“You know, the door was closed,” she stated, her eyes still trained on the page before her. Kate honestly didn’t care he was there, but she needed some way to get him to stop hovering.
“I’m feeling the need for a date night,” he told her as he plopped down next to her on her couch.
Kate looked up from the book she was reading and raised an eyebrow. “Because we didn’t just have one last night,” she told him flatly.
He grinned that boyish grin and held out his hand. “Oh, come on, Detective, how about a night on the town? You put on a fancy dress, I’ll wear a suit and tie. We’ll go to a nice restaurant, maybe go see a show afterward. And then we can come back here and I’ll blow your mind as we fall into bed.”
“With a night like that, how’s a girl to say no?” She teased with a smile, putting the book away. “But I have a better idea. How about we stay in what we’re wearing, go for a walk in the park, and eat dinner at the restaurant overlooking the lake?”
“See this is why I love you,” he said, pulling her in and kissing her temple, “Because you come up with the best ideas.”
“Hmmmm, then maybe I should be the writer in this relationship.”
“I like you better as the muse,” he murmured, “It’s more fun.”
“For you.”
“I thought that’s what we were talking about.”
“And here I am, thinking you were this wonderful boyfriend, always thinking about me before yourself,” she chuckled, peering up at him.
Rick mocked thought for a moment, his head tilted to the side before he looked back at her. His eyes shined as he took her in. “Well, yes, normally I would agree. But I never said I was perfect.”
"Actually I’m pretty sure you’ve told me just that on more than one occasion.”
“You’re not helping.”
“No, actually, that would be you digging your own grave. I’m just here to watch.”
“Can we go to the park now?”
Kate gave him a full smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Rick stood up from her couch and held out his hands. She took them in hers and he heaved her off the couch. They walked hand in hand out of her “Fortress of Solitude,” as Rick was fond of calling it, down the steps, and to the coat closet.
“He invaded again, didn’t he,” Alexis said as she leaned against the couch. Kate shrugged.
“Your father wanted a date night,” Kate explained with a knowing smile as she let Rick help her into her winter coat. She slapped his hands away as he tried to wrap a scarf around her neck.
“Didn’t you just—”
“That was a triple date with Esplanie and…We need to come up with a name for Jenny and Ryan,” Rick said, turning to Kate. He slipped on his own coat and scarf and successfully tugged a hat onto Kate’s head. He failed miserably at hiding a victorious smile.
Both Kate and Alexis rolled their eyes. Domesticity just reached a new low, Kate thought with a secret smile. Who was she kidding? She loved it. “His point, I think, is that tonight is just for us two. Do you have plans with Paige?”
Alexis smiled. “Actually, Ashley’s home for Christmas. So we’re going to dinner and a movie. He’s picking me up in half an hour.”
Kate smiled. She knew how much Alexis missed her boyfriend. Especially when she decided not to go to college early. Rick said it was because he had finally worn her down. Kate secretly thought it was because Alexis didn’t want to miss Rick’s better-be-soon proposal. But whatever her reason, she was glad she still had the girl around. “You look lovely, Lex. Have fun.” Alexis beamed and smiled back.
