Gina dropped the four bags of groceries she'd picked up on the way home and started unloading their contents onto the kitchen table. She was annoyed her shopping trip had taken longer than expected and that she wouldn't have enough time to give the apartment a once over with the vacuum cleaner. There was hardly a speck of dust on any surface and the floor was spotless but it still didn't block out her mother's voice resonating between her ears about how cleanliness is next to godliness. She placed all the things she needed to make dinner along the breakfast bar and then started scouring the one solitary shelf in her kitchen for the right cookbook. It wasn't until she was halfway home that Gina had realised she wasn't exactly sure what Paul liked, the only thing she could think of was he'd once mentioned chicken curry, so she was going with that.

          A short while later she'd left the curry to simmer and nipped into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable than her work clothes. Gina was just brushing her hair and checking her jeans and shirt looked decent when there was an unmistakable knock at the door. She glanced at her watch and was surprised to see that it was exactly six o'clock. Gina took one final look in the mirror and then hurried out of her room to the front door. For some reason she felt compelled to take a deep breath before opening it.
          "Hi," Gina smiled nervously rubbing the sweat from her hands on her jeans.
          "Hi," Paul grinned and stepped forward. "I was going to bring a bottle of something, but then remembered you don't drink. So then I thought about flowers but decided that was too tacky and I almost got you chocolates until I realised you'd probably forget about me and tuck into them."
          "You didn't have to bring anything," Gina breathed and moved aside to let him in.
          "It's the gentlemanly thing to do," Paul declared. "I'd feel bad if I hadn't."
          "So, what did you bring?" Gina asked trying to grab hold of the plastic shopping bag he was carrying.
          "Gourmet double chocolate ice cream," he perked and pulled the brightly coloured tub from the bag.
          "Man, that stuff's expensive," Gina gasped.
          Paul looked slightly taken aback, "Well if you don't want it I'll keep it."
          "I never said I didn't want it," Gina said quickly and grabbed the ice cream and led the way back into the kitchen. She placed the tub into the freezer and Paul glanced around the room. He was pleasantly surprised to see the table set for two, with perfect looking crockery and two brand new candles.
          "So, what are we having?" Paul asked, sauntering over to Gina who was stirring the curry and wrapping his arms around her from behind.
          "Chicken curry, you like chicken curry right?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.
          Paul looked horrified, "No, I can't stand curries of any sort. They make me really sick."
          "Oh crap, I'm sorry," Gina gasped. "I just thought that…"
          "I'm kidding, I love chicken curry," Paul giggled. Gina frowned at him and he mimicked her until she cracked up. "So when do we eat? I'm starving?"
          "I don't think you deserve it now for being an arsehole," Gina declared as she pulled away to walk over to the table and light the candles.
          "I wasn't being an arsehole," Paul said innocently. "I just wanted to make you laugh, can't hold that against me can you?"
          "Nah," Gina mused. "Besides, I can find better things to hold against you," she added with a grin.
          "Damn, I forgot the Chapstick," Paul chided.
          Gina sniggered as she gave the curry another stir and put a small amount on the wooden spoon, "Wanna taste? I've never made a curry before so you can be my guinea pig."
          "Oh great," Paul sarced but took the mouthful of curry appreciatively. He chewed a moment, his eyes bugged and he started to gag. Gina looked horrified and was about to hunt out a first aid book when he started to giggle again.
          "I so hate you," Gina sighed, switching off the stove element.
          "Sorry," Paul laughed after he finished swallowing. "It's actually really great. I promise I'll stop being an arse now."
          "Yeah, there'd be a first," Gina countered as she divided the curry up between them and then did the same with the rice.
          "That smells so good," Paul beamed and rubbed his stomach.
          "Yeah, don't try sucking up now," Gina scorned. "You wanna get drinks, I bought you beer."
          "You bought me beer?" Paul said, shocked that a woman who despised the consumption of alcohol as much of Gina should fork out for some.
          "Ah huh, you haven't gone off beer have you?" Gina asked blankly.
          "No, I just thought…well…Thanks," Paul gasped and grabbed a stubbie from the fridge along with a soda for Gina. Before he joined her at the table, they looked at each other amused for a moment.
          "I think we should have a toast," Paul perked.
          "To what?" Gina asked, looking baffled.
          Paul grabbed his stubbie and held it up, "To you, the beautiful, intelligent writer. Me, the unnaturally hairy, slightly mad artist, may our future be nothing but a masterpiece." They clinked, the drinks together and then took mouthfuls of the liquid.
          "That was endearing if not slightly pathetic," Gina teased.
          "Hey," Paul mused, grabbing his fork. "I'm going light headed from lack of food, back off."
          "Sure it's not just the rush of blood to other parts of your body?"
          "Do we really need images of my erect penis over dinner?" Paul groused as they locked eyes and then both cracked up laughing.

          Paul drank the last mouthful of his beer and then automatically burped, "Oops, sorry," he said sheepishly.
          "Don't apologise, you've just given me reason not to kiss you anytime soon," Gina chided and wafted the air in front of her.
          "Wait until we start on the ice cream, that's gonna taste interesting," Paul mused as Gina got to her feet and started to clean up. "Can't that wait until later?"
          "Why leave it to later when it can be done now?" she countered.
          "So, not only are you obsessive about time you're a clean freak as well?"
          "Blame my mother," Gina sighed as she squeezed the peach scented washing up liquid into the sink. "I can still remember ritually washing all my dolls and their clothes as a child."
          "Yeah, you don't happen to go to therapy do you?" Paul asked, getting to his feet and grabbing a tea towel from where it was hooked over the oven door handle. "Are you on any medication that I should know about?"
          "Actually it's funny you should ask," Gina sighed, squeezing the wash cloth in her hands. "I don't usually tell people until I get to know them a bit better," she continued and moved a bit closer to him. "I mean it was only once and they never had to use tranquillisers."
          Paul tried to hide the shocked expression on his face, "W…what was only once?" he swallowed.
          Gina's face went from serious to a wry smile, "Oh my god you actually believed me."
          "Huh?" Paul said bewildered then it dawned on him she'd been lying. "Don't be stupid, I was just playing along."
          "Ha! I got you," Gina laughed as Paul tried not to smile. "You idiot, believing that I'd had a stint in an asylum."
          "No, I'm never gonna live this down," Paul laughed and chucked the tea towel on the floor. "Oops."
          "Yeah, just trash my dish drying equipment," Gina teased, grabbing the tea towel and loosely wrapping it around his throat.
          "You know I've been tied up with lots of things but never a used tea towel," Paul declared.
          "Not tying, strangling," Gina corrected and then surprised herself by initiating a kiss. The tea towel, dishes and running tap were soon forgotten as their hands took to clinging to each other and they became lost in a few moments of passion.
          "What's that noise?" Paul gasped, still slightly giddy.
          "What no…SHIT THE SINK HAS OVERFLOWED!" Gina squealed looking to see the water pooling on the floor. She rushed over and turned off the tap and then looking accusingly at all the water. Paul started to snigger at the mess and Gina soon followed as they started to clean up both in fits of laughter.

          "I bet you enjoyed that," Paul declared, scooping out a spoonful of ice cream and they sat snuggled on the couch, Gina's legs over his lap.
          "Enjoyed what?" Gina asked, digging her own spoon into the ice cream.
          "Having to clean up that mess in the kitchen,” Paul teased. “I bet you were secretly thrilled and couldn't wait to run for the mop."
          "I'm not that obsessive," Gina cussed frowning. “But don’t you feel some sort of personal fulfilment now that you know there’s no cleaning up to be done?"
          “No, no I don’t,” Paul said deadpan. “A few dishes stacked in the sink has never played havoc with my psyche."
          “You know, I think there’s a reason I’m single,” Gina sighed.
          “Gee thanks, if you’re single what am I?” Paul groused, looking taken aback.
          “Good point,” Gina agreed. “Usually I’ve scared off any decent men by now."
          “I’m not decent,” Paul smiled. “Besides, who am I to stop you doing my washing?"
          “Nice to know you…Oops,” Gina smirked as the ice cream from her spoon dropped onto the flesh exposed by the first few buttons on Paul’s shirt being left undone.
          “See, told you, you’d be doing my washing,” Paul chided as Gina looked annoyed with herself. “Are you just going to stare it? Because it’s starting to melt and dribble down my chest and I don’t think I’m comfortable with that."
          “It’s just ice cream,” Gina mused.
          “And it’s starting to pool in my belly button,” Paul whined and unbuttoned his shirt to show the dribbles of ice cream down his front. “Ohh,” he gasped, stunned when Gina crept forward and licked off every drop of ice cream from his torso. “You’ve done that before."
          “I’m too lazy to get a damp cloth,” Gina mused, straightening herself up again and licking her lips.
          “What would your mother say?” Paul chided.
          “I hope he wasn’t sweaty,” Gina smiled coyly and Paul giggled before catching her in a brief kiss. “You weren’t by the way."
          “Weren’t what?” Paul asked breathless.
          “Sweaty."
          “Right, I’m assuming that’s a good thing."
          “Eh, doesn’t bother me,” Gina shrugged as Paul took to dropping kisses on her neck. “I’d probably lick the sweat from your bare torso and all."
          “I don’t know if that’s erotic or slightly scary,” Paul declared.
          “Want to find out?” Gina asked with a sultry smile. Paul smiled back, leaned in to kiss her and then stopped.
          “Wait, I need to thank you for dinner,” he breathed. “It was amazing, this is amazing and you’re amazing if not slightly freaky."
          “Hey, you’re pretty amazing yourself,” Gina cooed, her fingers toying with his exposed skin.
          “Yeah, but I can’t cook like that, or clean or lick ice cream off seductively,” Paul pouted. “I tried once and it just ended up dribbling down my chin like a five year old."
          “Your point being?"
          “I know in your eyes a tub of chocolate ice cream is by far more than enough of a contribution to tonight,” Paul sighed. “But you made dinner special with candles and all, I want to do something special for you."
          “Well, there is one thing you could do,” Gina smiled and leaned in a little closer. “Will you sing for me?"
          Paul looked at her curiously a moment as she put the lid back on the ice cream and placed it on the coffee table. “Ok, any requests?"
          Gina shook her head. “Surprise me."
          Paul looked to the heavens for a moment, before a cheeky smile spread across his face and he started to sing.

          “Ice will melt, water will boil you and I can shake off this mortal coil. It's bigger than us, you don't have to worry about it. Ready or not here comes the drop. You feel lucky when you know where you are it's gonna come true. Here in your arms I remember” Gina felt her heart flutter. He was singing to her at her request. This had to be up there with the best moments of her life, right next to the discovery of chocolate. “It's only natural that I should want to be there with you. It's only natural that you should feel the same way too“ Paul brushed a gentle kiss against her cheek. “It's easy when you don't try going on first impressions. Man in a cage has made his confession. Now you've seen me at my worst and it won't be the last time I'm down there”
          “I don’t care,” Gina whispered.
          “I want you to know I feel completely at ease,” He continued and nodded. “Read me like a book that's fallen down between your knees,” Paul smiled wickedly as he sang and slipped a hand onto her thigh. “Please let me have my way with you.” Gina made sure that at least one hand was gripping the couch in case she lost control and slid to the floor. “It's only natural that I should want to be there with you. It's only natural that you should feel the same way too.” She started toying with his shirt as he teasingly stroked her cheek. “It's circumstantial, it's nothing written in the sky and we don't even have to try. But we’ll be shaking like mud, buildings of glass sink into the bay they'll be under the rocks again. You don't have to say I know you're afraid” He paused long enough to brush his lips against hers. While she fought hard to restrain herself from tearing off his clothes and making love to him right there on the couch. “It's only natural that I should want to be there with you. It's only natural that you should feel the same way too. It's circumstantial, it's something I was born to do. It's only natural, can I help it if I want to?” He dropped his voice too soft and sultry. “Can I help it if I want to?”
          “Oh god!” Gina gasped. “You’re gonna get so lucky tonight.” She surprised Paul by climbing into his lap and straddling him, her fingers caressing his skin as she lustfully brought his lips to his.
          “What about the ice cream?” Paul panted, motioning to the tub on the coffee table.
          “Who cares?” Gina mused.
          “Hey, it was expensive,” Paul pouted and then giggled as they fell back onto the couch.

          Paul groaned as he rolled over and ran a hand over the slowly cooling sheets. It took several seconds for it to register that he was in Gina’s bed and that for some reason, she wasn’t. “Genie,” he grunted and rubbed his eyes.
          “What?” Gina replied as she pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail and smoothed the loose ends down with something from a tube that Paul could only assume was some sort of hair product.
          “What ya doing?"
          “Going to work hon, you know that thing I do that pays me money?"
          “Right,” he breathed. “I should get up then."
          “Don’t bother,” Gina smiled and wandered back over to the bed. She crawled up and leaned over him. “You’re welcome to continue sleeping, for some insane reason I trust you."
          “Really? I don’t trust me. Do you really think you should?"
          “I’ll risk it,” Gina mused. “Feel free to shower and help yourself to breakfast. Just make sure you lock the door when you leave."
          “Thankyou,” Paul said sleepily. “You smell pretty,” he added and propped himself up to kiss her. A few seconds later Gina found herself shirt open, legs entwined with his and hands everywhere.
          “No,” she panted and pulled away. “I have to go to work.” Gina scrambled off the bed and re-buttoned her shirt, fixed her hair and grabbed her bag.
          “Fine, abandon me,” Paul pouted and then smiled coyly. “I hope that all day all you can think about is me doing nasty things to you."
          The second the words left Paul’s mouth Gina was stuck with the image in her head. “I want you to know I hate you McDermott,” she huffed as he cocooned himself in the covers and cackled as she left the room.

          Gina arrived at work to find a stack of papers in her inbox, her monitor covered in post-its and about 10,000 emails. She let out a groan and started rifling through them.
          “Good morning,” Danny perked looking at her smugly. “Are we fully satisfied and capable of work again?"
          “I’m fine Daniel, thankyou,” Gina sighed.
          “Great, then you’ll be pleased to know that the most important things out of that lot are an interview with the Immigration Minister at one, a meeting with the board of that dodgy retirement home at four. Oh yeah, and a press conference in…oh twenty minutes."
          Gina looked at Danny shocked. “Please tell me you’re lying?” Danny grinned and passed her the post-it with the details on it. “Jesus Christ,” she wailed. Grabbed her things and dashed from her desk for the elevator.
          “And that young Gina is why none of us ever have relationships…there’s no fucking time,” Danny mumbled.

          The sleep button on the clock radio had been pressed about fifteen times before Paul reluctantly dragged himself out of the warmth of Gina’s bed. He rubbed his face and scratched his stomach as he pulled on his underwear and then staggered out of the room. It took several doors until he found the bathroom and shook his head. It was a typical chick’s bathroom with crap everywhere. Creams, toners, lotions, bubble bath and showers gels. The towels were pink, the shower curtain floral and there was even a fluffy bathmat. Paul looked at himself in the bathroom mirror and realised he was actually smiling and wondered if his reflection wasn’t just playing with his mind.
          “I must be losing it,” he sighed and rubbed his stubble. He looked down and there beside the sink was a razor, shaving foam and a toothbrush laid out for him along with a bright pink post-it.

          Thought you might want to look pretty before you left!

          “Is there anything she doesn’t think of?” he mused. He shaved while singing a medley of bad love songs and then slid into the shower. He noticed a rack with her expensive shampoo and some fruity smelling shower gel on it. “Well, she did use mine,” he declared as he reached for the shampoo.

          By the time Gina got home from work she was exhausted. She’d been working flat out all day and hadn’t even managed to get lunch. All her meetings and interviews had gone well and she’d written up nearly everything but she was still going to be up late finishing the rest. She dropped her bag into a chair and then wandered into the bedroom.
          “Aw, he made the bed,” she smiled and literally let herself fall onto the neatly made covers. Gina was pleased that it still smelt like him even though she knew that was slightly a sad thing to admit, or perhaps it was just she’d had such a hard day it was nice to know she had an outlet. Gina rolled over and grabbed the phone from the bedside table and dialled Paul’s number, eager just to hear his voice.
          “Hi Genie!"
          “Hey Pauly."
          “You sound tired."
          “Like you wouldn’t believe. Whatcha doing?"
          “We’re discussing the new show."
          “What new show?"
          “I didn’t tell you?"
          “No, talk wasn’t big on the agenda last night."
          “That’s true,” Paul agreed. “We’re doing six Saturday night, one hour shows while Roy & HG are in the UK."
          “That’s fantastic."
          “Yeah, it’ll be fun, more pop culture than news though."
          “So, what time will you finish?"
          “No idea, we’ve only just started drinking."
          “Right, I should probably let you go then,” she sighed, trying not to sound disappointed.
          “Did you want me to come round? I will if you want."
          “No, you have fun. I’m knackered anyway and will probably just go to bed."
          “Don’t lie to me. I can hear you’re not happy."
          “It doesn’t matter, really. I just had a shitty day and I’m being pathetic and girlie and missing you."
          “Nothing wrong with being pathetic darlin’,” Paul soothed. “If we’re not out too late I’ll call round ok."
          “Ok, what’s that noise in the background."
          “My so called friends being fuckwits,” Paul chided and gave his work colleagues the finger.
          “Of course, I should have know that,” Gina breathed. “Right, well, bye then,” she added and ended the call. She chucked the phone onto the bed and miserably rolled back over. Oh well, at least she still had his smell.

          “Not running home to the little lady?” asked one of the shows writers.
          “No,” Paul said blankly a little stunned she’d hung up so quickly and abruptly. He grabbed his beer and joined Mikey who was perched at a table in the corner.
          “What’s wrong little fella?” Mikey asked as Paul slumped into a chair opposite him.
          “I think I upset Genie."
          “What did you do?"
          “I don’t exactly know mate,” Paul shrugged. “She sounded miserable and I didn’t go to her."
          “No offence mate, but you haven’t been dating a week,” Mikey scorned. “She doesn’t own you, you barely know each other."
          “You know mate, I don’t care,” Paul declared as he took a mouthful of his beer. “We’ve got something special and you can doubt it as much as you want but we’ll prove you wrong."
          “Perhaps you should stop drinking now?"
          “She’s more than just a woman or just someone to have sex with mate, we connect."
          “Paul, how much do you actually know about her?"
          “Well,” Paul began and paused for a moment. “The main thing I know about her and that I love is that she doesn’t put me on a pedestal. We’re so comfortable with each other, like maybe we were lovers in a past life…”
          “Have you been mixing drinks again?"
          “Oh and as for the sex, mate…”
          “For fucks sake Pauly,” Mikey sighed. “I don’t want the ins and outs of your sordid life."
          “Sorry,” Paul muttered as he drank some more of his beer. “I know I’m turning into some pathetic love sick freak."
          Mikey slapped Paul on the back. “I’m glad she makes you happy mate, just don’t get yourself hurt."
          “Gee thanks dad,” Paul jeered. “Shall we consult mum as well."
          “You’re a dickwit,” Mikey scorned and then they both started giggling. “Another round here!"

          The clock read 2:35am and Gina hadn’t had a wink of sleep. She’d expected to fall asleep easily but had just tossed and turned and tried not to think about him. But he was everywhere, from his scent on the sheets, to in her mind and even his marks were on her body (as Danny has so childishly pointed out “ohh you’ve got a hicky.”) She let out a heavy sigh as she turned over roughly, her eyes closed and she tried to relax. Gina thought there was a breakthrough when the phone rang and she nearly had a heart attack. She grabbed it from its cradle.
          “Hello?” she breathed.
          “Hiya Genie. I know it’s late or is it early? Cos if it’s after midnight it’s morning right? So it’d be early but it’s still dark, so I guess it’s kinda late too."
          “Hi Paul."
          “Sorry, I’m a bit pissed."
          “You know, I hadn’t noticed."
          “Yeah, I cover it well,” Paul giggled. “You sound very awake for this earlyish late hour."
          “I’ve got insomnia."
          “Oh, poor thing and how does insomnia feel about that?"
          “Huh? Oh…” Gina giggled. “Did you phone for any specific reason or just to chat?"
          “Oh yeah, I needed to tell you something."
          “And what? You decided when you’re shit faced was the best time?"
          “I’m midly tipsy."
          “Are you going to get to the point?"
          “Ok, Genie…”
          “Yes Paul."
          “I love you…”
          Gina felt her heart start to beat faster. He’d actually said it, sure he was off his face. But he’d said it.
          “Genie? Hello? I said I love you."
          Gina giggled. What the hell, he wasn’t going to remember in the morning anyway. “I love you too Pauly."
          “Excellent,” Paul grinned. “Hey Genie."
          “Yes Paul."
          “Can you let me in."
          “What?"
          “I’m at your door, see."
          Gina heard a knock at the door, dropped the phone and made her way through the dark to the door. She unlocked it and Paul stood there, wobbling slightly with the phone still clamped to his ear.
          “See!” he announced into the phone.