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Chapter 3

Riley quickly picked up on Willow's signals and decided he'd better pull Buffy away and see if they were going to be able to swap dates.

"The usual, Mr. Finn…?" The bartender asked.

"Thanks, Ray…" he answered. "Buffy…? May I talk to you for a moment?"

Buffy glanced at him, "Course…" she agreed while giving Will a devious look and walked off.

"I wonder what that's about." Will made conversation with Angel. She smiled inwardly knowing Buffy's intentions.

"I think your message was clear…" Angel quirked an eye brow at her playing innocent.

"What message?" Will asked innocently.

"Right… Like you don't know Riley likes you…"

"I may have… noticed… Hey! You know… you and Buffy could, I don't know keep each other company when she gets back." She encouraged.

"Wait… you know what Riley's telling Buffy?" he questioned.

"No… I… I know what Buffy's telling Riley… Wait a minute; is that what you guys were talking about?"

"What? No… we weren't discussing… can I get you another drink?" he waived at the bartender for another in hopes of steering the conversation elsewhere.

"You're into Buffy." She stated, it wasn't a question, "That's great… it'll be perfect, you and Buffy, Riley and I. Wait, are you a good guy? You are a good guy, right? Because if you hurt her…" She narrowed her look and tried to look menacing.

"Whoa there…" he laughed at her almost threat, "yes, I like her, and I'd like to believe that I am part of the small percentage of the male population that are considered good guys…"

"Good!" she said with pointed look, "You know… you do seem like a nice guy, so I'll be honest with you. IF she gives you a chance… Buffy's different, she's very stubborn and very career oriented… and as much as I try to get her to come out or date, she puts her dance career first. So… don't get your hopes up."

"Well, I appreciate the advice Willow..." he smiled, "But I'm sure that I can turn that IF into a yes…" he smiled confidently. He'd noticed her reaction to him and she surely affected him, it wouldn't be a problem.

/

Buffy and Riley were talking by another bar in the club, "Buffy… you sure you're not going to think I'm the biggest jerk in the world?"

Buffy was amused by his concern, "Not at all…The only way I'd believe that, is if you're not good to Will, but I saw the way you guys looked at each other… I had a fun night and I'll just, you know… keep your friend company or something…" Though probably not a good idea, she thought.

"He'd love that..." Riley answered excitedly before he caught what was coming out of his mouth.

"He would?" she asked with hope on her tone. Damn it, she stopped herself again, I shouldn't care... That shouldn't matter…

"I… you… I mean, you know… we should get back?"

"Right…" Buffy answered, she didn't like where the conversation was headed. As it was she could feel the excitement and butterflies in her stomach at the comment Riley had made.

/

Riley and Buffy headed back to where Angel and Willow were standing talking and laughing. He locked eyes with her from across the dance floor as they made their way to them; she smiled at him beside herself.

Her smile faded the moment a brunette woman approached him, whispering something very intimately near his ear and he walked off with her.

Will noticed her reaction and stared at Buffy just in time of her faking a smile at her, "Uh… hey…" she added with an apologetic look.

"Business calls…" Riley announced of his friends sudden take off, "I'm sure he'll be back right away…" he smiled.

"Oh… uh… don't worry about me, it's not a big deal…" Buffy answered. But inside; she felt really annoyed of his quick disappearance. Since when was she the jealous type? She began questioning; it wasn't like he was anything of hers at all.

"Would you like to dance?" Riley asked Will.

"Um… well, why don't we…?"

"Go…" Buffy interrupted with a smile, "I don't need a babysitter…"

"But…" Willow began to interject when Buffy gave her the look… "Okay… we'll stay close though…" she added while walking away with him.

Buffy faced the bar about to order another drink, when the bartender placed another Apple Martini down for her… "Thanks…" she answered, "You read my mi…"

"I'm just that good," Ray smiled at her, "but this… is from the gentleman in the blue shirt…" the bartender pointed him out.

She glanced to the man he pointed at and smirked. The man in the blue shirt smiled flirtingly and raised his glass at her in cheers. He was very attractive, well built, pretty smile, blue eyes, but not her tall, dark, and handsome that she wanted at her side. She raised the glass at him in gratitude, then set in on the bar and turned around to face the dance floor. Next thing she knew that man was next to her…

"Not what you were drinking?" he asked.

She looked up at him with indifference, "It is… thank you…"

"Can I ask why you aren't drinking it?"

"Because… I don't want you to expect something from me…" she answered.

"But I haven't asked you for anything…" he continued to flirt, "Can't a guy buy a drink for a pretty girl without expecting something in return?"

She was surprised at his persistence but founded captivating for some reason, "I guess he can…" she answered with a hand on her hip, "But I still doubt there isn't something you're wanting."

He smiled at the petite blond with a strong attitude; he liked that in a woman. "Okay… so maybe I would like something in return, but you're entitled to say no…" he began.

"You see…" she accused.

He laughed, "I just want to know your name?" he asked, "I'm Lindsey…" he extended out his hand.

Buffy looked up at him from the side with a grin then faced him shaking his hand, "Buffy…"

He grabbed the martini from the bar and handed it to her, "To new acquaintances…?" he clink her glass.

She sighed, he was being a gentleman… no reason to be rude she concluded, "To new acquaintances…" and drank from her martini.

Lindsey finished his drink and set the glass on the bar, "Would it be too much pushing my luck if I ask you to dance?" he asked extending his hand in invitation.

Buffy glanced at him for a moment debating then said, "Why not…" taking his hand and heading to dance floor. Lucky for him, she thought, Latin music was her weak spot, so twirling, spinning, and salsa-ing she was up for anytime.

/

"Are these all the orders you needed signed, Cor?" Angel asked his personal assistant.

"Yes… and the new real estate lawyer is here somewhere, Lindsey McDonald is his name…" she said while flipping through papers.

"Right… for the properties I'm looking into buying right?" he tried to remember.

"Yes…" she smiled, "anything else you want me to do before I take off?"

"Yeah… please head to the club and have some fun…" he encouraged. His assistant and cousin had been a life saver since he became more and more involved into the business world of his father, and if it weren't for her making sure everything was organized and scheduled, he didn't know how he'd live without her.

Cordelia giggled, "You know I'm not in the mood for partying, but I'll go grab drink then take off…"

"Good…" he grinned pleased.

Cor noticed her cousin's goofy smile; it could have lighted the whole building, something she wasn't use to seeing on him, "Alright… who is she?"

"Who's who?" Angel questioned guiltily.

"The girl that has put that dorky smile on you, and don't lie because it is SO obvious…?"

Angel turned around to point her out to her, when he noticed a couple on the dance floor… Both taking over the place; the girl was a vision in that hot little red dress that swayed around her as she spun… One more turn and he saw her face… Buffy he thought… fury quickly brewed inside him as the green eyed monster overtook him. He realized it was her, his woman… He clenched his fist and felt himself tense in rage.