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"So, let me get this right" Seth asked as he finished off his main course, swigging on a beer he had ordered to toast to Rachael's success. "You and Paige decided to go on a ride in a drunken state, and instead of pulling the release cord she pulled your bikini top cord instead?" They had been sharing embarrassing stories ever since their food arrived and this one was possibly the best yet.

"Yeah," She nodded remembering the night like it was yesterday. They had spent the whole ride switching between trying to get the top back on before they touched ground, and laughing so hard at the fact she was topless, hundreds of feet up in the air. "Worst thing was, we got the top back on, but had forgotten that there was an in-ride camera that took your photo halfway round. I think the whole park got an eyeful of the puppies that night" She said taking a sip of her wine trying to hide her embarrassment.

"That is hilarious" Seth said, laughing along with her.

Conversation had flowed freely all day, much to his surprise. He thought back to his dinner with her last week and how she had all but frozen when he mentioned her home life and her past. She was starting to warm to him, and more importantly trust him with her past and that, although little, meant so much to him.

Rachael had been so excited at the littlest thing on their tour around the White House. Usually stuff like that bored him rigid, but his entertainment had been looking at the wonder in her eyes as they moved from room to room, watching her read all the information boards and taking in each fact her eyes wondered over. She had been like a kid in a candy store and once again, he was happy that he had been the reason behind her smile.


They finished up dessert, had the last of their drinks and set about the short walk back to the hotel. The air was chilly now as the winters night rolled in around the buildings. Rachael shivered slightly beside him, pulling the knot in her blouse undone and letting the fabric fall around her waist to give her extra warmth.

"Here" he said pulling off his hoody and wrapping it around her shoulders, it drowned her but instantly warmed her up – she wasn't sure if it was the actual material that helped make her cosy or the scent of Seth that now encompassed her senses. Either way she was thankful that he was such a gentleman.

"Chivalry's not dead" She said, as they walked up the street taking in the shops that were starting to close around them.

"I wouldn't go that far," He spoke up, "that's my favourite hoody and I want it back" he joked making Rachael smile widely again.

"Hmmm, I think it looks better on me, don't you?" She said twirling around. He couldn't help but run his eyes up and down her body as she walked up in front of him, spinning as she walked forward. He cursed himself for doing it, he knew she needed time, Paige had even told him as much when they arranged yesterday's car share.

"Well theres no doubt about that, but I'm having it back" He said again firmly.

"You'll have to take it off me if you want it back" The words played on Seth's mind for a split second. Was she flirting with him? Images of peeling her out of her jeans flew through his mind at neck-break speed and before he realised what she was doing she was sprinting up the street to the hotel, holding on to his hoodie for dear life.

Seth started up behind her, his muscular form and longer legs meaning he caught up with her just as she reached the lobby of the hotel. He grabbed her by the waist flinging her around with ease and making her dizzy.

"SETH!" She squeeled at him kicking her feet back and forward, his muscular arms wrapped tightly around her not letting her get away.

"Say I can have it back!" He said stopping for a minute. She didn't answer, instead had a childish, spoilt look on her face. He span her around some more. "Say it!" He demanded. She giggled and gave into him.

"You can have it back."

"And say it looks better on me than it does on you" He continued as she tried to wriggle free but to no avail.

"I don't believe in lying Seth, honesty is the best policy" She recited. Once again he spun around on the spot making her feel more nauseous by the second.

"Ok, Ok, It looks so much better on you than on me" She rolled her eyes "Now put be down before that lovely dinner you just bought me ends up over the lobby floor" She pleaded. He listened to her reasoning and put her on the floor.

"There," He said, taking the hoody off of her "I think you've learnt your lesson don't you?"

"The only lesson I've learnt, Seth, is that you are a sore loser" She teased him, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for their floor.

"Thank you for such a great day, you really didn't have to go to that trouble." Rachael thanked him as they walked along the hotel corridor, stopping outside her room.

"Your smile was more than worth it." He said, looking down at her. She was busy looking for her key card that when she looked up she fell straight into the spell his eyes had on her. His brown eyes searching her soul. She gulped. She had a flashback to the arena a few days ago and knew where this was going. She moved back slightly and felt her back hit the cold wood of the door, he took that as his cue to lean in, his eyes about to close. Acting quickly she jumped up, hugging him close.

Seth's eyes shot back open and he sighed all too audibly. His arms reluctantly coming up to hug her. He was trying to go to fast. Flirting obviously came naturally to her and he probably had read the signs wrong.

"Thanks Seth, have a nice night" She grinned, quickly pulling away from the hug and opening her hotel room door. Before he even had a chance to respond she had shut the door in his face.

Seth scuffed his converse along the carpet, "Idiot" He said to himself as he went back to the hotel room he shared with his Brothers.

Rachael flung herself on the bed, hiding her head in the plush covers. How had she led herself down that garden path? She hadn't meant to have given him mixed messages but obviously along the way he had confused her flirting as meaning something more.

Seth was great, he was handsome and downright gorgeous. But she wasn't ready. She didn't want a relationship, and something told her that was the thing that Seth wanted more than most. He didn't seem like the love 'em and leave 'em kinda guy. But she wasn't ready for anything more than that. She would have to be more careful about the messages she gave to him. She needed to nip his feelings in the bud before it got any more serious. Seth was a great friend, but she couldn't give him anymore. Not now, and not for the foreseeable future.

What made it worse, was the one guy that she imagined could give her what she wanted right now. That guy was his Brother, one of two guys that Seth trusted with his life. How had she only been on the road for such a short space of time and screwed her head up already. "You stupid, stupid girl" Rachael said spoke into the fabric, letting out an exasperated sigh in the process.