Chapter nine

"Well, well," Vince said, sitting back down and staring at Amy. "Only in town three days and already you have the biggest and most feared wrestler wrapped around your little finger!"

"It's not like that," Amy said, sinking down into the chair opposite him.

"No? What is it like then?"

"He's really sweet," she said, smiling as she remembered the lovely picnic he had set out for them.

"Sweet? Mark?" Vince said, looking at her as though she were crazy.

"He is! He's really nice," she said, not having the faintest idea of how dreamy her expression had become. She frowned suddenly. "Although, sometimes he says the most outrageous things!"

"Really, like what?" Vince asked, finding her reaction to the huge wrestler amusing.

"Oh...er...nothing much...er..." she cleared her throat and stood up. "I need to finish those clothes, before Tammy comes looking for me."

Vince chuckled as he watched her move away and sit over the other side of the office. He hadn't been able to help himself from worrying about her, even though he actually did trust Mark. He knew the younger man wouldn't hold his words against him, they had argued in the past. Still, he would have to let Amy have her freedom, even though he felt like he should lock her away from the world now she had finally come to him for help.

One thing did worry him quite deeply though, and that was what Mark's intentions were. He had only just finalised his divorce from Sara, and he had to be a little wary of getting involved again, especially considering the circumstances of the lengthy divorce. He had only had one use for women since the initial split, and Vince had watched him use them and fling them aside without a moment's hesitation. For the last two months he hadn't actually been seen with a woman, however, seeming to avoid them at all costs, and had got himself quite a reputation as a misogynist. Okay, so he seemed to be paying more attention to Amy and obviously he hadn't actually dragged her off to his bed, but Vince felt it would only be a matter of time and he knew Amy wouldn't be able to handle that. She seemed smitten, and she was so damned innocent that her heart would be completely broken if Mark used her.

Vince frowned. He resolved to have a serious talk with the younger man as soon as they both had a moment free later that day. As it was, the whole company was extremely busy. In three weeks they were to be in Connecticut and would remain there for four weeks, one of the longest stays anywhere they had made for some years. Vince would be going there in a few days time ahead of everyone else and he was looking forward to going home instead of staying in rented houses all the time or worse, hotel rooms. He would also enjoy showing off his house to Amy, who had never actually seen it.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and he absently called out for the person to come in. Tammy stuck her head around the door and grinned at Vince. "Only me, just thought I'd come and see how Amy's getting along." She walked into the office and flung herself down in a chair near Amy, sorting through the box full of mended clothes.

Amy had just finished stitching the trousers and handed them to Tammy as well, waiting quietly whilst the other woman inspected everything. "You're good. These stitches are so neat you can barely see them! Well, I wanted to know what you were capable of, and now I know. A lot more than I just gave you." She smiled at Amy. "There's nothing else for you to do today and I've pretty much finished up, so how about we go get a coffee and I can get to know you better?"

Amy smiled. "I'd like that," she said, standing up and looking at Vince. "Is it okay if I go off with Tammy?"

"You don't have to ask my permission, despite how I was just now. No, go off and have a bit of fun and we'll meet back here at...say, five?" He smiled at both of the women and waved his hands towards them. "Go, shoo!"

As soon as they left the room Tammy started asking questions. "What did he mean about how he was just now?"

"Oh, nothing really. He just gave Mark the third degree because he hadn't been able to find me and he found out we had just had lunch together."

"Mark? Calloway? So that's you, huh?" she said, her eyes glittering with amusement.

"Me? What's me?"

"You're the one he's been seen with. You realise you're the first female he's been spotted with for a couple of months now?"

Amy shook her head. "I didn't know that. But then, I don't know much about him really and Vince hasn't told me anything yet. Why hasn't he been seen with any women?"

"Something to do with his ex-wife, or so we all think. We thought he hated women, but I guess we must have been wrong!" Tammy smiled at the shorter woman as they walked towards the restaurant.

"He was married?" Amy asked, incredibly curious to find out more about the huge man who was making such an impression on her.

"Yeah, twice actually. From all accounts his last wife was the bitch from hell, but I don't know the exact circumstances of their split. Not that I haven't tried to find out, believe me!"

Amy laughed at Tammy's expression and they sat at a table an ordered their coffee. "Maybe he'll tell me about her, if I asked."

Tammy shook her head. "I wouldn't try it, honey. The last person who even mentioned Sara's name was knocked through a doorway. Of course, they've made it up since, but if it had been anyone else I'm sure they wouldn't be friends anymore."

"Who was it?"

"Glenn. You know, Glenn Jacobs? Kane? They're good friends and I guess he thought he'd be safe talking about Mark's ex, but he was dead wrong." She stopped talking suddenly and looked momentarily lost in thought. "Glenn came to me to patch him up, because the nurse had already left for the day. He wasn't wearing very much and that sort of made my day."

"You like Glenn?"

Tammy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. Not that he's ever noticed me, of course. Even when I was wiping blood from his mouth he barely made eye contact. Ah well, that's the way it goes for some of us I guess."

Amy frowned at the other woman's glum expression, quickly covered up with a smile. "Have you ever tried talking to him? Glenn, I mean?"

"Sort of. Well, no, actually, I guess I haven't. I've said hello and remarked on the weather in passing, that sort of thing." She shrugged and gave a small laugh. "I get a bit tongue tied when he's around, which doesn't help. Anyway, enough about the gorgeous wrestler with the sparkling hazel eyes and fantastic body...see? There I go again! Stop me, tell me about you."

Amy laughed and proceeded to tell Tammy about her life so far, missing out all the bad things and glossing over her move to the States. "You live in San Antonio? And you came all the way to L.A. just to see Vince?"

"I had some trouble and I...well...I needed to see a friendly face again. Vince is like family, the only family I have left, and there wasn't anything left for me in San Antonio. Besides, it wasn't that far to travel." Amy shrugged and tried not to look too uncomfortable. "Now Vince has offered me this job and it's a real Godsend. This is only my second day here and I already feel at home. Everyone's been so nice."

Tammy grinned. "Especially one big, tattooed wrestler, huh? So what's going on with you two?"

"I really don't know, to be honest. We had dinner last night with Vince and Linda, and Mark made me lunch today. He's nice."

"Nice. Hmm, not a word I've heard to describe Mark Calloway before, but I have to admit he's only ever been polite to me so I have no complaints. So all you've done so far is eat together?" Tammy studied Amy's face carefully, noticing the slight flush that crept into her cheeks at her question. "Oh, so that's not all?"

"Well, not quite. He kissed me," Amy admitted, almost feeling like she was doing something wrong by confessing it.

"You lucky thing. I wish Glenn would kiss me. Actually, I wish Glenn would look at me. Tell me what your secret is, maybe that'll help?"

Amy laughed at the wistful look on her face. "I wish I knew what it was, then maybe I could have made it work before now. It never has before."

"Never? What, you've never...?" Tammy asked, looking faintly shocked, but also strangely hopeful. When Amy shook her head, she grinned. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear another woman admit that? Join the club, honey!"

"What? You're a...how can you be a..." she lowered her voice, "...a virgin. You're beautiful."

"Well, beautiful might be pushing it a little, but I know I'm not ugly. As to how, well I guess I'm old fashioned. That sort of attitude doesn't fit in well with today's society, and I am extremely fussy."

"Well, it's nice to know I'm not the last one left," Amy said, smiling as she sipped her coffee.

"Amen to that...oh my God! Look who just walked in!"

Amy glanced back over her shoulder and saw a man who was equal in height to Mark, if not taller, and just as big. He had long, curly brown hair that hung to his shoulders and hazel eyes. He wasn't fantastically handsome, but he was very attractive in a purely masculine way. "I assume that's Glenn?"

"You don't know?" Tammy squeaked, suddenly looking years younger than she had and very nervous.

"No, when he came into Mark's dressing room, I wasn't looking at him, I was sort of upset..."

"Oh, I heard about that! Paul and Dwayne haven't stopped apologising to Mark for it, from what I hear. What's he doing?"

"Glenn?" Amy asked, watching the tall man sit at one of the tables across the room. "He's just sat down and now he's ordering something. Why don't you go and say hello?"

"Are you crazy? Would you?" Tammy asked, her face slightly pink.

Amy shook her head. "No, I wouldn't have the guts. But you seem so confident, or you did until he walked in."

"I know. You see what I mean? I don't just become tongue tied, I end up like a shivering mass of jelly!" She watched as Amy's eyes suddenly jerked up. "What? What's he doing?"

"I think he's coming over here!" Amy said, watching as Glenn approached their table.

"Hi, you're Amy, right?" he asked as he stopped next to them. "I sort of met you the other day, but you were a little preoccupied at the time. I'm Glenn Jacobs, welcome to the world of wrestling."

He held out his huge hand and Amy let him shake hers, smiling up at him shyly. "Pleased to meet you," she said, glancing briefly at Tammy's lowered head. "You know Tammy, of course?"

Glenn turned his head and stared down at the blonde woman, who seemed to be looking everywhere but at him. "Tammy? I think so. You work in the wardrobe department don't you?"

Tammy jumped when he said her name and her arm flicked out, knocking over her cup of coffee and sending the contents flying across the table to spatter all over Glenn's trousers. "Oh, God, I am so sorry," she said, her voice trembling as she looked on in wide eyed horror at the mess she had caused.

Glenn frowned when he saw her panic and he held his hands up, smiling and trying to lighten the mood. "It's okay, honey, it don't matter. They'll wash..." he broke off as she pushed out of her seat and hurried out of the restaurant, not saying another word. "Christ, what did I say?"

"Nothing, it's okay. I'd better go after her," Amy said, moving out of her seat.

"Is she alright?" Glenn asked her before she could leave.

Amy looked at him and a plan formed in her mind. "You know, I keep getting lost and I don't know if I'll be able to find her. Maybe you could show me the way, or better yet, maybe you could check on her yourself. You must know her better than me."

"Actually, I don't. I've seen her before of course, and she's even had me in the wardrobe department to measure me up for a new outfit. But she never seems to look at me." He looked like that fact bothered him and Amy felt happy all of a sudden, trying not to show it when Glenn started talking again. "Come on, I'll show you the way back to Vince's office then I'll go and see if she's okay. I didn't mean to upset her."

"You didn't do anything to upset her, don't worry. She's just a little jumpy, that's all," Amy said reassuringly, walking out of the restaurant next to him and wondering where all her previous nervousness was going. Being here was obviously doing her good, she decided.

Glenn walked her to Vince's office as promised, hardly talking and seeming preoccupied the whole time. He gave Amy a brief smile before marching off.

"You're back early," Vince said, leaning back in his chair with a tired sigh.

"I know. I simply couldn't stay away from my favourite godfather!" she replied, sitting in the chair in front of him and grinning.

"I'm your only godfather, so that doesn't count. Well, seeing as you're back so soon and I have just finished everything I need to do, how about we get out of here early? We can have a nice relaxing dinner at the house with the rest of the family." Vince said, standing up and moving around the desk. "Maybe we could even get some swimming in, it's incredibly hot and I haven't even used the pool yet. Have you got a costume?"

Amy shook her head and tried not to look too worried. She hated showing her body off to anyone and the thought of parading around in a swimming costume made her shudder, even if it was only in front of Vince and his family. "That's okay, I'm sure Steph will have something for you to wear. You could do with a tan on that glowing white skin of yours!"

She took Vince's hand as he reached to help her up, and they left the office, walking slowly through the maze of corridors until they reached the exit.

"You know I don't tan easily, all the sun ever does is give me thousands of freckles," Amy said, grimacing as she pointed to the bridge of her nose and the spattering of freckles that marched their way across it.

"Ah, honey, don't you know that men just love freckles? Gives us something to count when we're bored," Vince said happily, handing her into his car. When he joined her he gave her a slightly wicked look. "I'm sure Mark would have a huge amount of fun counting your freckles."

"Ha, as if you'd let him! I thought you two were going to come to blows earlier, and I still have no idea why!"

Vince looked briefly uncomfortable. "I was just worried about you, I didn't really mean to be verbal about it. I'd hate to see you get hurt, you know that."

"I know, it's okay. It's quite nice to be worried about for a change, it just feels a bit weird I suppose. You don't really think Mark would hurt me, do you?" she asked, not able to help herself from voicing the question.

Vince took his time replying, which made Amy worry even more. "I don't think he'd deliberately hurt you, no. And he definitely wouldn't physically hurt you, so you don't have to worry about that."

When he stopped talking and concentrated on driving, Amy stared at him and frowned. "But?"

"But...he's been through a really bad divorce. For the first few months after they split up, he used and discarded more women than I can count. He's not normally that sort of man, but I guess what she did to him turned him around for a while." Vince scowled as he thought of Mark's ex-wife. "Anyway, he settled down again. But for the last two months he hasn't spoken to a woman at all, except for Linda and Stephanie. All other females have avoided him because he just yells at them. He got himself quite a reputation for hating women."

"Oh." Amy chewed her lip and he frown deepened. "But he wasn't rude to me."

"No, he definitely hasn't been rude to you, Peaches. That's not how I'd describe his behaviour towards you at all. He's been very attentive."

"You don't trust him, do you?" she asked him.

"I trust him a great deal with anything else, but not with you. I've seen how he's treated women and I don't want that happening to you. I'd have to kill him and then where would I be? Without my best wrestler, that's where!" he said, with an attempt at humour.

"So you'd rather I didn't see him again?" she asked, trying to sound calm and controlled, where in reality she was starting to feel sad. If Vince said he didn't want her seeing Mark, then she felt like she'd have no choice but to bow to his wishes. After all, he was doing so much for her and she didn't want to appear ungrateful, but the thought of never seeing the big Texan again was horrible.

Vince gave her a sideways look and smirked. "I keep forgetting how different you are from Stephanie. She wouldn't even have thought of saying that, let alone obeying me if I said yes. I wouldn't ask you to stop seeing someone, but I can't help having reservations." He stopped speaking as they drove down the curved driveway to the house and stopped the car. He turned to her before they got out. "I will tell you that I intend to talk to Mark and find out what his intentions are. Oh, I don't mean in the marriage sense, just to make sure that he's not just playing you. But I want you to know that that's what I intend to do. If he can make me believe that he won't hurt you, and I warn you that I am hard to fool, then I won't have any problems with you seeing him."

Amy stared at him for a while, wondering at how strange it felt to have someone be concerned for her well being. She smiled at him and nodded. "Okay. Why did he get divorced?"

Now it was Vince's turn to smile. "That's not my story to tell, honey. If you want to know what happened between Mark and his ex-wife, then you have to ask him. If you think you're brave enough. Have you heard what he did to Glenn?"

Amy nodded. "Yes, Tammy told me about it. I suppose I'll never find out what happened, then, because I am definitely not brave enough to ask him about it."

"Hmm, we'll see. You're changing before my eyes, young lady, even in just a few days. It's nice to see."