It was after-hours at Diane’s favorite gym, she was spending her time exercising in peace, working up quite the musk and sweat as she exercised with her earbuds in, not paying too much attention to her surroundings. She planned to go to the showers soon, though.

Turning around, she glances at the sign and blushes profusely. "Oh! My apologies!" Her ears flush a deeper shade of red as she tries to smooth out her disheveled fur. "I must've... misunderstood..." She lets out a sigh of embarrassment, knowing that she should've paid more attention in the first place. "I-If it's not too much trouble, could you point me to the women's locker room?"

As she's led to the women's locker room by the gentleman who had caught her in his space, Diane can't help but feel incredibly embarrassed and grateful at the same time. "Thank you so much," she murmurs softly, casting a shy smile in his direction as they enter the female facilities. Once inside, she hurries over to a vacant shower stall and quickly begins undressing, eager to wash away the sweat and humiliation from her fur. She pauses for a moment, catching sight of herself in the mirror, before letting out a quiet sigh. It seems that no matter how hard she tries to be careful, sometimes she just can't seem to help but make a fool of herself...

The gentleman's offer catches Diane off-guard. She blinks a few times and peers at him in surprise before giving him a small smile. "That's... that's awfully kind of you," she says, her voice gentle and appreciative. While it's not unheard of for people to be friendly and helpful in California, this feels different somehow. Maybe it's just because he's so cute or maybe it's because she finds herself craving some company after being on her own for so long. "I'd like that," she replies with a small nod. "We could even grab something to eat afterwards." Her ears perk up slightly at the thought; eating with someone new sounds quite enticing, actually.

"Sounds wonderful," Diane replies with a grin, leaning against the wall of her shower stall as she waits for him to get changed. It's not every day that someone extends an invitation like this, especially not after catching them in a mistake. She finds herself feeling surprisingly lighthearted and carefree at the moment, which is rare given her position and responsibilities as governor. Maybe spending time with this friendly stranger will be just what she needs to lift her spirits before getting back into the thick of things tomorrow.

She takes a few moments to admire his figure while he's gone; he looks quite muscular underneath those clothes, and she wonders how well they'd match up in an arm-wrestling contest. A shiver runs down her spine at the thought of being so close to him again... This might turn out to be a rather interesting evening indeed.

When he finally emerges from his locker room, Diane can't help but feel a rush of attraction well up inside her. It doesn't hurt that he smells nice too; there's something about the scent of him that makes her want to lean in closer and take a big whiff. "Shall we?" she asks with a playful grin, gesturing for him to lead the way.

They end up at a small, cozy cafe near the gym; just the perfect spot for them to unwind after their workouts. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with soft lighting and comfortable chairs spread out across the floor. As they take a seat at a table in the corner, Diane can't help but steal glances at her companion whenever she thinks he isn't looking. There's something about him that's irresistible... maybe it's his charm or

Maybe it's both. Or perhaps she just finds herself attracted to his confidence; the way he carries himself with such ease and assurance. Either way, she can't help but feel drawn to him in ways that she hasn't felt in a long time... if ever. She takes a sip of her drink, trying to calm her racing thoughts as they peruse the menu.

The waiter arrives at their table with menus in hand and politely asks them what they would like to order. Diane glances up at him before looking back over at her companion, not sure how best to proceed. Should she play it cool or be forward about her intentions? She decides on a mix of the two; casually mentioning that whatever he orders sounds good to her as well. The look in his eyes makes it clear that he appreciates the subtle hint.

As they place their orders and continue chatting about various topics, Diane finds herself growing more and more comfortable around him. His flirtatious banter is irresistible; each word leaving her wanting more. Before she knows it, the food arrives at their table and they begin to dig in. She pauses for a moment, looking up at him with sparkling eyes before saying playfully,"So... why did you want to spend time with someone like me tonight?"

Her cheeks flush pink as she realizes that she's flirting with him and the implications behind her words. She takes a sip of her drink before continuing in a slightly less playful tone, "I guess it's just nice to... spend time with someone who isn't always so serious." Her gaze flickers down to his lips for a moment before meeting his eyes again. The air between them feels charged; as if they could spark at any moment from the slightest touch or word.

The food is delicious, and they eat in comfortable silence for several minutes while their conversation ebbs and flows with an easy rhythm that feels both casual and intimate. As dessert arrives, she takes a sip of her coffee before asking, "So... what brings you to the gym tonight? Trying to get swole or just blow off some steam?" Her tone is lighthearted once more; teasing him without being confrontational.

She leans in closer when he responds, feeling the warmth from his body radiating against her fur. This feels almost... perfect; like they were meant to be here together under these circumstances. But then again, maybe it's just wishful thinking on her part...