AN: I decided to make Horatio a little younger in this story than he is on the show.

Horatio sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror. What had he gotten himself in to? He was 45 years old and Jessica was at least 10 years younger than him. Why would she want to go out with an old man like him? Would she run when she found out he was widower? Would he run if things got to serious? Suddenly he wasn't so sure of himself.

He had been standing in his bathroom for the last thirty minutes, just looking at himself. He was a man who had been hurt many times and who believe that he wasn't really meant to be truly happy. Yet he didn't want to cancel his date with Jessica. She intrigued him.

Should I wear a tie? Or is that too formal? He suddenly found himself thinking. He never wore a tie to work, but work was work after all. Tonight he had a date. He hadn't told anybody about Jessica yet, he wanted it to remain a private matter for now until he knew if it would lead anywhere.

Maybe I should just call Alexx and innocently ask her if a tie is good for a date… nah, she'll start asking questions.

Horatio sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Then he muttered incoherent words as he combed it to the way it should be. He was wearing a suit, but not one he would wore to work. The suit he was wearing was more expensive and unique.

Forget about the tie. He decided.

It was an hour left before he had to be outside Jessica's apartment to pick her up. One hour and he had no idea what to do in that time. He was dressed, he smelled good, he was shaved and now he was starting to become restless.

-I-

Jessica wasn't restless like Horatio, in fact she was running around her apartment like a maniac looking for the right dress or skirt.

Maybe I should wear pants? Nah, a dress will make me look sexier. Oh god, this isn't a date with sex after! What if this date is a waste of time? Jessica thought as she rummaged through her closet, looking for her red favorite dress.

"Please do not tell me it's in the laundry basket!" Jessica groaned and dumped all her laundry over the floor.

She sighed in relief when the dress wasn't in the pile of clothes and instead she decided to check her chest of drawers, maybe she had placed it there.

"Finally!" She grinned when she found the dress.

Then she almost felt like crying when it had wrinkles everywhere.

I do not have time for this! She thought and threw the dress away. She would just have to wear something else. She tried on a yellow dress and looked at herself in the mirror. She frowned. She looked good, but not good enough. She felt like she had to impress and stun the red head. Next she put on a light purple dress, but it wasn't the good enough either.

"I have too many clothes." She muttered and called her big brother Henry.

"Henry, answer me quick, dark red or light green?" Jessica asked, "I only have thirty minutes before he's here."

"Who?"

"Just answer the question."

"Um…"

"Today Henry!"

"Light green. Who is the guy?"

"Tell you later… maybe. Bye!" Jessica said and hung up.

She put on the green dress and smiled. Her brother was right. Light green was better for tonight. Next she had to put on some make-up, not very much, but a little. Her hands were shaking as she put on the mascara and she had to re-do it three times.

"Calm down girl, it's just a date with a man with a sexy ass. Oh god, there I go again. I should never have looked at his ass yesterday." Jessica sighed heavily, "Even if it is sexy."

Get yourself together Blondie! Tonight look only in to his eyes! She screamed mentally at herself.

Jessica's heart sped up when she heard the doorbell ring and she glanced at the clock. It was time already! She ran to the door and stopped just before opening it.

"Horatio, hi!" She smiled as she opened the door and hoped he wouldn't notice how nervous she was or that she had ran towards the door.

"Hi Jessica, I um… brought you some flowers." Horatio blushed.

Frank and Jesse would laugh their butts off if they knew how much Jessica made him blush.

"Oh there beautiful!" Jessica exclaimed as she accepted the roses, "I love roses!"

"Really?" Horatio asked.

"Yeah, I think it's a very romantic flower." Jessica winked and then smacked herself mentally.

Jesus! He just gave you some flowers, calm down and put the flowers in a vase.

"I um, just going to put them in a vase." She grinned and almost skipped of joy towards the kitchen.

Horatio nodded and waited at the door. When Jessica came back he smiled and took her arm in his. They walked to Horatio's private car, he didn't want to use the hummer for a date.

"You own a Buick Skylark?" Jessica gasped as she saw the car.

"Yeah, from 1966." Horatio chuckled, "You like cars?"

"A little bit yeah, but a Buick from 1966 should almost be illegal to own. It's such a beauty!" Jessica grinned.

Horatio grinned back and opened the door for her. Frank and Jesse always said how jealous they were at Horatio for owning such a car.

"How long have you owned this car?" Jessica asked on the way to the restaurant by the ocean that they were going to eat at.

"Since 1993." Horatio smiled fondly, "I saw it and knew I had to buy it."

"Very good choice."

Horatio smiled at the blonde woman next to him. She just kept on surprising him. Jessica blushed. She knew that once she told her brother Henry about Horatio's car, he would freak out and demand to see him.

"My brother loves cars. He wants a Buick himself, but hasn't found one yet." Jessica said.

"Maybe if I meet him one day he can drive this one."

"He would love that! I think he would almost cry of joy." Jessica laughed.

Once the couple arrived at the restaurant they were lead to a table on the outside. Horatio pulled out Jessica's chair and then sat down himself.

"You are such a gentleman." She smiled.

"Well, I think every man should be." Horatio chuckled.

After they had ordered their food, they began to small talk about themselves. Jessica had moved to Orlando with her family, when she was seven, from Seattle. Then she moved to Miami to coach her figure skating team and she had fallen in love with city from the very beginning.

"Your family still lives in Orlando?" Horatio asked.

"Yep." Jessica smiled, "Your turn."

Horatio told her that he grew up in New York and then moved to Miami more than 12 years ago.

"I've never been to NY." Jessica said.

"It's a nice city, but Miami is home for me." Horatio said.

"Does your family still live up there?"

"Um, no. My brother and I both lived down here, but he passed away several years ago. I consider my team my family." Horatio said and gave he a small smile, "I also lost my wife five years ago."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."

"No need to worry, it's okay." Horatio smiled.

Once the food arrived, Horatio tried to innocently ask how old Jessica was.

"So um, how old is your brother?" Horatio asked.

"He's 39. But still a big baby sometimes." Jessica laughed, "Some people actually think I'm the responsible older sister."

"How many years is there between you?" Horatio blushed.

"You mean how old am I?" Jessica winked, "I'm 34."

Horatio blushed and Jessica chuckled and patter his hand gently, "And how old are you Lt.?"

"Um, 45." Horatio blushed.

Jessica shrugged, "You were expecting me to be scared off huh?"

"That thought did cross my mind."

"Well, I'm not. I don't care about age, love is love no matter how old you are." Jessica grinned.

I did not just mention love did I?! Oh my god! He's going to think I'm one of those women that expects a wedding ring after the first date! Jessica thought.

"You're right it is." Horatio nodded.

Oh man, I just made a complete fool of myself. Our first date and we're already on the subject of love. Horatio growled mentally at himself.

Dinner went on fine, neither Jessica nor Horatio saw the slight panic in the other's eyes when they had mentioned love. After the dinner, Horatio suggested that the two of them take a walk on the beach. It was getting late and suddenly the green dress wasn't such a good choice of clothing. Jessica blushed when Horatio put his suit jacket over her shoulder.

"Thank you."

"Anytime." Horatio smiled, "Besides from cars and coaching figure skating, what else do you like to do?"

"I like to run early in the morning before work." Jessica said, "Read books and listen to rock music.

"I wouldn't have taken you for a rock girl." Horatio grinned.

"I love rock, especially Metallica and Queen." Jessica smiled, "How about you?"

"I like to run as well. I like to read and listen to rock." Horatio chuckled, "Seems like we have the same hobbies."

"Seems like it. Do you like dancing?"

"It depends on the dance."

"Street dance?"

Horatio laughed, "I've never tried it and I doubt I could do it."

"I tried it once, it was hard." Jessica laughed, "How about Salsa?"

"Yeah, that's more like it. I only know a little though." Horatio smiled.

"Me too! Salsa is kind of sexy." Jessica winked.

Not again! First I check out his ass, then I wink at him. He must think I'm crazy! Jessica thought and almost kicked herself.

"It is sexy yes." Horatio smiled.

After the walk on the beach it was time to end the date. Horatio drove Jessica home and followed her to her door. There he looked down at his feet and blushed.

"I liked our date. I um, was wondering if maybe you wanted to this again?" He smiled.

"Absolutely. We can switch phone numbers and call each other. I might be busy with a competition for the coming two days." Jessica grinned widely and gave Horatio his number.

Horatio gave her his number and chuckled nervously.

"Good night then Jessica." He smiled and leaned forward to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night Horatio." Jessica blushed and opened the door just as he turned around to go back to his car.

I just checked out his ass again! She exclaimed inside her head. When the door was closed she jumped up and down and congratulated herself for being a good girl and not scaring Horatio away.

Horatio resisted the urge to skip like a girl to his car.

I cannot believe I got her number! I might actually have a chance with her!

AN: Please review!