Chapter 14

Paul's arm rested on the open window frame while his fingers tapped impatiently against the leather steering wheel. He shifted in his seat and briefly glanced at the watch on his wrist. That was when he realised he hadn't been sitting here as long as he had thought but it was long enough that his right ass cheek was starting to feel a little numb. He could even feel a kink developing in his neck too but that was deliberately self inflicted and a small price to pay in order to avoid looking over to his left and seeing the two bodies still firmly entangled at the bottom of the path. He just wished Jamie would hurry up and finish saying goodnight to the lady so he could get the hell out of here. He had a beer sitting at home with his name written on it, a beer he had been particularly looking forward to all afternoon after problems at work had turned his day from bad to even worse.

Sighing softly, Paul's thick fingers reached for the stereo and he idly began scanning through the radio stations. He was searching for coverage of tonight's baseball game, the same game he had been planning on watching before Romeo over there had called and asked him for a ride home. Now he was sitting here like some fucking cab service making him wonder why the hell he had even answered the phone in the first place.
But as the commentator's voice finally boomed through the speakers, Paul already knew the reason why. The truth was part of him had been hoping it would be someone else on the end of the line, that someone being a certain feisty brunette. Not that Stephanie had mentioned anything about calling him at any point during their date at the weekend. She hadn't and he didn't even know if she had his number anyway. He just knew that as each day passed, the urge to hear her voice or see her face grew that little bit stronger and the pathetic thing was it had only been a couple of days since he had last spent the evening with her. He wasn't sure what was happening to him. He didn't even know if he liked it either but somehow, someway Stephanie was beginning to monopolise his every thought and it certainly didn't help the situation when his mind wanted to constantly replay their make-out session in her doorway Saturday night.

Christ, even now he could still taste her kiss and the peach flavoured lip gloss she had worn. Stephanie's lips had been on his neck gently sucking on his skin when she had whispered against his ear her thinly veiled invitation for coffee. Her hushed voice had been thick with her desire and he had been more than willing to accept knowing coffee would be the last thing on the agenda. He had wanted Stephanie and he had wanted her badly. It had been a long six months being single and alone. They'd even made it to her hallway and her hand had crept inside his shirt, her fingers grazing and burning his skin when he'd felt that pang of guilt in his chest, the guilt that lately he just couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried. That's when he'd reluctantly stepped back breaking their heated embrace and tried to catch his breath. Stephanie's ocean blue pools had been filled with confusion and even disappointment as he had hastily made his excuses before kissing her cheek and whispering his goodnight. Little did she know he was even more disappointed than she appeared to have been to have walked out that door that night but his conscience just couldn't let things go further. Not just yet. Not with this stupid fucking bet hanging over his head.

Paul sighed again and lifted his hand as he lightly scratched at his beard. His male pride really had a lot to answer for never mind his giant ego. Quite honestly, when Jamie had suggested doubling the stakes, he should have walked away. He should never have agreed to extend the terms to another month but saying no would have just made things too damn complicated. Well, for him anyway because it would have meant admitting at that time that maybe, just maybe, he saw Stephanie as something more than a simple conquest and he hadn't been ready for that admission. Hell, even now he wasn't sure he was ready. Still, he knew he cared about her enough not to make her the terms of some silly college bet which was why as soon as Jamie unlocked his lips from his date, he was calling the whole thing off. He had to if he wanted things to continue with Stephanie. It was as simple as that.

Shifting uncomfortably in the leather seat, Paul stretched out his right leg. He realised his ass cheek was now completely numb and he was getting really sick and tired of waiting around. He had a good mind to leave them to it and let Jamie find his own way home despite him claiming not to have a dime to his name after spending the afternoon trying to impress his date in some expensive Italian restaurant down town. Exhaling slowly, Paul allowed himself to look over in the direction of the white terraced house he'd driven up to. Dryly, he rolled his brown eyes as the farewell appeared to be continuing in full swing. He was also dismayed to realise that he really needed to talk to Jamie about his technique. Even at a brief glance he could see that his friend was practically devouring the poor girl's face like some horny desperate teenager and it was most definitely not cool. Then again, the woman he was making out with seemed to be enjoying it.

Grimacing in disgust, Paul loudly cleared his throat in a vain attempt to break up the kiss. His brow furrowed as he glared at them through the open car window hoping they could sense how pissed off he was becoming. However, neither of them gave him a second glance as they continued with their sloppy embrace. That was when he scowled and decided he needed to take matters into his own hands. Paul hit his palm hard against the car horn. It beeped loudly startling them, forcing them apart from their clinch.

"Paul. Hey. I didn't see you there, man." said Jamie, licking his lips and raking his fingers through his short dark hair.

"That was obvious." he smirked as he turned down the volume on the radio. He squinted into the setting sun as his friend and his date walked towards the car. His fingers reached up to lightly knead the back of his neck.

"Let me introduce you guys. Paul, this is Vivien. Vivien, Paul."

Paul dropped his arm and took the slender hand that was offered to him. His initial thought was that the lady looked like some sort of call girl with her black leather skirt barely covering her ass and her overly bleached blonde hair that fell straight around her shoulders. She had a pretty face though and in fact, it looked even prettier when she smiled at him revealing her perfect set of white teeth.

"It's nice to meet you Paul."

"And you too." he replied politely.

"Call me." she pouted as she turned back to Jamie.

Paul rolled his eyes again as they began to kiss once more. He silently counted to five before muttering in frustration and hitting the horn once more.

"Sorry." he grinned as Jamie glared back at him. He noticed that Vivien at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed about it all. His broad shoulders shook with his silent chuckle as he watched his friend walk to the passenger door and climb in. They both waved at Vivien as he started up the car and pulled off down the street.

"Well my friend, I may have just found the promised land." Jamie grinned shifting in his seat and rubbing his hands together. "Vivien, she is a single mother and it makes me ask myself why the hell I didn't think of them before."

Paul glanced over at him wrinkling his nose in curiosity. "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?!" repeated Jamie, his grey eyes wide and dramatic. "Lev, you have no idea. These single mothers are the ideal women for a guy like me, well as far as dating goes that is. You see they're not looking to get attached too quickly which makes them perfect and when it comes to sex they're desperate for it not to mention extremely eager to please as I found out for myself when I spent most of the afternoon in between the lady's sheets."

"You know something Riggs? You are totally unbelievable." replied Paul grinning and shaking his head.

"Ah but wait. There's even more. See, us men can do no absolutely wrong in their eyes. Well in comparison to the bastards that abandoned them with their kid in the first place, that is. We're like their version of angels. You know I was thinking that it's a pity that you and Stephanie have this thing going on. Vivien's got this friend……"

"Actually speaking of Stephanie, I need to talk to you." interrupted Paul as he reached across and turned off the stereo. He cleared his throat as he rubbed lightly at his nose.

"Don't tell me!" said Jamie, holding his right hand up as he turned in his seat to face his friend. He pushed the sleeves of his red sweater up his forearms. "You banged her so hard Saturday that the neighbours in the opposite block could hear her screaming your name and on more than one occasion if you get what I'm saying."

Paul glared at him before signalling to pull out of the junction. "Do you have to be so crass?"

"Crass? That wasn't crass. It was just a simple question, man."

"Yeah, well it's none of your goddamn business."

"On the contrary, my good friend." Jamie said, slapping him on the back as the car travelled over the bridge into town. "It is my business especially if you're expecting me to shell out that thousand bucks I owe you in a couple of weeks. Speaking of which, what are the chances of you accepting a written I.O.U.? Things are a little tight for me right now and then I've got Tash chewing my ear off about some heating bill that's got to be paid unless I want to freeze to death."

Paul quickly shook his head as he pushed his blonde strands behind his right ear. "Never mind the I.O.U. because I'm calling the whole thing off."

"What do you mean calling it off?"

"I mean exactly what it sounds like, okay? The bet is off. I can't do it anymore."

Jamie scratched his head as he looked over at his friend in confusion. "Why not? Don't tell me the Ice Queen won't give it up? You know I warned you from the start that this would happen. I told you she was frigid but you didn't listen to me."

"Look, it's got nothing to do with that." sighed Paul in frustration. "It's just over, okay? End of story." He rolled his lips together and refused to elaborate any further as he stared out of the windshield. Any admission about any kind of feelings of guilt on his part and it would sound like he was telling Jamie that he actually cared for Stephanie. And really, that couldn't be possible at all. How could it be? They'd only been out a couple of times together and besides, he knew hardly anything about her. There was no way he could have any real feelings for her. Not really.

Paul concentrated on the busy road following the blue Chrysler in front of him and didn't see the knowing smile that suddenly erupted across Jamie's face making his eyes crinkle up in the corners.

"See, now I think I get what all this is about."

"Get what?"

"You. You've finally realised that you actually might like this girl."

Paul said nothing as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. He was reluctant to analyse any sort of feelings he may have for one Stephanie McMahon. Still, he could admit he enjoyed her company. In fact, he would even go so far to say that he really looked forward to spending time with her. He would even admit his attraction to her wasn't purely physical either. Stephanie was smart and she was funny too. Her feisty nature made her completely different from any other woman he had dated before and that in itself held a definite attraction for him.

"Come on Lev." continued Jamie. "You can admit it to me. You've fallen for the Ice Queen which means Stephanie's no longer a chick you just want to fuck."

Paul glanced from the road to glare at him once more. "Would you watch your fucking mouth?"

"What? I'm just calling it like I see it and I'm right, aren't I? You're really into her."

Paul licked his lips and lifted his shoulder in a slightly embarrassed shrug. "I don't know, man."

"Yes you do. You're just scared to admit it to her and to yourself especially after being burned by that greedy gold digging bitch you lived with for years. But even you've got to see for yourself that Stephanie's nothing like Nicole."

Paul sighed with relief as he pushed his big hand through his hair. "Thank the fuck."

"Hey, watch that fuckin' language, will ya?"

"Shut the fuck up." he retorted. He turned to Jamie and both men looked at one another before bursting into laughter. Paul's shoulders still shook with his amusement as he turned left around the corner.

"But in all seriousness man, I think you're good for one another."

"Who is?"

Jamie shook his head and smiled at his friend's answer. "You know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about you and Stephanie."

Paul sniffed trying his best to be non-chalant when inside he couldn't deny the way his heart felt a little bit fuller just from the simple act of thinking about her. "Maybe." he conceded.

"There's no maybe about it and I can tell the girl is totally into you too although God only knows why." Jamie smirked as he shifted in his seat and leant his arm against the cool glass. "And you know, I have to say when I knew her in school, she was cold and pretty rude. I didn't really get why she and Tash were even friends but I've seen a whole different side to her since I moved back home. I don't know. She seems to have mellowed out or something especially since you got involved with her and I've gotten to be around her a little bit. Steph actually seems like a pretty cool person. You know Lev, you could do a lot worse than her."

Paul shrugged as he pulled into the street. "Yeah well we've only been on a couple of dates. Who knows if anything will happen there anyway." he replied casually.

"Well if it doesn't I could always introduce you to that friend of Vivien's I told you about. I think her name was Melissa or was it Melanie?" Jamie paused as his hand lifted to scratch at his head. "Shit! I can't even remember."

"Whoever she is, I'll try and bear her in mind." grinned Paul as he pulled outside the Riggs apartment. The engine idled as he turned in his seat and raked his fingers through his hair.

"You coming in?"

Paul pressed his lips together and a blonde strand fell across his eye as he shook his head. "Nah. I think I'm going to just hit the road."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I've got a bitch of a day tomorrow. I want to get home and chill out before I hit the sack.

Jamie nodded his head. "I hear ya. We still going to the gym?"

"Sure. I should be done by six."

"Cool. I'll give you a call."

Jamie's hand loosely gripped the door handle and he was about to pull on it when he spotted the familiar figure coming from the apartment block. He turned to Paul. "Well would you look at that?" he smiled watching his friend's expression visibly soften as he looked out the windshield to see Stephanie walking in their direction. "It seems like someone else is planning an early night too. Maybe you should go over there and offer to join her." winked Jamie.

Paul's big hand shot out to shove his arm. "Just get out of the fuckin' car, will ya?"

"Okay. I'll catch you later, man." Jamie laughed as he stepped out onto the street lifting his hand in a wave as he closed the door behind him. "Hey Stephanie."

"Hello Jamie." Stephanie replied pushing back the loose strands that blew in the breeze as she stood in front of him.

"You been visiting Tash?"

"Yeah but your mom just arrived so I thought I would leave them to it."

Jamie groaned and rubbed at his eye. "Jesus Christ! That's all I need. Two women nagging my face off all evening. Guess I'd better get my ass up there and get it over with."

"Have fun." Stephanie laughed as he disappeared up the pathway. Her pulse jumped when she then looked round to see Paul standing there just in front of her looking all kinds of beautiful in the shadows of the impending nightfall. It seemed that he hadn't found the time to get changed after work and was still dressed in his dark pinstriped suit with the grey shirt underneath slightly crumpled and open at the collar. His hands were stuffed in his trouser pockets and as her blue eyes settled on his, Stephanie wondered if he had been thinking about her anywhere near as much as she had been thinking about him.

"Hey." he said in his soft, deep tone.

She licked her lips before they curved up gently. "Hey."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm good." she replied twisting her fingers together in front of her. "You?"

"Good. I was just heading home actually."

"Me too. I've got a tonne of paperwork to get through before I'm up in court tomorrow morning."

Paul's brown eyes narrowed as he took a step forward. "Is that the custody case?"

Stephanie nodded as she shifted her feet scuffing her heels over the sidewalk. "We've got to present our closing arguments to the judge."

"Yeah, well just remember and take it easy, you hear? You make sure you a good night's rest and then go in that court room and kick some ass." he grinned.

She grinned back looking into his steady gaze and feeling a pull in her chest. "I will."

"Good."

A car rumbled past and the conversation fell silent as they both stood there just looking at one another. Stephanie felt her legs go weak and she was reluctant to make a move to say goodnight despite feeling a little embarrassed over her actions the last time they had been together. Paul had kissed her and before she knew it she had been practically inviting him into her bed. She hadn't been able to help herself. She had wanted him so much. It was the way he looked, the way he smelled even the way he had sounded when he said her name in that low, sexy voice of his. Even standing here now she could feel her desire for him burning in the pit of her stomach. She had honestly always thought she was deeper than some overwhelming physical attraction. But of course, deep down, she knew it wasn't only that. She couldn't explain it but there was just something about this man that made her lose it and forget all the rules. Paul was dangerous for her but of course that only made her want him even more. The problem was she wasn't sure he wanted her back especially after his actions on Saturday night. In all honesty, he couldn't have high tailed it out of her apartment fast enough which only served to make her more confused and just when she starting to open up to the possibility of them maybe having something together. Well, screw him. If Paul didn't want her, she'd be damned if she wanted him either. If he could play it cool, so could she and who cared if he never mentioned seeing her again.

Clearing her throat, Stephanie briefly glanced away trying to regain her composure. When she looked back up those incredible brown eyes were still focused on her and she felt the now familiar butterflies fluttering in her chest. Fuck. "So I should probably get going." she managed to eventually blurt out.

"Me too."

She nodded and placed her hands in the pockets of her long black overcoat. "Like I said I've got a stack full of work to do before I can call it a night."

"Yeah well remember what I told you and take it easy, okay?"

Stephanie swallowed thickly as Paul's hand reached out and his thumb tenderly caressed her chin lingering there for a moment. The simple action made her breath catch in her throat and she wondered if maybe there was the chance she had gotten this all wrong. Maybe Paul did like her. Maybe he did care about her even just a little bit. Saturday was probably all her fault anyway. She had obviously come on too strong and scared him away.

"So if you're not so busy towards the end of the week, perhaps I could give you a call?"

Or maybe she hadn't scared him off after all. "I'd like that." she told him smiling.

"In that case, I'll talk to you soon. Goodnight Steph."

"Goodnight."

Her eyelids fluttered shut as his lips softly kissed her forehead. When she finally opened them Paul was walking to his car and she realised soon just wasn't soon enough for her. "Paul?" she called out to him.

His blonde strands blew behind him in the breeze as he swung round to face her, his car keys dangling from his fingertip. Stephanie bit down on the corner of her mouth shyly.

"I'm actually free Wednesday. Maybe you could come over and I could cook you dinner or something."

His brown eyes looked at her, twinkling mischievously. "Sounds good but it really all depends."

"On what?" she asked.

"Well what are the chances of you trying to poison me in the process?" he grinned.

Stephanie licked her lips as her face faintly flickered with her amusement. "I'd say probably minimal to none."

"In that case, I'll see you Wednesday."

"Seven thirty okay?"

"Seven thirty is perfect."

"Then I guess I'll see you then."

"You can count on it." he winked.

Stephanie lingered on the sidewalk just a moment longer watching Paul as he climbed into his car. As the door clicked shut behind him, she finally turned away not wanting him to know she was looking and her mind already counting down the hours until Wednesday when she would see him again. Of course this time she would keep her emotions in check around him. She was going to be the epitome of cool in front of one Paul Levesque. She had to be even if it killed her and there was a very good chance that it probably would.