House caught up with Wilson by lunchtime on Friday. Wilson knew this was coming after yesterday's hallway discussion and he had successfully ducked House throughout the day despite knowing a major conversation was going to have to happen sooner or later.

House dropped his tray loudly on the cafeteria table making enough noise to frighten those nearby.

"Subtle." Wilson commented. "Something on your mind?

"You don't really want her." House announced. "Cuddy thinks this is just a ploy to get us together.

"Whatever," Wilson responded in a blasé manner. His calm demeanor irked House. Surely Wilson would crack if he knew House and Cuddy were on to him. But seeing Wilson acting bored with the conversation unnerved House.

"I asked her and she said it to my face, seriously, dude." House countered.

"Did you ask her out?" Wilson asked.

"She has plans tonight."

"So that was a yes?" Wilson asked.

"God, you are such a stickler. Yes, I asked her out --- caaaaasssssualllly and she said she had plans."

"I know." Wilson took a bite out of his sandwich. "She's going to a gallery opening with me this evening." House felt his temper rise.

"You're a real dick." House snapped.

"Takes one to know one." Wilson snapped back.

"Why are you going out with her, now?" House asked somberly. His face looked a little worried but his voice was icy.

"Because she's my friend and she's long overdue to have fun and relax and be around someone who'll treat her with kindness and look after her," Wilson relayed. "She's not getting anything but tension from you and frankly….heartache."

"So you've got a thing for Cuddy?"

"Who doesn't?" Wilson laughed.

"If I'm such a bastard, then why doesn't she fire me?" House countered.

"Because you're a good doctor and Cuddy is a professional. Breaking her heart doesn't fall under the annual employee review," Wilson hissed. "I've thought long and hard about this…"

"I'll bet you have," House retorted.

"And you're being an ass way more often than you're being kind to Cuddy. She doesn't need this abuse."

"What abuse? She dishes it out more than I ever could," House whined.

"Bullshit!" Wilson snapped. The lunchroom suddenly quieted as several heads turned towards their table.

"I'm not listening to this crap. If you love her, then make a move. You have until 9 pm tonight. You don't do it, then I will." Wilson looked angry.

"You serious?" House asked slightly shocked.

"Extremely serious." Wilson snapped. "I've put up with enough crap in this friendship of ours. Right now you've become an obstacle to Cuddy ever being happy with her life. If you aren't man enough to do what a man should do, then get the hell out of the way!" Wilson's face had turned red and he stood up so quickly and forcefully he knocked his chair back.

"Deal with it, House." Wilson stormed off leaving House embarrassed and shocked.

The doorbell rang at precisely 7:00pm. Lisa Cuddy opened the door to see Wilson waiting nervously at her door. "Come in, James, I'll grab my coat and we can go." Wilson admired how lovely she looked. Her dress clung to her emphasizing her small waist and trim hips. Her body was stunning, her legs slim and well shaped. Wilson took the opportunity to check her out while Cuddy's attention was elsewhere. Wilson felt butterflies in his stomach. Was he really going to have the chance to let Cuddy know he had feelings for her? He'd held back for so long out of deference to House but House had abused his patience and Cuddy's. Tonight would be a turning point for all three of them.

Cuddy returned to the living room to let her sitter know the final details and told her she'd be home early. Wilson stood watching as Cuddy kiss her daughter and return to the hall.

"Let me get my coat," Cuddy said as she opened the closet. She pulled out a red trenchcoat and Wilson quickly stepped in to take it from her. "Let me help you with that, Lisa." James said quickly. "thank you, James." James Wilson was no idiot. How else could he get close enough to her to sniff her perfume and touch her hair.

"Shall we?" Lisa asked. The two left and got into Wilson's BMW.

"The gallery show opens in twenty minutes but I thought we could have dinner first, sound okay?" Wilson asked.

"Great. I am a little hungry"

"I know a great little vegetarian place near the art district," Wilson mentioned. "I got us a reservation just in case."

"James, you are wonderful!" Cuddy replied happily. "Yes, I am!" James thought to himself.

Fifteen minutes later, Cuddy and Wilson were seated in a mediteranean restaurant lit nicely with candles as soft music murmured quietly in the background.

"James, this place is so….," Cuddy exclaimed. "How did you find this place?"

"I like to try new things," James mumbled. "You look lovely as usual, Lisa."

"James, are you flirting with me?" Cuddy laughed bashfully.

"Actually, yeah." James smiled back. "But you do look lovely." James finished off his glass of wine in one large gulp.

"Well thank you, James. You look very nice, yourself. I'm just glad this week is finally over. It's been…tough." Cuddy finished slowly.

"Tell me about it." James responded. "First I tell my boss I want her then I tell my best friend to get out of the way so I can have her…"

Cuddy's eyes popped open.

James caught himself and immediately stopped talking. "Oops. Did I just say that out loud?"

"Yes, you did." Cuddy's eyes were wide open, a soft but definitely pink blush rose in her cheeks.

"Well, good, then. It's out. You have NO IDEA how long I've wanted to get that out!" James grinned. The wine taking effect and relaxing him, giving him a strangely calm surge in confidence. "More wine?" James filled his own glass and began to top off Cuddy's. Cuddy nodded slightly while looking somewhat still in shock.

"So here's the deal, Lisa," James continued on. "I told House he had a deadline and if he didn't do something significant tonight, then all bets were off and he could compete with me for you."

"Are you serious?" Cuddy said slowly. "So this is a real date?"

"Yes, it sure is." James said with a big grin. "So, my cards are on the table. Deal."

"What? What do you mean deal?" Cuddy was confused at this new version of James Wilson who was less cautious, less calm and more adventurous.

"Deal, Lisa. Deal your cards on the table," James said confidently. "What do you think?"

"Well, I'm very flattered James but I don't really like being treated like a piece of meat." Cuddy said flatly. You and House have decided I'll go with which ever of you make the right move. It doesn't work that way."

"Okay, how does it work?" James asked. He slid his chair closer to Cuddy and she noticed immediately. Was it the wine making James so bold or was it having nothing left to hide? He didn't know and he didn't care. Cuddy was stunning in candlelight, House was nowhere to be seen and it was a Friday night. Anything could happen -- if he didn't blow it.

"I don't exactly know but you can bet I will decide what's best for me," Cuddy said firmly.

"Okay, then. Fair enough but you can't really blame a guy for trying to take control," James grinned at her. Cuddy smiled back slowly yet enjoying this more cocky version of Wilson. Her mind raced at the thought. She second-guessed everything he said and she observed his every gesture. Was this just another ploy to get House and Cuddy together? She'd never seen this side of Wilson and his sudden announcement of attraction to her was overwhelming if not a little crazy.

IF Wilson was making a game of this, Cuddy decided she could play along but only up to a point. She wasn't so sure Wilson really meant what he'd confessed to her. If he was serious, then Cuddy had to do some fast thinking. Could she ever see herself with Wilson romantically? She'd never given the idea a second thought until just now. Wilson was almost like a brother to her. He was handsome and sweet and kind but he wasn't House. If only she could melt the two men together, she'd have the perfect man! Cuddy watched James closely but not listening as attentively as she should have. Had she paid more attention to his words instead of her own thoughts she might have noticed his arm had slid around her chair and he'd moved a little closer to her.

Dinner arrived, the two ate and flirted a little and toasted one another. House was the furthest thing from their minds but Gregory House WAS just 12 feet away with a great view of the couple's table. He sat behind them in the corner of the restaurant with a large menu in front of his face and his table's candle blown out to preserve darkness. He could see their profiles and noticed Wilson sliding his chair around to Cuddy, draping his arm around Cuddy's chair and filling her glass of wine. That fucking James Wilson was being charming and Cuddy was enjoying it! House had no intention of making any grand moves tonight despite the ultimatum but that didn't mean he couldn't spy.

Wilson paid the check, helped Cuddy put on her coat and the pair walked arm in arm across the street and down the block to the art gallery. House hurriedly paid his bill, left his dinner plate untouched and hurried after them. His motorcycle parked around back was well hidden and he'd have to try to sneak up on them without being noticed. A man with a cane is always noticed but so far, neither James Wilson nor Lisa Cuddy had managed to notice anything but each other.

James followed Lisa through the art gallery and the two laughed and giggled over some of the artwork. There were plenty of nudes in various art styles and Cuddy seemed a little reserved at times but James would whisper in her ear and the two would burst out laughing. House kept an eye on Cuddy's face. She was happy, enjoying herself. She was relaxed -- stunning. But somewhere during the hour, House noticed a different expression taking residence on James Wilson's face. A look of attraction and affection, genuine and open was easy to witness. James kept his eyes on Cuddy hardly noticing the art work all around them.

At one point, Wilson placed his hand on Cuddy's waist whenever the opportunity allowed. Cuddy didn't seem to mind. James leaned in and said something to Cuddy, allowing his right hand to pause at her shoulder. House noticed James leaning in to Cuddy's hair and inhaling surrepticiously. Cuddy didn't appear to be aware of James's actions until James took Cuddy by the hand and pulled her through a throng of people blocking their path. Cuddy seemed shocked but House noticed James never let go of her hand. Cuddy wouldn't have yanked her hand away but House grew angrier that Cuddy allowed it to go on.

House could feel his temper flaring. James was making moves and Cuddy didn't notice or if she did, she liked it.

House nearly fell over when Cuddy turned too quickly to James and their faces were just inches apart. Cuddy smiled and James smiled back before Cuddy pulled back. They had had a moment and House knew it. This sucked. He couldn't barge in and break them up. He'd be a laughing stock. What if he made Lisa mad? What if she wanted to be with James, preferred him even? No, House would hang back and watch. It was a quarter to nine. He had time. He didn't know what was to happen at nine pm but he wasn't going to miss finding out.

James glanced at his watch. He knew House had to be nearby. It wasn't like House to ignore a dare. He didn't care if House was there or not but James had decided tonight he would make his intentions perfectly clear to his boss that he had fallen for her and had held back telling her of his feelings for years. It would change their relationship for sure.

Waiting for just the opportune moment to make his move, James recognized Cuddy was in fact relaxed and comfortable with him. Cuddy was enjoying herself and being terribly witty. No wonder House had fallen for her. House. Damn him. That stupid selfish bastard had no right to keep Cuddy under his thumb without making some sort of move to let her know where she stood. House was an idiot and didn't deserve Cuddy.

James felt his temper rising at the thought of House being an obstacle to Cuddy's happiness. She hadn't told him to leave her alone but she hadn't exactly encouraged any flirtation. James swigged a glass of chardonney to bolster his nerves and brought two more glasses to Cuddy seated on glass bench. James apprised her from head to toe. Cuddy was glamour to him. 1940s silver screen glamour with confidence, toughness and sweetness. She was curvaceous, sexy, ladylike and flirtatious with a hint of tomboy. Wilson always admired pretty tomboys who had no idea of their physical powers over others. Charmingly oblivious to their own beauty most of the time.

"Here you go, Lisa." James handed her the cool glass of wine and taking a seat next to her. Lisa took the glass and smiled at James.

"How are you and House friends?"

"What?" James grinned.

"Seriously, James, two men could not be more different. You're nice, sweet, gentle, funny, handsome. Charming even.

"House is funny and he isn't ugly," James defended his friend to the woman they both wanted. What was he doing? James mentally kicked himself.

"No, House can be funny and he's not ugly but he sure knows how to act ugly sometimes."

"You got me there." James leaned over and tapped their wine glasses together. "Prost!"

"So why are you attracted to House if he's such a bastard?" James asked quietly before taking a large swallow.

"I honestly don't have the foggiest idea why." Cuddy answered openly. "I use to think it was all a pretense and that if I worked at him long enough he'd open up but now I'm convinced he's not guarding anything. He really is a selfish bastard with moments of surprising kindness and thoughtfulness mixed in to mess with people's heads."

"You're realizing this just now?" James asked.

"No, I've only refused to accept it until now." Cuddy answered.

"Why now?"

"Why not now?" Cuddy countered. "I'm tired of banging my head against the wall waiting for a breakthrough." Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Can we change the subject?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact we can," James agreed and reached over to take the glass from her hand before setting them on the other side carefully placed on the bench. "Now, where were we?"

Cuddy shrugged and stared at James curiously. "Oh yeah, we were just about to talk about this…" James leaned in and kissed Cuddy firmly, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her tighter to him. Cuddy froze. Her eyes were wide open, her mouth agape as Wilson kissed her, his tongue sliding along her bottom lip softly, barely there.

"James!" Cuddy declared. "What are you doing?" Cuddy leaned back but Wilson hadn't relaxed his grip.

"Something I should have done years ago." James stated flatly before leaning in for another kiss. His arms encircled her and pulled her closer, lips landing crookedly on her cheek.

"Hold up, James!" Cuddy exclaimed.

"What?" James whispered.

"People are staring!" Cuddy whispered back.

"So what?" James pulled her tighter and kissed her harder. Cuddy couldn't deny James was a very good kisser. Cuddy relaxed a bit and allowed herself to be kissed.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Wilson asked. The wine had done wonders to relax him and his inhibitions. "You're really beautiful, Lisa." Wilson murmured into her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver up her back.

"James, wait." Cuddy pleaded. "Lets not make this a public show." Wilson pulled back and looked into Cuddy's eyes. Her beautiful grey eyes pleading with him. Wilson agreed and released her, sliding his hand down her arm and grasping her hand.

"Come on, let's go," James said. Cuddy got up and followed James, smiling to herself at his newfound confidence and overt masculinity. Wine did his body good, Cuddy laughed inwardly.

James pulled Cuddy quickly through the crowd headed toward the coat-check counter. He would have made it too had he not tripped over a hardwood cane strategically placed just seconds before.

House is jealous! Now don't we love that? Reviews, please????