Author's Note: This is not necessarily a continuace of "Target," but since it has the same characters, I figured I'd tack it on.
Cherries and Cheesecake
Lunch with Greg and Sara
Sara Sidle stood in her driveway with a can of wax in her hand, polishing the exterior of her car. Recent rainstorms and trips to dusty parts of the state had left it looking dull. Perhaps it was from her early years spent with her brother, but she really felt it was a car's duty to shine. As she dipped a rag into the can, she heard a car coming her direction. Looking up from the hood, she noticed the vehicle was much like her own.
The familiar crime scene logo was splashed across the side. She twisted the lid back on the can and did a quick scan to make sure she looked okay. Greg Sanders stepped out of the driver's side of the car, his blue sunglasses appropriately placed on the bridge of his nose. He was grinning, and Sara couldn't help but follow along.
"Whatcha doing?" he asked like a child.
She held up the can of "U-Wax" and the rag. "My car is dirty."
He took the items from her hands. "This is no way to spend your one day off in over a month. You're coming with me."
Arching an eyebrow, she walked to the front door of her house. "And where are we going?"
He set the wax on her kitchen table. "The new cheesecake factory opened down by the mall. I figured I'd treat you to lunch."
Sara began to wash her hands. "And you thought I'd want cheesecake for lunch?"
"Of course not. They serve real food as well. The cheesecake is for desert," he said wiggling his eyebrows.
She chuckled. "Let me change and we can go."
The restaurant was crowded, most people were faced with an hour-long wait, but Greg used his lab ID and boyish charm to get them in sooner. They sat at a booth in the back corner and were immediately served with glasses of wine.
Sara took a sip. "We didn't even order."
Greg lifted a menu. "I have amazing friends."
"Yes you do."
A man walked by with a little tray of cherries and Greg called him over. They each plucked up a few and began to snack.
Sara stuck a stem in her mouth and proceeded to try and tie it in a knot. Greg watched in fascination as her tongue swirled around in her mouth. She caught him staring and a light shade of pink found its home on her cheeks. Shortly after, she removed the tied stem from between her teeth.
Greg clapped and shoved his own stem into his mouth. Sara watched in amusement as he turned his head sideways and mumbled, trying to convince the stem to tie itself.
She was faced with a fit of giggles and a minute later found herself asking, "Are you sure you can do this?"
With a determined look on his face, he stuck the stem in the pocket of his cheek. "Of course, Sara. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck."
The bizarre phrase caught her by surprise and she erupted in laughter, only stopping when hiccups began. Greg placed the stem aside once more. "Okay, Sar," he said, "I think that's enough wine for you."
She did her best to hide the noises, but when Greg went back to twisting himself into awkward positions, she had to let them escape. They were causing quite a scene and people from a few tables over were watching intently. A waiter, obviously annoyed at the distraction, began to walk their way.
Sara covered her mouth with a napkin and did her best to state an apology.
Greg, however, found it necessary to converse with the man.
"Are the two of you alright?" he asked.
"Hubbumph shumfy," Greg mumbled with the stem in the center of his tongue.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Dern taken guthy."
Sara couldn't help but laughing as the man's face folded into a frown. She asked for the check and paid before they could be kicked out.
"You are crazy," she said. "We can't ever go back there."
"Don't I know it." He pulled the stem from his mouth. "One of these days I'll get this thing in a knot."
With a devilish grin on her face, she pulled open the door to his car. "I can always teach you," she said.
"Well, if you aren't the brightest pea on the pod," said Greg.
"And you thought I had too much to drink." She took the stem from his hand, slipped it in her mouth, and quickly had it tied.
His eyes were wide with astonishment as he put the car in gear. "Where to?" he asked his date.
Her eyes sparkled. "I believe you owe me some cheesecake."
"I happen to have some at home."
"Good. It'll be much easier to teach you in private."
"Oh, I can't wait," he said and drove off.
I would love to be the one teaching Greg how to tie that stem, wouldn't you? Review, please.