Donna was just getting off the phone with a reporter from The Times when Josh swept into her new office, a wide smile on his face.

"Clear your schedule, Donnatella, we're going to lunch," he announced. "And not just take-out in the office, but a real lunch at a real restaurant, with linen tablecloths and everything. I have slain the Republican dragons and it is time to celebrate."

Donna frowned. Great, she thought, the hot, swaggering political mastermind is in a mood to celebrate on the one day I already have plans.

"I can't."

"Can't? There's no such thing, not today," he proclaimed.

Her frown deepened. �Josh, what did I say this morning?�

He smirked at her. �I believe it was something like �Oh, god, Josh, harder, harder, oh god, that's it, I�m going to come,�� he said in a high falsetto voice.

She resisted the urge to giggle. Trust Josh to remember all the exact details of their lovemaking but forget the salient points of their post-coital conversation. �I told you I had a meeting with Hostetter,� she chided, while managing to keep a straight face.

�Are you sure?�

�Positive.�

"When?"

"When did I tell you or when is the meeting?�

�The telling."

�This morning. I was getting dressed and you asked about my schedule. I told you I had a meeting with Hostetter at noon.�

He smirked at her. "See, that�s the problem right there.�

"I'm sorry?"

"You told me while you were getting dressed. You were wearing those cute flowered underwear and that pink bra I love to see you out of and everything else just, you know, wasn't as important."

"Not one for multitasking, are you?�

"Donna! You were naked!"

"I was not. I was nearly dressed."

"Nearly. Nearly does not at all mean completely. I can't be expected to pay attention to details about meetings when you're standing in front of me *nearly naked*," he pointed out.

�So glad to know you�re always listening, Josh."

Her sarcasm flew right over his head. �Oh, I listen, Donna. I always listen. I just choose to disregard."

As he spoke, he casually perched on the edge of her desk, reached over, picked up a crystal paperweight, and started tossing it from hand to hand. She tried to snatch it from him, but he held it away.

�Give me the paperweight," she instructed as she grabbed for it again and failed. "That was a gift from the First Lady when I got my promotion. I don't want you to break it."

"Such little faith, Donnatella," he chided.

"I've seen you with fragile things before, Joshua. Give it back.�

"Uh-uh. Not yet." He held it even farther away, goading her into lunging after it. She knew he was hoping that she would take the bait and fall into his arms, but she held her ground and simply narrowed her eyes at him. He was up to something, she just wasn't sure exactly what.

"Forget Hostetter. Come to lunch with me instead," he urged, wiggling the crystal just out of her reach.

"You're holding my paperweight ransom for a lunch date?"

"I could sweeten the deal with sexual favors," he offered.

"I can't," she insisted. "I've been trying to set up a meeting with Hostetter for weeks. This is the only time he was able to schedule me in. And if I can get him behind Mrs. Bartlet's vaccination initiative, I'll prove that I have what it takes for this job."

His playful grin evaporated and he studied her intently. "You don't need to prove yourself to anyone, Donna. Mrs. B. hired you because she knew you would get the job done. And I let you go because I knew you could be more than just a Senior Assistant. Getting Hostetter isn't important," he said.

She barely restrained herself from tackling him in a huge hug. "I know. But I need to prove this to *me.* If I can get Hostetter, then I'll know I have what it takes. I need to do this, Josh."

He seemed to weigh her answer. "Ok."

She graced him with a radiant smile. "Thank you."

He put her paperweight back on the desk and turned to go, stopping at the last minute to whirl around and face her again.

"Real tablecloths. It's not too late to say yes," he tempted as he waggled his eyebrows at her. "Or we can just have celebratory sex on your desk."

She wanted to laugh. Josh was always at his most intriguing when trying to persuade her to do something. Unfortunately, she couldn't put off Hostetter after trying for so long to set up this meeting. Not even for the prospect of a hot quickie in her office.

Maybe it was the time to hit him with the big guns. Despite the fact that they had been seeing each other for several months now and that they spent nearly every night together, in typical form, they had yet to actually say anything about what they were doing or what they meant to each other.

Maybe now might be a good time to do so.

�You're an idiot but I love you. Now go away.�

She smothered the laughter that threatened to erupt as she watched him absorb her words. If he hadn�t been so used to hiding his feelings from recalcitrant senators, she was sure his mouth would have dropped open in shock. As it was, his eyes opened wider and his breath quickened. Any other person might have missed those subtle signs that her words had hit home, but there was no way he could hide them from her. Nor could he hide the look of pure astonishment and happiness in his eyes.

He quickly recovered, though, and grinned, his dimples coming out in full force. �I bet you say that to all the high ranking officials.�

Her own lips quirked into a matching grin. �Only the Deputy Chiefs of Staff. I did tell you about my crush on your predecessor, didn�t I?�

�Another gomer, Donna? You wound me,� he quipped as he took a step closer to her.

She met him halfway, twining her arms around his neck. �No, there's just this gomer,� she vowed, seconds before her lips met his.

The kiss was soft and sweet, but with a hint of the passion both tried to hold back, knowing that despite Josh's boast, office sex was not an option. When they separated, both were a little breathless.

Automatically, she reached up and straightened his tie before gently pushing him towards the door. "Go. I need to get ready for my meeting."

"Ok," he agreed as he reluctantly swung the door open. He paused before turning to face her one last time. The expression on his face was tender and loving. "Hey, Donna? Me too," he said softly.

�I know."

And then he was gone, back to his side of the building, and Donna was left smiling sappily at the empty doorway.

~End~