"So, I was talking to Wolf," Anna said, coming into Gina's office.

"About?"

"Mouse."

"Wolf and Mouse. What have we gotten ourselves into? These names!"

"Wolf has known Mouse since, like, the sixth grade. And he says that Mouse's nickname isn't just because he steals the cheese in his camera."

"Then why else is he called Mouse?"

"Because he was as quiet as a mouse, as shy as a mouse; especially around girls. And apparently he still is."

"So?"

"So, he hasn't asked you out because he's afraid to! Just like you are of him! So why don't you ask him out and spare him of having to do it."

"I don't know, Anna," Gina said, running a hand through her hair.

"You know you want to."

"Of course I do! He's good looking, nice, smart, funny...did I mention good looking?"

"Yes, but it's worth a second mention."

"Maybe. I haven't seen him in a week. He had said he's hardly ever home."

"I'll check with Wolf and see if he knows what he's been up to."

"I don't want to spy on him, Anna."

"It's not spying, it's gathering information."

"Well, you're good with that. So, go and get me that info on which diapers are less likely to leak."

"Yes, boss," Anna said, sticking her tongue out at her.

***************************

Gina sighed as the doors to the elevator opened to the lobby of her building. She walked over to the mailroom and opened her mailbox. A note fell out:

"Gina. Would you be so kind as to watch my mail again? The week before Christmas?" Oliver.

She turned the note over. "Sure," she wrote and slipped it into his box.

"Hey, Gina!" Mouse grinned as he entered the mailroom.

"Hey, stranger!"

"Yeah, I know. Corbin's got me hopping with jobs lately," he said, scratching his head. "I haven't been home much more than to sleep. And even that...not much," he said with a shrug.

"Have you heard that Anna and Wolf are dating?"

"Yeah. How 'bout that, huh?" he asked with a laugh.

"They seem like they're a good couple."

"Yeah, Wolf's a great guy, I've known him a really long time."

"Anna said Wolf mentioned that you've known each other since sixth grade."

"Yeah, it feels like forever though."

"Well, um, it was nice seeing you again." Gina moved towards the door.

"You too," he answered, walking towards the mailboxes. "Um, about the mail..."

"Yeah?" She asked turning.

Mouse took a deep breath. He looked her over, "Oh, ah, never mind," he said with a shake of the head.

"O-k," she said, stepping through the door. Gina suddenly turned back around. "Hey, uh, Mouse?"

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering...uh, I mean, if you're not doing anything tonight, would you...well, would you want to... maybe hang out?"

Surprise filled his face, which he quickly masked."Yeah, sure, I should be done with some stuff that I have to take care of by seven. Do you have anything in mind to do?" he asked, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Not really." Gina bit her bottom lip. "We could go to a movie or something."

"Sounds good. You pick something and I'll meet you in the lobby about what, seven thirty? Most movies start around eight."

"Yeah, sure that works."

"I'll see you then."

Gina made it to her apartment in one piece. She leaned against her door with a sigh. She had done it. She had asked him out.

Sort of. Casually. They'd be hanging out as friends; nothing romantic on the menu. She dashed to her room to look for something to wear.

******************************

"You look nice." Mouse said to Gina with a smile as she came into the lobby.

"Thanks. You too."

"What, this old thing?" he patted his jacket playfully.

"Quite warm as I recall," she answered in fond memory.

"Play your cards right and maybe I'll lend it to you again. Are you warm enough in that sweater?"

She was wearing black jeans, a modest yet a bit low cut red shirt and a light black sweater. Gina had chosen to wear her hair up with a few strands hanging loose around her face.

"For now."

"You see, I knew you were only using me for my jacket," he teased.

"Shall we go?" She asked nervously.

"Yup."

Gina had picked an action film that she wanted to see and knew she couldn't go wrong with an action flick with a guy.

They shared popcorn and their hands brushed. Gina's heart raced and she watched his eyes flicker to hers with a smile and he'd take a dramatic big bite out of the handful of popcorn he pulled out.

Gina couldn't concentrate on the movie with him sitting so close to her. He smelled so good and warmth radiated off of him.

"That was fun," he said, walking her back to her door.

"Yeah, we should, ah, do it again sometime."

"Definitely."

"Uh, do you want to come in? Have some coffee or something?"

"Okay, yeah, sure," he said with a shrug. She opened the door and turned on the light. "Nice place."

"Thanks," she said, tossing her keys in a bowl on the table by the door.

"Real homey. Mine sucks. I don't have much stuff. Looks empty compared to this." He said, sitting down on the couch with a bounce.

"Thanks." Gina took off her sweater and tossed it on the couch beside him.

"So, what can I get you coffee...tea...soda, beer?" She asked, looking through her freshly stocked refrigerator.

"Did I hear beer?" he asked with a grin.

"You got it," she answered, pulling out two bottles. She opened a cabinet for a glass.

"Bottle's fine."

"Classy," she said, bringing the two opened bottles to the living room.

"Never claimed to be," he said, taking it with a smile. She sat down next to him. "Of course you are."

"Me?!"

"Yeah you."

"You think I'm classy?"

"Yeah, I do. I mean look at this place. You made it a real home. You have paintings on the walls and everything," he said, gesturing to a wall.

"Paintings make me classy?"

"Not just that. You just are. The way you dress, the way you talk, the way you walk..." He said, taking a drink.

"Are you trying to pay me a compliment or is it criticism?"

"Oh, definitely a compliment," he said with a smile.

"Well, good. Thanks," she said, pulling off her ankle boots and threw them carelessly onto the floor.

He laughed. "Maybe I'll take that back."

She punched him in the arm.

"Ow."

"Sorry." she said turning. She leaned an arm against the couch to look at him.

He chuckled "It's okay. I've got sisters and believe me they hit a lot harder than you."

"Want another one?" she asked, holding up her fist.

"Another beer? Sure," he said, handing her the now empty bottle.

"Thirsty, are we?" she asked with a chuckle as she walked over to the kitchen.

"All that popcorn," he said, non-apologetic and leaning back against the sofa. "Mind?" He asked picking up the TV remote.

"No, go ahead. Maybe there's a movie on or something," she said, hoping he'd stay that long to watch one.

"Got any popcorn?" he asked as he flipped through the channels.

"No," she replied, opening a drawer and looking inside. "But how about Doritos?"

"That'll work," he answered, settling on a channel and leaned back against the couch.

She brought the beer and bag of chips over to the couch. She looked up at the TV screen. "God, what is it with you men and 007," she said, sitting next to him.

"Hey, James Bond is the best."

"They repeat these movies over and over. Don't you get sick of them?"

"Never," he answered, taking a sip of his drink.

"Since you're a guest, I suppose I'll let you watch it," she said, taking a sip of her beer.

"How hospitable!" He reached over to take a chip, "I'll remember that for when you're at my place.

Gina smiled at the thought that Mouse wanted to see her again and he could imagine her at his place. She turned to watch the movie so she wouldn't be awkwardly grinning at him any longer.

After an hour or so, her eyes grew heavy and she put her head on his shoulder sleepily. Mouse was warm and soft and smelled incredibly sexy. She took at deep breath pulling his scent through her.

Gina suddenly realized what she had done and was about to lift her head back up when his arm slipped around her shoulders.

She nuzzled her head into the space between his neck and shoulder not wanting to move away from him. She wanted to get even closer, she thought sleepily with a yawn.

"Do you want to go to bed?" he asked, touching her head lightly.

"What?!" She asked, lifting her head in shock.

Mouse laughed. "I meant... uh...I can go so that you can go to bed and get some sleep."

"Of course you did," Gina said, putting a hand to her head groggily. "Sorry."

"I'll go, sleepy head," he said, kissing her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Mouse. Drinking sometimes gets me sleepy," she said, embarrassed by her sleepiness, the fact that she snuggled up to him, and by the friendly kiss.

"It's okay, don't worry, it's late anyway," he said, getting up and pulling on his jacket.

She stood up as well. "I had fun," she told him sincerely.

"Me too, Gina. We'll do it again soon, huh?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," she said, following him to the door.

Mouse turned around when he got to the door. "Hey, uh, Gina."

"Yeah?" she yawned while rubbing an eye.

He looked her over. "Never mind. Get some sleep," he said, opening the door.

"Okay. Thanks. Bye," she said, waving as he walked down the hall.

******************************

Mouse leaned against the elevator wall and rubbed a hand over his face. He had been dying to kiss her all night and would have when he left if she hadn't looked so tired and vulnerable. He wouldn't take advantage.

Besides, Gina was turning out to be a good friend and why mess that up? But god, that little spot on her neck looked like it needed a good nibble.

He went through the elevator doors and went down the hall to his apartment. Mouse shut the door behind him and pulled off his jacket.

Mouse looked around the cold room. The floors were hardwood, there was a lonely couch in the middle of the grand room, the dining room was filled with boxes he never had a chance to open. The dining room table was in one of those boxes sat on its side still waiting to be assembled.

He walked through the penthouse to his bedroom.

Mouse had bought more space than any one person had a right to live in, he thought, as he eyed the rooms and saw the same pathetic thing.

His bedroom had a dresser, which was half empty. Boxes were labeled for his clothes, which he somehow managed to live out of. His bed was put in a vague resemblance of the middle of the room, which had no rhyme or reason for it to be there. He thought of Gina's nicely made home and then got to work.

******************************

"Gina. I had fun last night. How about again on Saturday? I'll be working all week, but call me and let me know. (555) 507-7896," the note she found read with a hand drawn picture of a mouse.

"Yeah?" he picked up the phone.

"Hey, Mouse, it's Gina."

"Hey! How's it going?"

"Good. I got your note," she said, twirling her old fashioned kitchen phone's cord nervously.

The phone came with the condo unit. Most everyone used their cellphones to talk to people, but the kitchen phone was used with the security system to buzz people into the building. Gina occasionally used her kitchen phone to make phone calls while her phone was charging.

"And?" Mouse prodded.

"And Saturday works for me."

"Great! I was worried you might have a date or something."

"No... I don't."

Mouse cleared his throat. "Well, uh, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. Up to you."

"Doyle's having a party...I'm not really into that sort of thing, but Doyle wants me to go and...we could just stop by and leave if we don't like it."

"Sure. Sounds like fun."

"Great! I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

"See you then."

******************************

"Oh,um, Gina, was it?" Tessa asked as she stepped out of the elevator into the lobby as the two girls' eyes met.

"Yeah, Tessa, right?"

"That's right," she said, tossing her hair over a shoulder.

"You were here to see Mouse?" Gina asked.

"Who else?"

"I thought he was working all week."

"He is."

"Oh, right. You work together."

"Pretty much all the time. He requests me," Tessa said with a smug smile.

"I bet, " Gina replied, eyeing the short skirt and the plunging neckline.

"He knows a good thing when he sees it. He's got the best eye in the country."

"Really?" Gina said sarcastically.

"Don't you know? He's like, the hottest photographer out there."

"I didn't know. We don't really talk about work."

"What do you talk about?"

Gina shrugged. "Stuff."

"I bet. It's been real. I guess I'll be seeing you at Doyle's party?"

"Yeah, Mouse asked me to go with him."

"So, what, it's like... a date?" Tessa asked disbelivingly.

Gina was dying to tell the girl yes, it was a date, and set her in her place. But she was certain it'd manage to get back to Mouse and she didn't know how he felt about her. "We're just friends."

"I see," Tessa said with another smug smile. "Well, see you then," she said, tossing her head.

Gina took a deep breath and fumed her way over to her mailbox. What made a nice guy like Mouse, hang out with a girl like that? Breasts and legs, she answered for herself, opening up her mailbox.

A small rose fell to the floor. She picked it up curiously. She looked in her mailbox and found a note, "Has anyone told you how beautiful you are? Both inside and out. Breath taking. I mean it. Oliver."

Gina read it a second time. How did he know what she looked like? She wiped some tears from her eyes. How sweet it was for him to say; and just when she needed an ego boost.

She turned the note over. "Oliver, that was really sweet of you. How do you know what I look like? Gina."

The next day she found another rose and another note in her mailbox. Don't tell me that I've scared you away from checking my mail while I'm away. I didn't mean to. Forgive me if I have. I just thought you should know that I think you are beautiful. A guy would be crazy not to. - Oliver.

She smiled. She turned the note over. "Just came as a surprise. I'll check your mail, Oliver. Thanks for the compliment and the roses. Gina."