[Fraser is being nice. He's always being nice so it really shouldn't come as any surprise, but this flattery directed right at Ray seems like a new form of kindness that only he gets to hear. This is Benton openly admitting that Ray, of all people, would be a suitable dating choice. That out of all the good looking women (and even men) that the Mountie has had chances with, Ray is the choice he'd settle with. He's not entirely sure how he's managed to get so high up in Fraser's ratings, but it might be best not to argue it.
He finally drops his gaze to their hands, watching as fingers entwine and as that thumb traces circles against his palm, causing him to flex his hand just slightly against the soft touch.]
Heh. Noble spirit.
[The choice of words amuses him. It's something he's never heard in reference to himself. No one ever speaks about him like that, at least not to his face. Maybe he could get used to all these compliments.]
That uh...
[Decision time, Kowalski. Time to make up your mind about whether accepting a date with the Mountie is a good idea. They've already fondled plenty, so that takes away a lot of the usual 'first date' pressure, but this is acceptance of so much more than just dinner and dancing.
The offer is thought out, delivered with a smile that Ray so rarely sees, and if he wasn't entirely sure about his reply to start with, that look that lit up Fraser's features certainly answered it for him. Benton wanted him.
Ray can't help but match the smile with his own, equally genuine and entirely relieved, like the first time Fraser ever invited him out to eat and Ray had felt nothing but gratefulness at the sign of acceptance.]
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He finally drops his gaze to their hands, watching as fingers entwine and as that thumb traces circles against his palm, causing him to flex his hand just slightly against the soft touch.]
Heh. Noble spirit.
[The choice of words amuses him. It's something he's never heard in reference to himself. No one ever speaks about him like that, at least not to his face. Maybe he could get used to all these compliments.]
That uh...
[Decision time, Kowalski. Time to make up your mind about whether accepting a date with the Mountie is a good idea. They've already fondled plenty, so that takes away a lot of the usual 'first date' pressure, but this is acceptance of so much more than just dinner and dancing.
The offer is thought out, delivered with a smile that Ray so rarely sees, and if he wasn't entirely sure about his reply to start with, that look that lit up Fraser's features certainly answered it for him. Benton wanted him.
Ray can't help but match the smile with his own, equally genuine and entirely relieved, like the first time Fraser ever invited him out to eat and Ray had felt nothing but gratefulness at the sign of acceptance.]
Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that.