Reduce myself, I got the strict restrictions
Not sexy enough without the regulations
A melting point countdown the fading features
Born to blossom and bloom to perish
"Beauty Contest" - No Doubt
Paul sat at the bar with Candy and Donnie, a beer infront of him and a stir stick in his mouth as he counted up his money.
"You'd look better sittin there in a fedora and a cigar." Candy commented, counting out the money that the house made from her seat at the middle of the bar. Donnie chuckled and shook his head while Paul just waved a hand.
"My darling Candy, what good would a cigar do? You don't let anyone smoke in here and my ma would kill me if I came home smelling like that stuff."
Candy sighed wistfully and looked out at nothing like she tended to do from time to time.
"Uh oh, Pretty Boy. She's going back in time again. Quick. Let's take the money and run."
Paul almost fell off his seat laughing as Donnie had to dodge the rubber band shot at his head. It landed beside him and he held up his beer in salute, "Thanks, Doll. I needed a rubber."
Candy rolled her eyes and waved him off with her fingers, "All those fawning fans tonight? I think you'd need more than one."
"Pfft. You kiddin'? The last girl I brought home.. Her name was Sammi.. Ma warned me she was no good but I was young and she had a lovely pair of-" Candy raised an eyebrow and he swallowed, "Eyes.. Beautiful eyes.. Yea.. Anyway.. One of the guys back at the firehouse's wife made brownies for all of us after we stopped her ma's house from being burned down. Sammi went nuts and accused me of sleeping with her! Even went so far as to smell my dick. Nah. I don't do fawning or clingy broads."
Donnie roared out a laugh, "She sniffed your jock? Dude!"
Candy tossed back the last of her drink and stood with the cash box, "It's time for me to head to bed, boys. You're welcome to stay but if you don't lock my fuckin' door-"
"We know!" They chorused. She smiled and nodded, "I know you know. See you tonight. It's a pink night, so you're on bar Paul."
He nodded, stepping behind the bar and picking up a rag to help out Donnie. They worked in silence for awhile before Donnie let out a sigh. Paul rolled his eyes, "You are just like a chick. What's'it, Don?"
"Six months ago, you were sittin' out in that fuckin' car of yours, staring at the door like a lil' bitch. Now look at'cha.. Headlining dancer, hot bartender and makin' enough to take care of your ma. I'm proud'a'ya."
Paul smiled. Donnie reminded Paul of a younger Benny and sometimes it made his heart ache. He'd been ignoring all of the older man's calls. Paul knew it wasn't Benny's fault he got canned, but it wasn't about anger anymore.. It was about shame. He was ashamed at how he'd acted towards the man and wasn't sure how to fix it.. If he could fix it.
He put up his set of glasses and walked back around the bar, grabbing his bag, "I finished before ya, Don. Get on it." He threw the man a wink and held his arm up as he threw his duffel over his shoulder and walked out. He almost felt like he was leaving the firehouse. His bag was over his shoulder, his pants were held up by one suspender and he had his black FDNY shirt stretched tight across his chest. He could almost pretend...
He hit the button to unlock Cherry, flicking his shades down to fight against the sun that was beginning to peek through. He tossed the bag in the back and grabbed his phone out of his pocket. His plan had been to call his ma, see if she wanted some breakfast.. But that plan wouldn't happen.
"Sir? Sir! Can you help me? Please!?" He turned with a smirk on his face, expecting one of the single mothers who tended to hang out after hours hoping to pretend to be a damsel in distress. Wrong.
This broad was no single mother.. She had tattoos all down her arms and he could only wonder if she had anymore hidden under that red tanktop. Her jeans were ripped on purpose and her studded belt drew attention to her figure when it sparkled in the light. She had long, thick hair down to her waist and dark coffee eyes.. He was suddenly thirsty. Her lips were plump and reminded him of ripe strawberries and she looked like she would be MORE than a handful... ATTITUDE WISE.. Yes.. Only the attitude..
Oh fuck it. For once, he was going to admit that a woman had a very impressive rack, even inside his own head. His ma couldn't smack him and call him disrespectful for the thoughts in his head... Could she? Nah..
She was seriously fed up. The sun was barely up and she was already sick of everything. She had barely been in Brooklyn for a month and she was ready to pack it in and go home.
But if she did that, her step-sister Leah would chew her out and her dad would give her those pity looks. No. She was determined. She would make it here. She would land a great job and do it far, FAR away from her smothering family.
One glance at her flat tire made her think she highly over-estimated her luck.. Until she caught sight of a guy across the road in a parking lot standing beside some red car. Upon further inspection, her mood brightened. What amazing luck! A fireman!
"Sir? Sir! Can you help me? Please?!" She called out, hoping he could hear her. She breathed a sigh of relief as he turned towards her.
"Oh dear sweet baby Jesus.." She breathed out. The man was beyond hot. She could clearly count his abs, even though he had a FDNY tee somehow shrink-wrapped to his body. He had almost full sleeves on both arms and she saw the peekings of some on his chest at his neckline. Even in his baggy fireman's pants, she could tell he was fit and muscular and.. "Delicious." She purred out to no one, thankful she was alone. She dropped her large sunglasses down to cover her eyes so she could continue to check him out as he sauntered over.
"You okay, Doll?" He asked her, sending electric tingles down her body to settle in her core. Oh dear..
"Uhm.. My car.. I'm sorry to have to ask but you've got uh.. Muscles.. And I'm trying to change my tire because the bastard went flat but the nuts are stuck."
He raised an eyebrow, "Stuck nuts?"
She bit her lip and nodded, causing him to stifle a groan as he felt an all-too-familiar tightening in his pants. "Yeah sure.. I can fix your nuts."
She blushed and mentally slapped herself, "Er.. Yeah. Thanks. Name's Bella, by the way.. Not Doll."
They started walking towards her car and he laughed, "This is New York. Every dame who doesn't have a name is Doll, Sweetheart or Princess.."
She made a face of disgust and shook her head, "Doll it is."
He squatted down, taking hold of the shaft of the tire-iron, "So, where'ya goin' in such a hurry? It's early as fuck, ya know."
She crossed her arms and stuck out a hip, causing her shirt to ride up a bit and confirm that yes, this female had more hidden ink. "My jackass old mangy furball, Jacob. But he's a problem all together."
He started grunting as he man-handled the stiff rod and Bella constantly had to give herself a mental shake to stop the naughty images from forming.
"Was never a big fan of cats. They use ya." He commented, finally getting one nut to come loose, "When was the last time ya oiled these?"
Her head tilted as she leaned against the gate outside her building, "Oiled?"
He chuckled, "Not a car girl, huh?"
"Not really. My step-sister's husband Sam usually took care of Diablo.. But then I moved here last month.
"Ahh.. Well then, welcome to New York, Doll."
"Bella."
"Right, right. Belladonna." She flipped him off and he barked out a laugh, "Saw that."
"Of course you did."
"So what's with your cat?"
"He's got a vet's appointment. But the jackass is currently in the tree above us and I can't get him down. So he might not be going."
He finished changing her tire and stood to look at her, "You mean to tell me.. That you're one of those girls with the cliché of their cat being in a tree?"
She screamed in mortification inside her head but outwardly shrugged, "Guess so. Thanks for changing my tire..."
"Paul. Paul Lahote. Want me to get your cat too?"
Before she could answer, it seemed like someone had began pouring buckets of water on them as it began to rain. She growled and stomped her heeled foot, "PERFECT! Just perfect. Now Jacob is stuck AND wet."
Paul started laughing and she turned to him with a shocked expression, "WHAT is so funny?"
He caught his breath and took off his sunglasses, placing them in his pocket for safe-keeping, "You have a wet pussy, Bella."
Her eyes widened and locked onto his. Her heart shuddered at the heat in his glittering emerald eyes, "Uh... Uh..."
A mangy rust-colored cat , Jacob he assumed, jumped between them and he realized how he was acting with this girl. She was probably a good girl, like he used to be a good guy. No need to change that.
"Well.. If you ever need my services again.. Or just a friend in New York..." he handed her one of his blank business cards and she looked down at it to hide her disappointed expression.
"Oh. Yeah. Thanks. See ya around."
She scooped up her cat and dashed inside her apartment. He shook his head and made his way back to Cherry, stopping to put a towel over his seats so they didn't get ruined. He sat there for a bit, unwinding. About five minutes later, he watched Bella walk out with a cat carrier and an umbrella. She tossed the carrier gently but frustratedly into the passenger seat and he saw her talking to him with an annoyed expression on her beautiful face.
"See ya around, Belladonna..."
She drove off and he waited a bit before leaving himself. She didn't need to know he'd stuck around...
Little did he know, she was bitching at Jacob about ruining the moment with Paul.
