Well, well, well … what have we here? A couple of weeks ago we learned that Jennifer Aniston will be appearing in upcoming eps of her BFF Courteney Cox-Arquette‘s hit ABC series Cougar Town and today we learn that Jen is gettin’ some extra perks from her association with the show. People magazine is reporting that Jen went on a 2-hour date with Josh Hopkins, who plays hottie neighbor Grayson on Cougar Town, which might be the first sign of a new romantic relationship for the famously single Ms. Aniston:

Looks like Jennifer Aniston’s guest starring role on Cougar Town comes with some sweet fringe benefits. The actress, 40, (who was recently rumored to be back together with John Mayer) shared a two-hour Italian dinner with Cougar Town actor Josh Hopkins at Madeo in Beverly Hills on Sept. 2. “She seemed very excited about her date,” says a eyewitness. “She and Josh sat at a more private table and they seemed to get along great.” Aniston, who sipped white wine and ordered fish, shared animated conversations with Hopkins, 39. “It was obvious that they don’t know each other well, but there was a flirty energy between them and Jen looked very happy,” adds the witness. Reps for both haven’t commented on the relationship, but there’s no denying the smile on Aniston’s face these days. “Jen has been in the best mood lately,” a source tells PEOPLE. “She is trying to do whatever makes her happy, which includes going on fun dates with interesting men.” And the star’s optimistic attitude could lead to more fun in the dating world.

I LOVE Josh Hopkins on Cougar Town … and I really love the idea of a possible love match blossoming between Jen and Josh. He seems like the perfect guy for her … he’s in the biz so he understands the demands of her life but he’s also not all that famous so that she can enjoy some of his normalcy. Josh is also a hottie (much hotter than John Mayer, IMHO) so there is much for Jen to enjoy from him. Because of Jen‘s notorious singleness, I’m not holding my breath just yet … but I do like this pairing very much. Here’s hoping this 2-hour date turns into something more substantial and long-lasting.

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