usattorney | as anyone with hot blood can

as anyone with hot blood can;
Luke and Janet's first date is at Fiola Mare. He takes her to the same restaurant that presidents have dined at wearing his favorite tailored blue Armani suit. He is quite clearly showing off and she thinks it's a little bit pompous but she doesn't say anything because it's their first date. But she's already figured out the size of his ego. It's not something he tries to hide.

And it works for her—that he wants her this strongly, that someone is putting this much effort into her after not having dated anyone since high school. It makes her feel important.

He orders an expensive scotch and she orders the surf and turf. They end up talking about work, which probably should be a sign for how the relationship is going to go, but he's just made bureau chief a few months earlier and she's chasing a perfect clearance rate. They talk about the work things that make them crazy, able to laugh at them more with someone who shares the same frustration.

He takes her back to his place so she can pick up her car, but on the street he changes his mind and asks if she wants to come upstairs. Drunk and high on the attention, Janet pushes Luke up against his living room wall to kiss him. He doesn't complain at all, just pulls her into the bedroom to make sure they get there. When she's not there the next morning he's not sure if work called her in or she regrets sleeping with him. But he calls her anyway because it's the polite thing to do.

Luke and Janet's second date is to a Billy Joel concert. Luke is a Billy Joel fan and taking a chance that Janet will want to go with him to Constitution Hall. He figures if she doesn't, he can take Kevin. Janet's more confused by this than the expensive restaurant because it's so casual. Even if he paid for the VIP tickets.

"You want me to go with you?" she says and it throws him off guard. Is this too much? What if she hates Billy Joel and then we'll have to have a conversation, he thinks before he says a little defensively, "What's wrong with that? I like you and I like Billy Joel, and I want to take you out again."

"There's nothing wrong with it, I just didn't expect it," Janet admits. His tone makes her feel slightly embarrassed. "From the last time you seemed like everything was going to be a big deal."

Now Luke gets it. It's the first time but not the last he'll be a step too late in figuring out what she's feeling. Now he feels embarrassed. "It doesn't have to be," he replies, his tone softening. "I just wanted to see you again. You left before I could ask."

"I didn't want to make things awkward." A pause. "Like they're not awkward right now."

He chuckles softly. He's never exactly been able to figure out how to act around her. He always chalks it up to her being different but years from now he'll realize that it's a sign that they're not quite compatible. That while they care for each other and they'll fight for each other there was something missing that they didn't even know to look for. "It's fine," he assures her with a smile. "I'm just glad you want to go. I've really been looking forward to seeing you again. Like this."

"Yeah," she agrees. "Me too."

Unlike the last time, this date doesn't end with them back at his place or in bed together. Luke doesn't want to fight the traffic getting out of the venue so they detour to Constitution Gardens and end up looking at the Signers of the Declaration memorial. Neither of them are history buffs but they're both aware how much of it they're following. They're both trying to make history of their own someday.

"I had a really good time tonight," she tells him. "I totally caught you singing though."

Luke gives a chagrined laugh, rubbing at his forehead. "Well..." he trails off. "I can't believe you didn't know the words!"

"I know some of the words, I don't know all of them," Janet corrects. She wasn't going to risk saying the wrong ones and embarrassing them both. "I like seeing this side of you." Seeing him completely let his guard down and just be himself. After four years of friendship she knows Luke pretty well and it's rare he drops the persona for more than a short period of time. Why is something she'll never be able to figure out.

"Am I lucky enough to get a third date?" he asks, turning to her.

"Luke, you're not lucky." Janet corrects. "You're a good man." She slips her hand into his and he holds on. In later years they'll both wish they could get back to this moment, when things weren't so fucking complicated.