Mort sat in the driveway for a moment before mustering enough self-esteem to get out of his vehicle.  He took several deep breaths while he walked up to the front door.  His mind was silent save for his own thoughts.  She already said that she likes me…of course we didn't really talk about ourselves very much – in fact, we don't even know each other, not really.  Great, she likes some shell version of me.  Is that bad?  God, I think too much.  Mort had let his mind drift a bit too much and he didn't realize that he was standing in front of the door.  I'm acting like I've never dated before.  I used to date all the time before I was married.  Get it together, Mort.  He rang the doorbell.

Karen answered the door, Julia in her arms and a smile on her face.  "Hi there," she said sweetly.

"Hello," Mort said to her.  He smiled at Julia.  "Hey you."  Julia giggled at him.

"Come on in, Alex'll be out in a…"

Alex's voice interrupted her.  "Alex is already out."

Mort felt his face redden.  May as well have acne and a cracking voice at the rate I'm going.  "How are you feeling?"

"Much better actually.  Still a little sore, but nothing I can't deal with."

He took a moment to look at Alex.  She looked quite a bit different than she had on Friday.  She was in a black skirt and a sheer red blouse; her dark hair was partially pulled up, away from her face.  His physical attraction to her grew.  Alex was having the same thoughts.  Mort was a bit "disheveled" when she'd met him, but she found it to be cute.  Now that he was standing before her a bit more "groomed", as it were, she found him to be just short of breathtaking.

"Are you ready?" he asked, unsurely.  "I mean, you know, to, uh, go?"

Alex smiled.  "Let me get my coat."

"My coat," Karen chuckled.

Alex pulled Karen's leather coat out of the closet and put it on.  She walked to Karen and kissed the top Julia's head.  "Mommy'll be back later, sweetie.  Be a good girl."

"Like she could be anything else," Karen said.  "Now, quit stalling and get going."

Alex felt her face turn crimson.  She turned to look at Mort, who was fidgeting with his car keys.  "Excuse her, she forgets what it's like to date."

"I'm a bit rusty myself," Mort said shyly.  He and Alex walked out of the house and to his car.  His Nissan was in the shop, the damages being repaired, so for now he was driving a red Cavalier.  He opened the door for her and she sat down, taking a deep breath as she did so.  He got in on the other side and started the car.  "Our plans, um…we really didn't make any."

"Yeah, I was thinking about that earlier."

"I was at a restaurant here a month or so ago and, well, it was good and…"  God, listen to this!  I've gotta snap out of it or else there's no point in leaving this driveway.  Relax, be Mort Rainey.  "Anyway, it's Italian.  Is that O.K.?"

"Sounds good."

"Alex?"

"Hm?"

"I'm going to be honest with you – I haven't dated since my divorce and I'm nervous as hell.  I'm attracted to you – very attracted – and sitting this close to you and not kissing you is just adding to the tension that's already incredibly evident right now."  Mort took a breath, then continued by saying.  "I haven't left the driveway yet, so feel free to run."    

Alex sat wide-eyed.  "Uh…did I mention that Italian's good?"

"Yeah."  Scared her off without me.  No…

Alex took notice of the panicked look in Mort's eyes.  I want to kiss you too…  "If you want to kiss me so badly, why not just to it and let the tension go?" 

This was certainly not the answer that he'd expected.  "Joke?"

Alex shook her head.  "Kiss me.  I mean, who made up the rule that it has to happen at the end of the date?"

Mort didn't hesitate, if he would have, he wouldn't have been able to do it.  He leaned over his seat and Alex move her face closer to his.  Their lips met and a burst of energy filtered through his body.  He parted Alex's lips with his own and found his hand reaching behind her neck, pulling her closer.  He felt his pulse quicken and he forced himself to pry away from her.

Alex's face was flush and she smiled widely.  "No excuse to be awkward with each other now, huh?"

"I don't think so."

***

Author's Note: I apologize if there was too much cheese there, but sometimes that just happens.  No, this will not be a perfect relationship, even if, on the outside, it seems so.  Don't be discouraged ;-) – Keep reading, please.