Don was on his way back to his car from stopping into Charlie's office with more case files spotted Giada sitting at the campus café. She was having an animated conversation with a man and she looked like she was having a good time. He saw her flash the man a smile and laugh. It was the same smile and laugh he'd see from her in the dreams he was having nightly but in his dreams they were directed at him. A small flash of envy surged through Don as he saw the way that this man was looking at his brother's friend. It was at that moment he decided for better or worse he would ask her out and at least get her out of his system.
Back at the office he delved into the mountain of paperwork he had to complete. Sighing as the mound look like it had grown in the short time he went to Calsci.
Megan walked by his desk gave him a sympathetic look as she went to work on the paperwork piled at her desk.
A few hours had passed and Don leaned back in his chair to stretch. The pile of files he had to work on was nearly completed. He deliberated that he put it off long enough he should just get the call out of the way.
Don took out the business card from his drawer that contained her direct line and made the call.
"Dr. Conti, how can I help you?"
"Giada?"
"Yes, this is she?"
"Umm, uh, it's Don. Charlie's brother." He can't believe he just said that of course she knows who he is.
On the other line Giada's she cleared her throat, "Uh Hi Don, what can I do for you? Do you need more information on the art theft case?" He could hear she was trying to keep her tone neutral so he would not know that she was still hurt.
"No, no. But thanks again for your help with that." He was feeling a bit self-conscience now talking to her."
"Ok then. Something wrong with Charlie?"
"No nothing like that. Uh, I was calling to see if you were maybe free sometime this week for dinner." There he said it and it was in her ballpark now.
(Gia not sure what to say sat down in her desk. She really wanted to say yes but would her pride allow it?)
There was a long pause of silence. Don said,"Giada? You there?"
"Yeah, sorry, I was checking my schedule to make sure I was free. What day did you have in mind?"
Don blinked in disbelief that she was actually agreed on going out with him. "Uh, I was thinking about Friday night at around 7. We could try that French Tai place on 33rd. If going for Tai food is ok with you?
"Yeah Tai is fine. I'll call for reservations if you want?"
"Ok that would be great. Um, I will see you then."
"Yeah, till then."
Don hung up the receiver and thought well that wasn't so bad.
Gia slowly hung up the phone. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay that was a bit odd. I wonder what prompted him to call?" She shook her head figuring she would never know. She tapped the side of her chin to think more clearly. I think this may be a good reason to go shopping for something to wear. She checked the time and figured she had put in enough hours at the office today.
She called out to her assistant, "Paula I am going to pack it in for the night is there anything that needs attending before I leave?"
"Yes, Dr. Conti I need you to just sign the Giaradi letter and report and then I can get that in the mail for you."
"Ok great I will stop by your desk on the way out and sign it before I leave."
Gia stopped at Paula's desk and handed her the Dictaphone flash card so the assistant could type the pending reports and letters. "Here is the dictation on the Kruft report. Please type it up for me so I can proof it. I will need it tomorrow afternoon."
Her assistant nodded and handed her the paperwork that she needed her to sign.
Gia signed the letters and initialed the report on the authenticity of the work she had accessed last week. She handed the folder back to her assistant and gave her a smile goodbye. "Nite Paula. See you in the morning."
"Night Dr.. Conti." Gia heard the steady typing of her assistant working on her newest letter. She smiled with a little mischievous grin as she got on the elevator, "Now to find the perfect dress."
It is Friday night and Giada sat in her car touching up her lipstick. She checked the time it read 7:11PM. She decided that ten minutes was long enough to make the agent wait for her. Always compulsive about time she hated being late but she wanted to make an impression on Don. She got out of the car smoothed her red halter dress down and locked the car door. She entered the restaurant and look around to see if he was here yet. The maitre' d noticed the woman who stepped in the foyer, "May I help you Mademoiselle?"
Giada turned to look at the maitre' d. "Yes, I am suppose to meet some one. The reservation is under Conti."
"Yes Mademoiselle. The rest of your party has already arrived. Please follow me."
Giada followed the maitre' d. She saw Don sitting at a table. His rugged good looks never stopped making her heart throb in her chest. She smiled at him. "Hi Don."
He looked up at the voice that spoke his name. Giada stood before him. Regaled in his favorite color the maitre' d pulled out the chair for her to sit. His eyes drank her in accessing her shapely form. He stared at how good she looked and was unable to say anything for a moment or too.
He cleared his throat, "Hi."
A small smile came to her lips. "It's good to see you again."
He smiled back at her.
The waiter approached the couple and asked if he could get something from the bar.
Giada had trouble tearing her eyes off of Don's She answered, "Yes, thank you just a glass of your house red wine will be fine."
"And you monsieur?" He looked towards Don.
"I'll have the same."
The waiter walked away from the couple to get the order.
Don and Giada enjoyed quiet conversation. Don found that he was able to relax and let the world go by for a small moment in time. He realized that he enjoyed her company. He now could see why his brother thought so much of her. She listened intently when he talked and even tried to laugh at some of his jokes. Before he knew it the waiter was bringing over the check. They both placed their hand on the check. When Don pulled it away from her grasp.
"You don't have to pay just cause you're the guy"
"I know but I believed I asked you out so I think I should pay. You can get it next time."
"Next time? Are you asking me out for a second date?" She said coyly.
Don smiled at her question partly because he knew what she was doing and partly at his own assumption that she would go out with him again." I guess I am. But you know if you are not interested….." He left it trail off.
She put her head back and laughed, "I'll let you know."
They headed out to the parking lot where Don walked Giada to her car.
Don said, "I had a nice time."
"So did I. I thought it over and I think another date sounds like an excellent idea. Any suggestions on what we would do?"
"Yeah, uh, how about golf?"
She laughed, "Are you on the same date I am? I'm sorry to break it to you but I don't know how to play golf."
He laughed back, "Ok then you pick."
"Actually let's do that. If you don't mind teaching me"
"Nah, I don't mind. We can start out at the driving range."
There is an awkward pause in their conversation. Giada looked down at the ground. She considered kissing him again but decided that she was not going to make the first move this time. She picked her head up and gave him a small smile. She hoped he would get a clue but she wasn't going to bet on it.
Don could tell she was waiting him for her to maybe kiss her. He liked the idea that this beautifil woman was so attracted to him. He decided to make her wait a moment or too longer before he leaned into kiss her. After all he knew she ran a few minutes late tonight on purpose as payback from a few weeks ago.
He gave her a small smile and brushed the side of her cheek. He figured he kept her waiting in the hot seat long enough. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He leaned her back on her car just a little and placed his lips on top of hers. He felt her sigh against him as she gave into his kiss. Their kisses started to become more passionate and deeper. He pulled her body into his more; He could feel her back arch ever so slightly. He ran his hands through her lush curly hair. It was soft and silky and smelled like apples. He pulled gently out of the kiss with her and looked her in the eye. He knew he had her just where he wanted her. He opened the car door for her and murmured in her ear, " Till next time."
She looked back at him a little disappointed that the kiss was over but got into the car. He watched her pull away and he went off to his own car.
Don walked back to his car please with the way the night had turned out. He reflected about her smooth lush lips and her smile. He thought about how her red dress clung to her into all the right places. He remembered how her eyes watched him intently as she listened to him talk. He knew that he was going to have a hard time falling asleep tonight since visions of her danced in his head. He laughed at himself for being so smitten with her after one date but she had that effect.
