Chapter 15

A New Day

When Paul St. John showed up to pick up Finley, he found Gregory House sitting on the front step to the building, as if he was waiting for someone.

"Hello House, waiting?"

House nodded.

"For who?"

"You." House said without flinching. Using his cane, he got to his feet.

"Why?"

"Look, you're taking out Susan's best friend and, frankly, she's been making herself a real pain in the ass. The happier she is, the happier Susan is, get my drift?"

"Okaaay?" He responded with skepticism.

"I just wanted to give you a few pointers. For example, Finley loves sushi, hates men who try to make all the date decisions, needs lots of compliments and well, this sounds strange, and,t really kinky in bed…swear to God, I heard her tell Susan how upset she was when her last date took too long to jump her bones."

"I see. Well, thanks for the tips." There was definitely a look of suspicion on his face as he continued into the building. Knocking on the door, Finley opened and was pleased to see that Paul had chosen nice tailored slacks, a long sleeved shirt and a multi-colored Italian sweater under his leather jacket, gloves and scarf. "Are you ready?"

Finley nodded. "Yes, so where are we going?"

"I know a great Sushi restaurant down the road. I thought we'd go there. You like Sushi, don't you?"

"Not really."

Paul rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I knew it."

But what Paul didn't know was that the only thing House had lied about was Sushi. House knew that Paul would test his veracity with the easiest issue, Sushi or not? Now Paul was certain that House had been lying . Now he knew that Finley liked to control the decisions in the relationship, she was parochial about sex and she liked to be lavished with compliments. Paul felt as if he now had a dating manual, the key to Finley's heart.

They went to dinner where they managed to forge through the 'getting to know you' questions and on to a jazz bar where, after a few drinks, they began to open up about their fears, their goals and the things that meant the most to them. By the time they got back to the loft, Paul barely gave Finley a kiss on the cheek, but did ask her out for the following week.

"Where would you like to go?" He asked.

Finley was taken a little off guard. "Well, I've been here less than a year and, frankly, most of what I do is just work and go home and collapse so I don't really know."

He was a little hesitant. "Maybe we could talk about it next week and you might have an idea of what you'd like to do."

"Okay."

"You smell and look great."

"Yes, thank you." This was the third time he had mentioned how pretty or well groomed she was.

It wasn't until after the third date that Susan came down to spend an afternoon with her watching chick flicks, to check on her progress. She gave it fifteen minutes before her curiosity got the better of her.

"Well? How is Paul?"

Finley winced. "I'm not sure. He practically forced me to make the decision where we ate and then moaned the whole time we were there about not liking Thai food. But, despite hating my choice, he complimented me excessively on how coordinated my outfit is, how pretty my hair looks, how nice—"

"You're complaining that he compliments you?"

"I'm complaining that it seems insincere and it's so excessive. I don't think he really finds me sexually attractive."

"Did he say that?"

"No, it's because he barely gives me a kiss and then bolts out of here like a guy shot out of a cannon!"

"Hmmm."

When Finley got to work, House was surprisingly lurking around the surgical ward. "Greg? Do you have a patient up here?"

"I was just checking to see if there was an O.R. available for exploratory surgery."

Finley nodded, but she wasn't convinced.

"I hear someone doesn't find you very attractive." He said out of the corner of his mouth.

"What?"

"Hey, did you ever think he might be gay?"

"Paul? No! He's not gay."

House continued to talk out of the side of his mouth as if he was trying to be discreet. "Well, does he have a hard time making decisions? Does he pay more attention to your looks, your clothes than you? Has he made any attempt to get in your pants?"

"None of your business."

"I'd have jumped you the first date."

"Yeah, well we all know what a gentleman you are."

But House saw that he had planted a little seed of doubt in her head.

By the fourth date, things had hit critical mass. Finley was frustrated and confused by Paul's lack of interest in sex and his incessant comments about her wardrobe and hair.

She dialed Susan. "Can we have lunch?"

"Sure."

It seemed like forever until noon. Susan was several minutes late getting down to the cafeteria. When she arrived she looked around and saw Finley waving to let her know where she was. Susan went through the cafeteria line before sitting down with Finley.

"What's up?"

"Do you think that Paul is gay?"

Susan laughed out loud. "Are you joking?"

"No, I'm not joking. He talks a lot about my clothes, my hair, my looks—how put together I am. He hasn't done anything but give me a lukewarm kiss and he has a really hard time making decisions."

Now Susan was baffled. "You're on your fourth date and he's still just kissing?"

"No, we're not really making out; he gives me a good night peck and runs." Sitting back in the booth, Finley could see that Susan was even more baffled than her. "What aren't you telling me?" Finley asked.

Susan looked around and shook her head. "You can't tell Greg, okay?"

Finley nodded. "Paul and I went out a few times before I hooked up with Greg. He had to leave for a few months to go home to England so our relationship went on hold. By the time he got back, I was with Greg. But, there was a real spark between us and honey, he's hot in bed."

"How many dates before you two ended up do the horizontal mambo?"

She winced and shrugged her shoulders. "One. I was a real slut with him. We went out for dinner, came home for desert."

"Then it's me." Finley said, her shoulders collapsing. "He just doesn't find me attractive and all the compliments are to make up for it. Crap."

"Well, just turn up the heat the next time he asks you out."

Finley shook her head. "There's not going to be another date. He didn't ask this time and there wasn't even a, "I'll call.""

"Yikes."

Finley sighed as she pushed her shiny hair back with her fingers. "I thought we really hit it off at the dinner party. That's what's so frustrating. I thought I had good "Date Radar" and even that's gone. Susan, we have to talk."

"No, no…I know what you're going to say. Please don't go at the end of your contract, please? "

Finley looked down at the dirty cafeteria floors and shook her head. I'm miserable. I'm working so many hours to make a name for myself on the east coast and then when I'm off I don't seem to be able to make friends. This is so odd. I've never had trouble dating or meeting people before."

"But, Fin, it just takes a little longer on the east coast…with winter, it makes it hard to get out and do things. When your contract runs out, go month to month. If after next summer you're still miserable then go back to the west coast."

I sighed and tilted my head back, a headache starting. "I'll see, but …but don't count on it, okay?"

"No, I am going to count on it. I really want you around."

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