A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and alerted. Sorry it's taken so long, but I've been having computer problems. Having the computer just die when you are in the middle of typing is very frustrating. As usual, I own nothing except Derry.
Deeks checked the oven one last time before he took the dessert out. He and Kensi were having dinner with the next-door neighbors tonight, and quite honestly, he was not looking forward to it. Jennifer and Ron were not exactly what he would call subtle about their interests, and Deeks wasn't sure that he could handle watching Ron drool over Kensi all night, and the fact that Jennifer eyed him like a side of beef was disconcerting. However, Deeks knew that this dinner was crucial to sell their cover story, so he had to suck it up. Derry ran in to check out her food bowl (apparently she had been on her own for a while, cause she was always hungery. Deeks wasn't sure where she put it all.) Deeks took his cobbler out of the oven and put the finishing touches on it. He had sent Kensi out after the wine, and she should be home any minute. Then it was showtime.
After makig sure Derry was in the bathroom so she couldn't tear up anything while they were gone, Deeks and Kensi went across the yard. They got to the house and rang the doorbell. Ron came to answer the door, "Hey guys, Jennifer is just finishing up dinner. We hope you're hungry." The smell of roasted chicken wafted down the hall towards the trio at the door. Kensi's stomach growled, making the guys laugh and her blush. "Well I guess that answers that," Ron laughed, ushering Deeks and Kensi down the hall. "Just leave your dessert right here, with the wine, and come into the kitchen." Deeks walked into the kitchen and stopped dead. Jennifer was bent over at the waist taking something out of the oven. Deeks uncomfortably cleared his throat and spoke. "Uh, excuse me, do you need any help?" Manners made him ask, cause he sure didn't want to be anywhere near the cramped space in front of the oven. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize Ron was going to send you in here. If you could come and carry the chicken to the dining room, I'll get the veggies." Jennifer made sure she brushed against Deeks getting out of the kitchen.
In the dining room, Kensi was doing her best to keep from flattening Ron. He was telling her about his travels, all the while trying his best to look down her shirt. Kensi knew she was pretty, but really, this was just too much. She was just at the point of pushing Ron back and storming out when Deeks and Jennifer came through the door. Kensi saw Deeks' eyes narrow and his nose flare when he saw how close Ron was to her. Oddly, that made her feel better. Kensi didn't miss how close behind Deeks Jennifer was, and experienced the urge to rip the woman's hair out by the roots again.
"Sit down, so we can eat. Jennifer, everything looks good." Ron was looking at Kensi when he said that, so Deeks was surprised the man actually found his way to the table. He knew he was being snarky, but he didn't like the way Ron kept eyeballing Kensi. Damnit, she was his girl, not some gigolo who already had a wife. Jennifer seemed to not notice the way her husband wa s acting. She was busy sitting down and trying to get as close to Deeks as she could. Kensi notcied that and clenched her hands into fists briefly. She relaxed and smiled at Ron, causing Deeks to narrow his eyes again. Deeks was really starting to regret having to come to this dinner. He knew it was important for the op to check out the neighbors, but the less time they spend around these two, the happier he would be.
They all sat down at the table and proceeded to fill their plates. They had roasted chicken, potatoes with parsley, and lima beans. The conservation was general, two couples trying to get to know each other. The only time the talk veered into uncomfortable territory was when Jennifer asked them when they met and what they were wearing. Kensi answered right away, but Deeks pretended like he didn't know. Then he looked at Kensi and repeated everything she was wearing that day. Kensi beamed at Deeks, flattered by the fact that Deeks remembered what she looked like the first time he saw her at the gym.
After dinner, their hosts told them to wait in the dining room. "We've got a surprise for you and your wife, Justin." Ron told Deeks. "Give us 10 minutes and come down to the basement." Deeks and Kensi exchanged a look and agreed to wait. They really didn't want to know what the surprise was, but couldn't decide the best way to get out of there. They had already figured out with Eric's help that Ron and Jennifer were not the Russians. Music came up from the basement and they figured that it was time to leave. They snuck out the door, and made a break for it. Deeks was glad that Kensi could run in heels. They ran in their house laughing. "Please tell me that we won't have to go back over there." Deeks was turned around talking to Kensi while they walked into the kitchen. He couldn't help the shudder that racked him at the thought of what the surprise in the basement was. Knowing his luck, they missed out on a nice night of music, and relaxing. Then, he remembered the looks they got from Ron and Jennifer and his gut told him that he and Kensi dodged a bigger problem.
Kensi went to the bathroom to let Derry out, and to get ready for bed. She wanted a shower to get clean after feeling Ron's eyes on her all night. She didn't know what was creepier, the fact that Ron undressed her with his eyes all night, or that Jennifer really didn't care. She was too busy drooling over Deeks all through dinner. Kensi thought Jennifer would have been happy with having Deeks on the table as dinner. Kensi wasn't normally a prude, but if any one was having Deeks for dinner, it was her. And she did not share. The sooner Ron and Jennifer learned that, the healthier they would be.