Tony looked up at her while she draped herself over him laughing hysterically. He could feel her breath on his neck and the scent of her perfume tingled his nose.

'Ok, what is going on here? She was telling you a story about the time she bounced down some stairs only to end up only wearing a slip and a wrist corsage and now she is practically all over you!'

Angela realized what she was doing and quickly stood up. She asked him when dinner would be ready and he replied in twenty minutes. She went back to her seat while he picked up his napkin and wiped the sweat off his face.

Her face was now as red as her dress. 'Oh well this is so embarrassing! How could you have done that? He is your employee and you're practically fondling him!'

She risks a glance at him. He picks up his water glass and takes a long swallow.

"Um Tony, I'm sorry about that. I guess I got a little carried away."

"Oh, no it's okay. You were just caught up in the moment."

"Yeah. It's just I never told anyone that story before and hearing myself saying it out loud well I never realized how funny it really is. I mean it wasn't at the time of course but now I know I can laugh about it. But, I still shouldn't have done… well that."

"Hey look we both have done some embarrassing things. And we'll probably do a lot more since we're living together." Realizing what he said he gulps. "Uh, I don't mean we are living together. But we. Oh never mind!"

She nods and picks her water glass up and takes a sip.

'Ok, think of something to break the ice! Things were going okay, you just need to get back to that.' Finally the perfect idea comes to him.

"Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we go outside and shoot some hoops while we wait for dinner to get done?"

"Basketball?"

"Yeah, basketball! Come on, it will be fun." He stood up.

"Tony, in case you haven't noticed I am wearing an evening gown."

"Oh believe me I have! But, hey I'm wearing a suit!'

"Okay, fine." She stood up as well and he removed his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair. They went outside through the patio door.

'I'll get the ball." He went into the garage where he grabbed his basketball.

' I can't believe he wants us to play basketball! Oh come on Angela! Stop being such a snob! Who knows, maybe you'll actually like it!'

He came out dribbling the ball with a big smile on his face.

'Okay, okay. This may be a little corny but hey anything is better than sitting in the house not knowing what to say to each other.'

"So you ready?"

"Yeah, I guess. But, I have to be honest here. I really don't know how to play that well."

"Oh it's easy! I'll dribble the ball and you try to take it away from me."

"Okay." She shrugged and slipped her heels off.

He started bouncing the ball and she half heartedly tried to get it away from him.

He picked it up and held it in his hands. "Angela, come on! Sam does better than that! Heck, Jonathan would do better than that! "

"Are you trying to goad me?!" She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Maybe I am." He smirked at her.

"Okay, fine. Let's try it again."

"Good idea. Ready?"

"Let's do this!" She bent down and he started bouncing the ball again. She tried to take it from him a few times but he was too quick. She didn't mind though. She was having too much fun. She couldn't believe it. Here she was playing basketball in an evening gown with her housekeeper and she was having more fun than she had in a long time.

He was having a good time as well. Every time she tried to take the ball away from him he would maneuver himself so she couldn't. She didn't seem to mind though. If the big smile on her face was any indication.

'You know, this is actually a lot of fun. Who knew?'

'I can't believe I am enjoying myself. I know this wasn't exactly the evening I planned but it's turning out to be a very nice evening.'

"Okay, that was a great effort. But, I guess I need to be a gentleman and let you have the ball now." He passed it to her.

She smirked and started bouncing it. But she bounced it so hard it rolled down the driveway.

"Oh no!" She gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

"No worries. I'll get it." He said and jogged down the driveway. He picked the ball up and jogged back to her.

"Okay, try not to bounce it quite that hard okay?"

"Oh Tony, I don't know.."

"Come on, it's easy. Here, watch me." He started bouncing the ball. A steady rhythm of the ball hitting the pavement echoed through the air.

'Oh, he is so good at that! So sure of himself. He makes it look so easy!'

"So you ready to try?"

"Tony, I don't think you know what you are asking. They don't call me the Connecticut Klutz for nothing!"

'Hey, now that's the wrong attitude! Here, turn around." Off her look he shakes his head. "I just thought if maybe we both bounce the ball you'll get a feeling for it. Okay?'

"Okay." She turns around and he reaches in front of her and places the ball in her hands.

"Okay, now, just let the ball bounce slowly."

She nods and does so. It bounces to the ground and back up in her hands.

"Okay that was good. Now do it a few more times."

She does and manages to get a steady rhythm going.

"Hey, I think you're getting the hang of it!" He smiled.

"I think you mean the bounce of it!" She laughed. He did as well until they're both doubling over.

"Okay, okay. I think we're ready for a little one on one."

She turned around. "Yeah, I guess we are."

They played for the next ten minutes until Mitch interrupted them. And even though she was glad to see him she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed as well. She couldn't believe how much fun she was having playing basketball with Tony while in an evening gown no less. But that was over and now she was with the man she had originally planned to spend the evening with. And the rest of the night went surprisingly well. They had a nice dinner and good conversation. But, to her surprise all she could think about was Tony and how sweet it was of him to stay and keep her company. After a few hours Mitch left and she was sitting on the couch having a cup of tea when Tony came out to clear the table. They talked briefly about Mitch and she apologized about the evening and his plans being ruinrd He told her that it was okay and that he actually enjoyed some of it. He went back into the kitchen where he noticed the wine bottle and their two glasses on the table.

He looked at them and then at the kitchen door.

'Okay, there's some wine left. Maybe you should pour a glass for the two of you and take it in there and….'

'And what? Are you crazy?! '

'No, I'm not crazy! I just think it will be a nice gesture!'

He poured the wine in their glasses and looked at the door again.

'Well if you're going to do it then just do it!'

'Wait! What am I thinking?! I can't do this!' He shakes his head and mumbles "No, no, no!" under his breath. He walks over to the sink and dumps the glasses down the drain. She comes into the kitchen and asks if he needs any help. He tells her that everything is fine and suggests she goes on up to bed. She nods and puts her cup on the table. She hesitates for a moment and turns to him.

"Tony? Thanks...for everything." She said softly.

"Anytime Boss!" He smiled at her. She smiled back and left the kitchen

She went up to her room and took off her dress and put on one of her nightgowns. She brushed her teeth and washed her face and then slipped into bed.

'Well this wasn't exactly the evening I had planned but it turned out to be pleasant enough.'

She smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep the sound of the bouncing of the ball and his laughter echoing in her head.

Tony finished up and checked to make sure everything was locked up and went went into the bathroom, where he brushed his teeth and then into his room. He changed out of his suit and put on a pair of sweats. He crawled under the covers and stared up at the ceiling.

'Okay, so the night wasn't what you had wanted but hey, some of it was actually fun!'

He chuckled to himself and closed his eyes. The image of her smiling face and the sound of her laughter echoing in his head.

################################

A/N: As always the lines from the show the credit goes to the writers.

.