Disclaimer: I do not own any of CSI's characters. I am merely writing about
them. CBS owns the right to the show and its characters. This is my first
Fan Fiction piece and I hope to continue my story gradually. I appreciate
any reviews and please check back for updates.
Chapter 2
Nick woke up and glanced at his alarm clock. It hadn't gone off yet, he must have more time to sleep. 10:45am!! He was going to be late. He had to meet Paige at 11:30. Just getting down the strip was going to take all the time he had left.
He jumped in the shower and debated on what to wear.
At 11:25 he was standing in front of Majestic restaurant in the casino trying to establish a face that he remembered. He didn't want to ask Paige how he would recognize her, that may be imply that he had forgotten her. Which he had done, until he got that email.
Nick found himself watching a gorgeous brunette across a row of slot machines. This woman was mesmerizing. He couldn't pinpoint what it was about her, but something drew her to him. She had poise and confidence. She seemed so casual yet sophisticated. Not many women can make a pin strip suit look so damn sexy.
This beautiful woman started walking towards him. Quick. Look away, don't let her see me staring. She walked right up to Nick.
"Nick Stokes?"
"Yes, that's me. Do I know you?"
"I believe so, I am Paige Jones. You are meeting me for lunch. I am sorry I knew this was a bad idea, you don't remember me at all do you?"
"Honestly, I knew the name and remember Phil dating you, but I couldn't place a face to the name anymore."
"Don't worry about it. I probably wouldn't have been able to either. I have changed a lot since then. I only recognized you because I have a couple pictures with you in the background."
"I really can't place you. I am sorry; you don't look at all familiar."
"Well, I have lost about 100 pounds. I use to color my hair a stark blonde."
"You know, that very well could throw me off a bit."
"I know sorry, may be I should've told you that I was Phil's fat girlfriend. That is what I was referred to as after we broke up."
"Ummm, you know." Nick hesitated; he really didn't know how to respond to her. After this revelation, he did remember her though.
Luckily he didn't have to continue with that awkward situation. "Hey Nick, don't worry about it. I have changed so much in the last 10 years. I barely recognize myself in old pictures. Should we get some lunch?"
"I am hungry. Let's go."
There was a short wait at the restaurant, however, Paige didn't have to say a word and the hostess was seating them. Once at the table, there was only a very short awkward silence before Nick broke the ice.
"You must have some huge pull around here if you bypass the tourists waiting to get in."
"Well, my position allows me some leverage in getting what I want."
"Your position?"
"Ah yes. my position. This is going to sound crazy. I don't work in the marketing department. I actually own this casino."
Nick nearly choked on the water he was trying to swallow. "You own the Royale. I thought this place was owned by that old guy. Ummm.. Dennis Jones." The names struck in Nick's head and he finally put it together.
"That's right. Dennis was my grandpa. He passed away a couple of months ago. I have been running this place for the past year."
"Weren't you going to go to graduate school and become a great journalist?"
"You do remember some things. I did. I didn't get into mainstream journalism though. I went to work for local broadcasting company and I was the weekend news anchor in Minneapolis."
"Wow from anchor woman to casino owner. That's impressive."
"I thought it would be too. I got here and enjoyed the lifestyle for the first couple of months and then I started to miss home. I am not a 24 hour kinda gal. I miss snow and as sad as this is, I miss the 20 below 0 windchills."
"How can you miss Minnesota weather? I have never been there but I have been to South Dakota in the winter and that was bad enough, I can't imagine Minnesota."
"I would rather sit in front of warm fireplace all snuggled up rather than face the 105 degree heat here in the summer. It's not just the weather. This is depressing and I hate to put this all on you so quickly, but I have here over a year now and I still haven't made any friends. Sure, I can go have a drink with a co-worker or even catch a movie but it just isn't the same. I need people outside of work. Which is made even more difficult by the fact that I live in a suite upstairs?"
"You live here. Nothing like taking your work home with you. Or taking your home to work with you."
"I know, I know. I am looking for a new place but I am being really picky. It's my first house purchase and I want it to be perfect."
The waitress brought their lunch over and refilled their glasses of soda. "Ms. Jones, is there anything else I can get you?"
"No Emma, thank you so much for your help. You can just charge this to my suite."
"No Problem."
Did Paige just agree to pay for lunch? "Paige I can't let you do let. Let me get lunch. It's the least I can do."
"Nick, maybe I didn't make it clear, this lunch is pretty much already mine. Charging it to the room is just for bookkeeping purposes. Besides, I appreciate you agreeing to meet me. So, tell me more about you. What's happened in the last 10 years?"
"I don't remember what I told you on the phone earlier. I am working the Las Vegas Crime Lab in Forensics. Still living the bachelor lifestyle. After Rice I went and worked on the Dallas Police Force."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you were a criminal justice major."
"Yep, I did that for awhile and then transferred here."
Their meals weren't really being eaten. There wasn't a lot of time to eat between their conversations. Finally when lunch was over Paige and Nick got up to leave their table and Nick noticed that Paige had left the waitress a $20 tip. This struck Nick as being overly giving but appreciated Paige's generosity.
Back in the casino they were making plans to see each other again.
"So Nick, I had a great lunch and I really did enjoy your company."
"So did I. I hope that we can see each other again."
"Me too. I am having a small get together at my place Friday night. I would love for you to come and please bring a friend or 2 or 3 or as many as you like. The more people the better."
"Friday night, I do have that night off. What time?"
"Dinner is at 7. However, the party will probably go long into the night."
"Well I think I'll take you up on that offer and I'll let you know if I plan to bring anyone."
"Let me know by Friday afternoon the names of anyone you plan to bring or at least the number of your guests so I can make sure you get put on my guest list."
"I'll do that, thanks for lunch."
Nick headed out of the casino and was looking forward to getting nap. Upon getting home he headed straight for bed and planned on sleeping. However, once in bed he couldn't get his mind off of Paige. She was exquisite. There was something hypnotic about her. It almost seemed contagious because when Nick was with her, he felt like he was in different world. He could still smell her perfume and hear her soft laugh.
Lying in bed thinking of her was almost too much for Nick. He was getting aroused at the thought of the women he barely knew. He was imagining how his fingers would run though her hair as he kissed her. He could feel her perfectly manicured finger nails run down his back as he teased her with his tongue.
Chapter 2
Nick woke up and glanced at his alarm clock. It hadn't gone off yet, he must have more time to sleep. 10:45am!! He was going to be late. He had to meet Paige at 11:30. Just getting down the strip was going to take all the time he had left.
He jumped in the shower and debated on what to wear.
At 11:25 he was standing in front of Majestic restaurant in the casino trying to establish a face that he remembered. He didn't want to ask Paige how he would recognize her, that may be imply that he had forgotten her. Which he had done, until he got that email.
Nick found himself watching a gorgeous brunette across a row of slot machines. This woman was mesmerizing. He couldn't pinpoint what it was about her, but something drew her to him. She had poise and confidence. She seemed so casual yet sophisticated. Not many women can make a pin strip suit look so damn sexy.
This beautiful woman started walking towards him. Quick. Look away, don't let her see me staring. She walked right up to Nick.
"Nick Stokes?"
"Yes, that's me. Do I know you?"
"I believe so, I am Paige Jones. You are meeting me for lunch. I am sorry I knew this was a bad idea, you don't remember me at all do you?"
"Honestly, I knew the name and remember Phil dating you, but I couldn't place a face to the name anymore."
"Don't worry about it. I probably wouldn't have been able to either. I have changed a lot since then. I only recognized you because I have a couple pictures with you in the background."
"I really can't place you. I am sorry; you don't look at all familiar."
"Well, I have lost about 100 pounds. I use to color my hair a stark blonde."
"You know, that very well could throw me off a bit."
"I know sorry, may be I should've told you that I was Phil's fat girlfriend. That is what I was referred to as after we broke up."
"Ummm, you know." Nick hesitated; he really didn't know how to respond to her. After this revelation, he did remember her though.
Luckily he didn't have to continue with that awkward situation. "Hey Nick, don't worry about it. I have changed so much in the last 10 years. I barely recognize myself in old pictures. Should we get some lunch?"
"I am hungry. Let's go."
There was a short wait at the restaurant, however, Paige didn't have to say a word and the hostess was seating them. Once at the table, there was only a very short awkward silence before Nick broke the ice.
"You must have some huge pull around here if you bypass the tourists waiting to get in."
"Well, my position allows me some leverage in getting what I want."
"Your position?"
"Ah yes. my position. This is going to sound crazy. I don't work in the marketing department. I actually own this casino."
Nick nearly choked on the water he was trying to swallow. "You own the Royale. I thought this place was owned by that old guy. Ummm.. Dennis Jones." The names struck in Nick's head and he finally put it together.
"That's right. Dennis was my grandpa. He passed away a couple of months ago. I have been running this place for the past year."
"Weren't you going to go to graduate school and become a great journalist?"
"You do remember some things. I did. I didn't get into mainstream journalism though. I went to work for local broadcasting company and I was the weekend news anchor in Minneapolis."
"Wow from anchor woman to casino owner. That's impressive."
"I thought it would be too. I got here and enjoyed the lifestyle for the first couple of months and then I started to miss home. I am not a 24 hour kinda gal. I miss snow and as sad as this is, I miss the 20 below 0 windchills."
"How can you miss Minnesota weather? I have never been there but I have been to South Dakota in the winter and that was bad enough, I can't imagine Minnesota."
"I would rather sit in front of warm fireplace all snuggled up rather than face the 105 degree heat here in the summer. It's not just the weather. This is depressing and I hate to put this all on you so quickly, but I have here over a year now and I still haven't made any friends. Sure, I can go have a drink with a co-worker or even catch a movie but it just isn't the same. I need people outside of work. Which is made even more difficult by the fact that I live in a suite upstairs?"
"You live here. Nothing like taking your work home with you. Or taking your home to work with you."
"I know, I know. I am looking for a new place but I am being really picky. It's my first house purchase and I want it to be perfect."
The waitress brought their lunch over and refilled their glasses of soda. "Ms. Jones, is there anything else I can get you?"
"No Emma, thank you so much for your help. You can just charge this to my suite."
"No Problem."
Did Paige just agree to pay for lunch? "Paige I can't let you do let. Let me get lunch. It's the least I can do."
"Nick, maybe I didn't make it clear, this lunch is pretty much already mine. Charging it to the room is just for bookkeeping purposes. Besides, I appreciate you agreeing to meet me. So, tell me more about you. What's happened in the last 10 years?"
"I don't remember what I told you on the phone earlier. I am working the Las Vegas Crime Lab in Forensics. Still living the bachelor lifestyle. After Rice I went and worked on the Dallas Police Force."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you were a criminal justice major."
"Yep, I did that for awhile and then transferred here."
Their meals weren't really being eaten. There wasn't a lot of time to eat between their conversations. Finally when lunch was over Paige and Nick got up to leave their table and Nick noticed that Paige had left the waitress a $20 tip. This struck Nick as being overly giving but appreciated Paige's generosity.
Back in the casino they were making plans to see each other again.
"So Nick, I had a great lunch and I really did enjoy your company."
"So did I. I hope that we can see each other again."
"Me too. I am having a small get together at my place Friday night. I would love for you to come and please bring a friend or 2 or 3 or as many as you like. The more people the better."
"Friday night, I do have that night off. What time?"
"Dinner is at 7. However, the party will probably go long into the night."
"Well I think I'll take you up on that offer and I'll let you know if I plan to bring anyone."
"Let me know by Friday afternoon the names of anyone you plan to bring or at least the number of your guests so I can make sure you get put on my guest list."
"I'll do that, thanks for lunch."
Nick headed out of the casino and was looking forward to getting nap. Upon getting home he headed straight for bed and planned on sleeping. However, once in bed he couldn't get his mind off of Paige. She was exquisite. There was something hypnotic about her. It almost seemed contagious because when Nick was with her, he felt like he was in different world. He could still smell her perfume and hear her soft laugh.
Lying in bed thinking of her was almost too much for Nick. He was getting aroused at the thought of the women he barely knew. He was imagining how his fingers would run though her hair as he kissed her. He could feel her perfectly manicured finger nails run down his back as he teased her with his tongue.