"Did Dave say what time he was going to be here?" Alex asked, and Erin shrugged a little before shaking her head. "Well, that makes planning for supper a crapshoot!"
Erin chuckled as she turned away from the sink and stepped closer to her lover. "I don't think that we have to worry about cooking, darling. I believe that he mentioned that he would be bringing food with him, since we were giving up our evening for him and his kvetching. And I am definitely in the mood for his cooking right now."
Alex rolled her eyes a little as Erin stepped into her personal space, causing Erin to smirk a little as she wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. "All you can think about is his food?" she teased lightly, and again, Erin shook her head as she slid her hands down to cup Alex's ass and pull her closer. "Oh? Then what else are you thinking about?"
"How good you taste," she breathed out before lowering her head and running her tongue along the shell of Alex's ear. It was so delightful to feel the woman shiver against her, and she chuckled before closing her teeth delicately around her earlobe and nipping.
"Oh god, Rin, if you keep that up, Dave is going to walk in on something that I don't want him to see," Alex groaned as she extricated herself from Erin's embrace. Erin pouted a little at her, watching Alex shake her head before she leaned in and pecked at Erin's lips. "I know that he's seen you in all your glory, Rin, but I do not want him to see me that way. Is that so wrong?"
Erin shook her head and danced away from Alex's side to pour herself a glass of water before taking a seat at the table. "I just like teasing you, Lexie. Though I do wish that we knew how long we had until he arrived, because there are so many things that I'd like to do with you."
Alex laughed just as the doorbell rang, and she looked expectantly at Erin. "Are you going to get that, Erin?"
"You're still standing, darling." Alex sighed and gave her another eyeroll before turning on her heel and making her way to the front door. Erin knew that she had annoyed Alex by asking her to do that, but she hoped that that would play out better for her that evening, once David had gone home. Licking her lips a little, she waited for the pair to join her in the kitchen, trying not to think about the night that potentially lay before them.
"Bella! I take it that you want me to set up in here?" he asked, his hands full with a box that most likely contained their meal.
"That was the plan, yes." She gave him a winning smile as Alex took a seat next to her. "Did you want us to help you get everything set out?"
"I should be good here, but dessert is still in the car."
"I'll get it, Alex, if you want to set the table." Erin leaned over and kissed her cheek gently before getting to her feet and heading outside. The summer evening was alive with the sound of birds, and she sighed as she went over to David's car and picked up the casserole dish containing what looked like cannoli. That he still remembered her favourite dessert made her heart light, though a part of her wondered if he was buttering them up for some reason. Shaking her head at that notion, Erin made her way back inside and set the dish on the counter for later.
"Did you want water or juice with our meal?" Alex asked, and Erin looked to see that she had a bottle of grape juice in her hands, and she nodded. "That's not an answer!"
"Juice will be fine," she said as she took a seat and rested her chin on her hands, watching them. "So, you didn't really make it clear why you wanted to come over tonight, David. Care to share?"
He cleared his throat as he set plates of food down in front of each of their places. Once more, she couldn't help but notice that he had made her favourite dish, another tell that he was going to be asking them for something, she just didn't know what. "Could we leave that until after we eat? It's hard to mix business and pleasure."
"Oh, so this is business?" Alex asked as she handed Erin her glass, giving her a little wink before taking a seat herself.
"Of a sort," he said as he took his seat, a glass of water in his hand. "At least you don't have to deal with Krystall tonight."
"Thank God for small miracles," Erin muttered as she took a long drink of juice.
David chuckled lightly as he shook his head. "You two never got on."
"No, we didn't. I always knew that she was only after one thing, but I'm just sad to have my feelings about her come true." She gave him a sympathetic smile before digging into her food. It was just as delicious as she'd known it would be, and so she ate with gusto, listening to the easy conversation that Alex and David had. It seemed like they got along better than she did with either of them, and she grimaced a little as she tried to shake that thought from her mind. "Excuse me," she said, pushing away from the table and heading for the downstairs bathroom.
"Erin, wait."
She turned to see that Alex had followed her, and she lifted a corner of her lips in what she hoped was a smile. "What? I just have to use the bathroom."
"No, you're escaping us to gather your heart. I know how to read you, darling." Alex wrapped her arms around her waist and held her close, burying her nose in Erin's hair and breathing deeply. "Just because I can play the gracious hostess does not mean that I love you any less." Alex took hold of Erin's hand and dragged her into the bathroom, closing the door behind them. Erin looked into her eyes and saw the desire simmering just below the surface. Letting out a little sigh, she allowed her partner to push her back against the door and gave in to the kiss that Alex brushed against her lips.
"I hate that it's so easy for you. I feel so bound up and twisted watching how you two just…talk."
"Well, I like our relationship the way it is. When we fight, we make up that same night, and it is delicious, isn't it?" Erin nodded, and Alex gave her a little smirk before kissing her once more. This time, Erin pressed back against her lips, sliding one hand up her back before burying it in Alex's thick hair and holding her close as she lifted one leg up to wrap around Alex's in order to pull her closer. "Darling, he'll know what we're up to if we don't leave the bathroom very quickly."
"Shush and let me keep kissing you for a few more minutes," Erin replied breathily before kissing Alex again, nipping at her lower lip. Alex laughed against her lips and then pushed away so that she could look into Erin's eyes. "Lexie…"
"I told him, when we were done, we'd join him in the living room to hear what he has to say. Okay?" She nodded. "And we are definitely going to finish this as soon as he's gone. Maybe starting with a long soak in the tub?"
"I love the sound of that, Alex." Erin leaned in for one more kiss before turning and opening the door, taking hold of Alex's hand and bringing her into the living room. Just as Alex had said, David was already there, waiting for them, and she smiled tenderly as she took the now full glass of juice from his hands and sank down onto the sofa carefully, knowing that Alex would sit next to her soon enough. "All right, why have you fed us very well this evening?"
David gave her an almost shy look as he held out a plate with the cannoli piled on it. She took two of the pastries and settled back in her seat once more. Alex also took two and nibbled at her first as they both looked at the man expectantly. He chuckled before picking up his own cannoli and taking a large bite. "I'm lonely."
"And how can we help you with that?"
He took another bite of his cannoli before breathing deeply. "You two are so happy together, so obviously you're doing something right. I've tried for the last six months to find something that feels right, that's comfortable and passionate, like you two share. But I've kept striking out. So it's time to admit that I need help. Work your romantic magic and find me someone that you think I'll be compatible with. Hell, I'm willing to bat for the same team, like you two, if it will lead to the happiness that you share."
"And how will we go about this? Round up a list of eligible people that we think would work and hand it over?" Erin asked before finishing off her first cannoli.
"I was thinking that you could set up a series of blind dates, where neither of us know who we're meeting. It might be easier that way, since there won't be any preconceived notions. I may have a bit of a reputation amongst our mutual friends and colleagues."
Erin let out a little snort of a laugh as she shook her head. "That is almost like saying the Liberty Bell has a tiny crack in it, David." She glanced over at Alex and saw that her partner was smirking as well, and she lifted an eyebrow at her. Alex dipped her chin almost imperceptibly, and she brightened her smile a little as she focused on David once more. "All right, we'll do this. Give us a week or two before we have your first date lined up, because we have to discuss this together and figure out who we think might work well for you. And you do realise that everyone we might hook you up with will be our former colleagues and friends, yes?"
"That was sort of the assumption I was going into this venture with, yeah. Why?"
"You need to treat them well, even if it doesn't work out, because I don't want to lose the connections I've made over the years. Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course, Erin. And thank you, both of you. I have the feeling that whatever happens, you're going to make some romantic magic for me, and I will definitely benefit from it." He rose to his feet and came over to their sides, pressing kisses to each of their cheeks before heading towards the doorway. "Keep the dishes, they're extras that I had laying around. I can't wait to meet the first person you choose for me."
Giving them a small wave, he then strutted from the house, the door closing firmly behind him as Erin turned to stare at Alex. It only took her a few seconds after hearing David's car starting to burst into uncontrollable giggles, falling into Alex's open arms as she also began to laugh. "How did we ever find ourselves in this position?" she finally managed to gasp out, and Alex shook her head.
"You're the one who agreed! But I am so glad to see that this little venture has put you in better spirits. Now, do you have any ideas of who we could set him up with?"
Erin nodded as she pulled away from Alex in order to look into her eyes. "There are a few people that I have in mind, yes. We'll just have to put feelers out and see if they'll agree to being set up on blind dates. Maybe it's a good thing that you fell in love with someone who can play politics, as I think that I am going to need all my skills to pull this off until we find David's perfect match." Alex smiled as she nodded, giving Erin a soft kiss before they began to discuss who their first potential partner might be.