Jessica smoothly applied a layer of berry red lipstick to her perfect cupids bow and then stepped back to check her outfit. She alternated from side to side, not sure if she was dressed appropriately. When she asked Nick where they were going he had been very coy and just advised her to dress warm. This posed a fashion dilemma and it had taken Jess 2 hours to decide on her favourite black skirt, thick wool tights, knee high riding boots and her favourite red cashmere sweater. The mystery surrounding her date had only increased her anxiety. She doubted Nick would try and relive his first attempt –the disaster that that had turned into was still a vivid memory.

Just then her phone beeped with a text message.

Nick

Meet me downstairs.

Oh well, Jess thought, here goes nothing. As she headed out of the loft, collecting her jacket and purse on the way, she pondered what was happening. The sweet note Nick had written to her, asking her on a date, was neatly folded in her pocket. They still had not properly talked- between job shifts they had seen each other for less than 5 minutes in the previous 24 hours. Thankfully though, there appeared to be no awkwardness. They had certainly crossed a huge line in the past few days and she was glad they were still at ease with each other.

As she waited for the elevator she tried to imagine what Nick had planned. He had shown he could be thoughtful and sweet – the breakfast he had made for her on the roof 2 nights ago was proof of that. It was nice seeing this new side of Nick. Refreshing.

As she stepped outside of the apartment building she saw her car parked at the curb. Resting against the bonnet with his feet crossed, hands in his pocket and head down was Nick. She let out an involuntary, "Oh," in surprise. This caused Nick to raise his head, he caught her gaze with his velvety eyes and said, "Jess.."

Oh the way he looks at me. She felt shivers of desire, happiness and apprehension flood her body. No going back now she thought. Pointing to her car she began, "How did you…?"

"I have my ways Miss Day," he answered, tapping the side of his nose "We have a little bit of driving to do and I needed something a little more reliable"

As he stood straighter she could appreciate the effort he had made getting ready, his hair was swept back in a sexy, slightly untidy way. He wore dark jeans, loafers and a black button down tucked lightly into his pants and restrained by his chocolate brown belt. He wore a grey tweed jacket over his clothes. He looked really handsome. Jess didn't think she had ever realised how attractive Nick could really be, though she had long seen his potential.

"Ladies first," Nick called as he held out his hand and beckoned her towards the passenger seat. He opened the door and held her hand as she lowered into the seat.

"Fancy," she said as she sat down.

"Not fancy enough Jessica, but it's a start."

Nick darted around to the driver side door (not attempting to slide over the hood as he had the other day) and quickly inserted the keys and pulled onto the road.

As they drove to their destination, easy chatter filled the car. Jess told Nick about her second day substituting and how she was hopeful it could turn into a full time job. Nick talked about the 2 drunken women who had got into a catfight at the bar over some guy named Jungle Jeff. Big Bob had had to pry them apart from each other and throw them out, apparently little tufts of hair extension had littered the bar floor.

Finally, Nick pulled of the highway into a dark, deserted car park. It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust until she realised they were at the beach. "Nick, what-" she began.

"Just trust me," he interrupted and quickly leapt out of the car and opened the door for her.

"Nick you really don't have to do the whole door opening thing you know, I have hands, they do work."

"Oh I know that," he said with a mischievous smile, "But I want to. Come with me."

He took Jess's hand and they began to walk towards the deserted sands of the beach. After a minute or so Nick sat down, he took of his jacket and laid it on the sand and gestured for her to join him.

Jess turned to look at Nick with a quizzical expression, "I'm very confused. I like the beach and all Nick but…"

Nick turned to face, resting one arm on his folded leg, "I wasn't sure how to play this. Wait, play is the wrong word," he gave her a pleading look that said, bear with me, "I wasn't sure where to go with this, with us," he said gesturing to the two of them. "I tried the fancy dinner thing, and that was a disaster, and we both know each other so well I thought it would be false to try a usual first date, get to know each other thing." He took a deep breath, "So I decided I would take you to a couple of places that reminded me of you, of us."

Sudden realisation melted through Jess's body as she re-surveyed her surroundings. This was the beach they had came to when Nick had had his cancer scare last year, this spot was exactly where they had both fallen asleep after spending hours talking. Turning back to face Nick, she smiled, "Nick… Why here? I mean, I thought you were drunk, I thought you didn't remember…"

"I play a good drunk Jess; I find it's helpful when I want to pretend I have forgotten something. But I remember that night, really well. I mean what I said to you at the time. I think this is the place where I first felt something real between us, even if I had no idea then."

Jess broke into a smile and leaned towards Nick, drinking in his masculine smell and tilting her head for a kiss. Nick bent down his head and gave her the lightest, most tender kiss she had ever experienced. This was not a fiery, urgent kiss as their others had been. No, this was different. The kiss deepened as his tongue gently searched her mouth, his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to him in a suffocating, intoxicating embrace.

Slowly they separated and Jess caught her breath. "Nick, this is really special. I had no idea that you had felt like this…"

"Well, neither had I, until recently Jess. And we still don't know what this is. You kinda worked your way into me, like an infectious virus."

Jess playfully swatted him and showed mock outrage on her face, but secretly she was thrilled. Maybe he wasn't exactly telling her how he felt, but it was the closest he had gotten to a real declaration.

Abruptly he stood up, "Come on," he said, "We have another stop to make." He helped Jess to her feet and then began to dust the sand from his pants and Jacket. As they made their way back towards Jess's station wagon, she couldn't resist being a little curious.

"So, where would this next stop be?" Her mind whirled, struggling to think of a place significant in the history of Nick and Jess. Most of their significant interaction had occurred in the loft. Surely it wasn't there?

"It's a surprise," is all that Nick would say. Once again he opened the door for her and then sat himself, starting the engine and driving away.

This time their conversation came in fits and starts. Jess felt a little tired from the salty sea air, both of their minds were consumed with what had happened. What might happen next. At some point Jess had nodded off and she awoke to the feeling of him gently shaking her, "Jess, we're here."

This time she gave him no chance and quickly opened her door and stepped outside. The air was cool, much cooler than at the beach, and damp. She was glad of the advice to dress warmly. As she looked around she could see far in the distance a faint glow that she assumed was the lights of the city. Other than that the only notable observations were the pinpricks of light coming from headlights of cars in the distance and the faint hum of car engines and rubber against tarmac.

She turned back to the car to see Nick getting something out of the trunk. He rounded back to the hood and laid out a plaid picnic blanket. In the middle he placed a small blue cool box and 2 red plastic cups. Intrigued, she tilted her head and looked at him quizzically.

"Come here," he demanded. Taking her hand, he helped her onto the hood. It was tricky to not slide around because of the blanket but she eventually got her balance and sat upright with her ankles crossed. Nick joined her and immediately opened the cool box. He removed a bottle of rose wine from inside and poured a generous serving, handing it to her, "Pink wine m'lady?"

"Sir, are you trying to get me drunk?" she said in mock horror.

"Maybe," he replied with a smile, whilst he opened his own beer and poured it into another red cup. "Cheers," he said, raising his glass.

"To…us?" Jess continued quizzically.

"To us," Nick repeated, in a slightly more certain voice. The two plastic cups clipped against each other with a click and they both took a long, slow drink.

"So Nick, you've lost me here with all… this" she gestured with her free hand to the area around them.

"Well actually, it's a bit of a cheat. I put 2 things together for this one. This here is where I can when I did my runaway idiot act last year. Down there," he pointed to a spot somewhere in the distance, "Is where you saved my ass from a coyote." At this Jess let out a throaty pear of laughter. "It's also where you said that you would be okay. Because you met me." Nick's gaze was focused on the crisscross pattern of the blanket on which they sat, afraid to meet Jess's gaze until he had finished. "And this," he said tapping the metal hood of the hood, eliciting a low bong sound, "Is where we sat the night after Schmidt's dumb re-launch party. Both times when I felt really close to you. They were times, on reflection, where I think this really started." Finally he lifted up his eyes and met Jessica's large, surprised eyes, her mouth forming a perfect oh.

"Nick, I…"

"Oh Jess, this was dumb. I really don't know what I am doing. I thought this would be romantic but now I am feeling it's actually a little creepy." He sighed and dropped his shoulders, his thumb anxiously rubbing at the white rim of his Solo cup. He had blown it. He should have just done flowers and a movie. He was no good at this type of thing. He felt his mood deflate as the silence between them extended uncomfortably.

Suddenly he felt a soft had cupping his face, turning it towards Jess. "Look at me Nick, please," he eventually acquiesced to her demand and raised his eyes but kept his head lowered. "I wanted to say I had no idea. But that would be lying. I felt those things too. I guess it was never the right time, or I just didn't think that friends could become… Something more. But here we are."

"Here we are indeed," Nick echoed.

"This is the sweetest, most thoughtful date I have ever been on. You did good Nick," and with that she gave him a warm smile that extended to her eyes. She reached forward, leaning across the cool box and took hold of the other side of his face. Gently pushing him backwards, she slid the box to the bottom of the hood and leant over him. She surveyed his face, searching for an answer to unspoken questions. Letting out a little giggle, he laughed with her, before pulling her into his warm embrace. This kiss was something new. Nick Miller had many kisses it appeared. It was a powerful, manly kiss – she felt tiny in his arms as he effortlessly pulled her closer to him. Their forgotten cups overturned and pink wine and beer saturated the blanket around them. His mouth sought hers determinedly, what he could not say with words he tried to say with actions. His arms enveloped her back and she felt safe, complete and at the same time scared. Every embrace increased her desire for him. She did not need him. She wanted him. She was scared she was falling too fast as their kisses became more passionate. Until - crash. The moment was ruined as the sodden blanket gave way from the hood and they both slid clean off and landed in a pile on the dirt ground next to the car. Jess landed on her back and Nick tumbled on top of her; the blanket and cool box quickly following.

"Ouch," he yelled as the cool box fell onto his back scattering ice, beer bottles and wine around them.

"Well that was one way to ruin the moment…" Jess began, before collapsing into fits of infectious giggles. It was typical. Nick guessed nothing would go exactly right in this… whatever it was. Unable to contain himself Nick joined in in the laugher.

"I think I may need a nurse," he finally added as the laughter died down, "I may have a concussion"

"Really Miller? The cool box hit your back. You cannot get a concussion from that."

"Okay them, maybe a masseuse, I'm feeling a little stiff," He pretended to flex and stretch his non-existent injury. Jess continued to tease him other they both made each other laugh until their sides hurt.

After they had composed themselves, they sat again on the hood, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder, looking up at the stars and drinking the remnants of cool fated cool box. They talked for what felt like hours about the multitude of topics that don't enter into most normal roommate conversations, worst dates, school stories, drunken stories; before they decided that they needed to head back, Jess had to work in the morning.

Back in the loft Nick walked Jess to her door. He took one hand and placed a soft kiss on it. "Good night Jess, I've had an amazing night." With that he let go of her hand and began to step away.

"Good night Nick…Wait, Nick, don't you want to..?" she gestured to the bedroom door behind her.

"Jess that is the dumbest thing you have said tonight, of course I do. But I also want to do this properly, first date rules. I don't want to rush this," with that he gave her one last smile and a kiss on the forehead before turning and heading into his own room.

Jess opened her door and laid her back against it as it closed. She felt deflated. Surely, she should think it sweet that he was trying to do,' the right thing'. But wasn't it a little late for that? That ship had already sailed.

Quickly, she made a decision. When it came to sex, she struggled to be assertive, she preferred a man to take charge. Her experiences with Dr. Sam had only proved to increase her belief of her own lack of sex appeal. But hell, Nick had put himself out there tonight so she was going to do the same.

She headed to her wardrobe and picked out the pink and beige checked shirt she had borrowed from Nick the other morning. Quickly removing her other items of clothing, she fastened the shirt over her body, using the minimum of buttons to ensure basic modesty. She gave herself one last look in the mirror. Let's do this she thought, heading towards her door.

So what is Jess's big plan? (Hint next chapter will be back in the M rated category!).