"So that's it? You haven't talked to Nick since then?" Misty asked Laura as they put away their things for the day. "I mean, I refuse to believe, after showing so much interest in you, that he's just not going to ask you out again."

"Well, he's called me and stuff, maybe once or twice a week. But he hasn't asked me out or anything. I mean, I totally thought this was heading somewhere. I thought he was different. I guess it just goes to prove that all men are pigs," Laura said, sighing. She sat down and sank into the chair. "Well, what about you? Things with AJ going well?"

"Things are just lovely, Laura," Misty said, smiling. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. "He's been just so wonderful."

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, aren't you glad I forced you to call him?" Laura laughed.

"Forced?! You didn't force me to do anything. I would have gotten around to it sooner or later, goober." Misty gave Laura a shove and smiled. Just then, Jenn came into the room.

"Laura? You've got a phone call... Cherie transferred it to conference room 1 for you... line two." Laura nodded and got up. She walked down the hallway to the conference room. Closing the door behind her, she walked to the phone and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Laura. How've you been?" It was Kevin. Laura was relieved to hear his friendly voice.

"Kevin... hey... I'm OK, how about yourself?"

"Are you sure?" Kevin asked, sure that he heard more in Laura's voice then she was telling him.

"Yeah, I'm great, Kev," Laura lied. She didn't want him to make a big deal out of anything. "Um, so to what do I owe this call?" she asked with an almost flirtatious tone in her voice.

"I guess I was just, um, kinda wondering what you had on the agenda for tonight. I--I know it's short notice, but I thought maybe we could catch dinner. Something casual."

Laura was surprised. Kevin was asking her out? Part of her felt guilty for even thinking about going, but considering that she hadn't gone out with Nick for quite some time now, she decided to accept his invite. "I'd love to, Kevin. If you care to pick me up at my place, just name the time, and I'll be ready."

"Great," Kevin said, unable to hide his excitement. "Shall we say about seven o'clock?"

"Sounds great, I'll see you then."

"See you then," Kevin echoed and hung up the phone. Laura hung up as well, holding on to the receiver momentarily before letting it go. She smiled and walked back to the studio.

"I see you're done cleaning up. Good," Laura said, smiling ear-to-ear.

Misty was wondering what had made her friend so happy in the course of a short phone call. "Well, who put the rainbow in your pot o' gold?" she asked sarcastically.

"I have a dinner date tonight," Laura responded matter-of-factly.

"See? I just knew he couldn't stay away from you! Oh, ye of little faith," Misty said, excited for her friend.

"I know what you're thinking, Misty, and it's not a date with Nick."

Misty stopped what she was doing and turned to face Laura. "Well if it's not with Nick, then who is it with?"

Laura took a deep breath. "Kevin..."

There was a knock on the door, and Laura looked at the clock. Ahhh, 6:49, he's not supposed to be here for another eleven minutes! she thought as she raced to the door. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she opened the door. "Kevin, come in, please."

Kevin entered, and as Laura caught full sight of him, she felt a lump build in her throat. He looked better then she had ever seen him look. "I have something for you, Laura," he said, bringing his arm out from behind his back. Kevin handed a bunch of wildflowers to Laura.

"Ohh," Laura said, stunned. She was almost moved to tears. "They're--they're beautiful. Thank you, Kevin. Um, uh... why, um, why don't you have a seat in the living room and I'm going to put these in water, then I'm going to finish getting ready. I'll be just a couple minutes. Uh, make yourself at home." Laura said, flashing him a shy smile before walking out of Kevin's site. Kevin did as she said and sat down. "Want something to drink?" Laura yelled from the kitchen.

"No, no thanks. I'm great," Kevin said. He was looking about the room, and his eye caught an extra-large picture frame filled with a collage of pictures. Pictures he easily identified of Jenn and Laura. Some individual pictures of each of them, some pictures of them together. He smiled as he looked at each one, all at different stages of their lives. Toddler age, grade school age, middle school and high school age. Next to that frame was a picture of them that had to have been taken very recently. Perhaps after Laura moved to Florida to live with Jenn. The last picture on the table was a large picture frame of Jenn, Laura and whom Kevin could easily assume was their father, for both Jenn and Laura looked a lot like the man. It made Kevin smile to see the obvious closeness that Laura shared with her family, for family was important to him, also.

Just then, Laura came into the room. She noticed Kevin was looking at the pictures and walked up behind him. "Last year, Fourth of July. Dad and I came down to visit Jenn. That was maybe a couple months before I moved down here." Kevin turned to look at Laura and she smiled at him. She spun around slowly. "So... how do I look?"

"Beautiful, as always," Kevin said with all sincerity and no hesitation. He took Laura's hand and kissed it softly, looking into her eyes. "Shall we?"

Laura felt her heart flutter. I guess chivalry isn't dead, she thought as she smiled. She nodded at Kevin numbly, unable to speak, as they walked out of Laura's apartment, hand in hand.

Laura turned to Kevin as they approached her door. "Thanks for tonight, Kevin. I--I had a great time," she said, smiling at him.

"Me too... me too," Kevin replied, his voice dropping off as he looked deep into Laura's eyes. He continued, speaking softly. "I hope we can do this again," he said, taking her hand into his. Laura smiled and blushed, lowering her head, avoiding his gaze. Kevin used his other hand to tilt her head back up so he could look into her eyes again. Laura felt herself become hot under his stare.

"I--I should go in now," Laura stammered, unable to concentrate.

"OK," Kevin said, lowering his head closer to Laura's. She could feel his hot breath on her face. "I'll go then, I guess," he said, slowly and softly kissing her on the cheek. Laura squeezed Kevin's hand as she kissed his cheek in return. Breaking away, they looked at each other, not saying a word, but speaking volumes in their silence. Laura half-turned to her door, unlocking it. She turned back to face Kevin and smiled at him, her hand on the doorknob. He kissed her on her lips tenderly as she opened her door and they slid inside.