Elizabeth re-braided her hair down the middle of her back. Finishing she adjusted the hemline of dark green halter top she had on with black jeans. As she bent to tie her black wedge sandals, it occurred to her this was the dressiest any of her co-workers would ever see her.

Sasha, the 16 year old girl with cat-eye glasses, walked into the employee women's bathroom and whistled. "Damn girl. Hot date tonight?"

Smiling sweetly, she patted the younger girl's shoulder as she made her way out the door. "Funny. See you later Sasha."

"Do something I'm not allowed to do!" Sasha bellowed as the door swung close in her face.

Adjusting her bag on her shoulder, she exited the screaming playroom for the relative quiet of the parking lot. Her grandmother had dropped her off at the start of her shift and Lucky was bringing her home tonight after their date. Something she was still debating the wisdom on, even now, standing waiting for him to show.

Robin had argued that she should demand an explanation of that damn photo. She should tell him how it ticked her off and then refuse to see him again until whatever it was with Daphne was either explained or over. Elizabeth wasn't entirely sure she bought into Robin's publicity theory so she had mainly agreed with the explanation part of it to keep Robin calm.

She probably should have just called him up and cancelled. But he would have demanded an explanation. And somehow she couldn't make her jealousy seem like a rational response considering they had one official date and two admittedly intense make out sessions. Hell calling him her boyfriend at this point would be premature!

After Max, she had decided that she was done with players. It was going to be all or nothing with her. Seeing Max with her former best friend had all but killed her. She had thought after six months of dating the monogamy would be implied with him but apparently she was wrong. He had even had the unmitigated gall to say he hadn't really cheated since they didn't say they were exclusive and she was the one overreacting. That was when she kicked him in the groin and packed her bags for Port Charles.

She liked Lucky. She could finally admit that much. And she did not want to screw this up, either by pushing him to make a commitment way too early or being a jealous shrew for no reason. Not seeing him, much as she could declare it to Robin in a fit of rage, was not an option at this point. So she had made herself a compromise, one she was sure her friend would laugh herself sick over if she ever heard it. She'd continue to see Lucky, but nothing that happened the previous two times they had been together would occur until they had at least discussed what exactly they were.

No button popping, no underclothing movements, no kissing. She tilted her head to the side and reconsidered the last one. The man could kiss. Okay there could be kissing, but no tongue. If she kept the limits firmly in mind, she should be fine.

The rumble of the truck engine interrupted her musing. In the sunset she could make out the powder blue classic she had learned was named Bessie. Lucky pulled right up to where she was standing and jumped out of the driver's seat to open her door. Cowboy boots peeked out under the jeans and the plain white t-shirt. He grinned when he saw her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "You look beautiful." Spying her shoes, he pointed at them. "I hope you have back ups in that bag of yours."

Damn she was in trouble. He couldn't have come out with a zit on his face or just sat there and honked the horn or something? Smiling, she patted her bag. "In here but I figured I could change them when we get to wherever you are taking me."

He opened the door and offered his hand to help her inside. "I promise you will enjoy our destination."

Even though she was fully capable of entering the truck herself, she accepted his hand and felt a shiver race down her spine when she felt his hand steady her on the small of her back. Yup she was so in trouble here.

"Do you have some fetish about blindfolds I need to be aware of?" Elizabeth grumbled as she tried to pull his hand down off her eyes.

As they neared their destination, he had felt the urge to pull her close and cover her eyes with his free hand. Partly because she had looked so cute when he surprised her the week before at the State and partly just to have her close to his body again. He pondered the many possibilities her questions implied.

"Seems to be one I only have with you. I guess you're going to have to help me figure out exactly why I feel this urge when you are near." He grinned as he noticed the blush start up her neck towards her cheeks. Pulling the truck into a spot, he killed the engine. "Besides we're here and you need to change your shoes."

"Oh you don't want to change them for me?" she pouted.

"Cute Cinderella." Releasing his hand from her face, he gestured outside. "Well what do you think Princess?"

After a few blinks, the picture came into clear focus. Behind a wooden plank fence, horses roamed back and forth, some nibbling on the grass, some looking curiously right at them. A young boy or she supposed it could be a jockey--it was hard to tell from the back--sat on one fence post feeding a chestnut beauty. An old stable stood behind it all, with people streaming in and out.

"Horseback riding? We're going horseback riding?" She all but squealed in delight.

"Have you been before?" She seemed happy with the idea. Lucky felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been unsure about up until she had squealed.

"I used to go when I was younger but haven't been in a long time." Elizabeth quickly changed to her more suitable sneakers.

Chuckling at her enthusiasm, Lucky went to open her side of the truck and help her down. "Watch your step. The horses tend to go this way when it's not so crowded."

He had gently released her once both feet were steady on the ground and for once Elizabeth was sorry she wasn't as clumsy as she normally was around him. Falling into him would have been a great way to feel his arms around her without breaking any of the rules she had laid down for herself. "Thank you."

Winking at her, he smiled. "You're welcome little lady." His attempt at a Southern drawl was pathetic but cute. "Now let's go see your chariot for the night."

"So how long have you been coming here anyways?" Elizabeth gently prodded the grey mare named Snowflake along the path. The full moon was just beginning to show itself and the fireflies were blinking through the field the trail cut across.

"What gave you that impression?" Lucky never quite figured out how but somehow he always ended up on the horse that wanted to spend the whole ride eating. This white and chestnut stallion called Santa appeared to be no exception.

Giggling as he tried to maneuver his horse around yet another pocket of wildflowers, she tried her best skeptical look. "So total strangers hug you and call you Cowboy then?"

Lou Ann had met them at the stables and insisted on giving them these two to ride. He seriously wondered what he had ever done to the older woman to deserve this stubborn hungry fool he was riding. "Lulu had a serious case of horse fever, and guess who got roped into taking her down here every weekend until he escaped for college?"

"I got the impression that it had been months since that woman had seen you, not years."

"My sister is trying to get Cameron riding."

"Not working so well?"

"The ponies he does okay. Big ones like this still scare him."

They fell into silence as the horses plodded along the well worn path. The stars appeared brighter out here, even though Elizabeth was well aware they weren't all that far away from the city. Crickets began their evening serenade. "It's so peaceful out here." she breathed.

"You really can hear yourself think out here." He managed to maneuver his horse so he was actually right next to her instead of slightly behind.

"And it's so beautiful with the stars and everything." She waved her hand to indicate the scenery that surrounded them.

Catching her hand with his, he squeezed it tight. "Still the most beautiful thing out here tonight is you."

She caught his eye and smiled. It was corny but still sweet. He was so close that she could just lean over and kiss him with ease. Just lean out a few inches to the left and she could feel his lips underneath hers once again. And she could pretty much guarantee the horses would keep it from getting to intense too quickly. Just a few inches away temptation lay waiting. "Thank you."

Pulling their intertwined hands to his lips, he gently brushed hers with his lips. "I'd attempt more but I think Santa is looking at those flowers a little too long."

True to his prediction, Santa promptly stopped, causing them to release their grips as Snowflake continued to meander forward. Giggling she stopped Snowflake so they wouldn't get too separated. Several curse words and threats later, he succeeded in getting the stubborn stallion moving again.

"This is not the way I pictured this going." he grumbled.

As they drove back towards her grandmother's house, Lucky resisted the urge to kiss her on the top of her head. She had curled up into his side, with her feet resting on the bench seat, the shoes long since discarded on the floorboards. His arm hung around her shoulders, playing with her fingers.

"You sleeping down there?"

Nestled comfortably between his arm and his chest, Elizabeth shook her head. "No." she denied through a yawn.

He chuckled softly. "Did Cinderella over-exert herself tonight?"

"Some of us worked on our feet for eight hours before riding horses for two hours. We don't all spend all day listening to Evans Blue record new stuff."

"Touché. But did you at least have fun?"

She pulled her head back just far enough to catch his eye and smiled at him. "Yes. I had a wonderful time."

"Then that's all that matters then." He pulled her back to him, determined to enjoy this before the night ended.

Lapsing into comfortable silence, Elizabeth played over the events of the night. So far she hadn't broken any of her rules. Alright so being curled up into his chest probably would but she hadn't made a rule against such an act. Beyond a few innocent kisses on her cheek and her hand, there had been no kissing that would lead to the danger zone. All touching had been concentrated on the hand and face area. It had been a great date and she had followed every rule she had laid out for herself. She was very proud of herself.

Much too soon for her liking, Elizabeth realized they were pulling into her driveway. The porch light was on, but otherwise the house looked dark. Grams must be in bed. As Lucky switched off the ignition, Elizabeth slowly and reluctantly untangled herself from his arms. She stretched her arms over her head and grimaced when a slight pain shot through her back.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Lucky gently touched the small of her back when he noticed the grimace.

"It's nothing. Just stiff."

"You sure?"

She smiled at the concern in his voice. "I just need to put a heating pad on it when I get in. Over did it a little bit today."

"Let me help." Lucky began to move her so her back was facing him as he sat sideways.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh. Just let me do this."

"Lucky, you don't have to do anything."

He began gently rubbing the tops of her shoulders and protests flew from her mind. All she could concentrate on was the feel on his hands on her bare skin. Her brain warned this was going to lead to trouble but her body wasn't about to listen and he moved his hands towards the center of her shoulders and his fingers began to play with the muscles in her neck.

"It was my idea to go horseback riding. The least I can do is to make sure you're relaxed when you go inside. Can you let me do that? Relax you?"

She barely nodded as his breath tickled the back of her neck.

"Good."

Her eyes slid shut as he concentrated on her shoulders and neck. His hands felt cool somehow against her warm skin. His hands moved down slightly, his fingers gently brushing her sides. Moving his hands in circles, they continued their decent until they reached the small of her back.

His hands nearly spanned her waist when they stopped. Gently pressing his thumbs and working them in circles, he worked the muscles in her back until she was sure she wouldn't be able to stand anymore. They hadn't spoken a word but the air in the cab had grown thick and heavy. Her breathing had become more and more shallow the longer he massaged her back. She was going to melt into the seat. Her hands reached for something to hold onto, settling on grabbing his muscular thigh.

She felt him his intake of breath against the back of her neck when she had squeezed his leg. He nudged her braid to the side with his nose, laying a small kiss at the nape of her neck. Elizabeth whimpered in response.

"Are you relaxed yet? Should I stop?" he teased.

"Do and die." She managed.

Chuckling softly, he moved his hands under her shirt, causing a shiver to run up her spine as he continued his massage. His fingers gently tapped on her stomach as he continued his assault on her back, kissing her neck and nibbling on her shoulders. She moved one of her hands to the back of his neck, trying to turn her head so she could capture his lips with her own.

His hands started to climb higher, continuing the slow torture he had started earlier. His lips had found a spot where her neck and her shoulders met that was driving her crazy and he lavished attention on it. He bit, licked, sucked, and kissed the rapidly overheating skin and was rewarded by her moan in response.

"Oh God," she whispered, overwhelmed by his kisses on her neck and the feel of his hands moving up her back.

She hadn't realized how high he climbed until she felt his fingers brush the undersides of her breasts. She tightened her grip on his thigh as he stilled his hands, lightly tickling her with the smallest of touches.

He moved his lips towards her ear. "You okay?" he whispered.

Not trusting herself to speak, Elizabeth nodded.

She managed to secure one hand around the back of his neck as he nibbled on her earlobe. She gripped him tightly as his right hand began to massage the breast it held. He rolled it slowly in his hand, and then kneaded it, feeling the nipple harden underneath the strapless bra. She leaned back against him, feeling his erection pressing against her back. She moaned as his left hand began mimicking what his right was doing.

"Lucky."

His right hand began to trace down her stomach, teasingly tracing her belly button. He slipped the hand out to trace the curve of her hip, squeezing tightly. She managed to succeed in bringing his face forward enough to capture his lips with her own, their tongues moving to mingle with each other. She made a move to twist herself fully around so she could straddle his hips, when the lights blinded them.

Turning their heads towards the blinding glare, they could barely make out a car turning into the driveway and pulling towards them. Just as quickly the driver threw the car in reverse and started back the way they came. A lost driver who had missed their turn in the dark.

Elizabeth rested her forehead on his. "He has timing."

"Yeah the bad kind." Lucky grumbled.

Pulling back towards the relative safety of the passenger side she smiled at him. "I should have stopped you before then." She whispered.

"Why?"

"Because we still barely know each other."

He leaned forward and kissed her neck. "We're getting to know each other." He pointed out.

"I know but…" She reluctantly pulled away. Touching him was dangerous. "I just need more time."

He played with the ends of her braid. "Do we get to spend this time you need together?"

"Yes."

"Can we spend some of it at my aunt's birthday party this weekend?"

"I wouldn't know anyone there." She hedged. Meeting his family so soon? She had met Laura a few times through school events. And of course she knew Patrick a little bit by now thanks to his vigil at Robin's bedside but the rest of the clan?

"You've met Patrick and not run away screaming. I know you've met my mom. And Robin's coming."

"She is?" Well she was reasonably sure she could count on Robin to keep her from making a total fool of herself. Unless of course the other girl got into another fight with Patrick in the middle of the party. That actually may be fun to watch as she thought about it for a minute.

"Yes. So will you come tomorrow?"

"Fine. I'll come."

Lucky kissed her on the forehead. "I'll pick you up around three okay?" Seeing her nod, he gently kissed her lips, careful to keep the touch light. "You better get inside."

"You aren't walking me to the door?"

"I still need a minute here."

Blushing at the realization, she nodded quickly and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I'll see you tomorrow then."