hand to knock on the door. His left hand held a bouquet of tulips behind his back. A smile spread over his face as Sara answered the door. He took in the appearance of her face and determined that she looked a little nervous too. Somehow, that made him relax.

"I got these for you." Nick grinned at her and pulled the tulips out from behind her back.

Sara chuckled and opened the door wide to let Nick in as she took the tulips from him. "I guess I should find something to put them in."

Nick studied her as she rummaged around her kitchen looking for something to put the flowers in. It had never occurred to Nick that Sara would have trouble finding a vase to put flowers in because he would have thought that someone as beautiful as her would have been the recipient of flowers many times over.

Sara finally pulled out a sad looking container. She smiled at Nick as she filled it with water and put the tulips in it. "I guess this will have to do, I don't have a vase. It's a shame though, the flowers are so pretty."

A lopsided smile formed on Nick's face as he leaned against the counter watching her. "Not as pretty as you though."

Sara blushed slightly and tried to stifle a grin. She looked up at Nick who was still watching her. "This isn't awkward."

Nick picked up on the note of sarcasm in her voice and chuckled. "Are you ready to go?"

Sara wrinkled her brow for a moment. "Uh, why, don't I look ready?" She closed her eyes and an embarrassed expression crossed her face as she brought her hand up to her forehead and started laughing. "Oh, wait, never mind." She looked up at Nick. A hint of color still infused her cheeks and she tried to suppress her embarrassed grin. "Yeah, I'm ready. Ok, so I'm a little nervous, Nick."

Nick chuckled at her and smiled. "So am I."

Sara giggled. "Really?"

Nick nodded and stepped toward her. "Yeah, really. Now what do you say we get out of here and get dinner and watch a movie?"

Sara smiled and gathered her purse and a light jacket to throw over her dark red ribbed shirt and black low rise slacks. "Where are you taking me?" They stood at the door getting ready to leave.

Nick raised an amused eyebrow at her. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see."

A smile played at the edges of Sara's mouth as she pulled on her jacket.

As they walked out to Nick's Tahoe, they cast sidelong glances at each other. Nick opened the door for Sara and then walked around the vehicle and climbed in behind the wheel.

Sara chuckled nervously as she thought about the last time they were in Nick's Tahoe together alone.

Nick glanced over at her studying her as he turned on the ignition, he raised an eyebrow and with a soft, gentle voice stated, "You know, I won't kiss you unless you want me to."

Sara smiled and glanced at Nick. "It's not that, Nick. This just all seems a little surreal to me that's all." She looked at her lap and played with the strap of her purse nervously.

Nick turned the ignition off and turned his attention fully to Sara. He raised a curious eyebrow at her. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

Sara glanced up at him. "It's just dinner and a movie, I don't know why I'm making such a big deal out of it."

Nick reached over and took her hand. He gave it a squeeze and smiled at her. "Sara, it's not the dinner and the movie that's the big deal is it? I think we're both nervous because our friendship has changed and we're not sure what to do."

Sara nodded slowly. "I think I'm just afraid that if things don't work out we might end up hating each other. You're too good of a friend to lose."

Nick replied softly. "Do you think it's worth taking the risk to find out if things might work out?"

Sara bit her lower lip. "Do you?"

Nick chuckled softly and caressed her hand with his thumb. "Yeah, Sara, I do. I wouldn't have kissed you if I didn't think it was worth the risk." He studied her for a moment. "And for the record, I'm scared too. I wouldn't want you to hate me and I sure wouldn't want to lose you as a friend."

The corners of Sara's mouth upturned slightly. She glanced over at Nick and squeezed his hand. "You know, someone once said that nothing great was ever attained without great risk, and I think you're pretty great, Nick."

Nick chuckled and squeezed her hand before releasing it to turn on the ignition.

Sara studied him for a moment and then chuckled. "You know, for the record, it's ok if you kiss me."

Nick raised an eyebrow and a lopsided grin spread across his face. "I'll keep that in mind."

Sara's eyebrows shot up, and she tried not to laugh as she crossed her arms in front of her body.

Nick chuckled and turned off the ignition. He turned toward her with an amused expression on his face. His hand brushed the hair off of her forehead as he studied her face.

Sara turned toward him and licked her lips nervously as she studied Nick's expression.

Nick slid his fingers back into her hair and leaned toward her. His lips were just a fraction of an inch from hers when he whispered. "For the record, I'm going to kiss you now."

Sara started to giggle as Nick touched his lips to hers. She could feel Nick smiling against her lips. As they broke apart laughing, Sara reached up and wiped a smudge of lipstick off of Nick's lower lip. She met his gaze still giggling. "Maybe this would work better if you just kissed me and didn't announce it first."

Nick raised an amused eyebrow at her. "You don't like the play by play approach?"

She shook her head grinning. "No, I don't."

Nick leaned in again and kissed her softly. As he pulled away Sara was smiling. He grinned. "Is that better?"

Sara nodded her head laughing.

"Are you going to laugh every time I kiss you?" Nick looked amused.

Sara raised an eyebrow and reached up to cup the side of his face with her hand. She leaned toward him, closing her eyes, and softly pressed her lips against his. Nick's hand slid further into her hair to cup the back of her head as he moved his lips against hers, savoring the taste of her lips. They broke the kiss smiling.

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Dinner and a movie?" He reached over and took her hand in his.

Sara chuckled. "Yeah." She laced her fingers with his.

With that they headed to dinner, their fingers laced together on the seat in between them as they drove.