Lucas rubbed his throbbing shoulder as he tried to get comfortable. The Knicks had squashed the Trail Blazers by beating them over 25 points and in the third quarter with a victory assured, the coach had pretty much let Lucas relax on the bench, which he needed. Just as he was getting situated, there was a knock on the door. Cursing to himself, he dragged out of bed and opened the door of his hotel suite.

"Whoa!" Lucas said out loud.

He was surprised to see Anna in front of his door but more than that he couldn't help but take notice of her outfit. Her body looked smoking in the tight leather pants and white tank top with the tiny straps.

"Appropriate response. Mind if I come in?"

"No, not at all", he said smiling. "This is um, a pleasant surprise."

She entered the room and shut the door behind her. They stood for a few awkward moments just staring at each other, a wide smile breaking across Anna's lips.

"What?"

She motioned down to what he was wearing or rather wasn't wearing. His tight, black boxer briefs left little to the imagination.

"Oh…um, sorry. I…I was in bed. Uh, let me put something else on", he stammered as he slipped in the hotel's complimentary terrycloth robe.

"Believe me", Anna flirted. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

She took a seat on the sofa and he offered her a choice from the mini bar in his room. She asked for a Scotch on the rocks and he happily assumed the role of resident bartender. As he made her drink, her eyes searched the room and found a copy of a tabloid. She couldn't help but smile at the tiny picture located on the top right corner.

"Wow. I must admit Mr. Scott, you look quite sexy with a bloody nose and lip", she joked.

"Oh that", Lucas said, taking away the paper and handing her the drink. "It was nothing. Just a little drama at my friend, Peyton's art show."

"Looks like I missed out."

"Not really."

"Seeing you take a jealous swing at your wife's new lover?"

"She won't be my wife for very much longer and according to her, he isn't her lover. Or at least that's the story this week."

"Interesting…"

"And it wasn't a jealous swing. The guy, Felix Colwell is his name…well he's a dick. Dude's got a big mouth and someone needed to put him in his place."

"And that someone was you?"

"Damn right. And if you met the idiot you'd know why. He's an ass, plain and simple. Cocky, arrogant, manipulative…"

"Sounds…familiar."

"Well, I don't want to talk about it if you don't mind. Just thinking about him makes me get pissed off all over again."

"And we wouldn't want that now, would we?" Anna grinned.

"No. I guess not. Now do you want to tell me what you're doing here? I am definitely not complaining but it is a surprise."

"Would you believe I was just in the neighbourhood?"

"Uh…no", Lucas laughed with her.

"I don't know. I had some free time and I felt like seeing you. Is it cool?"

"Sure. How much time do you have? Maybe I could take you on our first official date."

"Unfortunately not much time, besides with everything happening with you and your wife and the art show…maybe it's not a good idea that we be seen in public just yet. People might get the wrong idea and I don't want to cause any trouble for you, Luke."

"Maybe you're right", he sighed. "I'm sorry about that but I appreciate you looking out for me."

"Besides, are friends supposed to have a real first date?"

"They are when there is potential", he said, giving her a shy smile.

She returned his smile and they continued their conversation of small talk. It was getting late and the room's balcony provided a killer view of the bright and beautiful lights of the city. Lucas excused himself to use the restroom while Anna, by now on drink number three, went out enjoy the view.

When Lucas returned a short time later, he saw her there just standing taking in all the sights. She was a beautiful woman, that was for sure and she also had a great personality. He liked her…maybe even a little more than as a friend. Just thinking it to himself was sort of scary. He hadn't felt that way about anyone since Brooke. He hadn't had feelings for a "new" girl in well over eleven years, ever since the day Cheery had set her sights on him. It was frightening and more than a little strange but he knew one day he would have to overcome it all. Life was moving on and he would have to move with it.

"Still drinking?" he asked as he approached her.

"Not anymore", she smiled, turning to him and re-entering the room, casually placing the empty glass on the floor.

Lucas laughed nervously as he could tell the alcohol was getting to her. His laughter ceased when she waltzed over to him, grabbed his face and began kissing him passionately.

"Whoa! 80 Proof", he half joked.

She just laughed and walked over to the bed. Giving him a seductive look, she slowly and deliberately dropped one of the shoulder straps of her top.

"Hey Superstar, why don't you go and put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door so you can uh, really score."

Lucas walked forward as she began to toy with the zipper of her pants. He stopped in front of her, sighing slightly. He smiled kindly as he pulled the shirt strap back up.

"We don't have to rush this, Anna."

"I…I don't understand. Aren't you into me?"

"Of course I am. How could I not be? You are an extremely beautiful, sweet, intelligent, funny woman who I enjoy spending time with. I think there is a mutual physical attraction between us but Anna, I'm sorry. Sex is a really big deal for me. We've talked about this before so you know that's the thing that got me in trouble in the first place with Brooke and opened up Pandora's box. Brooke and I are done now and we're both moving on but…I made a promise to myself, that the next time I had sex it would be for the right reasons. And that be in love again and that I'd really get to know the person first. Sweetie, you and I are still doing that. I love where it's going but I'm just not ready yet."

Anna sighed, obviously embarrassed as she sank down on the king size bed.

"I feel like the biggest fool…"

"Don't", he said, taking a seat beside her. "I care about you. I really do and I want you to know that. I just want to do the right thing, you know? Make sure this is all right."

"I'm sorry. I'm just so embarrassed right now."

"Don't be."

"Why not? I mean, we agreed that we would take things slow and let it all naturally happen and now here I am showing up clear across the country at your hotel after midnight getting plastered and taking off my clothes. Maybe I should go. I…I just don't know what I'm doing."

"I do", he said, reaching out for her arm so that she couldn't leave. "You're staying here with me tonight. And we're going to laugh and talk and have fun and just act like we always do. It's late and you have been drinking so I think you should stay here with me. Bed's big enough and I promise I will be a gentleman."

Tears sprang to her eyes as she smiled.

"Yeah, Luke. You always are."

He kissed her nose and put his arms around her, tenderly pulling her into his arms on the bed. He held her and they talked and eventually passed out in each other's arms.

The next morning it did feel weird to wake up holding someone other than Brooke but it was a good kind of weird. He smiled and stroked her hair as she stirred in his arms. For the first time, things were starting to feel right and Lucas couldn't help but feel proud of himself. The guy that he desperately wanted to be again…well, he was well on his way there.