I managed to find an hour or two to get this chapter up and running. For those reading Dream Weave, I have maybe a paragraph written. I should get some time soon to work on it. Hopefully!
~Ravyn~
Ryan: I hope this update is soon enough! Thanks for the wishes about SB; I play in about two hours. Double header. Should be fun since we are ranked #3 and are playing the number #4 team!
Crissy: I know!
Monoxide Child: *innocent look* just read.
Kaze: Well I promised VO1 some action….so will see how well Zach handles himself!
Moi: Well all need a man! J
Warrior of Ice: No you did not give me a bad impression! After that nice long review? I actually got the idea from a seashell skirt that my mother got from Hawaii when I was a little girl. I figured if they could make that, they have to be able to make other things. And since my friends and I live off donuts, I figured Ami must have some attraction to them as well. And I do not have a beta reader. Robyn (my twin) and I try to catch as many mistakes but I have plans to go through and re-edit it all once I finish the story.
Wyannick54: Always a pleasure to see what you have to say. Thank you.
Blue eyes: Thanks for the birthday wish! And glad you are still around.
Lija: Ami maybe quite but it's the quite ones I worry about. They always have a nasty temper when riled!
Disclaimer: Me no own!
Chapter 6
Ami woke with to the smell of coffee and hot bacon. Normally, she would have rolled back over, but the fact that there was food and she had not cooked it…well…, it was enough to cause her to roll over and struggle to her feet.
Looking at her wild mane of hair and rumpled clothing, Ami sighed. There was nothing for it. Stripping down, Ami walked into her shower and took a fast bath. The cold water cooled her sleep-heated body and allowed her to come awake.
Briskly running a towel through her navy locks, Ami looked over her wardrobe. The morning was already warm, and even the gentle breeze could not take away from the heat that was beginning to rise off the cool sand.
Ami pulled out a pale pink pair of shorts and pulled on a striped shirt. Quickly finding her favorite pair of sandals, Ami slipped them over her bare feet.
Walking down the steps, Ami simply followed her nose. The rich smell of bacon floated on the air, and Ami walked into her kitchen trying to figure out what had caused it. Bacon did not just cook itself.
Ami blinked at the sight in front of her. A mound of bacon, a heap of eggs, and a small city of pancakes stood next to it on the table. Ami's jaw dropped down to her chest.
Zach choose that moment to walk in with a large pitcher of orange juice in his hand. Around his waist was an apron that had a large cookie across the front with the saying eating my chips on it. Minako had sent it, and Ami had yet to figure it out.
Zach grinned at her, his face lit with the morning sun, and Ami found the breath in her lungs leave in nothing short of a rush. The man was gorgeous, but she would cut her own tongue out before she told him.
" Good morning," Zach told her. He moved around the room and placed the pitcher on the table. The bay windows that the table sat next to were slightly open, allowing the ocean breeze to move lazily around the room.
" Morning," Ami managed. Looking at the man in front of her, so male and yet so different, Ami found that she was fascinated. " What are you doing out of bed? Much less cooking? Did you miss the part where the doctor said you had a concussion?"
Zach chuckled slightly and untied the apron. Laying it across the back of one of the chairs, he gave her a grin. " Yes. I was there. But she said it was only a mild one, and honestly, I feel fine."
Ami glared at him forcefully. " Let me tell you what should be going on in that head of yours. A concussion means black spots in your eyes when you try to read. A nasty headache between your eyes if you move or come into contact with contact to large amounts of light. Dizziness. Several other things." Ami raised her brow. " Need I say anything else?"
Zach allowed a bubble of laughter to form in his throat. She was adorable when her temper was pricked. " Ami, relax. If I have trouble, then I will tell you."
Ami stared at him before smirking. " I am doing the dishes, and you are sitting your rear down right now." Ami told him in a no nonsense tone.
Zach looked to the heavens playfully. " What did I do to deserve this?" His tone was light and playful.
Ami's answer was to laugh lightly and settle herself in front of her plate.
~*~
Zach sat on one of the tall chairs that were next to the bar that over looked the kitchen sink. He watched as Ami swatted at a stray piece of hair. It left a large soap bubble above her ear.
Zach watched her throw her entire shoulder into scrubbing the egg off the pan that it had been cooked in, and Zach found the whole thing amazing. Here he was looking at a beautiful woman in a scene straight from any of the books he wrote, but he found, to his delight and surprise that it was far more perfect.
And in that instant, watching Ami with her soap bubbles and pursed lips, the delicate frown etched across her pixie like features, he found himself in love.
And for the first time Zach realized that it was not the kind of love that came and went with the wind. He had experienced that. It was not the type that you thought was real and turned out to be false. It was even not even the puppy love that you experience first.
But whatever this was, it welled from the bottom of his heart and shook him to his core. It wasn't the earth shattering type that he had seen every now and then. It was a steady constant feeling, almost like a heart beat.
It was calm, cool, and even.
Ami looked over at Zach and blinked at the expression on his face but easily attributed it to the fact that he had a slight concussion. But when the look went from startled to dazed, Ami became worried.
" Mr. Green?" Ami questioned, in her concern forgetting about the words that had been uttered a mere two days ago, " are you all right?"
Zach snapped out of his wonder and looked at her in surprise. Her forehead had collected a few stray bubbles, and her face was flushed with heat.
Zach looked at her curiously. His dazed expression slowly was melting away into something more scheming. Something very close to evil.
Standing up and walking over, Ami looked at him carefully, wondering if he had heard her. A faint smirk on his features and the way he moved, like a cat chasing a mouse, caused her to panic slightly. Her heartbeat was thundering in her ears, and it was something that caused her to force air into her lungs.
" Zach?"
Zach reached down and tilted her chin up. His gentle fingers carefully brushed away the soap on her hairline and temple. His gaze was heated with many emotions.
Ami was lost in the dark emotion filled color of his eyes. They had darkened to the color of apples, and they were beautiful. Feeling his fingers brush across her forehead and cheek caused a faint blush to etch across her face.
" Ami…" Zach told her, his voice lowered to a husky drawl. The sound of it sent goosebumps to race down her arms and back. " I told you if you called me Mr. Green, then I would kiss you." His gaze darkened another shade. " I always keep my promises."
Zach lowered his head and brushed his lips across her rose petal lips. But, as it always is, once did not seem to be enough. Gently Zach pulled her into his arms and kissed her more firmly.
Ami felt her world spin and stop where it was. Her soapy hands were pressed against his chest, right above his heartbeat, and if her heart was pounding as hard as his was, it was going to come out of her chest sometime soon.
Ami almost cried when he pulled back.
Zach looked into her ocean blue eyes and felt the desire to pull her right back almost over overwhelming. But underneath the heat, he saw the spark of fear and confusion. He would not push her now.
" I changed my mind," Zach told her, his voice low and gentle. " You can call me Mr. Green whenever you want." Zach ran a finger down her downy cheek and released her. " I will be in my room if you need me."
Ami watched him walked out of the room, her fingers pressed against her lips, eyes wide with surprise. Ami wondered exactly how she felt about receiving her first kiss from the oh-so arrogant Mr. Zach Green.
~*~
Zach knocked on her door and heard the sound of rustling shells. Waiting patiently for her to open the door, Zach thought about how he was going to phrase his words.
The last thing he wanted was to scare her off. He was more afraid of doing that than anything else did. She reminded him of a butterfly ready to come of the cocoon, if only he was patient enough to allow her to find her wings.
Ami opened the door with a hesitant expression. She wondered what he was going to say and was curious enough to worry about her shaking legs later.
" I need to apologize for my actions earlier today," Zach told her. Ami blinked at him in surprise. This was the last thing she had expected to hear from him.
" I promise not to make any unwanted advances from now on." Zach told her seriously. " I am afraid I compromised my position here, and I apologize for putting any strain on this situation. I promise it won't happen again."
Ami allowed her stance to shift slightly to a more relieved one. It may not be what she was expecting, but it was a relief. The last thing that she wanted was him chasing her.
" So I came to ask your permission to…what is the word? Ah yes, court you." Ami's head snapped back up in surprise.
" How do they say it? To throw down the gauntlet, try to win you affection, do what ever I must?" Zach questioned. His eyes sparkled as he stared at her shocked expression. Her face resembled a candy red coke can.
" WHAT?" Ami croaked, shrieked, and practically spat in surprise.
" I want you, Ami Mizuno, to give me a chance," Zach told her, following her in as she backed into the room. Her expression reminded him of a deer in headlights. But he was determined.
" I have no idea where this is coming from," Ami said weakly, " but you had better stop playing the games that you are, Zach. This is not funny."
" Who's laughing?" Zach demanded. His expression was serious, and Ami realized with a sick feeling in her stomach, he meant it.
" I mean it, Ami," Zach said, following her around the table. For every one step he took, she took two. " I want a chance at your heart."
" You make it sound like it's fair game," Ami said, her voice breathless.
" I should hope I am the only one with those keys," Zach said firmly.
Ami stopped at stared at him with open amazement. Her entire body language was saying she was shocked.
" Please, Ami, give me a chance to prove that I am serious," Zach said softly, his expression pleading.
" You barley know me," Ami protested weakly.
" Well, that's what dating is for," Zach informed her. He was prepared to do anything. An idea went off in his head like a light bulb.
" Just go out with me on one date, and if you hate if it after word, I promise to drop the whole thing," Zach told her. His voice was as gentle as if he was talking to a rapid beast that needed calming.
Ami looked at him her face red, her eyes wide, and chewing on her lower lip with a vengeance. " Just one and then you will leave me alone?"
" If you find you are not the least bit attracted to me," Zach promised.
" And if you have absolutely no fun."
Ami nodded slowly, looking at him like he was nuts. Zach grinned widely and did the one thing she had not been expecting. He grabbed her hand dramatically and kissed the back of it, bowing over her arm.
"Thank you, My Lady." Zach said.
Ami watched him disappear with a faint sense of déjà vu, amazement awash on her features. That so did not happen. Hearing the faint click of the door as he shut it behind him, Ami dove for the phone and frantically dialed a number. Minako was needed.
~*~
Zach leaned against the door and grinned to himself. It was time to make sure he still had those reservations. Reaching down, Zach scribbled out a quick note to Ami and placed it on the countertop, next to her favorite cup, and he knew she would get it.
Walking up to his room, Zach pulled out the slacks and shirt he planned on wearing. Laying the items on his bed, he grabbed his sandals and car keys.
Walking down the stone steps, a jump in his step, Zach reached the sports car with a smile. Hopping in, he backed out with no hazard and began his trip. He may have had plans to eat out, but there were a few things he had to get first. Flowers being one of them.
A faint smile stretched across his face.
~*~
" And then he promised not to ask me out again if I don't have fun," Ami finished in one breathless statement and heard absolutely nothing from her friend.
" Minako, are you still there?" Ami questioned in a worried tone.
" I wish they grew them like that down here," came her friend's disgusted voice. Ami groaned and sank onto the couch.
" Ami, I am serious. This guy kissed you senseless, had the nerve to apologize for it, and told you he was willing to wait but he was going to win you over. No matter what, at that. Practically begged you to go out on a date. WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG TO SAY YES?" Minako hollered into the phone.
" Well, I hardly know him," Ami grumbled.
" Excuses, excuses. I don't buy that bull shit; this is Minako not Usagi here. And I don't think she would buy that line either," Minako informed her candidly.
" But Minako…" Ami said in a tone that bordered on whining.
" Don't Minako me. Get your butt into the shower and dress in that winter blue skirt and light sweater I gave you last year. It's dressy without being over formal, and if you guys go do something fun, then it works with that as well."
Ami looked suspiciously into the phone. " Do you know something I missed?"
" I, unlike you, plan ahead. And those cute white Nikes you picked out with Usagi should complete it. A watch, your purse, and a necklace, beaded, and that should do it. Check the countertop to see if he left you a message as to when to expect him to pick you up."
" Minako, he lives in this house," Ami told her dryly.
" Do it."
Ami walked into the kitchen and blinked when she saw the note. It said too be ready by eight. That gave her two hours.
" So what time?" Minako demanded.
" How do you do that?" Ami questioned.
Ami could hear the smirk. " Because I am the queen of love."
Ami laughed and told her friend goodbye.
~*~
Ami pulled the outfit Minako had ordered her to wear out and threw the skirt and the sweater in the dryer to de-wrinkle. It was easier than ironing and it was warm when you put it on. Two ups in the life of a single working woman who needed all the little perks she could get.
Ami stepped into the shower and easily scrubbed the short navy locks of all sweat, sand, and any other bits of everyday life that collected.
Her favorite body wash and a face scrub later Ami was out of the shower and wrapped in a body length towel, standing in front of a fogged up mirror. Opening the door to her bedroom just a crack, Ami allowed some of the steam to leave the room.
Picking up her well-worn toothbrush, it was time to get another, Ami finished up the preparations that she allowed herself to indulge in before dressing.
Grabbing the deodorant and her pumps, Ami walked to her dresser to find the underwear that went with the skirt and sweater. Minako believed in fully utilizing every angle. If you got an outfit from her, it came with everything, though Ami never had the nerve to ask how she knew what size bra they all wore. Some things were best left unsaid.
Walking to the dryer, Ami pulled out her outfit. Hearing the sound of the car door shutting, Ami sprinted back down the hall and slammed the door to her room shut. A very close call.
The outfit was settled into place just as he knocked on the door. Ami slid it open to meet a face full of white roses and a handsome, smiling Zach.
Whatever sanity she had fell to her toes in a rush.
AN: Yes I know I am evil! Hehehe…no the date will be next time! So sorry! NOT. I have to have a reason to have all my loyal and wonderful fans read my stories. As always read and review! I would also like to apologize for any grammatical mistakes. This week has given me no time to make sure there are any. I hope you can forgive a few mistakes for a quick chapter.