Dining in Style (Cuddy)

[Dr. Gregory House]

House pulled into the handicapped parking space, squeezing in just barely. He was the king of parking spaces. He pulled out his handicapped placard from an inner pocket of his jacket and put it on the dash. "When you ride with me, you get the best service," he smirked to Cuddy, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Grabbing his cane, he opened the door and hauled himself out. Deciding to play the gallant this time, he made his way around the car and pulled Cuddy's door open. He offered his arm. "Madam," he bowed in an exaggerated manner, "it is I, the most gallant and chivalric knight at your service. Behold, Cafe Spoleto."

He missed the strip joint that used to be here.

They had the best hos.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy's eyes widened just slightly as they pulled into the driveway. Here? She'd expected something nice, but not this nice. Turning to House, she smiled, noting the suggestion. "That so?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. This was going to be so much better than she'd thought. Especially since she'd heard some really good things about this place.

"You know, I've never been here before?" Cuddy asked him, barely holding back a laugh at his display. "Lead on, chivalrous knight," she added, feeling suddenly playful. If nothing else, any conversation between them tonight would be veiled innuendos and subtle suggestions. Frankly, she'd be surprised if 'misuse of food products' never came up.

[Dr. Gregory House]

House lead the way to the door of the ritzy upscale restaurant. The food was pretty good here, he remembered. He pulled the door open, awkwardly and gestured for Cuddy to go in first. "Ladies first," he murmured. They made their way to the reception booth where a host stood waiting.

"Reservation?" the man said blandly.

"House," House replied, "table for two."

The host checked the book list and nodded. "May I check your coat in, madam?" The host asked politely, withdrawing a ticket for the coat. House not so discreetly pulled his orange pill bottles from his jacket to put it in his blazer pocket. He definitely did not want to be separate from his sweet, sweet painkillers. Turning to Cuddy, he offered to help her out of the coat she wore.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Giving a gesture somewhere between a nod and a surprised shake of her head, Cuddy walked in, looking around. God, this place was nice...probably expensive, too. She eyed the host, a little unnerved. The man's blatant lack of enthusiasm said he really didn't want to be there. Either that, or he was just a boring person. She told herself that probably shouldn't think on it too much.

"Hm," she hummed, nodding and allowing House to help her with her coat. That taken care of, she was free to look around again. It didn't seem like too many people were here. Though, she wasn't too surprised, what with it being a Tuesday night. "Not a lot going on," she observed quietly, looking back at House.

[Dr. Gregory House]

House nodded, after handing his jacket over for coat check, taking a moment to admire Cuddy's fine neckline and figure in that dress. "Just the way I like it," House nodded. A waiter approached, grabbing menus and greeted them cheerfully. The waiter introduced himself as Terry and escorted them to the table at which they would be seated and served. House followed, leaning on his cane.

The waiter placed the menus on the tabletop next to their plates and waited patiently as House pulled back a chair for Cuddy. "Madam," House picked up his knight persona again, waving her to her seat grandly.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

She followed Terry to the table, trying not to look too much like she was checking the place out. She couldn't help feeling a little surprised as House pulled her chair out for her. "Sir," she returned, playful smile back in place, as she took the offered seat.

Cuddy picked up the menu and looked over it. Oh..God... She was looking at what she believed had to be the most extravagant and expensive food list ever.

"Can I bring you something to start off with?" Terry asked.

"Water will be fine, for me," she responded, still too enthralled with the outstanding price list before her to look up.

[Dr. Gregory House]

House passed around the table and seated himself, hiding a secret smile at Cuddy's obvious enjoyment and astonishment. He looked up at the waiter's question, "domestic," he signaled tall glass. He figured Cuddy could drive later, since she couldn't drink. Hello, designated driver.

He was looking forward to their steaks. They had such good steaks here. Last time he had been here, Cameron had only partaken of a salad, which he didn't think was enough for her, but he had been her boss, not her keeper. He was also looking forward to their usual basket of warmed bread. Delicious warm bread in three different varieties and plenty for all.

"Enjoying the menu?" He asked, to draw Cuddy out into conversation. His blue eyes twinkled with suppressed amusement. When was the last time Cuddy had been taken out for a nice dinner?

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Startled, she looked up. She didn't miss the look in his eyes as he spoke. Cuddy debated for a moment about how to answer that. She could wonder aloud how he was planning on paying, or...she could start the weirdest conversation in the world. A third option suddenly presented itself as she opened her mouth. She could do both. Couldn't she?

"Very nice. Nicer than I've seen in a while," she started, leading into her true answer. "Although..." she turned a page, moving on from the appetizer list to the entrees. Her eyes widened slightly. One item in particular caught her eye, and she smirked. "I have seen better cuts of meat in my experience." Her eyes sparkled as she glanced up again. It was decided right then that she would not be having any of the listed steaks that night.

[Dr. Gregory House]

House arched his eyebrows at Cuddy's remark. He picked up his menu, trying to see what had gotten Cuddy's attention. Cuts of meat...? Then realization dawned, and he smirked. Two could play at this game.

"I'm sure you have," House replied with a wicked smirk. "You're probably right in this instance, perhaps something in the soup family? Or maybe spaghetti." He really wanted to steer her away from mentioning steaks and the chewing. (No pun intended). Not something he wanted to think about in relation to his--but the soup! The soup was good!

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Soup? Spaghetti? Both eyebrows shot up at the implication. Mm...soup did sound good. Nice, warm liquid down her throat... She couldn't hold back a small laugh at that. Sincerely hoping no one at any of the other tables happened to glance over, she looked over the other items. Hmmm.... "I think not."

Cuddy's eyes stopped and her eyes brightened. "Hm," she hummed, wondering how to phrase it. "I think I'm leaning more towards white meat." She was, of course, referring to the poultry selection, but she couldn't help adding fuel to the fire. She'd have to point it out to him; saying it aloud would ruin it. Gently, she pulled his menu down. "This sounds excellent, don't you agree?" she asked, pointing out the chicken breast smothered with honey glaze and served on a bed of angel hair pasta. She figured it would get a better reaction than any of the other items in that section.

[Dr. Gregory House]

Looking at Cuddy as she leaned over the table, pointing at her selection, quite distractingly showing him her assets. Very favourable assets, indeed. He could see right down... oh, my. House had to focus, refocus back to where Cuddy was pointing at on his menu.

"Well," he noted, "I am a breast man. Although, I think I would prefer a specific breast smothered with honey glaze." House shot Cuddy a heated gaze, the desire in his eyes very visible.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Sitting back, she blushed. Not your everyday-garden-variety-pink-cheeks blush. No. Cuddy was positive her face was almost crimson. She coughed slightly, noting the look he was giving her. Slowly, she inched her right foot closer to him under the table, nudging his left foot. She reflected her desire in her own eyes, but was stopped from making another innuendo when Terry returned with their drinks.

"Do you need a few more minutes to look over the menu? Or are you ready to order?" he asked, already reaching for his notepad.

"I don't know...are you ready, Greg?" she asked sweetly, her eyes slowly darkening with lust the longer she kept his gaze. Perhaps we'll skip dessert, she thought, nudging his foot again.

[Dr. Gregory House]

House was cursing inwardly as their oh so lovely waiter interrupted their very, heated repartee, but he manfully restrained the urge to give Terry a deadly infectious disease. He cleared his throat, glaring at Cuddy's shameless comment, which was only serving to rile him up. The woman had her wiles!

"I think so," he replied smoothly, "the real question is... are you?" His left foot nudged hers, even as he felt like he was back in college again. Full of heady hormones and wakening desire that prickled his skin and made the back of his neck tingle and send that feeling up under his scalp. He met her eyes with a desiring look of his own, wanting to forget dinner and cut right to dessert as soon as possible.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy cocked her head and half-glanced at the menu before speaking again. In a clear, suggestive tone, certain that only House would be able to pick up on it, she closed the menu and handed it to Terry.

"I think I'll have the special." Of course, the special that night just had to be the chicken dish she'd pointed out. Quirking an eyebrow, she shot House a look that spoke volumes about how badly she just wanted to get out of here and back to his place. As promised. At this point, pornos and hot sex on his couch sounded a lot better than chocolate mousse and New York cheesecake.

[Dr. Gregory House]

The look on Cuddy's face was sending insistent signals straight to House's cock, and he shifted, thinking cool thoughts. He could control himself. He would control himself. Of course, she would have the special, never mind how she said it was sending streaks of electricity up his spine.

"Porterhouse steak for me," he ordered, trying to get himself back on the rails. Food first, flirting during and sex later. He would need the calories for their... activities later, that much was certain. "Baked potato and rice," he finished, clarifying what he wanted.

Terry took his menu and nodded, "very good, sir. Madam."

House sent Cuddy a steamy look. He promised revenge in bed later.