A/N: Sorry for the delay. Christmas is coming and I'm a hot mess LOL.

Chapter Four

"You did offer me lunch," CJ reminded her.

"Yeah, sorry, I just kinda..lost my train of thought."

"I wonder why," he said as he took a seat at the bar while she took stuff out of the fridge.

"I hope you like chicken caesar salad…"

"Of course."

"Good. There's some wine in the fridge we could have with it."

"Day drinking, you keep surprising me, Jaimie," he said with a sexy grin as she handed him the bottle to open.

"It's Saturday," she said with a shrug.

After they ate, she gave him a tour of her place, starting with her bedroom. CJ went in and sat on the bed, testing it out. "Nice bed. Use it much?"

"Just for sleeping like anyone else," she said, trying to keep her cool. Everything in her was on fire and she didn't know how much more she could stand. The man was practically giving her an engraved invitation and she was at war with herself as to what to do.

CJ seemed to sense that and he stood up. "Come on, show me the rest of this place." She was so adorably shy, it was amusing and refreshing.

Once she showed him the rest of the house, they settled back in the living room. The sky had turned grey and the wind picked up.

"There's thunder in them thar hills," CJ chuckled. "What if the power goes out?"

"Then I guess we'll be in the dark for awhile," Jaime said with a shrug as she sipped the rest of her wine.

"I guess so. And then we can discuss the elephant in the room."

She cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean?"

He took her hand and gently stroked the back of it, "you and I have had a mutual attraction for each other since the day we met. Or was I reading things wrong back then?"

She sighed. His touch was so light, and his hands were soft. He'd obviously never done a hard days' work in his life. "No, you're right. But you were married, almost twice my age and therefore, it was dangerous and forbidden territory."

"But you liked that, didn't you?" he said with a knowing grin.

Why was it so easy for him to read me like that?

"You can tell me," he said as he ran his fingers along the pressure point of her wrist. "You always could come to me with anything."

"I know but I sure as hell wasn't about to tell you that," she laughed.

"Well now it's different. You're not married and neither am I. We're both consenting adults. You have some kind of hold over me, Jaimie. Back then, you could have come into my office, stretched out on my couch, told me all your problems..."

Jaime blushed three shades of red and looked away, trying not to giggle. "I know. But some things are better taken to the grave. Wishing I could have locked your wife in the closet was one of them." Then she really did giggle. "Oh my God, did I just say that out loud?"

CJ laughed and looked around, innocently. "I didn't hear a thing."

"Oh thank God."

"Jaime," he said again as he took both her hands in his. "Relax."

"I'm trying to," she said before she took an extra long sip of wine to calm herself. "I honestly can't believe you're really here. I never thought I'd see you again. You moved to another state. Might as well have been in another country as far as I knew."

"Well, I'm back now. For a while at least."

"Define awhile. Days, weeks, months?"

"I told Grey to take all the time she needed."

"I hope she's okay…"

"From my understanding, it's not her who's sick, but a family member."

"Oh, well that's a relief."

"So I'm not going anywhere," he said as he reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Just then, Jaime heard a car pull up outside and glanced out the window. She saw House standing in the driveway, leaning on his cane, and her friend Laura get out of her car.

"Well hot damn," she said to herself as she watched them hug each other and disappear inside.

"What?" CJ asked, glancing over her shoulder to see what she was looking at.

"Oh just House. Looks like he's got a hot date tonight with Laura."

"Laura McKenzie? Lucky guy."

"She likes the bad boy types," Jaime said as she topped up hers and CJ's glasses with the last of the wine.

"Do you?"

She shrugged. "I can't say I've ever been with any to form an opinion."

"Good thing I'm here then."

Jaime laughed out loud. "Oh I know all about you and your girls on the basketball team."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Besides, I'd much rather talk about how turned on you are right now. I'll bet you fantasized about us…in my office…with the door closed, but not locked.

"Into role play are you, Mr. Harding?"

"I think if done right, it can be fun, Miss Monroe."

Jaimie giggled again. She couldn't believe what was happening, but she was very nicely buzzed, and willing to see where things would go.

"Hold that thought though," he said as he got up. "I'll be right back."

"Oh, okay sure."

When he was gone, she downed the rest of the wine and gave her head a shake. "Jeeze Louise," she mumbled as she picked up a magazine and fanned herself.


On Monday morning, Jaime skipped visiting Laura in her office and went straight to her own class. Of course, that wasn't lost on her friend, and Laura quickly found her at lunch time. "Looks like we're both doing the walk of shame this morning," she laughed.

Jaime blushed and looked away. "What?"

"Oh come on. I know CJ was at your place on the weekend. I was there."

"Yeah, what about that? You barely know Dr. House and you're already shacking up with him?"

"So? Besides, that man has mad skills. Can you say the same about CJ?"

Jaime narrowed her eyes at her friend. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, I'm dying to know. You lusted after him for years, and now that he's back, you've already got him in your clutches. So spill the tea."

"I don't kiss and tell."

Laura let out a loud "ha!" and then said "I think you just did. So was the fantasy as good as the reality?"

Jaime blushed even redder and sighed. "I guess. It's not like I have many men to compare him to. I've had a hell of a long dry spell but you're having a bumper crop."

"And I'm expecting more rain," Laura giggled and then sauntered out of the room, leaving Jaime scowling.

"Why the long face?" CJ's voice came from the doorway and she jumped. "Damnit! You always do that!"

"What?"

"Sneak up on me."

He came into the room and closed the door behind him before approaching her. "Miss me?" he asked as he backed her up against her desk.

"And what if I did?"

"I'm glad to hear it. I had fun this weekend. Didn't you?"

"Yeah, I had a good time."

"Maybe we could get together again this week?"

"I think that could be arranged."

"Good."

The bell rang and the door opened as kids came into the room.

"I'll see you later then."

And as quickly as he appeared, he was gone again and she had a few minutes to collect herself before class started.