Chapter 10

"What the hell?"

Jamie sat in disbelief as the music signalled the end of the game. His mouth was literally agape as the control pad dangled from his fingers. He looked down at it and shook it lightly like it was broken and was the reason why he had just crashed and burned but he knew it wasn't because the reason was sitting right next to him on the sofa. Jamie scowled as he turned towards his friend whose smug smirk made him instantly bristle with irritation. "I don't believe this! You killed me, Lev. You fucking killed me you son of a bitch!"

"What are you talking about?" scoffed Paul as he sat forward on the navy cloth sofa and his right hand gestured towards the silver widescreen television barely able to contain the smile on his face. "Your plane spun out of control and you smashed into the canyon. You killed yourself."

"Bullshit! You deliberately shot at me. I was beating your ass and you decided to take me out."

Paul snickered with amusement as his friend launched the pad to the floor, hearing it bump and skid across the polished wood. He raked his thick fingers through his blonde strands as he slowly shook his head. "You're one sore loser, Riggs."

Jamie turned and glowered at him. "Yeah well you're nothing but a cheating bastard!"
He leant forward and grabbed his bottle of beer from the pine wood coffee table in front of him. He brought it to his lips draining the dregs before getting to his feet to make his way to the kitchen. His expression was smug as he glanced over at his friend. "And you can go and get your own fucking beer from the fridge because I ain't fetching it for you!"

Paul's shoulders shook with his deep laughter as he pushed up the sleeves of his white shirt and bent over to pick up the drink that was sitting at his feet. He heard a curse and the bang of the refrigerator. He shook his head in amusement. His friend was far too competitive for his own good sometimes. As he swallowed the cold liquid he heard the front door open and he turned his head to see Natasha walk through looking slightly flustered. Her manicured hand pushed back the loose strands of her blonde hair as she offered him a smile.

"Hey Tash!"

"Hey." she sighed as she quickly looked around the small living room unbuttoning her brown overcoat. "So where is he?"

"In the kitchen probably sulking." grinned Paul.

Natasha dryly rolled her eyes as she spotted the control pad lying in the middle of the floor. Jamie had obviously lost the game. Her brother played those stupid things like winning them was a matter of life or death. Paul was no better either. In fact the pair of them were every bit as bad as one another.

"Jamie!" she shouted throwing her bag and coat down on the large recliner chair.

Her brother emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of beer dangling between his fingers. "You know I'm pretty sure the neighbours can hear you across the street."

Natasha glowered at him as she placed her hands on her slender hips. Her brown eyes were narrowed in his direction. "Yeah well I don't care about the god damn neighbours. I care about my car. Where the hell is it?"

Jamie's face instantly fell and she groaned loudly as her hands fell to her sides.

"You forgot to pick it up from the shop, didn't you?"

Jamie grimaced and offered her a contrite smile. "Sorry."

"Jamie!"

"I'll pick it up first thing tomorrow, I promise." he assured her placing his hand on her shoulder. She immediately shrugged it off in annoyance.

"Yeah well a fat lot of good that will do me tonight!"

"Why? Where are you going tonight?" he asked as he took a sip of his beer.

"Well I was supposed to be picking Steph up from the airport."

Jamie quickly swallowed his beer and glanced at her apologetically. "Oops! Sorry."

"You said that already." sighed Natasha.

"Looks like you fucked up big time, my friend." grinned Paul who snorted with amusement as Jamie flipped him off. As he brought his own beer to his lips, he saw Natasha looking at him with a thoughtful look on her face. He brought the bottle away slowly as his brown eyes watched her suspiciously.
"What?"

"How many of those have you had?"

"This is just the first."

"Yeah and it will be his last." Jamie piped up as he walked past Paul playfully nudging him with his shoulder. "Cheating bastard!"

"Yeah well you heard that saying payback is a bitch? You shouldn't have brought me down last game."

"Guys, never mind that." interrupted Natasha. Her pleading eyes were wide as they settled on Paul's face. "I have a huge favour to ask you."

He immediately realised what she was hinting towards and quickly shook his head as he absently rubbed his palm on his jeans. "Oh no, no, no! Forget it."

"Come on. It's just to the airport and back. You won't even be gone an hour."

"It's not the time that bothers me."

"Then what? It's not Steph is it?"

"He's scared of her." taunted Jamie as he sat down on the arm of the sofa.

Paul glared at him as he pushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "What the fuck are you talking about, man? I'm not scared."

"Then go and prove it. Go and pick the pretty lady up from the airport and maybe on the way home you can try and find that pair of balls you claim to have and ask her out on that date."

"And why would I want to do that?"

Jamie snorted with amusement. "Please! You're fooling no one here least of all yourself. I know for a fact you like this chick yet for some reason you're just too scared to make a move."

"Chick?" glared Natasha.

Jamie chuckled and held up his hand in defence. "Okay, okay. Lady. Broad, whatever you want to call her."

"And you wonder why you're currently unattached."

"Actually that's a personal choice, sis. I mean it wouldn't be fair to deny the ladies of Boston a perfect specimen like myself."

"You're so full of shit." chuckled Paul.

"Yeah well you just remember that clock is ticking Lev." teased Jamie.

"What do you mean? What clock?" asked Natasha narrowing her eyes in her brother's direction.

Paul immediately brought his beer to his lips as his brown eyes also glared at his friend. Why the hell did he never think before opening his damn mouth? If Natasha ever caught wind of their little wager, they were both dead. She was fiercely protective over Stephanie and made him question his own sanity for doubling the damn bet in the first place. The more he got involved with a certain Miss McMahon, the harder it was to see her as a simple conquest. They were obviously going to run into one another on a regular basis and things could get really awkward. He just wished he'd shelled out the five hundred bucks instead of letting his ego get in the way. For some reason he was feeling incredibly guilty about the whole thing. He sighed inwardly as Jamie flashed a smile at his sister pushing back his short dark strands. Shifting his feet underneath him, Paul prayed his friend somehow managed to weasel his way out of this one.

"Well, what I meant was that, well….see, time is really no man's friend." explained Jamie. "You got to make things happen. You've got to take control of your life." His left hand gestured towards Paul. "I mean, you know and I know he and Stephanie are hot for one another. They're just too damn stubborn to admit it or do anything about it."

Paul quickly shook his head as his fingers absently picked at the peeling corner of the label on his bottle. "Steph's not hot for me. The woman hates my damn guts."

Natasha placed her hand on his thick forearm stilling his movement. "That's not true. Steph doesn't hate you. She just wants you to think she does."

Paul's brown eyes were confused. "Why?"

"The same reasons you want her to think you're an arrogant womanising prick."

"But he is an arrogant womanising prick." grinned Jamie.

"Fuck you, Riggs." he scowled trying to conceal the flicker of amusement across his face.

"So what do you say, Paul! Please! Help me out here! Her plane lands at seven." whined Natasha tugging on his arm.

Paul looked at her and sighed heavily. "You're not going to really give me a choice now, are you?"

"Nope."

"Yeah well be warned. If she chews me out for being late, she'll be finding her own way home."

"Thanks Paul. I'll have some dinner warmed up for you getting back."

"What about me?"

Natasha smiled at her brother. "You can starve!"

Paul chuckled as he retrieved his leather coat from the back of the sofa and putting it on, he flicked his hair out over the collar before picking the car keys from the table. "I'll see you guys later."

As he walked out the door, Jamie's voice followed him into the corridor.
"You'd better ask her out Paul or I'd damn well do it for you!"

Paul ignored him as he descended the narrow staircase checking the black faced watch on his wrist. It was fifteen minutes to seven. He'd be lucky to make it to the airport by quarter past. He could only imagine the reception he would get when he got there. Stephanie wasn't a lady to be kept waiting as he discovered to his detriment not so long ago. He sometimes wondered what would have happened if their date had gone ahead as planned that night. Part him felt it would have been a complete disaster. They could barely handle a civil conversation with one another let alone spend an entire evening together yet there was something about her that kept pulling him in. He wasn't scared to admit he was attracted to her but it wasn't just about her beauty or intelligence. He'd been around a lot of smart, beautiful women in his time but none of them were as feisty or as challenging as Stephanie and he liked that about her. In fact, the more time he spent with her, he found there was a lot he liked about her which was why this whole bet thing made him particularly uneasy.

Paul shook his head slightly as if to clear his mind and try to ease his conscience in the process. Jumping in the car, he switched on the engine and turned up the volume on the stereo drowning out his thoughts. Thankfully traffic was on his side and he was at the airport within twenty five minutes. He'd even managed to park pretty close to the terminal. As he weaved his way through the travelling crowds, he spotted her fairly quickly sitting in the waiting area inside. She was flicking through some papers in her hand and her small bag was at her feet. Her long legs were crossed hitching her red skirt up her thigh. Paul swallowed thickly allowing his eyes to linger there for a fraction of a second. It was long enough for Stephanie to look up and notice him standing there and her blue eyes narrowed curiously in his direction as he approached her.

"Well if it isn't my favourite brunette." he greeted her smiling softly.

Stephanie rested the papers in her lap and tried to ignore the hot flash in her chest at the sight of him standing there. Her body seemed to have developed the annoying habit of reacting to his presence making it hard to keep her cool around him. She cleared her throat in an attempt to compose herself before she trusted herself to speak. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

Paul lightly shrugged his shoulders as he stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets, his feet shifting on the worn floor underneath him. "Jamie forgot to pick up Natasha's car from the shop. I thought I would save you the torture of hitching a ride."

"It could be seemingly appealing right now."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that before I'm tempted to leave you stranded here."

The left corner of Stephanie's mouth slowly curved upwards. "In that case, I'd better get my things together before you change your mind."

"That's a wise decision." replied Paul, his brown eyes twinkling as Stephanie got to her feet. An announcement boomed from the overhead tannoy as he held out his hand to take her small black holdall. "Here. Let me take that for you."

Stephanie quickly shook her head as she placed her matching black wool coat over her arm. "It's okay. I can manage."

Paul rolled his eyes at her stubbornness. "Steph, give me the bag and at least let me appear to be a gentleman."

"Why? Are you trying to impress somebody or something?" she asked glancing around them.

"Yeah. You." he replied simply as he took the bag from her hand and began to walk to the double automatic doors.

Stephanie paused for a second before she followed on behind him. His response had surprised her and she debated inwardly whether he was feeding her another line or not. At times Paul appeared quite genuine. Then there were the times when he was the cocky arrogant asshole she first met. She just couldn't figure him out and it frustrated her to no end which was why her guard was constantly up around him. Still, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him all weekend and kept picturing him standing there on the sidewalk watching her cab pull away. She just didn't know if it meant something or not. Did he really like her the same way she liked him? He was blowing hot and cold and she didn't know which way to turn. One minute Paul was sending her flowers and pursuing her relentlessly. The next he was cool and aloof and just at the time when she'd finally found that leap of faith to let him in. The whole situation was slowly driving her nuts. If she wasn't so petrified of rejection, she'd make the first move. At least she would find out one way or the other and put this whole thing to rest. She was sick of spending endless nights thinking about him.

Stephanie tucked a loose strand behind her ear as they approached the black Explorer.
"This is me." said Paul.

Stephanie nodded recognising it as the car he'd been driving the first day she'd met him at the gas station. Even from that first moment, he had gotten under her skin in more ways than one.

"I just got it back yesterday. You know, after the accident on the freeway."

Stephanie glanced away briefly as he opened the passenger door and pressing her lips in a tight smile, she climbed inside. He closed the door behind her and she let out the breath she didn't even realise she had been holding. As she looked around the immaculate cashmere leather interior, she realised that Paul bringing up the accident had thrown her a little and she felt a pang of guilt. She could admit had been less than understanding about the whole situation. In fact, she'd even gone so far as to call him a bastard to his face. It was little wonder he had backed off that night and she had nobody to blame but herself. She smoothed down her skirt and clasped her hands in her lap as Paul got in the car. He switched on the engine and she jumped slightly startled as the music filled the car.

"Sorry." he smiled apologetically as he turned the volume down low. "I like my music loud."

"So I hear." she smirked as he pulled out of the parking space. She shifted her seat and turned her body slightly in his direction. She licked her lips tasting her strawberry lip balm as she inhaled the faint scent of his cologne. "So, can I trust you not to kill me in this thing?"

The butterflies flooded her chest as he glanced over at her with that amazing smile of his.

"Well, seeing as how killing you would involve me smashing up my $80,000 dollar car, I think there's every chance you'll make it unscathed."

Stephanie bit down on her lip to contain her grin. "Glad to hear it."

Paul turned the corner and they began to leave the airport terminal behind them.
"So, where have you been on your travels?" he asked as he checked the rear view mirror before pulling out from the slip road.

"New York." replied Stephanie settling back in her seat. "I had to interview a couple of witnesses in a custody case I'm handling."

"You travel a lot on business?"

"Occasionally but the majority of the time I'm stuck in the office or in court."

Paul nodded briefly as his thick fingers tapped against the steering wheel and he pulled out into the opposite lane.

"So how come you drew the short stick then?"

Paul's brown eyes looked confused as he glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"Picking me up and taking me home tonight. I think I can safely hazard a guess that you didn't exactly volunteer for the job."

His deep chuckle made her smile. "Not exactly, no." His fingers reached up to rake through his long blonde strands before returning to the steering wheel. "To be honest with you, the idea of being in an enclosed space with you for any length of time made me more than a little nervous."

"It did? Why?" asked Stephanie, surprised.

Paul snorted in disbelief. "You're kidding right? Steph, every time I'm within ten feet of you, I'm in danger of getting my head ripped off my shoulders."

"That's not true." she replied defensively.

"Oh I think it is."

"So why do this then? Why come and pick me up?"

"Well Tash didn't exactly give me a choice."

Stephanie said nothing looked towards the passenger window. Her arm rested against the cold, clear glass of the window as she tried to curb the disappointment that welled up inside her. It wasn't exactly the answer she was looking for yet it was exactly what she expected and in a way she had no one to blame but herself.

"That and well, because in some twisted way I actually enjoy it."

Stephanie turned her head to see Paul smiling at her.

"Your company, I mean."

He turned his attention back on the road and missed the twitch at the corner of her lips as she felt her earlier disappointment slowly slip away. She shifted in the seat as her blue eyes watched him suddenly filled with a little hope at his admission. She exhaled slowly as she decided to make an admission of her own. The fact that their conversation was actually somewhat civil gave her the encouragement she needed.

"You know I meant what I said the other night." she told him, softly.

Their eyes met for a brief second before Paul slowly turned away.

"There are times when you make it hard for me to hate you."

The corner of his eye crinkled with his smile. "So can I interpret that to mean that there are times you might actually like me?"

"I wouldn't push it if I were you."

"In that case I'll quit while I'm ahead."

"Smart idea!"

His deep laughter made her heart sing and as she rested her back against the seat Stephanie noticed with disappointment they were only a few miles from her home. She could see the exit looming on the right hand side. Suddenly she realised she didn't want the journey to end, not so soon. She wanted a little more time to try and see if she could figure out what was happening here. Things felt different between them somehow or maybe she was imagining it. Maybe she was just getting her own hopes up because the more time she spent in Paul's company, the more she knew she wanted to take a chance with him. She was so sick and tired of feeling lonely at night. Seeing Rob last week had only enforced that fact and made her face up to the truth. He had obviously moved on with his life. It was time for her to do the same and stop living in the past. Natasha had been right. Why should she give him the satisfaction of being miserable? Besides, the only person she was hurting was herself and she was determined not to do that. Not any more.

Jus as Paul signalled and turned off at her exit, Stephanie heard the muffled ringing. She realised it was coming from her bag and bent down to retrieve the phone. Natasha's name flashed up on the screen and she smiled as she answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me. I was just wondering if Paul got you safely."

"Yes he did." she smiled turning her head to look in his direction. He was trying to stifle a yawn as he looked at the road ahead. "In fact, I'm almost home."

"Good. Can you ask him a favour for me? I've ran out of milk. Can he pick up a carton from the store on his way here?"

"Sure. I'll ask him."

"Thanks. So, you two managing to get along?" asked Natasha.

"We are actually." replied Stephanie as she turned to the passenger window absently taking in the scenery as it passed her by.

"And you are being nice to Paul? You're not giving him a hard time or anything."

Stephanie chuckled lightly as she pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "No, of course I'm not."

"Good because I know what you can get like around him. Listen, I'd better go. Jamie is loose in my kitchen and it's in danger of burning down. I'll call you later."

"Okay. Bye."

Stephanie closed over her phone and noticed they were pulling into her street. She sighed softly as she shifted in her seat turning towards Paul. "Tash asked if you could pick her up some milk on the way home."

"I think I can manage that." he replied as he pulled in by the kerb, parking the car. The engine idled as he turned in his seat, his brown eyes meeting hers as his fingers tapped on the steering wheel. "So you made it back in one piece."

"And what do you know? So did you." smiled Stephanie.

"Looks like we both made it unscathed then." chuckled Paul.

"Yeah so maybe next time I might not make you feel so nervous."

Paul shifted in his seat as he glanced briefly out the window. "Well, I'm not so sure about that." His fingers slid from the steering wheel and as his eyes fell on Stephanie once more, he saw she was watching him carefully. He offered her a smile and an explanation. "You seem to have the uncanny knack of making me feel that way any time I'm around you."

Stephanie swallowed thickly as she smoothed down her skirt, the corner of her lips trembling with her smile. "See now I'm sitting here wondering whether that's good a thing or not."

Paul licked his lips, his eyes scanning her pretty face. "Well that all depends."

"On what?"

"On you and whether you still think going out with me would be a huge mistake or not."

Stephanie watched him for a moment and seeing the sincere expression in his brown eyes, knew she had her answer and slowly shook her head, her chestnut strands shifting across her shoulders. "Maybe not so much a mistake, no." she replied softly.

"So does that mean you're going to let me take you out?"

"You still want to?"

"Yeah." Paul replied simply and paused for a second as his eyes glinted with his smile. "See, I told you I was twisted."

Stephanie bit down on her lip to contain her own grin. "And I must be having a lapse in sanity. Pick me up Saturday. Is seven thirty okay?"

"Seven thirty is great."

Stephanie wrapped her fingers around the small black holdall that was sitting at her feet.

"Want me to give you a hand with that?" asked Paul.

She shook her head. "It's okay. I'll be fine." Her hand rested on the door handle and let her eyes slowly drift to Paul once more. She licked her lips as her lips curved up gently. "Well thanks for the ride."

He winked at her. "Any time."

Stephanie got out of the car and began to close the passenger door before she stopped and her blue eyes stared at him, her hair blowing in the gentle breeze. "Oh and Paul, if you're even one minute late this time, I will kill you."

As door lightly clicked shut, Stephanie could hear his amused laughter and she walked down the path to her apartment block, the trace of her smile visible on her face.