[color=007236]"You looked like you could use a rescue."[/color]

"A [i]rescue...?[/i]" Paul responded softly but with a feigned tone of disappointment.  "Are you kidding me...?  He was about to tell me the secret of his success ... about how I, too, could be a millionaire by years end."  He rolled his eyes, made a short [i]pfft[/i] sound, then finished, "Now, I'll be a reporter for the rest of my life ... eating top ramen, watching basic cable, and investing for my old age by buying a weekly lottery ticket.  Thanks."

Paul laughed, then smiled wide as he lifted his flute to his lips.  As he sipped the bubbly, he stare into Kat's eyes with an interest that wasn't feigned in the least, then lowered his glass again and looked her up and down with a conspicuously hungry look.  Looking back to Kat's sparkling orbs -- the ones in her head, not her tight fitting gown -- he said in a quiet but suggestive tone, "I could tell this afternoon that you took my invitation for dinner as a way to work toward an inside scoop on your family and their empire."  He stepped just a bit closer, adding a touch of intimacy to their proximity without looking creepy, and told her in an even softer tone, "I assure you, Miss Malloy ... my invitation had nothing to do with getting to know your grandfather ... and [i]every[/i] thing to do with getting to know you."

A waiter happened by, and Paul snatched two full fluted of champagne before offering one out toward Kat and finishing, "And to prove it, I am going to forego the interview with your grandfather and ask again..." He lofted the flute, indicating he hoped she would acknowledge her acceptance of a date with a clinking of glass.  "Please ... do me the [i]great[/i] honor of letting me take you to dinner."