DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.
Randy stepped into the cool, semi-dark interior of the house. He was surprised by the collection of furnishings. If he was correct, almost all of the pieces were antiques. He turned slowly in a circle as he took in the light colored walls and carefully arranged pieces. They were standing in a long hallway that separated the house in two. To the right he could see the living room with its cream colored walls and comfortable looking furniture. A large painting hung above the fireplace. The painting captured the heart of the French Quarter, Jackson Square. No doubt she acquired the piece from a local artist. Forcing his gaze back to Bailey, he followed her down the hall. He followed her to the kitchen, which was surprisingly modern. The appliances were stainless steel and perfectly complimented the dark slate tile floor. She led him through a smaller room he assumed was the laundry room. A washer and dryer sat to the right of the back door which was slightly ajar.
Bailey stepped into the bright sunshine and moved to the side. After glancing at Randy, she looked across the patio. Belle was sitting at the child sized table coloring while her twin, Tres, chased Louis. The Lab puppy drew to a halt as he realized his owner was outside. The gangly puppy dashed across the patio and leaned against Bailey's legs. She leaned down and quickly scratched behind his ears. As she straightened, she looked at Randy. His grey eyes were wide with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. Biting back a chuckle, she nudged Louis to resume his play with his favorite little boy.
"Don't be shy." Randy was surprised when Bailey reached out and grabbed his hand. She tugged him across the patio.
Randy swallowed hard as he allowed himself to be lead to what he could only call an outdoor kitchen. A stainless steel grill was placed next to a large prep table. An older man stood with one hip braced against the prep table, a beer held lightly in his hand. The man glanced at Bailey before looking at Randy. His eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze raked over him from head to toe and back again.
"Daddy, this is Randy Orton. He's the lead in the movie I'm working on." Bailey's smile was heart felt as she turned to Randy.
"Randy, I'd like you to meet my father, Beau White, Sr." Randy glanced quickly at Bailey before reaching to shake hands with the big man. Beau was an impressive mountain of man. He stood slightly over six feet tall and he was built like a brick wall. His hair was silvery gray and his green eyes, so like Bailey's, were bright and curious.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Randy said.
Beau made a soft sound in the back of his throat as he nodded, "Heard a lot about you." The merest hint of a smile touched his lips before he turned his back to them to check on the grill.
Randy sighed inwardly as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets. For the first time in a long time, he felt nervous. Beau was regarding him the same way he would a wild beast. He had the distinct feeling that Beau was a man that would do anything to protect his little girl.
Bailey turned as a large shadow fell over her. She smiled up at the blonde man that joined them. Without a word he handed her a glass of iced tea. She accepted it with a slight nod. Randy felt a flicker of jealousy as he looked between the two. Randy most definitely remembered the well built man from their run in at the restaurant. The two stared at each other for a prolonged moment. Bailey shifted slightly, hoping to bring a quick end to their male posturing.
"Matt, you remember Randy, don't you?" Bailey arched a brow as she looked up at the man. He nodded once but didn't as much as blink. "Randy, this is my brother Matt."
Randy felt as if all the air had been sucked out of him. Relief overwhelmed him. All of the self torture he inflicted had been for nothing. The man that made Randy want to commit an unforgivable sin was her brother. Wasn't that a kick in the ass?
With a smile Randy offered his hand in greeting. Reluctantly Matt accepted it with a grudging nod. "Nice to see you again."
Bailey heaved an exasperated sigh as she glanced between the two men. She was half tempted to let the two of the battle out whatever was going on between them. But the last thing she wanted was to have to clean blood off her new patio furniture.
With a flick of a wrist, Bailey hoped to draw Randy's attention.
"The little one at the table is my niece, Belle, and this little devil is Tres."
Bailey scooped up the squirming bundle of her nephew and gave him a quick squeeze. He wrapped his chubby little arms around her neck and gave a smacking kiss on the cheek. He looked down at the lump of golden fur that had just realized they had a visitor. Louis looked up at Randy with all the longing in his seven month old heart and began whining. His tail thumped the ground as he stared up at him.
Bailey laughed as she set Tres on the ground next to Louis. However, Louis was not going to fall for the distraction. He lifted a paw and slapped it against Randy's thigh. "This scoundrel is Louis."
Realizing Louis was no longer interested in their game of chase, Tres took off across the patio. Louis, however, sat rooted in place. Bailey nudged him gently with her foot but he refused to budge. With a smile Randy leaned down and scratched behind Louis' ears. The dog made a happy sound as he gave himself over to Randy's gentle ministrations.
"I think he likes you." Bailey laughed as Louis collapsed on Randy's feet. He sighed happily as he thumped his tail against the ground
Matt strolled past and gave the dog a scathing look, "Traitor."
Bailey laughed as Louis gave Matt an apologetic look before going back to investigating Randy's sneakers. Taking advantage of the distraction, Bailey turned back to her father.
"How much longer, Daddy?"
Beau glanced at his watch then looked at her. "Ready when you are."
Bailey paused beside Belle and gently ruffled her hair. "Come on, Sunshine, time to get washed up."
Belle looked up at her before slowly getting up from her chair. Her eyes stayed locked on Randy for a long moment before dashing up the stairs and into the house. Randy felt as if he'd committed some unforgivable sin. The way Belle looked at him made him feel as if he'd done something horrible. Sighing heavily, Randy looked up at the house.
"Don't take it personally, Belle's not much on strangers." Randy startled at the deep voice coming from behind. He turned slightly and found himself looking at a man that looked almost exactly like Matt. For a moment Randy couldn't help but wonder if all of the White siblings were carbon copies of each other.
"I'm B.J.." The man said with a smile.
Randy arched a brow in confusion but offered his hand, "I'm Randy. You must be Bailey's brother."
The man laughed and nodded, "Her older, more charming brother."
"So you say." Randy was startled by the soft voice of a young woman as she came to stand beside the man. She was a beautiful, almost angelic looking creature. Her pale blonde hair was twisted into an elaborate knot on the top of her head. Her wide blue eyes were surrounded by a fringe of thick, dark lashes. Her body was reed thin and well toned. As Randy studied her, he thought she had the body of a dancer.
B.J. made a soft sound in the back of his throat as he wrapped an arm around her waist. He squeezed her gently as he looked down at her. She returned his loving gaze before glancing at Randy again.
"I'm Guin." she smiled up at Randy. He was enchanted by the way her smile lit up her eyes. She had a special quality that made him feel as if he had her undivided attention. Randy couldn't help but return her smile.
Looking across the patio, Randy felt as if he'd fallen into a rabbit hole. When he agreed to have lunch with Bailey, he had no idea he would be meeting her entire family. To make matters even more strange, he was being welcomed by them. It was a feeling he wasn't used to. Rarely in his life had he been accepted so quickly. Except for Matt and Belle that is. The two of them watched him with the intensity of a hawk. He wasn't sure why but he had the impression he would need to watch his back with those two. Just as the thought fully crossed his mind, the back door opened again. Bailey slowly moved down the stairs, a huge wooden bowl clasped in her hands. Immediately following her was yet another blonde woman. For a moment Randy was intensely aware of the fact he was surrounded by blondes. He felt like a black sheep, quite literally.
As he watched, Bailey and the young woman crossed the patio and set matching bowls down on the oblong shaped table. Bailey stepped back and wiped her hands on a striped dish towel. She laughed at something the other woman said. She shook her head slightly before glancing at Randy.
"Randy, this is my oldest and dearest friend, Dana. Dana, meet Randy."
The smile Dana gave him was timid. She nodded in his direction. Her gaze briefly met his before quickly moving away. Her timid smile gave way into a genuine smile as her gaze moved to Matt. Randy noticed the way she stood a little straighter and smoothed a hand down her light pink shirt. If it was one thing Randy Orton knew, it was the look of a woman when she was interested. And Dana was mostly definitely interested in Matt.
A quick glance at Matt showed that he was completely unaware of the young woman making eyes at him. Randy shifted as he bit back a smile. Love was most definitely in bloom.
Bailey nudged Dana and glanced meaningfully at her. She inclined her head toward the covered portion of the patio where Matt stood holding a tray while Beau carefully removed the chicken from the grill. After the last piece was carefully balanced on top of the mountain, he crossed the patio and set the tray down. He took a step back and glanced over his shoulder at his father who was bringing a second tray filled with a mix of grilled vegetables. He winked at Belle as he set the tray down. She came to him and squealed in delight as she was scooped up into his arms. He blew a raspberry against her cheek before settling her against his thick chest.
Randy felt an unfamiliar feeling creeping into the center of his chest. It was an unusual feeling that he didn't like one bit. He felt as if a hollow emptiness was moving over him. He drew in a deep breath as he pushed the feeling aside. Thankfully, he was saved from further contemplation. Bailey drew out her chair and motioned for everyone to do the same. Randy pulled out the chair at the end of the table and quickly sat. He glanced around the table and immediately felt a blush creep into his cheeks. He was the only man sitting. B.J. stood dutifully by his chair as he waited for Guin to settle the children. With a smile she set their child sized plates in front of them. After affectionately ruffling her son's hair, she turned back to her husband. B.J. smiled as Guin sat in the chair he offered. Only after she was settled did he pull out his own chair. Matt flashed a quick smile as he helped Dana and then Bailey with their seats. As he took the seat to Bailey's left, he scowled at Randy.
Sensing Randy's growing unease, she reached for the pitcher of iced tea and filled his glass. He murmured a soft thank you without looking at her. Bailey bit back a smile as she forced herself to look away. As much as she hated to admit it, she loved seeing Randy so far out of his element. He was accustomed to getting his way and calling the shots. But here, he had no power. He was merely a man. And from the look on his face, a slightly humbled version of his former self.
Beau finally took his seat. He looked around the table and felt his heart fill with pride at his family. He knew for a fact not every man was as lucky as he. He had been blessed with two strong sons and a beautiful daughter. With a sigh, Beau looked at his pride and joy. She looked so much like her Mama that it took his breath away. Looking at Bailey was like looking at his wife when she was that age. God rest her soul, he missed that woman. Pulling himself from his suddenly morose thoughts, Beau cleared his throat. He reached out and took the hands of the two women sitting next to him. With a smile Bailey reached for Matt's hand. Suddenly feeling out of sorts, Randy looked down at his empty plate. He'd never been a particularly religious man. He didn't doubt the existence of something greater than himself, he just didn't spend a great deal of time building their relationship. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat but didn't look up.
He startled slightly as he felt Bailey's long fingers wrap around his. She squeezed gently and flicked a glance at him. He listened as Beau said a prayer of thanks for the health of his family and for the blessings they'd been given. He prayed for their continued well being and good favor. Randy felt his breath catch slightly as Bailey's grip tightened slightly. He dared to glance at her. Her head was bowed and her eyes were closed. The expression on her face was one of serenity. For a moment, Randy was a little envious of her faith. With a softly murmured Amen, Bailey opened her eyes. She smiled at him as she slowly released his hand. As she withdrew, he still felt the warmth of her nimble fingers against his palm. Unconsciously, his hand curled in a fist. He wanted to trap her warmth against his skin and hold it there.
With amazing speed, conversation began. Beau laughed at a retelling of Tres' antics earlier in the day. B.J. and Matt began arguing the finer points of this year's football team. Randy felt as if he was on a different planet as he watched the conversations flow around him. He was completely lost and for the first time in a long time, he felt the waves of loneliness he typically ignored. But it was times like these when that feeling reared its ugly head and roared with ferocity. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm. The last thing he needed was a surge of panic overwhelming him.
Forcing himself to focus on something, Randy watched as Bailey carefully selected a piece of chicken and passed him the tray. He accepted it and quickly picked a piece without really looking. It was the same when the vegetables were passed. By the time the rolls were placed in front of him, he'd regained some resemblance of calm.
Dana leaned forward in her seat as she spoke to Bailey, "Don't forget next week we have a meeting for Project Purple."
Bailey took a sip of tea and nodded. She'd nearly forgotten about the meeting. With everything that had been going on, she'd been forgetting a lot of things lately. And this was not something to be forgotten. Project Purple was very near and dear to her heart.
Curiosity got the better of Randy. "What's Project Purple?"
Bailey smiled at him as she leaned back in her chair. "It's one of the biggest events for the Krewe of Rex. For the next year we're hosting several charity events for the School for the Deaf where Dana teaches."
Randy arched a brow. He hadn't expected Bailey to be so socially aware. The idea of her doing charity work didn't jive at all with the mental picture he'd painted. He'd long ago decided that she was a self centered princess who didn't care about anything. Damn, he'd seriously misjudged that.
"What's the Krewe of Rex?" Randy asked. He had a vague idea of what it meant but there was so much about life in Louisiana that was well beyond his scope of the familiar.
"It's a social organization that does a lot of volunteer work. It's been around since 1872. Usually when people think of Mardi Gras, that's what they think of. Rex has been a fixture in New Orleans for as long as anyone can remember. It's very exclusive." Dana said with a smile.
Bailey laughed softly as she rolled her eyes. "She's exaggerating. Rex is group of people that have a strong sense of community responsibility. We help a lot of people in the community with fundraisers and public interest aspects. This year we're working with the School for the Deaf. Daddy is part of the committee for Project Gold which helps the Police Officer's Union."
Randy arched a brow as he looked at Beau. No wonder he'd been looking at Randy that way. The man practically had policeman written all over him.
"You work for the police force?" Randy asked as he looked at Beau.
Beau nodded, "I retired after 34 years with the N'awlins Police Department. Now I do volunteer work for the sheriff's department. B.J. followed in the family tradition and joined the force over in Avondale." With a proud smile, Beau looked at his son.
Randy nodded in understanding. He knew what it was like to have something in your blood. It was a destiny you couldn't just walk away from. It was something that stayed with you through thick and thin.
Turning back to Bailey he asked, "What else does Project Purple do?"
"We'll host several charity events, including a silent auction and a special invitation ball. That's going to be the biggest money maker. Everybody in the city loves a good party."
Randy felt a small smile tug at the corner of his lips as he listened to Bailey fill in the details of her volunteer work. The rest of lunch was spent in a similar manner. He quietly observed Bailey and the others as they shared the meal. He was impressed by Bailey's knowledge of a variety of subjects. Apparently she was a newshound and loved to read. She was involved in every kind of volunteer work imaginable. She tried to make the world a better place. That was something Randy respected very deeply. When so many people were only worried about what they could get, it was a refreshing change to find someone that wanted to give back to the community. By the end of the meal, Randy's opinion of Bailey needed a drastic reevaluation. All of the assumptions he'd made over the last few weeks had been completely unwarranted. Now he realized she was nothing like he'd imagined. He was ashamed of himself. And he was curious to know more. Randy startled from his thoughts as Bailey slowly rose from her chair. She flashed a quick smile as she announced she was ready for dessert. Dana and Guin followed her into the house. As soon as the back door closed, Guin pounced.
"Where did you find that gorgeous hunk of man?"
Bailey blushed as she opened the fridge and removed a carton of fresh strawberries. She handed them to Dana and turned back to grab the strawberry shortcake parfait. She lingered a moment longer than necessary, basking in the chill coming from the open refrigerator. Forcing a neutral expression, Bailey closed the door. She pulled a cutting board down from the cabinet next to the sink and pulled a knife from the butcher block. Without being asked, Dana rinsed the strawberries then placed them on the cutting board.
"I didn't find him, Guin. We work together."
Guin made a disbelieving noise as she snatched a berry from the pile. She bit into the juicy morsel and smiled.
"Honey, if you believe that, I have a piece of ocean front property in Arizona to sell you."
Bailey made an annoyed sound as she continued slicing the fruit.
"Don't listen to her. Randy is not your type." Dana leaned a hip against the counter and watched Bailey work.
Guin laughed softly as she arched a brow. "Do you need your eyes checked? That man is hot."
A shocked gasp escaped Bailey. She turned slightly to look at her sister in law. Guin's bright blue eyes were filled with mischief. "You're a married woman!"
With a laugh Guin pushed away from the counter and turned to the fridge. She pulled out a container of whipped cream and opened it. She moved back to the counter and flicked a glance at Bailey. With a manicured finger, she scooped up a taste of whipped cream. She studied Bailey with knowing eyes as she licked the cold concoction from her finger. She pointed the now clean digit at Bailey.
"That's right, sugar, I'm married, not dead."
Guin's laughter was musical. She was enjoying teasing Bailey like nothing else. Bailey was not the kind of girl that let herself indulge in naughty fantasies. Especially not well built, incredibly sexy fantasies like Randy Orton.
Dana huffed softly, "I don't know what you think is so attractive, Guin. He looks like a convict."
Guin's eyes bulged like a frog. "You do need your eyes checked! That is one of the finest examples of manliness I've seen in a long time. If it wasn't for my B.J., I'd be all over him."
The sound of the knife scraping against the cutting board was loud in the suddenly quiet room. Bailey looked at Guin and shook her head. "If you like him that much, you can have him!"
Guin almost doubled over in laughter. The expression on Bailey's face was utterly priceless. She was trying so hard not to show what she was feeling. But Guin had known Bailey too long to believe her. She knew her words were hitting a little too close to the truth.
"Bailey, when was the last time you were with a man?"
Outraged, Bailey stared at her. She didn't want to admit the truth to anyone. Not even herself. And most certainly not to her loving, but all too nosy sister in law. "I don't see how that is any of your business."
Guin rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Everything that concerns you is my business. We're family after all. And I think that man is exactly what you need. He looks like the kind of man that knows how to scratch a lady's itch."
Dana glared at Guin as she reached for another strawberry. "No lady would be caught dead with him."
Guin arched a delicate brow and pointed the strawberry at Bailey. "Bailey Marie White, you look me in the eye and tell me that Randy doesn't tempt you at least a little."
Bailey refused to even look at Guin. Dana quickly spoke up in defense of her friend. "Bailey doesn't need any help scratching an itch!"
"You know you could use a little lovin' yourself, Dana. From the way you were making moon eyes at Matt, I think you'd be wanting someone to grease your gears." Guin leaned slightly across the cutting board to look Dana in the eyes.
Dana gasped in surprise and outrage. Before now no one had openly commented on her attraction to Bailey's brother. She'd tried to keep it secret. But apparently her best friend had parted with that particular piece of information.
"You swore you wouldn't say anything." Dana hissed at Bailey.
Frustrated by all the talk of gears and itches and manliness, Bailey slammed her knife down on the cutting board. "Will you two knock if off? I didn't say anything to anybody, Dana."
Guin smirked at Dana and stuck out her tongue. Bailey caught the movement out of the corner of her eyes and rounded on Guin. "And you stop teasing! Nobody needs any help scratching an itch of any variety. Randy is an acquaintance, that's all."
Guin's bottom lip poked out in the semblance of a pout. Dana opened her mouth but Bailey gave her a reproaching glare. She looked back and forth between the two. Once she was satisfied they were both going to hold their peace, she quickly scooped up the sliced strawberries and added them to the bowl. She took the container of whipped cream from Guin and poured the mass over the strawberries. With the flick of a wrist, she smoothed the whipped cream across the surface. She picked up the large glass bowl and stepped away from the counter.
"I'll consider this conversation finished. Now, if it's not too much to ask, let's have dessert and try to be civilized."
Dana murmured in agreement and Guin merely sighed. Once Bailey was sure she had their agreement, she moved toward the backdoor. Taking a steadying breath, Bailey put on a smile and stepped out into the sunshine. She was surprised to see Randy standing beside Beau. The two were talking in slightly hushed voices. She glanced at her brothers who were holding the twins. Belle drooped wearily over her father's broad shoulder as she watched Tres curl against Matt's chest. Understanding quickly came to Bailey as she set the parfait bowl on the table.
Turning to Randy she asked, "You're not leaving, are you?"
Randy was almost certain he heard a note of disappointment in her voice. However, her smile didn't falter. "I really should be getting back to the hotel. It's getting late."
Bailey glanced down at her Bulova watch. It was quarter to four. It was nowhere near late. But if Randy was ready to leave, she certainly didn't want to force him to stay. Instead she nodded slightly and stepped away from the table. "I'll walk you out."
Randy shook hands with Beau and smiled, "Thank you for lunch, sir."
Beau smiled as he clapped Randy on the back, "You're very welcome, Randy. Glad to meet you."
Randy moved away from Beau and glanced around the table, "It was nice meeting you."
A murmur rose and Guin smiled at Randy, "Don't be a stranger, Randy. We'd love to see again soon."
Bailey glared at Guin and silently swore she was going to lock her sister in law in a closet if Randy ever happened to drop by again.
Randy, however, seemed to like the idea. He returned Guin's engaging smile and nodded. "Will do, ma'am."
Bailey forced her attention back to Randy. "We can go out this way." With the wave of a hand, Bailey indicated the stone walkway. She glanced at her father before turning back to Randy. "I'll be right back, Daddy."
Randy gave a small wave as he fell into step behind Bailey. He silently followed her around the side of the house and back to the small but well kept front yard. Standing in the shade of the oak tree, Randy shoved his hands into his pockets. He stared down at the ground for a long moment. Neither of them spoke for what seemed like an eternity.
"Thank you for inviting me for lunch. You didn't have to."
Bailey smiled as she wrapped her arms loosely around her middle. Her head tilted slightly to the side as she studied him. This was the first time she'd ever seen Randy completely unguarded. Everything about him, from the expression on his face to his body language, spoke to how at ease he was. He was as relaxed as a body could get.
"My pleasure, Randy."
"So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
Bailey nodded as she wondered why Randy wasn't meeting her gaze. For some reason she had an incredible desire to see his eyes. "Guess so."
Bailey's sigh was soft as Randy finally turned to look at her. There was something unnameable in his grey eyes. She wasn't sure what it was but a shiver moved over her spine none the less. Randy looked at her as if he'd never seen her before. He studied her closely, his gaze moving from the top of her head to her toes and back again. In that moment, Bailey was incredibly glad she couldn't read minds. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what Randy was really thinking. With a sigh, she watched as he turned on his heel and walked toward the street. She stayed rooted in place, watching his retreating form until she could barely see him. With a sigh, she turned back toward the house. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Bailey had the feeling things were changing. As she climbed the stairs to the front porch, she hoped that they would be changes for the better.