Author's note: Not sure why, when you consistently give me more than I expect, but I was surprised at how many people want to know more about Phoebe and Billy's courtship. Would you like me to take a timeout from this fic and write that story? Or shall we stick with this one and I'll write the other at a later date? Majority rules in this case, because I'm happy either way.

Dear Guest. Yes, I'm the boss, but I studiously consider all polite suggestions. Otherwise the stories might as well remain inside my head, where they hid for most of my life. It wasn't that I was selfish about them; just didn't think anyone else would be interested. I'm daily grateful that I was monumentally mistaken. Thank you.


Chapter Nine

Apart from the fact that he needs to will away an erection every time Asha steps forward to bowl—she has a natural grace that somehow makes everyone else seem clumsy—they have a good time. Teddy, of course, is on his very best behavior; walking that tightrope of gentlemanly attention versus recognizing her ability to do things for herself. It's working. Her seemingly permanent smile appears genuine, and she's touching his arm a lot. And she always tucks a lock of her lustrous black hair behind one ear as she prepares to bowl. He's no idea why that's so sexy, but it gets him every time. And her voice! God, he could listen to her speak all day, every day and never tire of it; somehow lilting and low at the same time, it resonates within him like a prayer. Of course, it doesn't help that she's wearing shorts that promise (never quite fulfilled) a glimpse of her buttocks every time she bends over. Plus, she's competent. He's always found that a turn-on. She's not quite good enough to beat him at his best. But Teddy being completely distracted means that Asha is the overall winner, and they share a giant plate of nachos in celebration.

It galls that this is the best he can do for her at the moment, which leads his thoughts to contemplating how and when he's going to tell her who he really is; something that has been on his mind a lot since they met. He'll lie, if necessary, but usually chooses honesty. Even if he didn't, starting a relationship with a falsehood of this magnitude seems a monumentally bad idea.

"Eddie? You still with me?"

Fuck; he tuned out for a few seconds. Forcing a smile, he banishes negative thoughts and says, "Yeah; sorry. I was miles away."

Her quiet smile confirming that she's teasing, Asha quips, "How flattering."

Panicked, that she might misinterpret his disquiet as disinterest, Teddy stammers, "God, no…I mean, it's not that I don't like listening to you. I love your voice." And now he looks like a giant dork. "I mean…fuck. Sorry." Taking a deep breath, in the hope that it might miraculously return lucidity to him, he concludes, "This is the best first date I've ever been on, but I still have that old feeling of, 'If she finds out who I really am, I'm screwed, and not in a good way.' Do girls get that, too?"

Even before she answers, he can see the truth of it in her eyes. "Yes, we get that, too. I'm trying to relax and this is also my best first date, but I'm so…I know that I'm not really being me; not the real me."

Hoping to ease her concerns, Teddy smiles and enquires, "Well, what would the real you like to do?"

There is unmistakable lust in her gaze when Asha quietly reveals, "Nothing suitable for a family establishment." When his only reaction is an open-mouthed stare, she blushes and bows her head, begging, "Please say something."

Swallowing, and silently congratulating himself for managing to function enough to achieve it, Teddy eventually says, "Sorry; my heart stopped for a second. Seems like we're on the same wavelength. But I just got out of a serious relationship, so I'm not in a hurry. I would, however, very much like to see you again."

Asha's smile is shy when she says, "I'd like that." Suddenly anxious, she blurts out, "Eddie, I…my parents are rich. And, when I turn twenty-one, I will be, too."

She's still nervously staring at him a couple of seconds later when Teddy makes a decision and says, "Come with me."

As they head for the exit, Taylor starts to get up, but Teddy stops him with a subtle, established gesture. Now an adult, he no longer has to tolerate security following him absolutely everywhere. Christian had not been happy about 'mostly' protected, but he has little choice if he wants his son's continued cooperation.

As he leads her round back of the building, Asha drags her feet and says, "Eddie, I know I said…I'm not in a hurry, either."

Realizing that she thinks he's leading her somewhere private enough to make good on the promise that was in her eyes only moments ago, he laughs and says, "Believe me, Asha; assuming I get that lucky, I'll want something a little nicer for you than this." When he's sure they're alone, he removes one of the contact lenses only long enough to reveal his true eye color and, his heart in his throat, explains, "I'm rich, too. Or, at least, I will be soon. My dad insisted I get my hands dirty for a while before he'd give me a job or any real money. I don't have a trust fund, but he's going to give me money and a career if I last a month working construction. We've got a couple of weeks left."

Asha is clearly struggling to process what he's told her. After a few seconds, she asks, "You're not Eddie Granger?"

"No, I'm not. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you who I really am. And I'm very sorry for the deception. I didn't expect to be attracted to any of my colleagues."

He dares to hope that they'll be okay when Asha suddenly grins and says, "That's fairly sexist, Eddie…oh, do I keep calling you that?"

"Yeah, though I'd really like to find out what my name sounds like from those lips."

Whether unconsciously or by design, he doesn't know, but when Asha then runs the tip of her tongue over her lips he can't quite stifle a groan of frustration. Her eyes widen when she recognizes his arousal and she steps forward to slide her arms around his waist, gazing up at him. Thank God his arms work and automatically encircle her, because his brain has left the building, his legs are virtually jelly, and he's again staring at her in openmouthed shock when she purrs, "I bet that I could get you to tell me all your secrets."

Literally dizzy with desire and practically drunk on her delicious scent—spicy and sweet at the same time—Teddy swallows and says, "I know you could, so please don't try. The alias is for my safety…and yours now, I guess. Fuck, I'd forgotten; you'll be in danger if this becomes…if we stay together. I'm sorry."

"You're apologizing a lot for things that don't seem within your control. And everyone is in danger, Eddie. My driver is also my bodyguard and probably freaking out right now if he saw us come back here."

That's shocked him. Her parents must be very rich. "Mine is at the bar and probably likewise freaking out."

"The guy dressed like a trucker, but who sits ramrod straight like a soldier?"

Okay, that's impressive. "Uh, yeah. Wow; you're observant."

Asha shrugs and says, "I thought he was perving, but he must have been looking at you, not me."

Teddy grins and says, "Oh, he was probably perving, too. He's a happily married man, but he's still a man."

Asha smiles a little at the compliment and then says, "I think you're going to be trouble, mystery man. So you'd better kiss me. I want to know if you're worth it."

He's never needed to be asked twice. It's not great, at first; they're both so nervous. But Teddy soon loses himself in the torrent of delicious sensations and reaches that state of mind where, for this moment, nothing else matters. When they finally come up for air, both flushed and breathing a little fast, he asks, "And?"

"You'll tell me who you are in two weeks?"

It means she's envisioning a future with him, so Teddy's heart beats even faster as he promises, "I will, if you haven't worked it out by then."

"How about we not try and find out? I've already searched your name, and now understand why I only found a male model and a middle-aged businessman. But how about we make a pact to just get to know each other as colleagues, without looking deeper? You'll keep playing Eddie and I'll be just Asha."

He's never had that before. Even at Harvard the name "Grey" is well-known, thanks to five generations of the family making their mark at the prestigious school. "Agreed, except that you'll never be just anything."

Her nut-brown skin is not quite dark enough to hide her blush and Asha steps out of his embrace, saying, "We'd better go. I don't want our first time to be in an alley that smells of stale urine."

Given that it went so much better than expected, Teddy dares to hold her hand as they head back inside, and she doesn't resist. It feels good. "Asha, please don't tell your uncle that I'm incognito. Dad says I've kept this job on my merits, and I'd rather keep it that way."

"Okay. So, the guy calling himself Chris is really your father?"

"Yeah. You won't try and find out who he is, either?"

"Of course not; that would blow our pact." When she suddenly giggles, he looks at her for the reason and she explains, "Just thought; it's lucky for you that I'm not one of those rich girls who enjoys slumming it, or this would be our last date."

Teddy grins and teases, "True. Though, if you were like that, I would have just had hot, nasty sex in an alley." He accepts the justified punishment of a light punch on his arm, and then says, "Thanks, for being so understanding about this. I was so worried you'd dump me for lying to you."

Asha shrugs and says, "Like I said; not your fault. Does your dad often do things like this?"

"Not specifically; we've never needed a disguise before now, but he often challenges me. It's a good thing, Asha. Dad…he's always been there for me; helping me, encouraging me, daring me to find out what I'm capable of. If I can be half the man he is, I'll be happy." When she's silent, he asks, "What is it?"

They're almost to the entrance, so Asha halts their progress to say, "I barely know you, so I could be wrong. But it seems like you're more intent on being your father than being yourself."

Not the first time he's heard that theory, so he's not upset. "Maybe. My sister says the same thing. Oh, I have a sister about your age. Obviously, I can't introduce you right now."

"You normally introduce girls to your family after only one date?"

"Just to my sister. I spent the first few years of her life wishing she was a boy, but we get on pretty well nowadays. And she's good at reading people…kind of wish I'd listened to her about my last girlfriend."

"Did you love her?"

He's not said it to anyone except Tracy. "Yeah, I did…well, I loved who I thought she was, if that makes sense. Turns out I didn't really know her at all."

Asha nods and says, "It makes perfect sense. And is that what I am; your girlfriend?"

Fuck; has he misread her? "God, I hope so." If he actually believed in a god, right now this would be his only prayer.

Asha coolly studies him for a harrowing few seconds and then asks, "And you're a one girl at a time kind of guy?"

Hoping that she can hear the sincerity in his voice, Teddy vows, "Yes, ma'am; always."

"All right, mystery man; exclusive while we find out what we've got, okay?"

It hadn't occurred to him, but of course she gets offers from other guys; probably every day. He's not particularly a jealous man, but the thought of her being intimate with anyone else is very unsettling. It feels a little like rage; not something he's used to. "Thank you. Can I see you tomorrow?"

With a carefree smile, Asha says, "I'd like that, but I guess we can't exactly visit the places we're used to. How about a picnic? That way I don't have to pretend to like bowling, and we can eat something nicer than nachos."

"You don't like bowling? The way you play, I'd assumed you're a regular."

Asha shrugs and says, "I've never been before, but Dad built one in our house, so I know how to bowl. I suggested we meet here because I didn't want your alter ego to be out of pocket on our date."

Pleased with this evidence of how considerate she is, Teddy is stuck on one detail. "You have a bowling alley in your house?"

"Just one lane." As the words leave her mouth, Asha giggles and pleads, "Can we pretend I didn't say that? It sounds so pompous."

Teddy grins and jokes, "Say what?" Determined to ease her wealth guilt—something very familiar to him—he adds, "We have an actual cinema in our basement, with luxury seating for twelve, and a helipad in our yard."

Still smiling, Asha says, "It's all ridiculous, isn't it?"

"It is. Dad's always telling me that we need to remember that billions of people aren't so lucky, and we owe it to them to be grateful, every single day, for what we have." And then he grins and says, "I do kind of talk about him a lot, don't I?"

Asha shrugs and says, "In this case, I agree with him, though I'm not sure you needed to get actual calluses on your hands to learn that lesson. And I'm glad you're close with your dad; not many people have that."

Something about the way she says it makes him ask, "Like you?"

Another shrug and she says, "We get on well enough, I guess. But he's always working. The most prominent memory of my childhood is waiting for him to come home from work…or waiting for him to come out of his study." She hesitates a moment before saying, "He and Mom recently separated. That's why I'm in Seattle, with her. Dad's in LA."

"You've only been in Seattle a short time?"

"Less than a year."

"That explains it. I've been on the east coast, studying. But, if you'd lived in Seattle all this time, I would have found you before now." When she, as before, only smiles slightly at the compliment, he adds, "I've got my work cut out for me, haven't I?" At her obvious confusion, he explains, "You're almost impervious to flattery."

She smiles in a way that pierces his heart with longing, and says, "Guess you'll just have to keep me on your merits, too."

Having been born with brains and ability, and raised in a loving home, confidence is not really a problem for Teddy, but he feels uncertain with Asha. Still, it's gone well. So, when he sees Taylor exiting the building, he says, "I like the sound of that challenge much more than the one I'm currently doing, but I'm afraid our date is over. It's Dad's birthday, and I promised Mom I'd help with the preparations. May I walk you to your car?"

Gesturing to a nearby black Mercedes sedan, Asha says, "We're there. I had a good time. Thank you, mystery man."

At least certain of Asha's desire for him, Teddy doesn't hesitate to kiss her. This time it's good from start to finish; somehow already familiar yet new and wonderful at the same time. And then he asks, "You'll text me the details for tomorrow?"

"I will." Suddenly appearing nervous, she asks, "If I tell you something, will you promise not to use it against me?"

Of course he can't make a promise without the details, but vows, "I will always keep things fair between us, if you'll do the same for me."

Asha answers with one of her genuine smiles and confesses, "That model I mentioned, who really is Eddie Granger?"

"Yeah?"

"He can't hold a candle to you; you're gorgeous."

With a final kiss on his cheek, she's gone. He's numbly watching the Mercedes pull out of its parking spot when Taylor's voice softly instructs, "Smile and wave."

Teddy does so like an automaton. When the car is out of sight, he shakes his head and comments, "I hope it's temporary."

"Sir?"

Smiling at the man who's protected him all his life, Teddy says, "I seem to lose all ability to function in her presence. If it continues, we won't have much of a sex life."

Taylor smiles and asks, "You like her, then?"

He's never been more certain of anything in his life. "I'm going to marry her."