"Daryl," Carol sighed. "You really don't have to drive me to work every day. I can take a cab in the mornings too." He was ready and waiting for her by the front door. It was sweet, but she didn't want to be a burden or an inconvenience.

"I've got things to do anyway, it's no big deal," he shrugged. "Got another con this weekend. Flying out Thursday night, so you'll be on your own Friday."

"Figures," she replied, picking up her purse and following him out the door. "I'm off Friday."

Daryl looked intrigued, "Friday and all weekend?"

"Mmm hmm. I have a scene to shoot Monday afternoon and I think I'm off for a couple days after that too," Carol said, pushing the elevator button, thankful it seemed to be working better these days.

"So, you could… come with me," Daryl said, very flirtatiously. They stepped on the elevator and the doors closed.

"Or I could stay here, walk around naked all weekend in your big, empty apartment," she answered saucily, shamelessly flirting back.

"You could do the same thing in my big, empty hotel room," Daryl spoke low and sexy, backing her into the corner of the elevator. "And I'd have something to look forward to after a long day of autographs, photos, hugs and crazy, adorable fans."

"Pfft, I'm sure you'll find something…someone to look forward to in… Where is it that you're going?" Carol wasn't even sure where the con was.

"Portland. Wizard World," he answered, moving closer. She was hoping the elevator would hurry and save her from giving in to his charms. "You come and you can save me the trouble of finding...uh... entertainment." It was no secret that Daryl often found himself a hookup while away at cons. He wasn't the only one either. It was never fans though - at least he was smart enough to avoid going there.

"You want a dirty little secret in your hotel room?" Carol giggled. There's no way it would work. She couldn't possibly go with him and not be spotted… could she? "Who else from the cast of your show will be there?" Most of them knew her since she'd visited Daryl on set several times.

"Yours truly, that's it," Daryl replied. "I got no one, baby. You can't send me out there all alone." He looked at her with sad eyes and leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Please?"

Carol whispered back in his ear, "No way."

"Carolllllll," he whined. "At least think about it, okay?" Daryl slid his hands down the side of her body, seductively.

"Oh fine," she said, giving him a look. "I'll think about it. But don't get too excited because it's probably gonna be a no." Daryl grinned as if he'd won. "Did you even hear the last part?"

"Nope, I stopped listening after you agreed to think about it," he admitted as the elevator came to a stop. Daryl kissed the tip of her nose, turned and walked off the elevator. Carol sighed again and followed. He really was an adorable pain in the ass.

It was only a short day on set, but she felt a bit tired on the way home that evening in the cab. "Do I have time for a nap?" she asked as soon as she spotted Daryl in the living room.

"A nap? Are you serious?" he laughed. "Nooooo. Go have a shower and I'll make you a giant espresso."

"Oh fine, that might work," Carol said, dropping her purse on the couch. "What's the dress code?"

"Hmm… whatever you feel comfortable in. But dress a bit warmer. Put an extra layer on top the 12 layers you normally wear," he teased. She couldn't even deny it. She'd been known to layer in the summer in Georgia and this was winter up north. "Oh and if you have another new pair of undies… feel free…"

Carol rolled her eyes and headed off to get ready, but on the way she was mentally choosing which new pair and matching bra she was going to wear. It wasn't easy to pick something to wear when she had no clue where they were going. She assumed they would be eating somewhere… And if he wasn't telling her to dress formal it couldn't be a fancy restaurant. So basically she needed to dress so she wouldn't look overdressed if they were going to a pub or something, and wouldn't look underdressed if they were going somewhere nicer - Luckily she had just the outfit. And she could wear it with her favourite pair of boots, which was even better.

Carol lingered a bit in the shower, but she was still completely ready to go in half an hour. True to his word Daryl had an espresso waiting for her. She sat and sipped at it, enjoying the instant warmth that spread through her. "Should I even bother asking where we're going? Oh and thank you, this is delicious," Carol said taking another sip.

"I could tell you," Daryl said. "But I don't think it would mean anything to you." Carol checked out what he was wearing. It was the usual, jeans, dark sweater, and ball cap.

She finished the last sip of her espresso and stood. "Do we have to be there at a certain time? Reservations?"

"Nope," he shook his head.

She narrowed her eyes, "But you said I couldn't have a nap first…"

Daryl shifted his eyes and grinned. "I didn't want it to cut into our evening since someone has to work in the morning."

Carol glared and walked up to him. He likely thought she was angry, until she reached for his hat, took it off and turned the Yankees logo to the back. "I like seeing your eyes," she whispered. "Let's go. You're wasting precious time Dixon."

He drove them to a tall building, Carol assumed it was an apartment building, and pulled into an underground lot similar to the one at his place, to park. "We going to someone's place?" she asked, wondering what was going on.

"Hmm…kinda," he replied, not giving her much.

"Ugh," she groaned. "Would you just tell me?"

"Nahhhh, this is way more fun," he teased her. "Follow me Sweetheart." Once they were on the elevator he pushed the button for the top floor and started to explain. "My buddy owns the building. He has an apartment on the top floor, but he spends his winters in Panama."

Carol wasn't really following. "So… we're going to his empty apartment… for dinner?"

"Well no. I said he owns the building," Daryl continued. "Which allowed him to do some cool things with the roof. But we need to get there through his place."

"So we're eating outside?" she was still trying to follow, and she was pretty sure she hadn't layered enough to actually sit outside and eat.

"Kinda," he replied as they stepped off the elevator. "If you wait about 45 seconds it will all make sense." Daryl led them to a door and used to key to let them inside. He took off his coat so she followed his lead. She watched him pull out his phone and send a quick text, then put it away. "Come see," he said, offering her a hand. He flipped on a light so they could see where they were going and led her towards a set of glass garden doors. "Ready?" he asked, clearly excited to show her something. Carol nodded.

He pulled open the doors and turned on another light. She gasped. "Oh my god…" she whispered, stepping into a gigantic greenhouse. The smell was an amazing deep floral scent. She took it all in, looking around the room. "How is this place possible? In the winter… in the city…" It was like stepping into another world. It was a bit cool, but not cold. She finally understood the suggestion to layer.

"Any idea how much someone makes in rent when they own a building in Manhattan?" Daryl chuckled. "He's got more than one…and a passion for horticulture… anything's possible."

Carol turned to look at him, her heart rate starting to pick up, just a bit. Daryl plucked a flower off a shrub and stepped forward to tuck in behind her ear. "Who are you?" she said, looking up at him.

"What?" he shrugged. "You gotta have a romantic side if you wanna get laid," he replied, in true Daryl fashion.

"Oh so you brought me up here to get laid?" she asked, crossing her arms. Fuck, of course he did. She was hoping for it and expecting it, but she wouldn't let him off without a little teasing.

"Of course not," he gasped, acting shocked at the suggestion. "I owed you a lovely evening since I apparently ruined yours last night…"

"Apparently?" she cut in. "There's nothing apparent about it. My date left because you were ogling me and shooting him daggers all through dinner."

"It wasn't exactly ogling," Daryl protested.

"Oh yeah? What would you call it then?" Carol shot back, amused since they'd had this argument once before.

"Uh... A protective stare?" He offered. It was rather funny that he wouldn't admit it again that he'd been jealous. She wanted to see if she could get it out of him.

"Laced with jealousy?" She added, raising her eyebrows.

"Well, do we really need to define it so precisely?" He scoffed.

"Yep," she replied, her eyes twinkling.

Daryl touched her cheek and his face changed. "Fine," he said softly. "It was pure jealousy." He looked into her eyes before he eagerly captured her lips. His kiss was extremely possessive, which was usually a trait that turned her off in a man. She didn't like to feel like anyone's property, but there was something exciting about the idea of being his… And something terrifying about the fact she was actually considering it.

Every kiss seemed to be just a little different. They'd had sex twice and they couldn't have been more polar opposite encounters. It left her wondering what was next? What side of Daryl would come out the next time he was aroused and she was willing? And what side did she want? If the kiss didn't end soon Carol realized she might find out sooner rather than later.

Dammit, she thought, once again they were in romance novel territory. Kissing passionately, high above the city in a little magical garden at night… A buzzing against her leg interrupted her train of thought. "Dinner must be here," he announced, after breaking the kiss. He pulled his phone out and looked. "Be right back," he added, jogging into the house. He returned with a paper bag. "So it's not fine dining… but you're in New York, I figured it was time you had a true NYC kinda meal… picnic style," he finished, pointing to a blanket on the floor she hadn't even noticed. There was some kind of drink on ice. How the hell did he do all this? she wondered.

Daryl took her hand again and helped her sit. He sat too and started pulling things out of the bag. "So I got three things for dinner that New York is known for, from the best places in the city." He pulled out two containers. "First we have Manhattan Clam Chowder from Randazzos." He passed her the styrofoam container and she could tell it was still hot. "You'll never have chowder from anywhere else after this, I swear," he added with a smile. "Next," he pulled out a sandwich wrapped in deli style paper and set it between them. "Corned beef on Rye, from Katz's… I only got one. Hope you don't mind sharing?" Carol smiled at him and shook her head. "Good. And finally, for dessert…" he produced two plastic containers. "The best cheesecake you'll ever taste in your life, from Junior's in Brooklyn."

"Oh God, can we just start with that?" she groaned. Cheesecake was her favourite dessert and she couldn't wait to taste it.

He gave her a horrified look. "That would be like having sex first and foreplay later."

"I don't see a problem with that," she shrugged, reaching for the cheesecake.

"Uh, uh, uh," he warned, placing the containers behind him, out of her reach. "Here's your spoon, start with the chowder."

Her pout only lasted until she put the first bite in her mouth. It was amazing. And there was a good chance she never would have tasted it if she filled up on cheesecake first. "Holy shit, this is incredible," she moaned.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Daryl replied, snapping his fingers. "Our drink…" he picked up a shaker that was buried in ice and two glasses. "Long Island Ice Tea," he said, handing her the first glass he poured.

"Trying to get me drunk?" she asked, taking a sip of the strong drink. It was delicious, but had a very high alcohol content. Luckily Carol was not a lightweight when it came to drinking.

"Just giving you a taste of what the city has to offer. Cheers," he said, raising his glass. She clinked hers to his and took her second drink. God, it was delicious, she would have to make sure to pace herself or it wouldn't matter how well she could hold her liquor. Too fast could do in the best of em.

The sandwich was amazing too. She was thankful he had known to only get one because she was having trouble even finishing her half, knowing what was for dessert. "Okay, gimme that cheesecake," she said, setting down the last bite and reaching out with grabby hands.

"Sure you're not too full?" He teased, reaching for her last bite and popping it in his mouth.

"I'm eating that cheesecake if you have to roll me out of here," she insisted. "Come on, come on, it's like against the law to withhold cheesecake from a woman."

Carol was practically drooling by the time she got the first bite into her mouth. "Holy fuck," she mumbled with her mouth full. He wasn't lying. She had never had cheesecake like that before. "You need to bring me this every time you come to Georgia. I'm dead serious," she looked at him. "I'm in love with this," she added taking another bite.

Daryl just smiled and watched her eat while he worked on his piece. She moaned, groaned and sighed her way through the huge piece and ate every bite. She was really full, but it was worth it. "That was perfection," she said with one last sigh setting down the fork and tray.

"I couldn't tell," he replied sarcastically. She tossed her wadded up napkin at him. "Better than sex?"

"Hmm," she pondered the question. "Depends on who I'm having sex with," she answered biting her lip and staring at him, rather seductively.

He stood and offered his hand to pull her to her feet. "Take off your clothes," Daryl said, his voice low and sexy.

"Well that escalated fast," she joked. "What's going on?"

Daryl reached behind him and handed her a white robe and a pair of flip flops. "You can change over there behind the screen and I'll change here."

It didn't really answer her question, but she followed his instructions and emerged a few minutes later. She looked at Daryl, wearing the same robe she was and felt her body rush with heat, knowing there was nothing under it. A little tug on the tie and she could see him naked again.

"Come on," he said, walking towards a side door that led outside.

"What? Wait… we're going outside? In robes and sandals? It's freezing out there," she protested.

"Not where we're gonna be," he replied, holding the door. They stepped out and she instantly shivered. But it turned to a different kind of shiver when she saw where they were going. On the roof of a giant building overlooking the city there was a huge steaming hot tub. Daryl pushed the button and the bubbles started. He came over and pulled the tie on her robe, letting it fall open. She didn't even feel the cold, even though she knew you could cut glass with her nipples. Daryl pushed it off her shoulders and left her standing there naked. "Ladies first," he whispered as his eyes washed over her naked body. Carol tugged his robe open and had a quick look at him before turning and slipping into the steaming hot water.