The party was over. Isabelle cried when she had to say goodbye to the pony but Billie promised to take her riding soon so she could see him again. The guests had left and they deflated the bouncy castle. Billie hung around to help clean up and Quentin offered to distract Isabelle while they did so.

Billie enjoyed watching them as she bustled about collecting odd cups, plates, and random trash to throw away. Isabelle had him playing dolls with her, he of course was the boy doll and she had the girl doll. Several times she caught them laughing together, and she got that tight feeling in her heart again.

"You like him, don't you?" Elena said as she caught Billie staring at Quentin for like the umpteenth time.

"What's not to like? He rich, handsome, obviously likes kids," Billie added, not wanting to admit she was happy about that last one, as she always wanted children and hoped to have a big family someday.

"It's more than that. I see how you look at him," Elena said.

Billie laughed, "Oh really? And how is that?"

"The way my husband looks at your car every time you come to park it in his garage because he knows he'll get a chance behind the wheel. But Billie, remember once a car is taken off the lot, it immediately depreciates in value."

"Are you trying to give me a sex talk?" Billie asked amused. "Because if you're worried about me and Quentin you needn't be."

"Why don't I believe you?" Elena asked and Billie laughed.

"Don't worry. I have no intentions of getting that serious with him," Billie told her also knowing that Quentin said he wouldn't take her to bed unless it was making love and Billie didn't see that happening anytime soon, if at all.

"I thought you told Carlos, he may be marriage material?" Elena said catching Billie in her own lie.

Damn it! This is why she never liked to lie. She was so bad at it and because of that she always gets caught.

"Look, Elena. I don't know what the future holds in store but I'm keeping an open mind on this one, okay? Look at him," Billie said turning Elena around to watch Quentin playing with her daughter and her daughter having fun.

"He's not what everyone makes him out to be. My whole life I've had people prejudging me. I... don't want to do that to him. Okay?"

"Okay," Elena said.

Carlos came up and asked, "What's with the serious faces around here? We just had a rockin' party."

"She's in love with the playboy. See if you can talk some sense into her," Elena said walking away with Billie just staring at her in disbelief.

"Why do I not remember her being this infuriating?" Billie asked Carlos who just laughed.

"Most likely because for the first year she was subdued because of her illness but now you're getting to see the real Elena and why I love her so much," Carlos said, knowing his wife was listening.

"Ha!" Elena scoffed and Carlos laughed.

"Well, I'm not in love with Quentin. We barely know one another," Billie affirmed.

"The heart knows what it wants long before we do. It takes longer for our heads to agree," Carlos told her.

"I guess you're right, but my head and heart are currently in agreement. Quentin is a great guy but I'm not entirely sure we have a future together," Billie said, wondering why that thought depressed her.

"You'll have what you want to have. What you create. No one can do that for you."

Carlos, Elena, and Billie finally had the house back in order. Billie came in to find some kid show streaming and Quentin sitting in a recliner with a sleeping Isabelle on his lap, his arms wrapped protectively around her. Without his knowing it Billie took a picture of them both. They just looked too adorable to pass up the opportunity.

"Hey," Billie whispered, as she got close. "Sorry, it took so long to clean up."

"I'm good. I had nowhere else to be," Quentin whispered back.

Billie tucked a piece of hair behind Isabelle's ear and she snuggled in even closer to Quentin, which made her want to laugh.

"Looks like you have Isabelle's seal of approval," Billie teased. "I'll take her up."

"Okay," Quentin said lifting her gently and placing her in Billie's arms.

Isabelle stirred only slightly. "Come on Chiquita, let's get you to bed." Billie carried her upstairs and Quentin waited for her to return.

Carlos came in and handed Quentin a beer. "You're pretty good with kids."

"Thanks" Quentin refused to take it from him, shaking his head no. "I'm driving and I'm not sure when Billie may want to leave."

"You know. I hate to admit it, but I'm liking you more and more," Carlos said putting the second beer on the coffee table and taking a seat on the couch to drink the one he already opened for himself.

"So, I'm growing on you, huh?" Quentin asked with a grin.

"Considering how things started out, yeah. You've got potential, I think," Carlos said.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Quentin laughed hearing the hesitation in Carlos' declaration.

"I'm sorry, if I ... if we were hard on you," Carlos added as his wife Elena entered the room and took a seat next to her husband.

"I understand why you are. You love Billie and don't want her to get hurt," Quentin said.

"She's been through a lot," Elena spoke up. "Losing her mother, her boyfriend, taking care of Isabelle and me. I just want to see her happy, you know?"

So the boyfriend was recent. Quentin really wanted to ask questions about him but he knew it wasn't the right thing to do.

"I want to make her happy. If she'll let me," Quentin stated and he obviously said the right thing as he was rewarded with Elena's smile, the first one he had gotten all day.

"You care a lot about her, don't you?"

Quentin was not about to admit anything to Billie's two closest friends. He wasn't ready for it to get back to her. "We are in the process of getting to know one another. It's going to take some time to build trust. I get that. I have my own issues on the subject but I do believe Billie is something special."

"Is the only time you talk nice about me when I leave a room?" came Billie's teasing voice as she entered the living room.

Quentin laughed. "I'd say nice things to your face but you'd just tell me to save my flattery. That it's wasted on you."

"Did I say that?" Billie asked, knowing full well that she had.

"Sounds like you," Carlos joked.

"Hey now!" Billie exclaimed acting offended. Carlos offered her the beer and she took it. Sitting down in another single chair that made up the seating arrangement in the living room. She twisted the top off and took a swig.

"Did she go back to sleep?" Elena asked.

"It took one story but yep. She is sound asleep. Won't be surprised if she sleeps through till morning. She's so worn out," Billie said.

"Morning? Well in that case it was nice having you. We'll see you again some other time," Carlos declared as he tried to pull his wife off the couch and she laughed while trying to push him away.

"Come on, baby. You know how rare it is that you and I get an uninterrupted night together. You don't think I want to spend it entertaining these two misfits do you?"

"Carlos!" Elena reprimanded, hardly daring to believe her husband's bad manners but secretly loving the idea he was implying.

"He has a point, Elena," Billie agreed. "We should probably get going anyway." Billie took another swig of the beer and put it down on the table. "Come on Quentin let's leave these two love birds alone," Billie said standing to go.

"No, don't let him drive you two away. We hardly ever get any adult company anymore," Elena complained.

Carlos grabbed Elena around her waist and kissed her behind her ear. I'm not adult enough for you? I can step up my game if you need me to," Carlos teased.

"Hush now!" Elena said smacking his arm. "What an impression you make?"

"Billie knows me well enough and well this guy... I don't care what he thinks. I want a chance to make love to my wife. He's a guy. He gets it." 

"I'm so sorry for my husband's rude behavior." Blushing, Elena apologized but Billie was already at Quentin's side and he rose taking it as his cue they were leaving.

"It was a pleasure getting to meet you both and your daughter," Quentin said as they made it to the front door.

"Maybe we can have you back for dinner sometime?" Elena offered.

"Absolutely," Billie said pushing Quentin out the door.

"See you tomorrow, Billie!" Carlos said waving goodbye. "Quentin you take good care of my girl."

"I will," Quentin promised and the young couple waved to them as they left and Billie laughed as she'd seen Carlos nab his wife for a kiss before they even shut the door.

"They're a cute couple," Quentin said as he took Billie home.

"Yeah, they're pretty great," Billie agreed.

"So home?"

Billie realized suddenly this brought their night to an end and she discovered she wasn't very eager to see that happen, but answered, "Yeah, thanks."

"No problem. I can see why you're so taken with Isabelle. She's an adorable kid."

"Smart and funny too," Billie said smiling. "I feel so blessed to have her in my life, to have them all really."

"I get that. It must be nice," Quentin said.

Something in his tone made her ask, "Don't you have anyone like that in your life?"

"I have my best friend but we don't get much time together.  I really don't have any other close relationships outside of my Mum."

"Mum," Billie repeated with a giggle.

"What?" Quentin said smiling at her.

"It's just cute how certain words just slip out when you talk without an accent most of the time," Billie said.

"Well, certain words just stick. I've called her Mum since I was little. Sometimes I call her Mother and often do when I'm talking about her to other people but that's not who she is to me. She is and always will be Mum."

"I like it. It's nice," Billie said.

They chatted about the party and Quentin's time with Isabelle. Billie laughed so hard when Quentin told her their dolls were dating and he had to take Isabelle's doll out to a fancy restaurant and act out the date, including a kiss good night."

"Should I be jealous?" Billie teased.

"Nah, I just played out what I would do if I took you to dinner anyway so..."

Billie pretended to look scandalized. "I hope that kiss was G-rated then. I'd hate to think you've scarred that girl for life."

Quentin laughed. "Don't worry it was just a peck on the cheek."

"Oh, thank heavens," Billie said pretending to be relieved.

"Does that mean I can look forward to an R-rated kiss goodnight if I took you out to dinner?" Quentin queried.

"I don't know. I guess you'll have to take me to find out." 

"I'd love to, when and where?" Quentin asked pulling up outside of her apartment.

"How about tomorrow at Balthazar's?" Billie offered.

"It's a date then," Quentin said.

Billie took off her seat belt but hesitated to get out right away. "Would you like to come in for a drink?"

Quentin smiled. "I'd love to." Billie smiled back at him. "But no."

"Oh?" Billie's smile faltered and Quentin reached over to lift up her chin.

"I want more than anything to spend more time with you, Billie. But this afternoon showed me I have to proceed with caution. Earlier what we did together was an exercise in both patience and restraint. Having a few drinks in me and being around is just not a good idea."

"Why?" Billie asked and he couldn't believe she was making him spell it out to her.

"Simply put. I want you too badly. My fingers are tingling right now just thinking of touching you. I have to keep my wits about me and I find that increasingly harder to do with each minute, each second I spend around you."

"I understand," Billie said not believing a word he said. She opened the car door and got out shutting it behind her. Quentin rolled down the window.

"Until tomorrow then," he called out after her.

"Until tomorrow," she said but this time she didn't turn around or wave to him she just walked inside her building and Quentin damned himself for the fool he was for turning down her invitation.