Another couple who doesn't get a lot of face time. Greg and Sayuri. Didn't know how this one would play out...but it ended up entertaining me, so I was satisfied. Greg has a way of doing that without trying.

Sayuri couldn't help smiling as she admired the blooms of the dark purple calla lillies, even though she hadn't wanted to accept them. He knew I would not be able to resist them. They are one of my only weaknesses. A frown returned as the Asian woman turned back to her computer. I wish Greg-chan did not feel the need.

As it was, she was unnecessarily dressed up for work, in order to be prepared for a dinner she had no desire to attend. Were it any other night or occasion, I could justify the outing. But merely because it falls on Valentine's day, I have no wish to go.

Guilt caused her to finger the small framed portrait containing her husband's impish smile. Why does he have to make such a fuss, when it is clearly not what I want? The war between grumpiness and resignation had been waging for the last couple of hours, and was leaning more toward the negative side. And I feel bad because he is only trying to be kind, but-

A knock at the door cut the thought short, and she spun her chair toward the sound. "You may come in."

Greg's excited grin met her the moment the door opened, indicating his own feelings about the evening. She was too surprised to realize it was almost 5pm to feel irritated about it.

"Hey," he said when she didn't speak. "Are you about ready?"

"I will be, shortly," she answered stoically, saving the information in her file.

"I hope you're hungry."

Sayuri was nearly famished, but she wouldn't admit it right then. She'd worked through lunch to ensure getting caught up on paperwork before it was time to leave for the day. She glanced at Greg sullenly, and then to the beautiful floral arrangement. "Thank you for the flowers, although they were unnecessary."

He gave her a stern look. "Now, Sayuri. You haven't forgotten our compromise, have you? I completely ignored Valentine's day for you last year, so this year, it's my turn. Fair is fair."

She wordlessly reached for her coat. "I remember, Greg-chan. As though you would let me forget. I am ready to go."

"Don't sound so excited," he teased.

Sayuri gave him a mild scowl. "I am happy you find it amusing."

"It'll be a nice time, and we need an evening out. You're going to enjoy yourself whether you like it or not, so leave the grump here at the Bureau, and you can pick it up again later."

She softened as he took her coat, and held it out for her arms. "It is not that I am ungrateful, Greg-chan. I simply don't understand acting on such commercial whims. We do not require a day to celebrate our love."

"Nobody needs it, Sayuri; at least, not in the sense that we couldn't live without it. Maybe Valentine's day is a commercial holiday, but I think it means more than that. I can't find anything wrong with dedicating a day to being with the person I love."

"It is not being with you that I mind," she inserted quickly. "Greg-chan. You know my family grew up very poor. Such...indulgences, such as gifts given for no reason, it was not practiced. I appreciate your heart, but these presents still strike me as...wasteful. I don't want to hurt you, but it is how I feel."

"I grew up in a poor 'family' too," he pointed out. "If you can even call my drug-addicted mom and her pimp boyfriend that. The only reason I ever had anything was if I managed to steal it. So when I have the opportunity to indulge in...spoiling someone, it's like a gift for me too.

"But if it's making you miserable, if you're too uncomfortable with all of this...we don't have to go. I'm sorry I've forced it on you at times. I simply enjoy celebrating the good things in our lives...and the fact that we have so much more than I thought was possible as a kid."

Sayuri swallowed deeply. "No, Greg-chan. You should not be sorry. My attitude is the problem."

"If you don't like it, you don't like it, Sayuri."

"But I love you, and that is reason enough to celebrate. Perhaps you don't have to spoil me as much?"

"You're saying I should cancel the limo then?"

"You did not-"

"No, but you should have seen your face. I can tone it down a little. Do you want to go to dinner?"

Sayuri nodded. "I am half-starved."

He grinned. "Then what are we standing around talking for?"

The Asian woman impulsively stepped around the desk to embrace him. "Now that the bad-tasting feelings are out of my mouth, I will be able to enjoy it."

Staring at the 44ounce tomahawk-cut rib-eye steak an hour later made Sayuri feel a sense of awe.

The sandy-haired man chuckled at her expression. "What? I told you it was designed to be shared."

"That steak would feed half of a third-world country, Greg-chan."

"Or maybe one of the turtles," he suggested, eliciting her laughter. "You did say you were starving."

She nodded. "But I may not eat again for a week after this."

"Enjoy first – regret later," he advised. "May I serve you?"

The overwhelmed sensation dissipated somewhat as the delicious scent overcame her logic. By the time her husband had trimmed her a manageable piece, the woman was more than ready to try the steak. The tender rib-eye tasted far better than it smelled. Decorum nearly went out the window after the first bite had her sighing with pleasure.

"Told you it was good," Greg said smugly.

Sayuri shook her head, but had to smile. "You always have to do things so...large."

He winked at her. "Just my nature. But this is probably nothing compared to what that guy could put away." Greg nodded toward the table across from them, focusing on a firmly muscled man practically bursting out of his button-down.

She gave the stranger a passing glance. "He looks healthy enough."

"The dude is a straight up body-builder. Looks like his date is into fitness too."

"What is your point, Greg-chan?"

"What do you think someone that buff orders?"

"I could not say." She was perplexed by the turn of the conversation, but Greg was known for people-watching. "They probably are careful of what they eat, under normal circumstances. Why does it matter to you?"

"It doesn't, but now I'm curious. Two health-minded people find themselves in one of the red-meat capitals of New York City. What do they order?"

"They have seafood on the menu too."

"Yeah, but that's not why people come here. Can you picture these two ordering from their waiter, trying to figure out the calorie content of everything?"

"I find no reason to imagine that, Greg-chan."

"C'mon, Sayuri, go with me for a second." He cleared his throat and deepened his voice. "'Excuse me, waiter. I only burned 3,000 calories so far today. Can you recommend something from your lighter fare?'"

She gazed at him warily. "Your own food is going to get cold."

"And then his girlfriend...I wonder if she's the type who'd want to eat in front of him. She might ask for a piece of lettuce and a crouton, but there's a chance she'd want to impress him too. 'Why yes, waiter, I lifted half the weight of a small car today. I'll start with the bone marrow panzanella, and move on to the pappardelle. I'll follow that with the Florentine porterhouse. Yes, that's all for one.'" Greg's voice became high and a little too loud for Sayuri's comfort.

The woman buried her face in her hands. "Greg-chan, they are minding their own business. You should too."

With another smile, he finally dug into his portion of their steak. "They're probably already discussing how they're going to burn off those calories."

Sayuri folded her arms. "I thought this dinner was supposed to be about you and me."

He held up his hands apologetically. "Sorry. Got a little sidetracked."

"Greg-chan, you were planning out their courses for them."

"I'm shutting up now."

"Good," she said firmly. "Where were we exactly?"

"We were talking about this awesome steak, and how glad you are you decided to celebrate Valentine's day with me."

"You are putting words in everyone's mouths tonight."

"You want me to send the steak back then?" He gripped the edge of her plate as though to steal it, and she threatened to stab him with her fork. "Territorial." Greg laughed. "See? You love it."

"Yes, I can admit the food is exceptional. You should still..." The Asian woman drifted off as the muscled man meandered a little too slowly by their table. The stranger stopped a few inches from Greg with a cross look.

"Wife said you were eyeing the two of us," he said in a low tone. "There some problem I could clear up for you?"

Greg's eyes unintentionally widened. "I...no, I was...um..."

"My husband was admiring your hard work," Sayuri interjected smoothly. "He has been searching for a personal trainer ever since letting himself go."

The man's entire countenance changed, and he reached into his pocket for a card. "I do some coaching on the side. You give me a call, pal, and don't overdo it in this place. I'd have to make you pay for it later."

Sayuri stretched to take the offered business card. "I think it's exactly what he's been looking for, right, Greg-chan?"

The sandy-haired man was incapable of coherent speech.

"I will have him call you first thing tomorrow morning," she promised.

"Excellent. Have to hunt him down otherwise. You folks have a good dinner."

Greg didn't appear to breathe again until the stranger walked away. "What have you done?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "You were so interested in him. You can find out some things first hand."

"I swear I'll get you for this."

"Is that what Valentine's day is really about, Greg-chan?"

The man swallowed, positioning hands on either side of his temples to hide his eyes. "This may be the last meal you ever eat with me, so you'd better like it."

"You brought it upon yourself."

"Yeah, but you were supposed to make it better, not worse."

"You did not get pounded into the ground. I think it could have been worse."

"That's because I haven't worked out with him yet. Why are you doing this to me?"

She reached across the table to pat his hand. "It can be my gift to you. Ten sessions, paid for up front."

"Never. Gonna. Happen."

Sayuri smirked, holding up the business card.

"What if I said we never have to celebrate Valentine's day again?"

"It's too late for that, Greg-chan. Much too late."

He sighed heavily. "Then I guess we need to cut this short."

"Why?"

"So I can get home and finish drafting my will. I hope you enjoy being a widow."