January 4th, 1999

Happy Lowman wasn't the chasing type. In his entire adult life, he had always been pursued by women. He never had to work very hard to get pussy. He wasn't the 'boyfriend/girlfriend' type either. Why waste time with that when they were already willing to sleep with him?

But when Happy started looking in on Charlotte Teller, something started to happen to him. He couldn't get that chick out of his head. And the way she just came to the clubhouse to tell him off? God, she looked so sexy. The things he wanted to do to that woman…

But she was right, he wasn't really the relationship type. He couldn't remember the last relationship he had been in. It stung a bit to hear her say it, but it was true. He had quite the track record for being a womanizer. A new girl every night. But things change.

He wanted to change…

It was Monday afternoon and Charlotte had been in classes all day. It was the first day back from the holiday break. It was also three days since she had seen or heard from Happy. Not that she wanted to hear from him. She told him it wouldn't work and he was respecting her choice, right?

By 4:30 she was walking up to her apartment. Once inside, she dropped her backpack by the door and laid on the couch. She would have a lot of reading to do tonight. She had been a little distracted in school.

She forced herself to get up and went into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. She picked up the heavy backpack and set it on the kitchen table. She took out her books and spread them on the table.

She sat down and started reading. Well, trying to anyways. She sighed and put her head in her hands.

A knock at the door startled her. She stood up and went to open the door. Her distraction stood there on the other side, a plastic bag in his right hand.

"Hey," she said and stepped aside. "Come on in."

Happy nodded and walked inside the small apartment. He held up the bag to her. "I brought you some dinner," he explained. "You like Chinese food?"

Charlotte smiled at him and nodded. "Thanks, Happy, you didn't have to do that."

He shrugged and sat down at the table, looking at all the books there. "You just got out of class and you're already studying? Don't you ever take a break?"

She set the bag of food on the counter and began emptying the contents, her stomach growling at the scent of it. "Didn't really retain much in class today," she replied. "But if I want to stay at the top of the class, I've got to study every day."

Happy watched her bring two plates of food to the table, one for each of them. He didn't eat right away. He watched her begin scarfing food down and he chuckled a little bit. "Well, I'm glad that you'll actually be eating something instead of just drinking coffee."

Charlotte stopped eating and looked up at him. "God, I must look like a pig. I'm sorry, this is the first time I've eaten today."

He shook his head. "Nah, don't get all self-conscious on me now. I like a woman that eats," he said with a wink and began eating his own food.

She rolled her eyes and continued eating. "Nothing's changed, you know. I still can't do this with you."

"Do what? Eat?"

She set down her fork and look pointedly at him. "Happy, you come here to check up on me because you're in my stepdad's club. Let's not mix business with pleasure."

Happy ignored the comment and continued to eat. "Why are you so scared of me?" he asked.

"I'm not scared of you!" she exclaimed. "Just because I don't want to sleep with you means I'm scared of you?"

"Nah, that ain't it," he replied. "All I'm asking you to do is give me one chance, one date."

"I can't date you, Happy."

"Why not? Don't give me a bullshit answer either."

She paused, thinking out her answer. "I don't share." Happy raised an eyebrow at her. "When I'm with a man, I'm the only one with that man. I know the rules of the club and I think it's bullshit. There's no having sex with other women on a run. If you're with me, you're with me."

Happy crossed his arms. "That what this is all about? You're worried I'm gonna fuck other women?"

"No, I'm not worried about that because we're not going to be together," she replied, crossing her arms.

"Is that so?" he said, standing up. He pushed her chair back and knelt in front of her. He rests each hand on the armrests beside her. She tried to avoid his eye contact. "You don't think about that kiss?" She shook her head quickly. "No? You ain't tempted to do it again? Touch me again?"

Charlotte closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding, her breath quickened. "N-no, I don't think about it," she replied.

Happy put her hands on his shoulders then put his own on her face. He put his nose right up against hers. "You sure about that? Your body is tellin' a different story," he almost whispered.

She shuddered at his touch. "It doesn't matter. I don't wanna end up like- "she cut herself off.

"End up like what?" he encouraged.

Charlotte finally opened her eyes. Tears glistening, she replied, "My mother ruined my father. The club? It isn't a place for relationships. I've seen them all destroyed in some way. Besides, I don't exactly have the best track record with men."

Happy wiped the tears that escaped her green eyes. "Charlotte, you ain't your mom and I ain't your dad. You can't deny that there's something going on here between us. I ain't asking you to marry me, girl. I'm asking you to go out to dinner with me this weekend. One night won't kill you. If you don't wanna do it again, we won't. I won't keep bothering you."

Charlotte felt like she was looking at a different man than before. It was a side of him she had never seen. Maybe there was more to the man behind the leather kutte. "One date," she said.

Happy grinned. "One date," he repeated and leaned forward to kiss her, unable to resist anymore.

She fell into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. Happy moved his arms around her waist and pulled her out of the chair. The pair ended up on the floor, Charlotte on top of him. They broke apart, laughing.

"God, you're good at that," she said, looking down at him.

He smirked. "You should see what else I'm good at," he replied.

She laughed again and pushed herself off of him. She stood up and offered him a hand. He took it and stood as well. She walked back over to the table and sat down, finishing her meal.

"I'll pick you up Friday after class?" he said, walking over to the door.

"You're leaving?" she asked, looking up.

Happy nodded. "Yeah, I got what I came for," he replied with a wink. "See you Friday." He closed the door behind him.

Charlotte felt her cheeks burn red. How the hell did that just happen? She rolled her eyes. He totally tricked her! At least he said just one date, she thought. Then he'd leave her alone.