Brennan was in her office, looking over her findings from their previous case. She just wanted to make sure everything was correct and complete before she signed off on the information and handed it over to Booth.

A small smile graced her lips as she thought about her partner. She didn't want to admit it, but last night had been one of the best nights she had experienced in a while. It was simply a dinner with a friend, but she had forgotten about why she was out with her partner in the first place, at least for a little while.

They discussed the case briefly, but quickly moved onto talking about different topics. He told a plethora of jokes; some she even thought were quite amusing, and butchered the French on the menu, which, for some reason she still couldn't figure out, had made her smile. They had talked about their weekend plans and somehow she got roped into spending time with him and Parker on Saturday. Despite her many, many protests, he wouldn't take no for an answer.

At one point, she had looked around the restaurant at the seemingly happy couples conversing over a shared meal and her mind went back to Mark and Jason. While she didn't have strong feelings for either man, getting rejected never felt good. Her partner had apparently picked up on her sadness because he offered up some more personal information about his particularly difficult breakup with Rebecca. After a brief, but tension-filled silence, he had stuffed two whole rolls in his mouth and flashed her a grin. She had tried hard not to draw attention to his juvenile behavior, but she couldn't help but laugh. The cloud of hurt and sadness had been lifted, making her temporarily forget about her recent disastrous attempt at monogamy.

The dinner had proceeded as all of their others had, though this one felt different. She didn't know why, but it did. Conversation was as easy as it always had been and they had still bickered. First about him pulling out her chair, then about how to pronounce the waiter's name, then about the wine choice, then about the appetizer, then about her plan to spend the weekend in Limbo, and then finally who would pay the bill; they ended up splitting the check, since they each refused to back down.

Perhaps the reason it had felt different was because she was a little overdressed for the occasion; she was dressed for a date, not a casual dinner with her partner. Maybe it was because of the location; the French restaurant was more expensive and it offered a fancier atmosphere than the Royal Diner or Founding Fathers. It could have also been because Booth had kissed her on the cheek before she disappeared inside her apartment at the end of the night; his lips had practically seared her skin and it had made her stomach flutter with irrational excitement. They had shared an awkward goodnight and then she shut the door.

Brennan signed her name in the appropriate places and shut the file. She hadn't heard from Booth since last night, but she wasn't expecting to. There was no active case and aside from the paperwork, they had no real reason to see or talk to each other. She looked at the door when she heard the knock and motioned for Angela to come in. "Hello, Angela."

Angela pulled out the chair in front of the anthropologist's desk and sat down. "I can't believe you didn't tell me you went on a date with Booth last night. I need details now, Sweetie," she said, without missing a beat.

Brennan scrunched up her face. "It wasn't a date. We're just partners."

"So I've heard," Angela muttered. "What happened to Mark and Jason?"

Sighing, Brennan fiddled with her pen. "They dumped me." She paused. "Booth felt sorry for me, so he offered to take me out for a discounted Chinese dinner. I was more in the mood for Thai, but we ended up going to this new French restaurant. We were certainly dressed for that atmosphere, so we didn't seem so out of place amongst actual romantic couples. The food was very good. I would recommend it."

"You and Booth had dinner at a fancy French restaurant, dressed like you were going on a date, but it wasn't a date?"

"I had a previous engagement scheduled with Mark, but he dumped me and then we got called into Sweets' office. I didn't have time to go home and change out of my dress. Booth was dressed like he's always dressed for work." Brennan shook her head. "It wasn't a date."

Angela sat forward. "Did he compliment your outfit?"

"Yes."

Smiling, Angela continued her mini-interrogation. "Did he open your car door for you?"

"He was going to, but I beat him to it."

"Did he pull your chair out for you?"

Brennan grumbled. "Yes and it was highly unnecessary."

"Did he pay for dinner?"

Brennan shook her head. "He offered to, but it was rather expensive. We split the bill."

"Did he kiss you goodnight?"

Brennan blushed.

Angela gasped. "Brennan! Booth kissed you goodnight?"

"Not like that, Ange. He kissed me on the cheek. It was very awkward and I think he was embarrassed."

Angela sighed, disappointed. "Promise me that you'll let me know ahead of time the next time you decide to go on a date with Booth, so I can pick out an outfit for you that will really knock those stripy socks off his feet."

"It was not a date, Angela," Brennan protested, quickly becoming frustrated with her best friend.

"It was totally a date, Sweetie." Angela stood up and walked towards the door, only to stop and turn to face Brennan again before she reached it. "Did you have a good time?"

"Of course. I always have a good time with Booth."

Somewhat satisfied with that answer, Angela turned and walked through Brennan's office doorway. "I wish those two would just wake up and smell the ros—," she stopped short, watching a young, but undeniably attractive delivery man heading straight for her with a bouquet of what looked like daffodils and daisies. "Pretty." She headed back into her best friend's office and smiled. "I think you have a secret admirer, Sweetie."

Brennan lifted her head. "I don't know what that means."

"It's kind of obvious, Bren."

"Why would you say that I have—oh." Brennan eyed the delivery man now standing in her doorway, focusing on the floral arrangement he was having some difficulty carrying.

The man looked up, his dark brown eyes looking between the two women. "Temperance Brennan?"

Brennan rose from her chair and stepped around her desk, nodding. "I'm Temperance Brennan. Are those for me?" she asked, surprised. She was about to take the pen from the man to sign for the flowers, but she paused and looked at her friend. "Check to see if there's a card. These could just be from a fan, in which case I will not be accepting these flowers."

Angela was quick to snatch the card from inside and open it.

"Who're they from?" Brennan glanced from her best friend to the impatient delivery man and then back to the artist.

Angela read the name and then read it again before giving Brennan a confused look. "Some guy named Jasper. Who's Jasper?"