Chapter 14 - Restroom Rendezvous

After what seemed like more, their time on the boat had come to an end as it moored back up to Pier 17 on the shadowy banks of the East River, the lights of Manhattan twinkling their goodbyes.

Sharing their favourite times without each other and enjoying and savouring the moments where they have new, exciting things to share made the time move too quick. Whereas before she left, they knew everything about each others' lives. After this evening, it felt like they were a newly acquainted couple, albeit still on relatively familiar bantering terms, but with a new sense of boundaries, new outlooks and most importantly of all, no goddamn rules. Their friendship was still there with no hesitation of a doubt, it underpinned their whole relationship and the fact they still knew each other so well, made everything so easy.

Donna shared her stories of interior design with Harvey; trailing around large, Kensington town houses in London having five or six figure budgets to redesign or furnish houses. He was transfixed, almost hypnotised by her raw passion for something he hadn't known she was so enthusiastic about. He felt almost incomparable in comparison, nothing had really changed for him. He still frequented the same 36th Street boxing gym and ran in the park. He desperately tried to think of something new he could tell her, to impress her. He felt almost out of her league just listening to her stories of high end London and her trips to Paris to furniture auctions. He'd never been to either London or Paris; he felt envious. Not of the fact that she had visited those beautiful cities, but the fact that she had been there without him.

'Ok, Miss European Interior Design, why on earth would you come back to this here city if you were having such a wonderful time?'

'I think you partially know the answer to that one and also because my cousin had to restructure her company and as I was only there temporarily, I'd never signed a contract to stay, so I offered to leave to alleviate some of the finances for her. I started doing it to help out but she insisted I got paid more, but since then, the rent went up on her office and her husband left, it was a complete nightmare. I just wanted her to keep her company afloat, and if that meant me leaving, then it had to be so. I don't regret it, I loved the time I spent with her and the invaluable skills she gave me. Also, I got to use some I didn't know I had!'

'I don't believe that!' Harvey smirked, while holding the door to Ray's car open for her to slide in. 'Your talents have always been like Pandora's Box...'

'Oh Harvey, there's so much you don't know,' her sideways glance at him across the backseat of the car sent a hair raising shiver through his chest. 'And who said you could look into my box?'

He swallowed not sure if she meant that sexually or was still matching his metaphorical thought.

Harvey tugged back the sleeve of his jacket to view his watch. 'How about you tell me more about what's in that box of yours then and we continue this date on dry land?'

'Where were you thinking?'

Harvey raised his eye brows. 'There's only one place I think we need to go... and I do believe their bar is still open and selling some damn good scotch...or whatever takes your fancy?'

She flicked an eyebrow, and pursed her lips at his last comment but didn't dwell on his reference.

'Whatever takes my fancy Specter is exactly what you're saying. I think drinks there would be perfect.'

XXXXXXXXXXX

Earlier that evening, two doors slammed in unison as the two lawyers stepped out of their black town car and straightened out their suit jackets. One looking mightily harassed, edgy and mainly pissed off whilst the other, casually peered down at his watch and then up to the restaurant's sign.

Of all the places to change the venue to. The younger lawyer thought as he hurried the harassed older, rounded lawyer into the bar of the restaurant.

'Welcome to Del Posto, do you have a reservation?' An Italian accented man greeted them within moments of passing the threshold.

'Well,' the younger lawyer started, 'One was made earlier this evening.'

'And the name?'

'Litt,' Mike answered as he turned to face his older counterpart who was still huffing about changing venue at the last minute.

'What made him choose here Mike? Pasta's gluten bloats me.'

Mike threw up his brows in response, 'As opposed to regular gluten?' He stifled a laugh. 'Look Louis, we couldn't have known Petrossian had to close down for the evening.'

'I'm going to sue their catering delivery company's asses off. You don't close a high end restaurant because they haven't had a Goddamn food delivery!'

'So what do you suppose we would have eaten Louis?' Mike rolled his eyes and then thanked the waiter for directing them to their newly reserved table.

'Even still. I don't like pasta.'

Mike hadn't the energy to return an intelligent response to an unintelligent comment.

'Louis. If the head of the company we want to sign wants to eat here then I'm good with it. Hell, if he wanted a McDonalds or Bubba Gump, I'd be on my Big Mac by now. Suck it up Litt.'

'I suppose this is ok,' he grumbled as he looked around the elegant restaurant of Del Posto.

'It's more than ok Louis, it's the best Italian in the city, and I know that because it's Harvey and D...' Mike stopped mid sentence.

'Harvey and what?' Louis challenged him to expand.

'Nothing, I meant Harvey's favourite.' Mike changed his mind quickly.

'Hmm, I thought it sounded familiar.' Louis flippantly commented as he snatched a menu off a waitress as she passed by.

Whatever Harvey had planned with Donna that night, Mike was pretty sure it didn't involve Del Posto, so he calmly relaxed down into his chair and awaited the arrival of Jason Stand CEO of StandTech.

XXXXXXXXXX

'Thanks Ray,' Harvey leaned down into the car, 'Take the night, we'll find our way home.' He tapped the top of the car as Ray took advantage of his boss' orders and pulled out into the traffic and back home to Queens, leaving the two newly acquainted, ex work colleagues, friends... hell, even they were pretty stumped as to what to call themselves.

Without thinking, Donna leaned in and took his hand like a natural reflex, wrapping her warm, soft fingers through his. At first his hand didn't react, he smiled inwardly after feeling her touch and then accepted it with a gentle squeeze and guided her into the bar.

'Good evening Mr Specter, it has been a very long time, welcome back!' The front of house host had been there years, he knew all their regular customers by name and surely after so many years of frequenting their favourite restaurant, he wasn't going to forget Harvey in a hurry. He took a double take at Harvey's date.

'Miss Donna! Where have you two beautiful people been hiding?' They exchanged glances of unease as neither one of them wanted to divulge their goings on for the past four years, yet the host seemed to brush over it as he began to cast his eyes down his table list. 'However, I didn't see your name on our reservation list for this evening Mr Specter, and believe me, I would have made certain you had your table!'

'Oh no, we're not here to eat Gino,' Harvey assured the man with a smile, 'We're just here for drinks tonight, do you have a table in the bar?'

'For you two? My favourite table is all yours,' he gestured to a side waitress to direct them through to the bar area and into a side table booth.

XXXXXXXXXX

'So, that box of yours,' Harvey tilted his short scotch glass towards Donna as she mirrored with hers. 'Are you going to tell me anymore of those skills you have hidden in there?'

She tutted and gently shook her head with a giggle, 'Now, if I tell you everything I have in Donna's Box already, you'll have nothing to discover yourself will you?' Her voice changed into a smooth purr as her finger rubbed along the back of his hand sending gut clenching waves of pleasure down his arm. Just a small touch, made that part of his body seem on fire, God help him if... well he wasn't thinking that far ahead. Well, not tonight anyway.

'Are we still talking about your interior design skills here or something less professional?' he laughed trying his best not to linger his eyes to much on her as he swigged his Macallan 18.

'I was. But what were you talking about Specter?' She gently swirled her glass as she swiped her tongue across her top lip, tasting her last sip of Scotland's finest. His eyes transfixed on her movement, he found himself imitating her, tasting his own liquor but really, in that split second, wished he was tasting her.

'I'm going to the men's room, I'll be back in a minute. I'm hoping you'll still be here when I get back...' he grinned as he got up to leave the bar, trying to shake off the growing strain below his waist as he weaved cautiously between the bar tables.

'Of course I will, you're paying for my drinks all night...' her reply made him laugh as he walked around to the toilets on the other side of the bar.

XXXXXXXXXX

The restrooms served both the bar and restaurant so were tucked in an alcove between the two. Just before entering the door, Harvey reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, he had just realised he hadn't checked it all night, mainly because the one person who he needed to speak to was already with him. As he swiped it open and realised nothing apart from a few missed calls from Mike, probably just being nosey, he thought, so he slipped the cell phone back into his inside pocket. Goddamn kid, he thought and just then that Goddamn kid was directly in front of him exiting the men's restroom.

'Holy shit!' Mike breathed as he literally bumped into his boss.

'Mike, what the hell?' Harvey stumbled backwards slightly, not knowing if it was because he'd bumped into Mike or that he had actually bumped into Mike. In Del Posto. On a night when he should be with a client. On a night he was obviously with Donna. On a night when Louis would blow his top and go off on a week's emotional bender if he knew who he was here with.

'What the hell are you doing here?' Harvey asked breathless as he straightened up his jacket.

'I could ask you the same thing!' Mike merely whispered as his eyes darted towards their table where Louis and Jason Stand were still sat animatedly talking and in full discussion mode.

'You know why I'm here! And more importantly - who I'm here with!' Harvey growled, not liking the outcome of Mike's conversation.

'Please don't tell me you changed the dinner with Jason Stand to here?'

'I didn't change the dinner with Jason Stand to here...' Mike said what Harvey wanted to hear.

Harvey peered through the branches of a nearly pruned and potted olive tree, suddenly catching sight of Louis and Jason.

'Then why do I see Louis showing Jason Stand a Goddamn origami swan made from a serviette on that table over there?' Harvey hissed, almost touching his nose against Mike's.

'Umm,' For someone with such an amazing mind, Mike's ability to answer Harvey had finalised into a small squeak.

'Goddamn it Mike!' Harvey huffed, 'If Louis knows I'm here and who I'm with, this whole signing of StandTech will go to shit!'

'Don't you think I know that? Louis will go off the chart!'

'Well, Donna and I are in the bar, so just keep them away. How's it going anyway?' Harvey calmed as he began to realise this could be possible if he kept out of the way.

'Ok, I think we've got it in the bag, as long as Louis doesn't shit the bed in the process...' Mike looked back over to his table guests, where Louis had now begun folding Mike's napkin into what looked like a lotus flower.

'Jesus Christ...' Harvey grimaced, 'Go. Make sure he signs those papers before Louis starts his Broadway reportoire.' Harvey pushed his Junior Partner back into the restaurant with a nudge of force, much to Mike's distain.

XXXXXXXXX

'Everything ok?' Donna asked as Harvey returned looking slightly edgy.

He thought for a moment whether to tell her or not, then thought now was not the time to talk about Louis and Mike and coincidentally the deal he blew off just to take her out.

'Fine,' his smile genuine as now he'd seen her, everything was fine. 'More drinks?'

He called the waitress over and placed their orders.

'What's up?' she pushed.

He should have known nothing passes Donna and even after four years she could still read his face like a novel.

'Really, it's nothing. It's just, have you told Louis you're back in the city yet?'

His question threw her. They hadn't discussed Louis or the firm nearly all evening so why after a brief visit to the men's room had he started thinking about his co-partner? She thought.

'Well,' she smiled and looked down at her newly ordered drink, 'I called him yesterday and we're meeting up tomorrow for lunch. So yes, he knows I'm back. Why?'

'Because,' He swallowed an imaginary lump in his throat. 'He still one hundred percent blames me for you leaving and to be honest I agree with him. But Donna, if he knows that we've met up and well, ... this...' he gestured between them, referring to their date, 'I don't know how he'd handle it and as we've got a pretty big client in the works at the moment, I really don't want him bailing out on me.'

She smiled knowingly and placed her hand on his arm.

'First of all, I'm not going to say a word, we're just having lunch and catching up and secondly, you're not one hundred percent the reason why I left. Maybe ninety five...' she brought her hand up to place on his across the table and gently shuffled herself around the booth bench to seat closer to him. He felt the warmth of her body rest on his side, without hesitation, his other arm slipped around her back.

'I can live with that,' he laughed seeing through her jokey comment and brushing his lips across hers.

'Wow, Specter. I thought you wanted us to stay hush hush?' She smirked, not taking her face too far away from his.

'How can I not, when you sit that damn close to me in that damn dress?' He rubbed his thumb along the back of it, ending in circles above her hip bone on the other side.

'Keep that thought,' she smiled, 'It's now my turn to visit the lady's room...'

Shit. Harvey's head spun around to face the direction of the restaurant.

Shit shit shit.

'Are you sure there aren't any in here?' He queried trying his best to keep her away from the main restrooms between the bar and restaurant.

'I'm a big girl Harvey, I'll be fine on my own.' And with that, he no longer had time or the ability to stop her. He just prayed she got back without any close encounters with a certain Louis Litt.

XXXXXXXXXX

'We think you'll be very happy with the by-laws we've structured for your staff Jason,' Louis grinned when they knew the CEO of StandTech had succumbed to their charms.

'If I know you Louis, I'm pretty sure I will. Get your pen ready, I'll sign those engagement letters as soon as I come back from the little boys' room!' He guffawed as he noisily pushed his chair back against the tiled floor.

The two lawyers watched as Jason Stand quickly disappeared around the row of neatly potted olive trees towards the men's room.

'See, what did I tell you?' Louis grinned insanely at Mike, 'Who needs the honourable Harvey Specter anyway?'

XXXXXXXXXX

Donna reached into her black Marnie clutch and retrieved her favourite shade of peach lipstick and reapplied it while straightening the loose curls of hair, which curved abundantly around her shoulders. She sighed and looked at herself in the restroom mirror. What are you getting yourself into Paulsen? The scotch forcing a devilish grin on her face as she turned and headed back out of the ladies' room door. Back towards Harvey. When suddenly,

'Donna? Donna Paulsen?' a male voice echoed behind her as she went to turn the corner towards the bar. She'd heard that joyous voice before, but not recently.

'Jason?' She squealed as she spun around on her heels to face her friend. 'Oh my God, Jason! What are you doing here? What a lovely surprise! How are you?' She quickly babbled in excitement upon seeing her friend.

'Hey my beautiful girl! Fancy seeing you here of all places, I thought you were still in London?'

'I came back last week!' Her bright face beamed as she hugged and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

'Who are you here with?' he inquired, 'Perhaps we can meet up later and catch up with drinks?'

Donna smiled, 'That does sound lovely Jason but I'm actually on a date,' she smiled coyly and blushing slightly.

'Well, well, well, who is this lucky man?' He smirked, 'Is he hot?'

'Really Jase? You can't hit on your friend's date!' She tapped him on the top of his arm playfully.

'Well, you know me, got to try!' He laughed.

'So if you're not on a date now, who are you here with then?' Donna asked the same question back.

'Business my dear, just boring business.'

She laughed in response. 'Well, it's good to see you, make sure you give me a call sometime.'

And with that, they exchanged goodbyes and Donna rounded the corner back to Harvey.

His eyes found her as soon as she had entered back into the bar area. Even after this long, he still could find her in any room. She could see the glinting sparkle of his dark eyes following her across the bar, his grin lighting up his whole face as she got closer.

'Hey you,' he tapped the red leather bench next to him, gesturing her close, 'I thought you'd seen sense and disappeared into the night and left me to drown my sorrows with Sir Macallan here,' he swished the last dregs of his scotch around the glass.

She spritely plopped herself down next to him and met his gaze with hers.

'Sorry, I lost my senses with you many years ago...' she held her hand against his smooth cheek and drew her thumb across his cheekbone, finishing with a soft kiss , just enough for him to close his eyes briefly in a stupor of whiskey and lust.

'Now, you'll never guess who I just bumped into by the toilets...'

Shit shit shit. His inner whiskey and lust stupor had now turned to thoughts of a raging Louis.

XXXXXXXXXX

'Gentlemen!' Jason greeted Louis and Mike as he returned to the table, 'Where's that pen? I'm ready to sign.'

Louis handed it over with an over confident flick of his wrist, just enough for Jason to seize it from him. The CEO took one last moment to scan the documents in front of him then suddenly his head shot up, 'Oh yes, Pearson Specter Litt!' He grinned, 'You guys change your name more times than Prince. Weren't you called Pearson Hardman?'

'Yes, a few years ago,' Mike agreed, 'Why?'

'Nothing I just ran into an old colleague of yours. Donna Paulsen? Apparently she's on a hot date!' Jason said as he raised his eyes in a suggestive acknowledgment.

'What? Wait a minute. Donna's here?' Louis' excitement peaked.

Jason looked taken aback to Louis' over bearing enthralment. 'Umm, yes she's in the bar...' Before Jason could finish or even sign his document, Louis had stood up out of his chair, 'Come on Mike, we need to go see her!' Louis' face beamed with excitement.

Mike looked towards a perplexed Jason and then back at Louis who was just gathering his cell and wallet off the table like a kid in a sweet shop. He swallowed hard.

'I really don't think that's a good idea...' Before Mike could even finish, Louis had made a dramatic beeline for the bar...

Shit shit shitting restroom rendezvous both Mike and Harvey thought simultaneously.

Great. Just great.