A/N: So, someone wanted me to update this story…and I thought I'd try it…but unfortunately, I don't know what I'm going to write…so, bear with me!
Chapter Three: Nightmares and Living Dreams
I woke up in a cold sweat. It was the middle of the night and I had been having nightmares all night long. You would think after the afternoon I'd had, I'd be sleeping like a baby. However, it wasn't Ryan I was thinking about; it was Charlie.
We hadn't spoken in ten years; hell, I gave up hockey because of him. I had wanted to go to USC, but when I found out that Charlie had signed a letter of intent there, I went clear across the country to Princeton. I gave up hockey after a year, so we would never have the possibility of running into each other. I started going by my mom's middle name for a few years, to keep off the radar.
My plans worked: Charlie lost contact with me. I thought I was safe, so I went back to my real name. I even thought of picking up hockey again. And now Charlie was back in my life. Guess that my great plan didn't work so well after all.
And now I was his personal body guard? What the hell? How did he find me? How could I get out of it? Ryan didn't seem to be into changing her mind; at least not about work. About me, that was another story.
I smiled wolfishly. The afternoon had been priceless. We had been in her office for a few hours when Ilene timidly knocked on the door and told us there was a meeting about Charlie's security detail. Ryan shoved me off of her and straightened her skirt. Her hair was all mussed up and her make-up was smeared. She looked beautiful.
She looked in the mirror by the door. "Dammit Banks!" She ran her hands through her hair while I stood up, buttoning up my shirt. "Never again, understand?" She pointed her finger at my face.
I licked it and grinned at her. "So you say." I retied my tie.
Ryan closed her eyes, looking as if to gain back patience. She straightened my tie and looked me up and down. "Well, at least one of us doesn't look like we just had sex." She shrugged and led the way to the conference room.
Thinking back on the afternoon made me so happy. She had straightened my tie; it was a typical girlfriend move. But that made me think of her ex; they had just broken up. Maybe she was just rebounding. I knew one thing: I didn't want to be a filler until the next relationship came along.
I turned on the bedside lamp and picked up my cell phone. I had her number in my phone now; she had given it to me in case of an emergency. Well, this was an emergency, right?
I waited for her to pick up the line. She had one of those playback ringers that play music for the caller while they wait. It was a Def Leppard song. I had to smile. Only Ryan would put that song as her playback.
"Hello?" A groggy voice asked.
"Hi beautiful," I whispered into the receiver.
There was a pause then a groan. "Banks? Do you know what time it is?"
I looked at my alarm clock. "Oh, about 2:56 am."
I could picture her rolling her eyes. "That was a rhetorical question to imply why the hell you are calling me."
"I had a nightmare about Conway. He was tying me up in a leaky basement to use me for his personal pleasure."
I could hear Ryan fighting giggles. "And this is my problem because?"
I smiled into the phone. "Admit it Ryan. You know you want to be the one who ties me up in a leaky basement to use for your personal pleasure."
"Yeah, I would love to tie you up and beat you to a bloody pulp." Her voice was returning to its original annoyance. "Is that all?"
"Can I come see you?" I was losing her fast and I thought I might as well just throw it out there.
"Really?" She sighed. "We have work in a few hours. And I personally don't want to go again."
It was my turn to laugh. "I just want to talk. I swear."
"4509 Irving St, apartment 314. If you're not here in thirty minutes, you're sleeping outside and talking to a trash can." And she hung up.
I dressed quickly and ran down the stairs, not bothering to take the elevator. It was freezing out, but there was no time to get a taxi. Besides, Irving was only a good fifteen blocks away. I could make it; if I ran.
I made it to her apartment building with two minutes to spare. Huffing and puffing, I buzzed her apartment number. I was buzzed in. I ran to the stairwell and took the flights two steps at time. I got to her door right at the thirty minute mark. She opened the door and glared at me. "You were almost left in the cold."
I smiled and bent over to catch my breath. "Good thing I'm a fast runner."
She crossed her arms across her chest: she was wearing a fuzzy pink bathrobe and had bare feet. She looked me over as I tried to catch my breath. "Need some water or something?"
Huffing, I nodded. "Got a beer?"
She ushered me in and went to where I assumed the kitchen was. I collapsed on her couch, still catching my breath. She returned, two Bud Lights in her hands. She handed one to me and collapsed onto a chair nearby.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Ryan took a swig of her beer and snuggled up in the chair, pulling her feet under her.
"Could you please come sit over here? I feel weird with you over there." I patted the couch next to me.
She shook her head, sending her curls flying in every direction. "Nope, I think I'll stay here. Now talk, or get ready to embrace the cold." She glanced at me. "With no coat?"
I grinned and took a swig of my beer. "I was in a hurry."
"Obviously."
"Could you please find it in your heart to take me off of the Conway case?" I leaned forward and stared straight into her eyes.
Her eyes were almost closed in exhaustion. "What did he do to you anyway?"
I sighed. "Look, we just had some issues. He liked me, I didn't like him. Then I deserted him at college so he'd leave me alone. And now he's back."
"If you're afraid that a National Hockey League player, who has a boyfriend by the way, will jump you if you do your job, then maybe you should find another profession." She opened her eyes and looked at me. "In this line of work, we always deal with whack jobs." With that she stood up and stretched. "And now I'm heading to bed. You're more than welcome to crash on the couch. Blankets are in that closet."
I stood up and jumped in front of her. "Why can't I sleep next to you?"
She shook her head. "Oh, no. I'm not in the mood to make hanky panky."
I laughed and placed my arms around her. "I promise I'll be good. Please?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I'm never going to get rid of you, am I?"
I tapped her nose gently with my finger. "Probably not."
Her face broke into a bright smile. "All right, fine. It's weird sleeping alone anyway."
She took my hand and led me to her room. The bed was a four-poster number with a huge homemade quilt on it. It was very homey.
She glanced at me. "No comments. My grandpa made the bed and my grandma made the quilt. They were supposed to be wedding gifts, but they've kinda given up hope."
"No, I like it. It suits you." I put my arms around her from behind. "Sexy and homey."
She smiled at me and placed her hands on mine. "You're kinda cute when I'm sleepy." She pulled away and went to the closet. "I have this pair of pj bottoms that should fit you. They're these plaid ones I got at the men's department." She threw them at me and climbed into bed.
I threw on the pjs and walked to the other side of the bed. I climbed under the quilt and put my hands behind my head. And then the best thing happened: Ryan rolled over and snuggled into me.
I glanced down at her and she was looking up at me. "What's up?"
"Don't get used to this, Banks. I'm not the type." And then she closed her eyes.
We'll see, I thought as I put my arm around her and fell asleep.
A/N: Is this moving too fast? I mean, there's this instant attraction, obviously. And there's their professional relationship…but am I moving the personal too fast? I mean, Adam wants it. And a girl can only fight an attractive guy so long. But…AM I DOING OKAY?! r/r…thanks
