| Brian sat quietly talking to Howie as they waited. He was still feeling uneasy about the whole situation but Howie was doing his best to keep him occupied and calming him down. In the back of his mind, he knew, even if he liked this girl, he would feel uneasy, simply because his trust had been put to the test. Elizabeth had failed his trust and it would take a long time for him to trust again. Howie was aware of this, all the guys were. He and Kevin had plotted this night out for a while now, just waiting till they were home in Orlando for a stretch of time. They had to leave in two days for another week, but that would give Brian time to get used to the idea of Kevin's friend Sue, and when they returned, he would be ready to see her again. He trusted Kevin's judgement in knowing this was the girl Brian should have been with all along. Howie had ordered drinks for both of them, and as they sat there talking, drinking their drinks, he noticed Kevin walk in. He must have moved, something in his body language changed momentarily, but Brian picked it up, as slight as it was. "They're here aren't they?" Brian asked quietly. Howie nodded. "Howie, I don't know if I can do this." His fingers had tightened on the glass he held and he was feeling anxious. "Yes you can. All you can do is give it a chance. Life would be pretty boring if you never took any chances. Imagine where you would be now if you never took the chance to come to Orlando all that time ago." Brian thought and nodded. "You're right Howie. Thanks." He turned and looked at the door. He noticed Kevin immediately, seeing he stood taller than anyone else in the room. Jac was shorter than him, but her short blonde hair stood out against Kevin's black jacket he wore, so he had no trouble seeing her. There were a few people around them, so he wondered which one was Sue. Then his eye captured one woman, and his breath was taken away. He silently hoped she was the one he would be meeting and as they kept walking, she kept following Kevin and Jac. He smiled softly to himself, knowing Kevin will be full of -I told you so's- but he couldn't help it. There was something about this woman who was getting closer to him by the second that got his heart racing almost immediately. Her long light brown hair was hanging free, and he thought about how he would love to glide his fingers through hair like that. Her whole face was alight with her smile, and her eyes glowed, showing a kindness you didn't often see in people. He had to admit there and then on the spot that he was smitten with this woman, and when Kevin brought her to the table Brian silently thanked Kevin for caring so much. Howie had watched the array of emotions play across Brian's face as he watched the woman walk towards him. From a fear of being trapped, to curiosity, to confusion, right through to delight when he realised the woman with Kevin was indeed the woman he would be seeing. He smiled a satisfied smile and nodded to Kevin indicating the response had been good. If Brian knew the planning and plotting that had gone on before this night, he would be annoyed. So they had made a pact not to ever let him find out. Jac climbed into the booth beside Howie leaving just enough room for Kevin to fit in next to her, it would be the obvious place he would sit. That left a spot for Sue next to Brian. It had all been planned to the finest detail. Even the fact that Howie was with them had been planned so as not to alert Sue to the fact they were setting her up too. She couldn't think it if there were 2 extra guys. But Howie was all set up to make an excuse in a short while, some work that needed his attention in the office or something. Kevin had left that detail up to Howie to work out. AJ and Nick were also clued in on the goings on. The only ones unaware of anything were Brian and Sue. "Brian, Howie, I would like you to meet my friend Sue. Sue these two guys sitting here are Howie," he indicated Howie who stood and shook her hand, "and Brian." Kevin motioned towards Brian and Brian stood up to take her hand in his to welcome her. Kevin watched Brian as he took her hand, a satisfied smile twitching on his lips as he did. Brian had fallen already, hook line and sinker. "Hi Sue, nice to meet you." Brian said, taking her hand. The moment his hand touched hers, a warm feeling went over him. It wasn't the sexual warmness that happened to him when he was with a woman he liked, but a feeling of completeness at being with her. He smiled at her and she smiled back. He felt extremely shy and didn't know what else to say, so he motioned for her to sit, and she slid into the booth where he had been sitting. He looked at Kevin who merely sat himself down next to Jac, so he had no choice to sit next to the woman who was doing strange things to his equilibrium. Sue was surprised to see Howie and Brian waiting for them when they arrived. She had asked Kevin not to set her up with any one of the members of his group, and seeing two of them were here, she felt fairly sure that wasn't his plan. That was unless another woman, was due to join them. When she saw Brian sitting there though, she could have been knocked over with a feather. Secretly, she had always liked Brian the best out of the group, but she had never told anyone this. And tonight, he sat there, looking as good as she had ever seen him. Black leather always did that to a man, but on him it was gorgeous. When he stood, his frame was just taller than her own, which she liked. She wasn't in to the taller guys that seemed to always be asking her out. Brian seemed perfect. Ooops, what was she thinking, she wasn't here to start any relationship. She was only here to have a good time. But then Brian took her hand, saying hello and all clear thought left her mind. It was like there was some electric charge running up her arm from where his fingers connected with her skin. She let her hand linger there until Brian motioned for her to sit down where he had been sitting. She looked into his clear blue eyes and she knew she was in trouble. As she quickly sat down, she looked at Kevin and he smiled at her. She could almost swear it was a look of satisfaction. A look of the cat who swallowed the canary and she became suspicious. What was her friend up to? "So, Sue, how long have you known this big lug here?" Jac asked her, throwing her arms affectionately around Kevin. Howie indicated for the waitress to come and take their drink orders as Jac spoke. "Oh a long time. We are both friends with Jason. Do you know Jason?" "Yeah, I do," Jac informed her. "I don't think the others do though," she said looking at Brian and Howie. Both of them shook their heads. "So what work do you do?" Jac asked, trying to keep the conversation going, while at the same time finding out about her. Sue laughed. "Nothing real exciting. I work on the computer, designing and building websites. It pays well, so I can't complain about it. But it's nice to get out of the house and away from it. Thanks Kevin for asking me out tonight. I'd been working on a particularly difficult project for a Basketball team site and it was causing problems. A night out is exactly what I needed." "No problem….." "A basketball team?" Brian interrupted Kevin. Sue looked over at Brian, surprised at his sudden interest. He hadn't said a lot since they sat down and she feared he really didn't like her a lot. "Yeah, basketball, but, although I like watching the game, all the statistics I am working with for this site are turning my head inside out." "Brian could help you with that. He is the basketball expert," Howie said feeling proud of himself for thinking of that. "Could you? Really?" "Sure I could. I'd love to help with the project. I love basketball. I don't think I could help with the computer stuff, but the statistics of the game I sure could." "That'd be great. But there's one problem." Sue said to him. His excitement about basketball was amusing to watch. "I have a deadline of two days away. I have to work on it solidly tomorrow." "Tomorrow is fine with me, all I have planned is packing my bag and that won't take me long." "Packing?" "Yeah, we are going away for a week on a promo trip to New York. We have to do all the TV shows there. It was booked ages ago," Brian explained as if he suddenly felt like he had to explain. "I could still come and help you." "Thanks. That would be great. I have to admit to being somewhat confused about all the numbers and names I am seeing." Jac, Kevin and Howie sat back and watched Brian and Sue talking and making arrangements for the next day. This was going better than any of them had expected and they were feeling mighty proud of themselves. As the waitress came back to the table with their drinks order, she slipped Howie a note. "Guys, I am going to have to excuse myself for a while. I am wanted in the office." He sighed. "I can never get away from it all when I am here." "It's okay, we'll be here. Get back when you can," Kevin said to him, knowing full well that Howie wouldn't be returning to them. "Sure," Howie said before saying bye to everyone and dashing in the direction they knew the offices were at. What none of them knew was he had planned his own night off, meeting with AJ at another local club. What he had said was true. While he was at his own club, he would always be working, even if he was only thinking about the work that needed doing. Escaping elsewhere now and then was nice. Brian and Sue continued to talk about basketball and Sue's work to begin with and then on to other things. Jac and Kev let them talk, get to know one another, knowing in their hearts that Brian was taken with Sue. You could see it in every action that he made. They didn't know if he knew it yet, but he was well and truly hooked. Sue too seemed to be getting along with Brian like a house on fire. Kevin looked over at Jac with a satisfied smile, leaning over to whisper in her ear, "I knew I was right." She smacked him on the shoulder causing Brian and Sue to look up. "What are you two laughing about?" Brian had a good idea. He had also come to the conclusion that this was not a blind date in the true sense of the word. Sue had no idea she was out on a blind date. Howie's presence earlier had proven that to Brian. Kevin was clever, he would give him that. It was going to hurt his pride, but he had to admit, Kevin had been right. He did like Sue, and more than he had wanted to. "Nothing Brian," Jac answered him, blinking her eyelashes innocently, making Brian realise they were indeed up to something. "Jac!" Brian said warningly reaching out to grab her hand. In the process he knocked his drink over and watched in horror as the liquid spilled towards Sue. He couldn't move fast enough and it was like watching it happen in slow motion, not being able to stop it. Sue squealed when the cold liquid hit her on the lap, soaking through her top instantly. "Oh I'm so sorry Sue," he said grabbing a paper napkin and started dabbing in her lap. When he realised what he was doing his face turned bright red. "Um, sorry Sue. Here!" he said throwing the napkin at her and covering his face. He peeked a look at Kevin and Jac, seeing the amusement in their eyes. "It's okay Brian. Honest, it wasn't much. I'll just go clean it off in the bathroom." "I'll come in and help you." Jac said. She wanted to find out what she was feeling for Brian. So the two girls left to go to the bathroom. Brian sat there and buried his head in his hands. "Well, that blew it hey?" he said more to himself than Kevin. "I don't think so Brian. She didn't look mad." "But first I go and spill the drink, then I try and dry her off… There! What is she going to think of me?" He hid his face again. "Firstly Brian, she seemed cool about it. Secondly. You really like her don't you?" Brian looked at Kevin knowing he was caught. He couldn't deny it to Kevin, He couldn't deny it to anyone. Anyone who knew him would be able to see how he felt about Sue. He couldn't help it. He was totally smitten with her. "Yeah. I like her. I don't know what it is. But there is something." "Well, that's great. Don't panic about just now. She was fine. And if she isn't, I am sure Jac will bring her round." In the bathroom Jac didn't have that problem. The problem was getting the small stain out of the top Sue was wearing. "Think it will come out?" Jac asked Sue carefully, watching as she dabbed at it with cold water. She shrugged. "Yeah, I reckon it will. No drama. He didn't mean to do it." She said dismissively. "Yeah, that's our Bri. A gentleman in every way. He would never do anything to anyone on purpose like that. Even if he despised them. He will be so horrified this has happened. He's so shy" "Yeah, I get that impression. He is very nice though isn't he?" "Oh yeah." Jac eyed Sue, wondering if she should ask then decided to go for it. "You like him don't you?" "Like? What's not to like? He seems a really nice guy." Jac shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that and you know it. You like him more like a guy and girl thing." Sue smiled mysteriously. "Maybe." Was her simple answer. "Maybe? Come on, give me more than that." Jac pushed. "Brian really is a nice guy and I can tell he really likes you." Jac told her. "You can?" "I sure can. He was hurt a while back and hasn't been interested in anyone, but the moment he saw you, he was different. I could see it. I could feel the vibes coming from him." Sue stopped wiping her top and thought. A good minute went by before she spoke. "Yeah, I like him. He seems really sweet. And he's really cute." Jac smiled brightly at her. That was enough for her. Kevin would be ecstatic with that little bit of an admission too. She knew Brian liked her. This was going to work, she just knew it. "You right now? Shall we head back out?" "Sure, This will keep till I go home. Good thing it's a black top hey?" |