DGN, MissDevon & Misha- thanks for reviewing! Misha- Carly (and Andrew) won't find out until it's too late... ;)

Andrew hadn't taken Carly and Michael to Chuck E. Cheese. He'd taken them to a baseball game instead. Not her thing, but Michael loved baseball and they'd had a great time. Andrew had even bought her son a hat.

She wasn't too particularly happy he'd taken them to bar to eat after the game, but the place wasn't too bad. It was a sports bar, with lots of memorabilia on the walls and a bunch of old video games. A real guys sort of place. She smiled as she watched Andrew teach Michael how to play Space Invaders. By the look of it, Michael was winning. Andrew had gotten so excited when he saw they had the old game, he'd rushed over to play. It was so cute. Part was her telling her to be careful, that he's too good to be true, but her heart already wanted this to work out. He was a good man with a good job, albeit a dangerous one, and he adored her kid. One date really wasn't enough to decide anything, but her mother had always told her to go with her heart. Although right now she was beginning to wonder who was on the date, her or Michael.

Her cell phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. "Hello?"

"Hey sweetie!" Bobbie's chipper voice declared.

Carly smiled, happy to hear her mother's voice. "Hi, Mama. How are you?"

"I'm okay. How's Washington?"

"Wonderful!"

"Wonderful? What's his name?"

"Why do you automatically assume there's a guy?"

"I know you. Who is he?"

"His name's Andrew. He works for the WSB too."

"Have you gone out with him yet?"

Carly glanced back at her date and her son. "Actually, I'm out with him now."

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'll let you get back to him!"

"It's okay. I'm feeling a bit left out right now. He left me to go play Space Invaders with Michael,"

"Michael's with you?" Bobbie asked surprised.

"Yeah, Andrew took us to a baseball game this afternoon."

"So, tell me about this guy."

"Well, he's twice divorced. Same woman, I might add. Almost sounds like Sonny and I were. Two daughters. He's intelligent, charming, funny, and he adores Michael. Plus, he's really good looking."

"Almost sounds like my ex-brother-in-law."

"Tony's brother? What was his name, Frisco?"

"Yeah. He's a WSB agent too, but I think he's in the Middle East somewhere."

Carly chuckled. "Tony would probably croak if he heard I was working for the WSB."

"Looking forward to starting your new job?"

"Yes. It sounds like it's going to be interesting."

Their waitress returned to their table with the food. Carly moved her purse quickly out of the way. "Mama, I have to go. The food's here."

"Alright. Be sure to call me later and tell me how the rest of your date goes."

Carly got up and headed towards Andrew and Michael while she spoke. "Okay. I'll talk to you later. Michael?" she handed the phone to her son. "You wanna say bye to Grandma?"

Michael took the phone and started chatting away with his grandmother. Carly looked at Andrew. "Food's here."

He leaned back in the chair he was sitting in and pouted. "I'm losing anyway."

She touched his cheek. "Poor thing."

He grinned slyly. "I think I need some comforting."

She raised her eyebrows and glanced at her son that had just gotten off the phone. "Michael, I think Andrew could use a hug."

He laughed, shaking his head. "No, that's okay. I think I'll live, Caroline. You ready to eat, sport?"

"Yeah," Michael cheered, rushing back to the table. Andrew and Carly smiled at each other and followed him.

Carly thought the date was wonderful. Andrew was wonderful. He had genuinely enjoyed spending time with Michael. Michael hadn't just been a tagalong, Andrew had included him in everything, made her son feel like he was part of this date. And Andrew had done it willingly. She hadn't had to do anything.

Carly had spent the day looking for something not to like and had come up empty. This man was too good to be true. There had to be something wrong with him. She just didn't get this lucky.

"I had fun, Andrew! Thanks for the hat!" Michael said, rushing upstairs to get ready for bed.

"No problem, I had fun, too, sport," Andrew replied, smiling at the kid.

Carly closed the door behind them and gestured him to the sofa, the only piece of furniture in the living room.

"So, it's just you and me now," he said, taking a seat and smiling affectionately.

"Yep, just us," she said returning his smile. "Thank you for including Michael. He really did have a lot of fun."

Andrew's smile began to disappear. "No problem. He's a great kid. I had fun with him, too."

Carly glanced down, feeling slightly nervous. "I had a good time, too."

Andrew's lopsided grin returned. "Good. I was beginning to wonder about that."

"I'm glad you asked me out."

"I'm glad you said yes." Andrew brushed a stray hair out of her face, gazing into her brown eyes. "Can I kiss you, Caroline?"

"Yes," she breathed just before she felt his lips touch hers.

It wasn't a long kiss, nor was it terribly passionate. It was… sweet, tender, wonderful. Just soft lips pressed against soft lips in a gesture of affection. And it had sent a spike of electricity down her spine.

She felt a flush in her cheeks as he pulled away, smiling. Kissing Andrew was nothing like kissing Sonny. Sonny was all about passion, but every time she kissed Sonny, she felt possessed, controlled. He never left her with any doubt as to how much he wanted her, but outside the bedroom she'd always had doubts. Alexis. Brenda. Skye. Felicia. She'd always worried that he'd leave her for someone else. Andrew didn't make her feel like that. He wanted her too, she could see that much in his smoldering green eyes, but there was more than just passion with him. He cared. It was too soon to say love, but definitely something that could turn into love.

"That was nice."

"Yes, it was."

"Has anyone ever told you you're cute when you blush?" Carly laughed, covering her face with her hands and blushing even more. Andrew laughed along with her. "You are! You're very cute. No one's ever told you that?"

"I've been called many things, but no one's called me cute since grade school."

"That's too bad 'cause you're very cute."

"I bet you say that to all the girls."

Andrew turned serious and looked down. "Just my ex-wife. But she always hated being called cute."

Carly ran and hand through his hair, drawing his attention back to her. "Her loss. I like being called cute."

"Then you're going to be called cute every chance I get." Andrew kissed her again, a little more passionate but just as tender as before, and Carly melted into his strong arms.