A/N: It's my 40th birthday so I've decided to give you all a gift. Maybe you will leave me a review as a birthday gift to me?
Cal's POV
Despite my protests, the guys from Rangeman had drug me out to a club with them after Hal and I had returned from E.E. Martin and finished our shift. I'd gotten a lot of shit about being so stuck on Steph, and after teasing me they had all decided that I needed to get out. I knew they wouldn't leave me alone unless I went with them, so I finally changed and loaded up in an SUV with Les, Hal, and Bobby. Several of the guys were out on the dance floor looking to charm a woman into a night of mutual satisfaction, but I just wasn't feeling it.
"You gonna get over this chick and get out there?" Junior asked as we both sipped our beers. I reached up and rubbed the back of my neck, my eyes darting everywhere in hopes of seeing that curly brunette hair. I'd assumed that we were going to a club in Trenton and hoped I might somehow run into Steph, but we'd driven to Newark instead to go to Les's cousin's club, much to my disappointment. He snapped his fingers in my face and laughed. "You've got it bad, man. You know what you need?" he chuckled.
"No!" I said immediately.
"It might get your mind off of her," Bobby Brown, our company medic, offered.
"Just give me another couple of days and then I'll pull myself out of this funk," I tried.
"What's up with you?" Woody drawled. "You're acting like a lovesick teenaged girl," he teased, and I balled my fists.
"Can't explain it, man. You ever had that moment when you feel like you've met someone who will be really important in your life?" I asked. They all looked at my blankly. "Then don't ask me to explain it." Hopefully that would shut them up.
We finally moved on to talking about sports and work, much to my relief. We'd been discussing the Yankees' season when Santos started walking toward the table with a gorgeous brunette wrapped around him. He sat down in the chair across from me, pulling her into his lap and kissing her like none of us were here. He finally pulled himself away from the girl and smirked as he turned his attention to us.
"Michelle, I want you to meet the guys I work with," he said, and she turned toward us.
"Steph?" I asked, certain that my eyes were seeing things. Her hair was straight tonight, but there was no mistaking those baby blues.
"No, it's Michelle. You need to move on, man. You've tried everything to find her," Santos barked, but I wasn't really listening.
Steph's eyes met mine and were as wide as saucers. I imagine I looked shocked, too.
"What the fuck are you doing all over my girl, Santos?" I raged.
I guess everything finally clicked in place for everyone else at the table too because Les looked horrified. "I'm so sorry, man. I had no idea. You said she had curly hair, and she told me her name was Michelle," he apologized.
"My name is Stephanie Michelle Plum, if you must know, and I'm not your girl, Cal!" she snapped. She untangled herself from Les and began to stomp off but I caught up to her quickly and grabbed her by the waist.
"Stop right there!" I ordered. "I've been looking everywhere for you, and you're not walking out until we talk."
"Why?" she pressed. "Want to make me think you'll call again and then ignore me? Or maybe you want to ask me out on a date and then stand me up?" Angry Steph was sexy as fuck.
"I got in an altercation with a skip after I saw you that night. I woke up in the hospital and my shirt was gone. Your card was in it. Today's my first day back at work, and I spent the entire day trying to find you. I thought I remembered you working at E.E. Martin; I even went there today to look for you," I explained. She softened a little and I let go of her waist and took both of her hands in mine. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since last weekend," I whispered.
Steph seemed to be having a conversation in her head, but she wasn't running so I just stood there enjoying having her close.
"How can I know that you're telling me the truth? I need to be sure you're not playing me like all the rest. If you're not being honest I'd be better off with a nameless one night," she said quietly.
I took her hand and pulled it up my side as I raised my shirt so she could see the stitches still in my side. I traced her fingers over the wound and she gulped.
"I may not know you well, but I promise I'll never lie to you," I told her. She nodded and caressed my side gently. "Dance with me?" I asked. She nodded again, so I walked her out to the dance floor and wrapped her in my arms. I'd spent my entire life listening to my dad tell me about the first time he met my mom and how he instantly felt like he was coming home. That's just what I felt like now.
Les's POV
I watched Cal grab Mich...Steph...and saw more than heard them exchanging tense words. You could cut the sexual tension between those two with a knife. How the hell was I supposed to know she was the one?
"Guess you're gonna have to find someone else to take home tonight now," Bobby teased.
"Fuck you, man!" I growled. Dammit, Steph was really hot. She had legs that went on for miles, curves in all the right places, and with the way she moved on the dance floor I knew she'd be a little hellcat in bed.
"You really didn't know?" Junior questioned.
"Nah, man. I only saw her from the back last weekend, and she looked totally different," I explained.
"Anyone want to bet on whether or not Cal will strike out with her?" Hal joked, and I shook my head.
"Maybe I'll still have a chance if he does," I chuckled.
"Shit man, I see the way she looks at him. She's not even gonna remember your name," Bobby teased. And you know what? I agreed.
Steph's POV
I'm pretty sure that I'm in the twilight zone right now. I went out to forget Cal, practically had sex with one of his friends on the dance floor, and then found out that he'd lost my number and been trying to find me. I melted into his arms on the dance floor and laid my head on his chest. I felt at peace for the first time in as long as I could remember. I didn't even want to think about why that was.
I sighed and laid my head on Cal's chest as he pulled me closer. He was probably around a foot taller than me, with broad, muscled shoulders and deliciously toned washboard abs. When he'd pulled his shirt up to show me his injury and I saw what was underneath...well, let's just say that these panties were ruined. His skin was smooth and golden brown, and his body was perfection. He smelled delicious, and he looked amazing in dark wash jeans that hugged him in all the right places and a soft, dark grey v-neck shirt.
I closed my eyes and lost myself in the moment. The place where my cheek laid against his chest seemed to be made just for me, and swaying here in his arms just felt right. I needed to pull myself together fast. There were still so many questions that I needed answered, and I didn't even know this guy. I pulled back and looked into his crystal blue eyes.
"You really lost my card? And you were really looking for me?" I asked. It was so much easier to be confident when I was grinding against Les and only looking for one night. He never would have known me well enough to hurt me. I had a feeling Cal could destroy what little Dickie hadn't. As much as I wasn't sure I was ready to take that chance, there was something about him that wouldn't let me turn around and walk out the door of the club without looking back.
"I really was, Angel. I was pretty out of it for a couple of days because I lost a lot of blood, but as soon as I was back at work I started looking." It was loud in the club and I just nodded because I didn't know what to say. "Want to get out of here and grab a cup of coffee or something?" he asked. "It'd be easier to talk if it wasn't so loud."
I looked across the floor at Mary Lou and Lenny wrapped up happily on the dance floor and nodded. "Sure, I just need to tell my friend. She'll uhh…she'll want to meet you. You know, just to help her feel better about me being safe."
"No problem. Lead the way," Cal replied.
I turned to walk toward Mary Lou and Lenny and Cal threaded his fingers through mine and followed me to where they were dancing. Mary Lou's eyes bugged out when she saw me with Cal and she smiled. I could tell that she had a lot of questions, and I'm sure she would corner me tomorrow for answers.
"Mary Lou and Lenny, this is Cal. Cal, this is my best friend and her husband. Lou, we're going to go grab a cup of coffee. I'll take a cab home and call you tomorrow, okay?" I asked.
"Sure, sweetie. You guys have fun. Let me know when you get home safe, alright?" she asked, and I nodded. I hugged them both and then turned back to Cal.
"Your turn to meet my friends. I came with them so I need to let them know I'm leaving," he said as he placed his hand on the small of my back and led me to the other side of the club. The table was filled with gorgeous, muscle-bound men. I just hoped I wasn't drooling.
"Everyone, this is Steph. Steph, this is everyone." He started pointing at one side of the table as he worked his way around. "You met Santos." He kind of growled this part, and I shivered. "Brown, Tank, Hal, Junior, and Ram," he said as he introduced everyone.
I received a chorus of hellos from his friends and felt more than one pair of eyes checking me out. Cal wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his side. Probably I should be pissed that he was marking his territory, but I couldn't find it in myself to get angry.
The one who he'd introduced as Junior smirked at Cal and then flicked his eyes to me. "Thank God he found you. He had a list of every Stephanie in Trenton and was carrying around the sketch I'd done of you based on his description to see if anyone knew you. You're all we've heard about this week."
My eyes bugged out and I looked up at Cal. He really was looking for me. I was very touched, and I knew instantly that I needed to spend time getting to know him. "I don't live in Trenton; I live here in Newark. You never would have found me," I whispered.
"Then I'm glad these jokers drug me out to the club against my will tonight. It sounds like I'm right where I'm supposed to be," Cal replied with a smile. Then he leaned down and kissed me on the top of my head, and I'm pretty sure I melted a little.
"You'd better be glad; otherwise Santos would have spent the night with your woman," came another voice that I couldn't put with a name. I felt Cal stiffen next to me and I worried he might be upset.
"We're going to get out of here; think you guys can leave me a truck?" Cal asked, and Les nodded. He handed the keys off to Cal and then we turned to walk out of the club.
"Your car or mine?" Cal asked when we were outside.
"I took a cab," I replied, my mind still mulling over everything I'd learned in the last few minutes. He'd been injured somehow. He'd been looking for me. His friends all knew about me. It seemed a little surreal.
I was pulled out of my thoughts as Cal lifted me into his truck. I watched as he shut the door and jogged to the driver's side. He was absolutely gorgeous, and my mouth was dry watching his body move.
"Any preference where we go?" he asked as he started the car.
I really wanted to change into more comfortable clothes and have someplace quiet to talk, and my gut was telling me that I could trust Cal. "Maybe hit a drive thru for something to eat and then back to my house?" I realized how that sounded as soon as the words had left my mouth, and I blushed furiously.
"You're adorable when you blush," he said with a chuckle, and that didn't help the color of my cheeks any.
"I realized how that sounds. I just want to go someplace where we can relax and talk, and I'd like to change into something more…this sounds like I'm inviting you in for something other than conversation no matter how I word it, doesn't it?" I asked with a laugh.
"I know just what you mean, angel. Take a deep breath; I promise that I'll be a gentleman," he assured me, and I instantly relaxed.
"Good. There's a McDonald's about a mile from here on Springtree; my apartment is just down the road," I suggested.
"Then we're off."
