CHAPTER 39
CC rushed to tidy up her apartment. Being at home for a day had made her lazy. When she was working, she was on the go; even making sure her home was in order as she rushed around. She remembered someone telling her once that if you need something done, ask someone who's busy - they will do it in the next free moment. If you ask someone who's got all day, they'll do it when they feel like it and that could take forever.
She was still in her black silk pajamas. After tidying up a bit, she pinned her hair up into a loose bun and hopped into her shower to freshen up.
When she got out, she lathered herself in her Chanel body lotion and got dressed in a casual, high-waisted, black maxi skirt and a short-sleeved, black top. It was a form-fitting knit with a mandarin collar.
When the doorbell rang, she felt a funny sensation in her stomach but decided to brush it off as nothing and ran to open the door for Niles. She couldn't ignore how her heart flipped at the sight of him.
"I brought chocolate. Quick! Eat some before you bite my head off!" He held an opened chocolate towards her and she took it, smirking at him.
"Why aren't there more men like you? Oh, yeah, that's right... Evolution." She deadpanned. She pulled the wrapper back over the chocolate and placed it onto the countertop after following him into her kitchen.
He smiled and scanned the items in her pantry. He was glad to hear she was still the Babcock he knew and loved.
"What's for dinner tonight?" She asked as he walked over to the fridge.
"I thought there were a few sweet potatoes in here?" He asked.
"I don't remember you buying any." She said, moving towards the fridge to see.
"Are those 2 cans of tuna still in the pantry?" He asked.
"Nope. I ate those with Chester today for lunch. With a salad."
"Miss Babcock! You ate your poor pup?!"
She gave him a dirty look. "Chester and I ate the tuna! Besides, I don't think dog meat and fish would go down well together." She joked.
Niles shook his body and pulled a disgusted face.
"So? What are we having?" She asked again. She was sure he could hear her tummy rumble.
"Well... Judging by what we have to work with, we have two of your favourites as options, so... What's it going to be, Babcock? Jack Daniels or Johnny Walker?"
She grumbled. "Didn't you bring any groceries?"
"I didn't go shopping this morning. I didn't think I'd be cooking here tonight."
His honesty made her feel awkward. "Well then we're going out!" She walked towards the credenza where she'd placed her handbag.
"I don't think the grocery store will still be open at this time of night. Even if we are in the city that never sleeps."
She put on her coat and looked back at him. "I meant we're going to dine out. I'm starved. You can buy groceries tomorrow."
She opened the apartment door. "What are you waiting for, houseboy? Get a move on! The faster we can eat, the better."
He followed her out of the apartment and into the elevator. She pushed for the ground floor. The ride down was a quiet one. The space was so confined. It trapped them and their thoughts. They couldn't escape the memories of what had been happening between them. They could both sense the tension. Niles knew she felt awkward because as soon as the elevator doors opened, she sighed audibly, relieved, and couldn't get out of the elevator fast enough.
He expected her to ask the valet to collect her car. Instead, she hailed a cab. They got in and she rattled off an address to the driver; then she leaned back into her seat and looked out of the window. The ride was mostly silent.
"Miss Babcock?"
"Mmhmm?" She stared at the passing scenery, pretending to be interested in the grimy buildings and pedestrian-filled sidewalks.
"Where are we going? I'm not dressed for anything fancy. I left my dinner jacket at the mansion."
She looked over at his attire. He was wearing a pair of navy dress pants and a powder blue shirt with the top button undone. She had taken note at her penthouse but used his question as an excuse to look again. She hated that he wasn't wearing his tie and his top two buttons at his collar were undone. It was as if he were trying to tempt her.
"You look fine. We're just going to a bar."
"A bar?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
She rolled her eyes. "A burger bar! The food is good and the wait isn't long. I frequent there so don't do anything to embarrass me," she warned.
He lifted his hands in surrender. "Only if you don't."
"I won't. I just want to have a nice meal and relax before I have to go back to the theater tomorrow."
The cab slowed outside of Bill's Bar & Burger at Rockefeller Centre. Niles had heard of the place but he'd never eaten there. He hardly ate out.
They walked in and a waiter took them to CC's 'usual table'. She salivated as they read through their menus. "I can't wait to sink my teeth into one of these burgers," she said excitedly.
The waiter came to take their orders. CC ordered a BBQ-bacon burger with a side of sweet potato fries and then grinned at the thought of it as she slammed her menu down on the table with an air of finality.
When Niles ordered the jalapeño burger, she looked at him in surprise. "Looking to add some excitement to your mundane existence?" She teased.
He smirked at her over the top of his menu then looked up at the waiter. "And we'll have 2 pitchers of the Cowtipper."
As the waiter left, Niles looked at CC and, amused, added, "Seeing as you're a regular, I assume the drink was created especially to get you off people's backs around here."
She narrowed her eyes but forgave him because there was some truth to it. The barman had named it after she had told him a story or two about the annoying butler and his annoying quips and nicknames for her. She wouldn't dare tell him that though.
When their drinks arrived, CC began taking large gulps. Niles stared at her. "So this is why we took a cab?"
She stopped drinking from the pitcher and said, "I'm hungry! I need something in my body like yesterday!"
He shook his head, smiling as he sipped from his own pitcher. "Oh, you're in luck." He said after lowering his drink from his mouth. He used his eyes to gesture towards the waiter who was approaching with their meals. He laughed when CC squealed in excitement.
As soon as the plate touched the checkered tablecloth, CC picked up her burger with her hands and sunk her teeth into it. She closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure. Niles's eyes were glued to her face.
"Did they teach you that in your debutant training?" He asked sarcastically as he lifted his knife and fork to his burger.
She ignored his jab and swallowed another mouthful. Without setting down the burger or looking up from it, she said, "It always tastes better when you use your hands!" She took another bite and then set the burger down on its plate to wipe her lips with a serviette.
She looked at Niles's hands as she sipped from her drink. "You ordered the spicy jalapeño burger, trying to act like a cowboy and you're still using cutlery? Niles. Live a little!"
He looked up at her. She was smirking with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes told him it was a challenge and she was judging him. He set down his knife and fork and lifted the burger to his mouth in his hands. He took a massive bite while watching her. She grinned at him. He began chewing and then his eyes started to widen when the burn hit him.
He hadn't realized just how spicy the burger would be when he got to the center. He was used to bland, upper class, English dining at the mansion. He dropped the burger to his plate and grabbed his drink, gulping it down. She looked up from hers when he coughed.
"Are you okay?" She laughed.
"I should have ordered a shake." He said, sucking air into his mouth. "The milk counteracts the burn."
She laughed again. "You should've ordered something you could handle, cowboy. Who are you trying to impress?"
He looked at her and tried to frown angrily while coughing. She smiled and imagined him saying 'You, CC. I'm trying to impress you.'
"Is everything okay here, folks?" The waiter asked.
"Yes, he's just too big for his boots." Niles glared at CC and she chuckled.
"Could we get a shake ASAP please? Whichever one is your best seller. Pronto!" CC ordered. The waiter nodded and ran to place the order with the kitchen. Not a moment later, the shake arrived. CC thanked the waiter and took it to her mouth to have a long sip. "Mmmm," she hummed.
Niles shot her an angry look as he coughed again. She laughed and handed the milkshake to him. He took a few gulps and seemed to lose a bit of the redness that had covered his cheeks a few minutes before. "Thanks," he said when he could breathe steadily again. "That's never happened to me before."
"That's what they all say." CC teased with a naughty grin.
He shook his head and smiled at her; then he took another bite of his burger. It was still hot but at least he had the shake and he felt as though he'd already been through the worst of it.
"You can order something else if you want. I'm buying," CC said as she took another bite of her own burger.
"It's okay, thanks. But could I try some of those?" He pointed at her sweet potato fries.
She pushed her dish towards him. "Help yourself." He smiled and tried one or two. They continued eating and CC would swat his hand if he tried to grab a fry at the same time that she did. She would smile every time he pulled his hand back. She took his shake and sipped from the straw.
"Why didn't you order two?" He asked.
"Are you kidding? I'd get fat." Then she slammed the glass down, pointed a finger at him and quickly added, "Don't you even say it!"
He motioned to zip his lips with a smile.
She smiled in return and pushed the shake back to him. He took a few sips from the straw. The waiter walked by and placed another straw on the table in front of Niles. They looked at it and at each other.
CC watched as he lifted the straw and held it out to her. She looked around as if checking who was watching while she grabbed it from his hand. He smiled and shifted his chair closer to her side of the table, bringing the shake with him. She dipped her straw into it and lifted the glass to drink.
He leaned closer to her and took hold of the other straw and mimicked her sips.
He didn't meet her eyes but he could see her glancing at him through the corner of his. He looked at her and she dropped the straw from her lips and wiped her mouth with her free hand. She was still holding up the glass as he continued to drink from it. She was starting to feel uneasy. She'd been in these waters before and she knew they could get choppy.
"Hold it." She was talking about the glass. He shook his head and continued sipping with a sly smirk.
"I'm not going to sit here holding it for you while you drink," she said as she grabbed his hand and placed it around the glass. She didn't remove her hand from his. She told herself it was because she wasn't sure whether he had a firm enough hold on the glass. He lifted his other hand and placed it over hers. They looked at each other while he took another sip.
"Stop it!" She said as she pulled her hands from the glass and looked around the room nervously. She spotted the barman walking over to their table and panicked, hoping he wouldn't say anything about Niles.
"CC Babcock! It's been a while! Who's been feeding you these days? I hardly see you around here anymore!"
CC grinned at him and greeted him warmly. "James! Hello! Oh, I've been around."
Niles snorted, mumbling a "Yeah, you have." She glared at him. "I've been in the neighborhood!"
The barman noticed their exchange, laughed and asked what she dreaded he would: "Is this the butler from your place of work?"
She flinched and saw Niles frown in confusion at the man and then at her.
"Um. Yes, this is Niles. He's been cooking for me. I mean I've hired him to cook for me."
The barman looked at her skeptically. She knew what he was thinking - why would she hire the man who annoys her so much?
"He's almost useless though. He forgot to go grocery shopping so we had to eat out tonight." She laughed nervously.
"I had other things on my mind, Babs."
CC didn't look at him.
"Babs? That's a new one, isn't it, CC?" She widened her eyes at the barman as Niles looked at him in confusion. "Pardon me?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Niles. You see, you have somewhat of a reputation... CC here tells me about all of your tricks and the names you call her. She loves to complain about your 'insolence'. And quite often!" He laughed.
"Well... that's true." She said and turned to Niles. "You are insolent."
"And you do love to complain." He deadpanned.
The barman laughed. "He's quite funny, CC!"
"Hilarious. At my expense," She said, pursing her lips.
"Niles, tell me. What's CC like at work in your opinion?"
CC's mouth opened in protest. "You don't want to hear his opinion, James."
"Oh, she works very hard." Niles said.
CC looked at him surprised. "On the street corner?" She asked, wondering why he hadn't finished his jab at her.
The barman and Niles both laughed.
"She makes my job easy for me," Niles grinned.
"She's an interesting woman," the barman replied as Niles looked at CC intently.
"I didn't bring Niles here for you to make fast friends with him. You're supposed to be on my side!" She whined at James. "He's not as innocent as he seems tonight." She narrowed her eyes at Niles as she spoke to the barman.
"Does she speak so freely at work? She's got quite a mouth on her after a Cowtipper or two in this joint!" James laughed in amusement of his memories of CC at the bar.
"I'm sitting right here!" CC said, offended.
Niles and the barman laughed. "Yes. She's not innocent either. She often sneaks a bunch of booze in to work."
CC's jaw dropped. She had a small flask of whiskey in her purse but that's all. "I do not!"
"She sneaks it in in her liver." Niles said, stony faced.
"Good one!" The barman laughed. "I don't know how you keep a straight face through these comments, Niles! And you're a brave man to take on a woman this fiery." James rested a hand on her shoulder. He could see CC was starting to become annoyed. "But you have to admit that CC's a beautiful woman."
"Like Charlize Theron," Niles said and the barman frowned at the butler. He had obviously been told that Niles had never said a kind word about her.
CC looked at him and felt a butterfly take flight in her tummy.
Both CC and James went quiet.
"In the movie, Monster," Niles added for safety, making the barman laugh.
CC rolled her eyes at him. "See?" She said to James.
"Now I understand why CC often says she can't stop drinking about you!" CC looked up at the barman, annoyed that he was telling Niles her secrets.
"I can't stop drinking about her, too." Niles said, looking at CC. She was looking at her plate and frowning.
James watched as Niles stared at her. Then, as the butler excused himself to go to the men's room, he sat down in Niles's chair.
"Did something happen between you and him?" James asked.
"What?! Why would you ask that?" CC said, hoping it wasn't obvious to anyone besides James.
"There's chemistry. I can see it in the way he looks at you, hun. You never mentioned the sexual tension before! You were holding out in me, Missy!" James winked at her.
"There's no sexual tension!" CC said with wide eyes, feeling as though she'd been caught with a hand in the cookie jar.
"Yeah, right, because you've already slept together." he said sarcastically.
She kept her eyes on the milkshake.
"Oh. My. God. You didn't!" He whispered.
CC raised her eyebrows, trying to look apologetic.
"I knew it! Oh, it must have been intense after all the tension! How was he?"
CC scrunched her face, hoping to appear uninterested but then a sinfully wicked laugh bubbled up from deep inside.
"Hahaaa, CC! You saucy minx! Well, it's obvious he's interested in you! Now you need to decide how you feel about him."
"Oh, he's not interested in me." She waved her hand in the air for emphasis. "He hates me. What man would turn down sex? You've seen how he talks about me and to me."
"In your presence, yes. I'm sure around other people he'd sing a different tune. But mark my words; he's interested in you, CC! Why else would he spend so much time pulling your pigtails? Hate is too strong an emotion to waste on someone you don't like."
CC turned pensive.
"Think about it, hun. Here he comes. And look at how he's wringing his hands. He's nervous."
CC watched Niles's motions as he approached the table. He smiled at her and James nudged her as he did.
"It was great to finally meet you, Niles! You should join CC here more often!" James grinned. CC pretended to ignore the comment.
"Likewise, James and perhaps I will." He shook the barman's hand. "I'm interested to hear more about what Miss Babcock has told you." He smirked.
James laughed as CC watched their exchange with scrutinizing eyes.
"Oh, you know... She doesn't give away all her secrets about you."
Her eyes darted to meet James's and she breathed a sigh of relief when he said, "But I'll leave you two to your dinner."
"Thank you. James." CC said. James knew the look she was dishing out to him meant she'd give him a good talking to when they met again. He smiled and before leaving the couple, added, "You should go ice skating! The rink at 30 Rock is always busy. People could lose themselves there." He winked and left.
Niles looked over at CC. "Should we?"
"If it'll help me lose you, it doesn't sound too bad."
Niles chuckled and called for the bill.
When it came, he took it and said, "This one's on me, Miss Babcock. I'm glad we did this."
CC swallowed. Her tummy was unsettled. She didn't chance arguing with him. She was too perplexed by his gesture and James's words to even smile.
He rose from his chair and walked around the table to help her out of hers. She was surprised and, as she stood, looked up to see James grinning at her from a distance. She scowled at him and could hear his amused laughter.
Niles helped her with her coat before they walked into the cool New York breeze.
"So, are we going to cut up some ice or do you want to go back to your place?"
CC looked over at him in shock.
"I meant would you like to go home? I mean to sleep. Alone. You know what I mean... To end the date. I mean the night!" He put a hand to his eyes and grunted in frustration at his difficulty in finding the right words. He lifted an arm to hail a cab, assuming that would be her choice.
CC reached for his hand and pulled him along the sidewalk with her. When he made it difficult by not following, she stopped and looked back at him. He shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
"We can walk to the rink from here." She smiled, squeezing his hand. He caught up and they continued walking hand in hand down the city street.