Chapter 7

"Well this is going well" Doyle muttered to himself as he stood alone beside the drinks table. Cordelia had told him she would be right back at least five minutes ago then had disappeared into the crowd, leaving him standing alone. He had known this would happen, but like a lovesick puppy, he'd come anyway. He looked at his stopped watch again, vaguely wondering why he just didn't get rid of it. He sighed and decided that if Cordelia didn't reappear within ten seconds, he would just leave. He got to forty two, then decided enough was enough. He began walking towards the door, when he heard someone calling his name,

"Doyle!" Cordelia called, coming up behind him "Where were you going?"

"I was looking for you" he lied, "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me"

"Course not" Cordelia said with a dazzling smile, "I bought you this" she handed him a bottle of single malt scotch.

"I…I didn't think you would have bought me anything" Doyle said, completely surprised

"Of course I would. I gave Angel his present just before I called you"

"Angel was there when you called me?"

"Yeah, it was his idea for us all to go together, until he found out that he had to fight that demon tonight" Cordelia said, not mentioning the fact that she was secretly glad when she heard Angel couldn't go. She did like Angel, of course she did, but it was nice to have some time to spend just with her human friends. Especially Doyle. She was hoping he would be able to work up the courage to kiss her tonight, because, she justified, all her actress friends would have someone to kiss and she couldn't abandon Doyle to look for anyone else. Plus Doyle liked her, a lot. It just stood to reason that he should be the one that she brought in the New Year with, and if that kiss lead to something else, like a relationship, that was all the better. She hadn't had a proper relationship since Xander (because Wesley so didn't count) and that was way too long. Doyle could be good for her, but now, he was looking slightly down. He reached into his pocket and brought out the box that Angel had thrown at him earlier,

"This is for you. I know it's not much, but…" he trailed off. Cordelia opened the box and stared at the necklace inside. It was certainly nothing compared to what her parents would have bought her, but she knew that it was more than Doyle could afford and for that reason, she decided that this was the best thing anyone had ever bought her. She looked up and Doyle and saw him watching her anxiously.

"So do you like it?" he asked nervously

"I love it" she beamed. She almost laughed when she saw Doyle visibly relax but decided it would probably hurt his feelings, so stopped herself.

"Can you help me put it on?" she asked him, smiling encouragingly at him.

"Course" he said, smiling back. He reached out, and too it off her. She brushed her hair out of the way and almost gasped when she felt how cold Doyle's hands were against her neck. He was almost as cold as Angel usually was. Doyle, feeling her flinch, drew away immediately

"You okay?" he asked, concern on his face

"Yeah. It's just, you're so cold."

"Am I?" he asked, "I never noticed before." Cordelia laughed and took his hands in hers, trying to warm him up. After a few minutes, Cordelia became aware that a director was looking over her and she dropped Doyle's hands quickly. Doyle took the necklace off her again and gently fastened it around her neck, letting his hands remain on her skin for a few seconds longer than what was necessary. Cordelia glanced at him and he looked at the ground, clearly embarrassed.

"Come on, let's get something to eat" she said, leading him towards the buffet, not mentioning that the feeling of his now warm hands on her neck had been a much more enjoyable experience than she'd let on.