Outside it may have been a dark and rainy February night, but inside, the State Room was warm and brightly lit.

The Russian President was on a three day visit to the US and the President was hosting a State Dinner in his honor.

The senior staff were already there, working the room, talking to some of the District’s most influential people and the premier’s staff. The President and his guest had yet to make an appearance but it was still early.

Ainsley walked into the ballroom and her eyes scanned the room. She couldn’t quite believe that she was there or that Leo had even asked her to attend. She had, for the past two weeks, been assisting him on the legal implications of the new arms agreement with Russia. Leo had thought it prudent that she be present at the dinner should any clarification be required. After three days of debating what to wear, she had finally dropped by Donna’s desk for advice. In the end Donna had leant her a dress, which considering the height difference, was only two or three inches longer than she normally wore.

John Hoynes positioned himself by the window and looked out across the room. He hated these events with a vengeance. As much as he was a leading member of the Bartlet Administration, he knew the real reason he was invited to these things. He was good looking and the ladies liked him, hence he spent most of the night chatting to the wives of senators, who hoped he would help their husbands get a rung up the political ladder.

His own wife always seemed to be in Texas or with their children. Then again his marriage wasn’t what anyone would call fulfilling. Stacey liked to be the wife of a successful, and rich, politician but that was about as far as it went. His needs it seemed were no longer considered important once they had the perfect son and daughter. That was twenty years ago. These days they barely slept in the same bed, let alone made love. He had to admit that when Stevie had told him they could get him a girl, he’d been tempted. Then he had considered the implications and thought better of it.

A movement across the room caught his eye and he followed the red swathe of material as it continued towards the bar. When the movement came to an abrupt halt, his eyes gently appraised the body encased in red silk and he nodded in approval.

The blonde Republican sex kitten. His eyes were drawn to the black heeled sandals that covered her tiny feet, up her long, lean legs to her knees. The ruby red dress fell just above the knee, swirling around her thighs. John continued his appraisal, taking note of her tiny waist and the spaghetti straps in contrast to the cream of her shoulders. Her long blonde hair was pulled up off her face into a chignon, revealing the pale skin of her neck. If the months of abstinence hadn’t made him frustrated, the sight of Ainsley across the room definitely was.

Ainsley sipped her glass of chardonnay, turning in search of a familiar face and John took a sharp intake of breath. The dress dipped low on her back, meeting in a vee low on her waist to reveal more of the alabaster skin.

John lost sight of her as he turned to wave his hand in greeting to a few people. Finally, in control of his breathing, he began to search for her again. When he finally found her she was heading in his direction, determination etched across her features.

“Trying to escape already?“ he asked confidently.

She looked up and a moment of indecision flickered across her face. “I wanted some air.“

“Too many Democrats in one room for you, Miss. Hayes?” he teased, lightly. He could, so easily, lose himself in her deep blue eyes, he concluded.

“Too many people full stop.”

“Oh. That’s a shame, and I was so hoping for a moment of your time,” he stated, his southern drawl more pronounced than was usual. “Maybe I should introduce myself. John Hoynes. I’m the Vice President.”

“Yes, Sir. You’re from Texas.“

“Yeah, but don’t hold that against me.“ He smiled weakly and scanned the room before returning his full attention to her. “And you‘re Ainsley Hayes, the woman who wiped the floor with Sam live on TV. I‘ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.”

Ainsley blushed. His grey eyes were firmly locked with her blue ones, and the rest of the room might as well have disappeared. “I‘m easy to find, Sir. Just keep heading down, I‘m in the Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue.”

“Just think, if there’s ever a nuclear attack, you’ll be in the safest place.”

“That’s very reassuring, thank you,” she deadpanned. “And where will you be?” She took a lengthy sip of her drink to cover her embarrassment. It wasn’t done to be so glib with the Vice President but he brought out something impish in her.

If he had his way, in the Steam Pipe whatever it was. Of course in reality he’d be stuck in a bunker with the likes of Josh and Cal. Who, on occasion made him want to stay above ground and damn the consequences.

“That’s classified.” He gave her a warm smile. “But I can promise you the company will be less than charming.”

Ainsley’s cheeks turned pink and she glanced nervously around the room. He was flirting with her, and she had the urge to flirt back.

Clearing his throat and wondering just when he’d lost control of his senses, John asked, ”So you drink pink squirrels?”

“Are there no secrets in this building?” she sighed. “It was the night of the State of the Union, which was, for me, a really big night. I went on television and I was delightful. On an adrenaline high, I may have taken a walk, just to get some air, and found myself sitting on a bench in the rose garden, which, as I later discovered had been painted. When I returned to my office, I changed into a bathrobe from the women’s locker room, and had a drink while listening to some music. I may, as has been pointed out, been a little caught up in the moment.“ She finally took a breath.

John had been watching her as she ranted, her face flushed. She was, he concluded, everything the senior staff said - Republican obviously, intelligent and prone to verbal postulating. What they hadn’t mentioned was that she was exquisite, which was something he fancied investigating for himself.

“I apologize. I have a nervous condition, which manifests itself in the inevitable bungling of the English language and mortification for me."

“It’s really quite endearing.”

And stunning. Her cherry red lips parted as she prepared to say something and he found himself imagining kissing them, his tongue slipping between them as he worked his way into her mouth. He sighed deeply.

Ainsley watched him carefully, wondering how long it would be before one of his staff came to drag her away. She took a deep breath, never one to miss an opportunity for considered debate. “You’re one of us.”

“Republican?” he asked, a little taken a back.

Ainsley rolled her eyes. “Well, I have, I admit, always suspected that you might one day see sense.” She gave him a grin. “I was actually referring to your stance on gun control.“

“Ah.“

“And now, I have, as is usual, said the wrong thing and caused you to wonder what the hell I’m doing working for this Administration.”

“Ainsley? May I call you Ainsley?”

“Of course, Mr. Vice President.” Here it comes, she thought, he’s going to ask me to go away.

“T'est très belle,” he declared, his eyes dancing across her features.

Her cheeks tinged with pink and she lowered her eyes, “Why, thank you.” She struggled to find something in French she could use, but she had studied Spanish, and that was a long time ago. The Spanish for sexy as hell evaded her.

“This isn’t really the time or place to discuss gun control or the fact that the Second Amendment is archaic. However, it is a conversation that I would like to have with you at some time.“ John wanted to add ‘over dinner‘, but as much as he liked taking risks, they were calculated risks, and propositioning a Republican seemed a little too risky, even with the possibilities.

She gazed up at him and tilted her head as she studied him for signs of insincerity. “I think it would be an interesting conversation.” She couldn’t believe she was flirting with him, the Vice President of all people and a democrat at that. Her father would be mortified.

“So, I hear you’ve been involved in the arms agreement,” John commented, hoping to draw her further into conversation and maybe find a reason to see her again professionally.

Ainsley nodded, “Yes, Sir. Well, only on a minute level, at Leo, that is Mr. McGarry’s, request. There was some language in the original document that could be considered, well Leo was concerned might be, offensive. I went over the agreement and suggested the changes. It is unusual for me, well it’s not really part of my job description to become involved in foreign policy. . .” She lifted her glass of wine to her lips and swallowed. “Of course I was only there to help with the legal implications.”

John swallowed too. He wanted to kiss her, if only to shut her up for a few minutes.

“And then Leo asks me if I would attend the dinner. Of course then I had this big dilemma of what to wear. . .”

“You look lovely,” he interrupted, his eyes drawn to the neckline of her dress as she took quick breaths.

“Thank you, that is, by me, and by Donna who’s dress I borrowed, very appreciated.” She giggled and fluttered her eyelashes. It was then that she remembered that she meant to eat before leaving her office for the dinner. It had been over an hour since her last muffin and at least another hour until dinner. The Vice President probably thought she was a blithering idiot. “If you’ll excuse me, Sir, I should be circulating,” Ainsley announced, suddenly feeling light headed and more than a little warm in his presence. “If there is anything I can do for you. . .”

“I’ll be sure to call.”

“It was good talking to you,” Ainsley commented, trying to regain her professional demeanor.

“I’m glad we finally got to meet,” John whispered as she began to walk away. “I’m only sorry we couldn’t take this further.”

“And here I was thinking you liked to seize the moment,” Ainsley purred, giving him a coy smile and walking away.

John took a sharp intake of breath as he received another eyeful of the back of her dress. All variety of images rushed through his mind sending his blood pressure soaring.

Her hips swayed as she headed towards Sam and a group of staffers talking.

John leaned back against the pillar and studied them from a far. There was something in the way she lightly touched Sam’s arm and moved in to talk to him, that had John wondering if there was something going on between her and Sam. Not that he would blame Sam, hell if things were different he would have made a move. There were days he would have seized the opportunity anyhow.

His trousers suddenly took on a mind of their own as she glanced back over her shoulder and licked her lips.

Oh he was definitely going to have Janine phone her, there was definitely something the Associate White House Counsel could do for him. For the time being however he would have to settle for sitting next to her at dinner, and that was something he needed Candy to organize.

“Mr. Vice President?” Leo repeated, following his gaze and shaking his head. “Sir?”

“Leo?” John said, snapping out of his trance. “What can I do for you?”

“One of the Russian aides is interested in the cost/profit ration for oil production in this country. I was wondering if you would be willing to talk to him.”

“Sure.” Thinking about the young blonde was only going to get him into trouble, besides there was going to be plenty of time for that later when he climbed into bed alone. At least his dreams were going to be a little more vivid from now on. “Lead the way, Leo.”