Vinny returned to his apartment building his night with Steffy still in his mind. It had been one incredible night. Amazing, absolutely amazing. It was like nothing he ever had known before in his life. He was lucky to even be able to leave that morning. Steffy sure did not make it easy on him by any stretch especially when he attempted to make her breakfast and she wouldn't keep her pretty paws to herself and the eggs and bacon ended up burning while they made love again on the floor of the kitchen. Steffy said she wasn't sorry and he told her she was an insatiable minx. She giggled and said it was his fault for having such a hot body which caused yet another around of love making. He finally did get around to making breakfast while she was in the shower that she tried to lure him into by removing the negligee she has been wearing to give him an excellent view of what she was offering. He dropped two eggs before he told her to scram, they need to eat already.
It was while they ate that Steffy told him about how her obsession for lack of better word for Liam began. How she believed that she was meant to be with him after he saved her from drowning in the tub.
"I guess I was just so hurt that Bill rejected me and was staying with Katie that I just wanted to latch on to somebody. Liam was with Hope and but it didn't seem to matter to me." She said. "I can't believe I acted like that. I said the bitterness washed away in the water. I don't understand why I turned Liam pulling me out of the tub so I didn't drown to something more."
"Can I ask you something? Why did you feel the need to go after Bill Spencer? I mean he has a pretty hot wife.."
Steffy laughed and threw a piece of toast at him. "Shut up." She said. "No you are right Katie is a beautiful woman. I just thought I had to prove that I was sophisticated and worldly enough to handle a man like Bill. You know what? I'm not. I know that now. Also maybe the idea of taking something from a Logan was appealing."
"What is this riff with the Logans? I don't get it." Vinny asked. "Did they do something horrible or what?"
Steffy shook her head. "No it wasn't anything like that. I think it was driven by by late grandmother Stephanie who I am named for by the way. My grandfather was in love with Beth Logan who was Brooke's mother. She resented it. She got pregnant with Ridge and that is how she ended up with Eric Forrester. I don't understand why she had to keep the fued going. She took it out on Brooke…well anyway she finally did get over it. I think she was sorry she carried it on so long."
"I see. Well are you sorry she carried it on for that many years? I mean Brooke seems like a nice lady. Yeah I know about the stuff she did. Thomas filled me in. I think he lives to fill me in on that stuff."
Steffy smiled. "Yeah that's my brother. Actually there were times I felt like it needed to just end. I did get tired of it. Especially when I knew there was no way Liam was going to love me the way he does Hope. I realized I was turning into my mother. She could not accept that my father loves Brooke more."
"You think she ever will?" He asked.
"I'm not sure. She and Brooke did get into a fight that involved a wedding cake.." She said laughing. "Hope and I walked in and…looking back now it was actually very funny. At the time, not so much. But now thinking of those two throwing cake at each other…it was comical."
"You mean like this." Vinny said smashing a toast with strawberry jam in her face.
"You!" She said picking up a piece of toast and flinging it at him.
That turned into a big food fight that ended with another round of lovemaking on the sofa. They did clean things up after and Vinny insisted he needed to get back home which caused Steffy to place a million tempting kisses on him before he finally managed to get out the door. Yes Steffy Forrester was one of a kind. Like no one he had ever met before.
He smiled as he unlocked the door to his apartment and walked in. He threw his keys on the table and then frowned upon seeing a visitor.
"Hello Vinny honey." A blonde female said.
He grimaced. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"I have my key." She said sweetly. "I missed you baby." She said sauntering over to him swaying her hips in a tight leopard print top and black mini skirt. "I missed you so much."
"I haven't missed you." He said shoving her away and along with her gaudy cheap perfume."I told you I don't want to see you anymore. I want nothing to do with you. What part are you not getting?"
"Oh come on." She said. "You didn't mean that."
"The hell I didn't. Get the hell out of my apartment right now."
"Oh please." Courtney said rolling her eyes. "You always say that and we always end up…you know…" She said looking him over.
"Not this time. I told you last time I am through with you. I don't want anymore to do with you and your sleazy friends." Vinny said with anger. "I don't want to be a part of that crowd."
"Yeah right. Look Carlos is having a great party tonight…"
"I'm not going to your sleazy druggie friend's party." He said. "You can forget it."
"Come on. It will be fun. You can get your hands on some stuff can't you?" Courtney said. "Just bring it with you…"
Vinny couldn't believe his ears. "Do you hear yourself? Do you hear me? I am not part of that crowd. I don't want to be a part of it. You need to get your hooker self out of here and don't come back."
"I ain't a hooker." Courtney retorted. "I may have turned a few tricks but it wasn't my profession. I just did it on the side."
"Oh yeah I forgot your actual profession was stripping at your friend's club. Such a great career choice." Vinny snapped.
"You liked it." Courtney shot back. "That's how we met.'
"And I was an idiot." He said. "Now get out of here. Now. And give me my key back."
"What's with you? Say why are you in those clothes?" She asked noticing his white shirt and black paints with dress shoes. "Since when do you get all dressed up."
"None of your damn business." He said. "Beat it."
"Oh I bet I know." Courtney said with a smirk. "You were at that wedding. Hope Logan and Liam Spencer. You are friends with that Thomas Forrester."
"Congratulations you solved the mystery. Now leave." Vinny said pointing to the door.
"But the wedding was yesterday so why are you still on those clothes….Hmm….I am guessing you spent the night with someone. One of the bridesmaids perhaps?"
Vinny remained silent.
"You did didn't you. Now who could it have been…Bridget Forrester…no she is with that Deacon guy…Clearly not that tramp Brooke Logan…she is married to that Ridge Forrester which I am sure will really last…"
"You can keep your mouth shut about Brooke." He said. "She's a nice lady."
"She's way way out of your league anyway." Courtney said ignoring him. "Donna Logan…no she likes old guys like Eric Forrester….Oh I know…I bet it was that slut Steffy Forrester. Am I right? Did you nail the tramp?"
Vinny was livid. "You can take your trashy mouth and your sleazy self out of here. And don't you ever speak that way of Steffy Forrester again. You got that? You aren't even in same stratosphere as she." He took her by the arm and walked her to the door and opened it. "Now get out and don't even think of showing yourself here again." With that he slammed the door. He couldn't believe that trash showed herself at his place. Well actually he could. She wasn't one to ever be deterred. Whatever. He was getting the locks changed. Maybe find a new place. Anything to not see the biggest mistake he ever made in his life.
He walked to his bedroom and sat down on the bed. Courtney Marino was as trashy as they were. Drugs, alcohol, partying that is what she thought of life. And yes she was a prostitute no matter if it was professional or on the side. She didn't care and nothing anyone said to her sunk in. It didn't matter she saw friends die and some end up in jail. She just brushed it off as them being unlucky. He thought he could turn her around but he was wrong. She laughed at his music and told him it was dumb. Told him he should go back to the drug game, it was more profitable and more fun. Fun for who? He wondered. Well that life was over. He wasn't going back.
He got up and took off his shirt and removed his pants. He hadn't had time to shower at Steffy's not that she would have given him the chance to. Steffy. That name made him smile. She was so classy and also spunky. He liked that about her. He liked a lot of things about her. Did he love her? That was a strong possibility. Courtney saying those things about her really got to him. Who was she to judge anyone and where did she come off calling anyone a tramp or slut considering what she does in life? What a bitch. He shook his head and walked to the shower stepping inside. He stood in the warm spray his mind going back to Steffy. He didn't know why he never really noticed her growing up. He just didn't pay much mind to Thomas' sisters. He was sorry he didn't get to know Phoebe. From what Steffy told of her she was quite a gal and a talented singer. He had not ever known Phoebe to be into music. Again he was Thomas' friends so he didn't really follow what his siblings did. He knew Mr. F. Ridge Forrester. He was cool. Brooke was cool too. He didn't really know Taylor that well but she seemed nice the few times he met her. He determined that the Forresters and Logans were pretty nice people. He guessed the Spencers were probably alright too. He didn't really know Bill Spencer Jr but Katie loved him and so did Will, his son. Beth seemed to adore her grandfather. He spoiled her so he figured Bill was an okay guy. Steffy shouldn't have gotten mixed up with him but that was in the past.
Vinny finished his shower and turned the water off. He stepped out wrapping a blue towel around his waist and walking to the bedroom. For a second he had hoped Steffy would be there waiting for him but he knew that was pretty stupid. He found a nice purple shirt that was a Forrester creation Thomas gave him. Pretty nice fabric if he did say so himself. He found his clean jeans and pulled them on. After drying and combing his hair he went to his living room and found his guitar. Picking it up he began to strum the chords to the song he and Steffy danced and made love to the night before. It had a whole new meaning to him now. As he played the scenes from the night ran through his head. Steffy's smile, her kisses, her soft touch, the way her skin felt, her hair…everything…Just everything. He put the guitar down and walked to the window looking out at the view. Steffy Forrester became the most incredible thing that entered his life and he had to do everything to make sure she knew that. It wasn't just a one night stand. It was more and he was going to show her just that.
Forrester Creations
As much as she tried Steffy could not make sense of the figures in front of her. They were nothing but a blur. The number just seemed jumbled and she gave up trying. Standing up she walked to the big window and stared out. She knew exactly why she was having trouble concentrating It was Vinny. She could not get him out of her mind. Yes she had spent nights with men before and had her fun but this was not the same as those times. This was different. She felt things she didn't know she could feel. Emotions were off the charts. She opened up to him like she had never opened up to anyone before. And he didn't judge her. He listened to her and was…caring. He genuinely cared. When he kissed her, she felt weak like she was going to faint. Reminded her of a song she knew called Weak. It was one she loved growing up cause SWV was one of her faves. But the words now rang true to her "Resistsance in down when you're around, starts fading." It an honest statement. Her resistance did fade around Vinny. Why she didn't know but it did. ""Cause my heart starts beating triple time with thoughts of loving you on my mind. I can't figure out just what to do when the cause and cure is you. I get so weak in the knees…" She really couldn't explain it. And she had to wonder. Did she love Vinny? Did she Steffy Forrester actually fall in love?
Did he love her? This could not have been a one night thing. Could it have? No it wasn't… The thought of never seeing Vinny again…she didn't like that. Not one bit. No. She wasn't going to think that. But those thoughts creeped in her head. Given her past with men, it was almost a certainty but not this time. Maybe? She had no idea. It had been the most amazing night she ever had with a man and she was terrified he would never see her again. Terrified he would have just had his fun with her and that was it.
Her thoughts were broken when there was a knock on the door. She turned and cleared her throat and hurried back to her desk acting all business like. "Come in." She said straightening out her designer black skirt and matching blazer.
"A delivery for Steffy Forrester." A man said. "The woman at the desk said she would be here."
Steffy looked and saw one of the most beautiful bouquet of pink roses she has ever seen. "Uh..yeah I'm Steffy Forrester."
"Here you go ma'am.' He said with a smile handing them to her.
"Thank you." She said. Steffy gave him a tip and he thanked her before heading out.
She set the flowers down on the desk and saw the card. "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady for an enchanting night. Vinny" She squealed a bit to herself as she read the card a second time before setting it down. Maybe just maybe she had gotten worked up over nothing. Maybe he really did care and maybe he…loved her. Did she finally find love?
Real love? Not stolen. Not manipulated into. Actual real love?