"Yo D, what are you two doing for dinner?" AJ asked, breaking the tension between the two.
"Dinner? Oh yeah," he said, straightening his shirt as he sat up from the bunk. "I just checked and we're going to go to a little Italian place just around the corner. It's small and nice, so maybe there won't be too much interruption," he sighed.
"Cool. Well, bring me back something. I'm going to hang around here and play video games while I have the bus to myself. Now you two behave and be home before 2:00," he joked, shaking his finger at the two as he made his way back to the television.
"I hope you don't mind Italian," Howie asked her. "It seemed to be the best place for us to go," he added.
"Italian is fine," she smiled assuringly, taking the hand that he held out to her, helping her from her bunk. She grabbed a light jacket and the two stepped out and walked the short distance to the restaurant, followed closely by security. With the late hour and the high status of the restaurant, there weren't many people around.
They were led to a small, secluded back booth that was obstructed from view by a glass brick and stucco wall. Howie held Rachel's chair out for her before seating himself. "Would you like something to drink?" he checked with her when the waiter approached.
"Some Asti Spumante would be great," she enthused, watching as he ordered confidently, also picking a couple of appetizers he thought they might like.
When he was done, he turned back to her. "I'm sorry if the tickling got out of hand back there," he apologized with an impish grin.
A grin slowly crossed Rachel's face. "As long as you understand, you know this means war. I give a pretty mean tickle myself."
"I bet you do." Howie said looking into Rachel's eyes over the rim of his glass.
Clearing her throat, Rachel put the menu in front of her face to hide her blush. The man just tripped her trigger, there was no doubt about it.
The two ordered and spent the rest of their dinner talking quietly about Howie and some of his most memorable experiences with Caroline. Rachel was glad she had such a good memory. She didn't want to pull out her notepad and take notes in front of him. Chances are that would make him nervous and he wouldn't have the focus he had when he just spoke freely of her and his experience.
Eventually Howie stopped talking and looked down at his watch. "Oh my. We better get going or the bus will pull off without us," he chuckled. He paid the bill and grabbed his jacket. "Come on," he said, taking her small hand in his own as he stood, pulling her up with him. Howie's bodyguard, who'd been watching safely from a nearby table rose as well, and escorted the two back to the bus.
When they were safely back, they found AJ still sitting in front of the video game system. "You know AJ, your eyes are going to pop out of your head one day," Rachel giggled.
"Oh no....Nicky's are set to go long before mine," he grinned. "Did you bring me dinner woman?" he joked.
"As a matter of fact we did. How's veal parmesan? You didn't exactly tell us what you wanted."
"Goddess...." AJ bowed eloquently. "I'm going to get used to having you around with taste like that," he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you enjoy that. I think I'm going to turn in. All the excitement of the day has caught up with me. I need to jot down a few things, then I'm going to crash. I'll see you two in the morning," she wiggled her fingers as she made her way back to the bunks, leaving AJ and Howie to talk amongst themselves.
Rachel walked on back.
"Wow." said AJ, gazing after her.
"Yes. Wow." said Howie. "She really is something special. I almost wish she wasn't so gorgeous. It's hard for me to remember that I brought her here for a job."
"Well, you brought her here for a job, I didn't." said AJ, taking a bite of veal. "Far as I'm concerned she's fair game to me."
"AJ..."
AJ looked up at Howie and raised his brows. "Yes, my brother? You have no claims on her other than as an employee, am I right?"
Howie narrowed his eyes. "No... but don't mess with her, AJ."
AJ laughed. "Huh. Maybe she'll mess with ME."
Howie decided to drop the subject instead of getting into it with AJ this late. The thought of his best friend hitting on Rachel made something inside him flare up, which surprised him since he'd known her only a short period of time.
"I'm going to head on back myself," he yawned, stretching in his spot. "I feel like I could sleep for days," he sighed.
AJ smiled to himself as he saw Howie turn and head towards the back of the bus. He knew what he'd said had gotten to Howie, and he laughed
quietly, shaking his head.
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