Chapter 5
"Okay, I admit, this was a really good idea." Pacey said a few hours later after he swallowed another bite of pizza.
"Thanks. Sorry, I'm not really a formal person. I actually tend to avoid it at almost all costs." Joey smiled as she took a sip of her Coca-Cola. "So, should we actually start on the business part of the dinner? Because, we've literally been sitting around here for three and a half hours talking about nothing."
"Oh, yea sorry about that." Pacey took a sip of his beer, and grabbed a napkin to wipe the tomato sauce from his mouth, hearing Joey's small laugh, he raised an eyebrow.
"You." She shook her head at the sight of the poised and charming superstar with a streak of pizza sauce all the way across his cheek. "You just wiped the sauce all the way." She gestured at her own cheek, almost brushing her ear.
"Oh," Pacey took another napkin and wiped at his cheek, only getting a small amount of the sauce off of his face.
"No, here, let me." Joey smiled as she dipped her clean napkin into a glass of water, dampening an end. She leaned over the small corner of the table, and took Pacey's' chin in her hand. She took the napkin, and started wiping at the sauce near his jaw line. Smiling she pulled back, her eyes meeting his. Seeing his famous stormy blue eyes looking deep into hers, she shivered.
Looking into her now stormy moss green eyes, Pacey started to lean towards her slightly. Giving into the temptation that had been hounding him since he first saw her in the art gallery, and that had intensified only with time. He saw Joey moisten her lips slightly with the tip of her tongue and he almost groaned. Leaning towards her more he let his lips brush hers lightly for a moment, and then pulled back, gauging her reaction.
Joey looked into his eyes, the electric blue, almost black. She smiled slightly, and leaned forward to capture his lips with her own.
"Hi, aren't you Pacey Witter?"
Pacey closed his eyes, and stifled a groan. Straightening in his seat he threw an apologetic glance at Joey, and then turned with an easy smile to the shy teen that was standing at the end of their small table.
"Hello. I am. And what's your name?" He asked, used to the attention that he got from fans.
"Umm. Leia. I'm so sorry to bother you, Mr. Witter. But I was just leaving and I saw. . . I'm sorry." Evidently, she had just realized that she had interrupted a private moment.
Pacey shook his head. "It's alright, Leia. And please, call me Pacey. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"Ummm.. I was wondering if I could get your autograph." The girl stammered, and blushed almost as bright as her flaming red hair. She held a napkin, and a pen in one hand, and motioned with them as she spoke. "I don't mean to be a bother, but my favorite movie is Making Me Wonder, and you were amazing in it."
Pacey smiled, genuinely glad to perform this small task that would obviously mean a lot to the younger girl. "Of course." He took the pen and napkin in his hand, and wrote 'To Leia, thank you. Pacey Witter.'. He handed it back to her and smiled again at the look on her face as she read what he wrote.
"Thank you so much Mr Wit-Pacey." If possible, she turned a brighter shade of red. "Have a nice night."
"You too, Leia."
She turned to Joey. "And I'm sorry for bothering you."
"Really, it's fine. Have a nice night." Joey smiled as the girl walked away, and then looked at Pacey. "You're good with your fans." She stated.
Pacey shrugged. "They keep me working. Sometimes I don't like what I do, but then someone like Leia comes up to me, and I can see how happy they get when I talk to them. and I.. I don't really know. It reminds me that I help make people happy, even if it's only for an hour or two in a movie theater. . . an escape from reality, I guess." He shook his head, his smile sheepish. "Sorry."
Joey looked at him with a small smile flirting with her lips, "It's okay. I understand, sort of. I love my work, but when I go to the galleries and see people look at my work, get pleasure from seeing it. . . I don't know, it makes me feel good about it, I guess."
"Yea, that's it exactly." Pacey said before he put his bottle of beer to his lips.
"So, does that happen a lot?" Joey questioned when he had swallowed.
"What, the autograph thing?" Pacey asked, and then answered when she nodded. "I guess. Whenever I'm recognized, really." He shook his head. "I just don't get why me scribbling my name on a piece of paper is such a big thing. But if I make people happy, then I'm happy to do it."
Joey nodded. "Yea. Apparently my signature is a big thing, too." She chuckled.
Pacey chuckled, too. "Yes. Well. What were we doing before we were interrupted?"
Joey blinked, but then decided to take the safe road. "Well, you were about to talk to me about what this business meeting was all about, actually."
"Right. so, here's my idea."
About ten minutes later and after a few moments of silence, Joey spoke. "So. . . pretty much what you're saying is that you want me to do all of the pieces of artwork in your new restaurant?"
"Basically, yea. I'm going to have it set up as many private dining rooms, each with a separate theme. And I think it would really give the whole place more depth and feeling if someone who is an amazing artist would do a few pieces for each room. There will also be a main dining room, that is larger, and has more tables.You would be able to select the wall colors and everything, too, so it flows evenly. "
Joey steepled her fingers and stared hard at them. "Who else were you considering for the artist?"
"Well. Umm, no one, actually. I've always loved your work, and when I had the idea for the restaurant, I thought that you would be perfect for it."
Joey nodded, "Well. Set up a meeting with Kate. We'll negotiate."
Pacey frowned, uncomprehending, "Does that mean that you'll do it?"
"Yes, it mean's I'll do it." She smiled at the look of shock on his face. "Did you expect me to say no?"
"Truthfully?" Joey nodded, and he continued, "Yes."
"Why?" She asked curiously.
"I don't really know, I just. Didn't think that this was your type of thing."
"It's not, really." Joey replied, "But, I'm always up for a challenge."
*~**~*~**~*
"So."
"Yea. Umm. . . I had a really nice time tonight."
"So did I, Pacey." Joey paused as she unlocked the main door of her apartment building. "And thank you again for asking me to help with the restaurant. I think I'll have a good time doing it."
"I hope you will. You'll get free food while you're there. The kitchen staff is going to be practicing, and perfecting new recipes, so you can pretty much have whatever you feel like."
Joey laughed, "Pace, you don't need to convince me. I already said that I'd be happy to do it."
"Right. So. Can I walk you to your apartment?"
"Sure." Joey walked into the old building that had been refurbished into apartments, and headed to the elevator.
"The elevator, Jo?"
"Ah, I'm fine in this kind. . . It's big. . . and it's not really closed off." She grabbed the handle of the metal gate, and slid open the elevator. "And there's only twelve floors. So, I'm fine in this one." She waited for Pacey to walk into the elevator, and close the gate. She pressed the button for the top floor, and turned to him with a wry grin as the elevator started moving. "I don't think that I'd be able to make it up the stairs in these heels, anyway."
He looked at her again, his eyes taking in the halter style dress that she was wearing. It started as a cool lilac at the top, and then gradually darkened into a deep purple where the front ended at her knees, the back was practically non-existent until the waist, where it flowed gracefully to brush against the back of her calves in a purple that was almost black.
"Have I told you tonight that you look absolutely stunning?"
"Umm." Joey could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, "No, you haven't, actually."
"Well then, Pardon my thoughtlessness. You look absolutely stunning tonight, Josephine."
Joey would wonder later why she didn't object to him using her full name, but then she couldn't think of anything to say except, "Thank you."
They both looked up as the slow elevator creaked to a stop on her floor. She swung her purse nervously as they walked to her apartment door, well, as she walked to it, and as he followed.
"So."
Joey laughed nervously, "So." she repeated, smiling.
"I just got this weird feeling of deja-vu." Pacey said, chuckling at himself.
"Me too." She smiled and took her keys out of her purse, turning so her back was to him, she fitted her key into the lock. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she slowly turned to face him. Finding Pacey's lips only centimeters from her own, she let out a breathy gasp.
"I'm sorry, Jo. I have to do this-" Pacey broke off as Joey caught the back of his head with a hand, and brought his lips down onto hers.
She opened her lips on a small sigh, and Pacey took advantage of that fact by plunging his tongue into the warm recess of her mouth. He sighed himself when he felt her tongue sliding against his. With one hand on her waist, and one coming up to muss her hair he drew back for a breath before bringing his lips back to hers in a sweet kiss.
Joey sighed a moment later as she pulled away, a small smile forming on her lips. Letting her arms fall from where they were wound around his neck, she opened her door, and backed into it. As she was shutting the door, she said with the smile that she doubted would fade that night, "G'night, Pacey."
"Goodnight Joey." He replied, with a mystified smile forming on his own mouth, as she closed the door.
Joey leaned back against the door, and slid down, her hands on her still swollen lips. She smiled whole-heartedly, and laughed out loud, thankful for the soundproof walls.
Pacey sighed, and walked back towards the elevator. He strolled into it, and closed the gate behind him. Pressing the button for the main floor he leaned back against the strong wood panels that passed for elevator walls and licked his lips, damn. He could still taste her.
*~**~*~**~*
Merry X-Mas
~Jayde
"Okay, I admit, this was a really good idea." Pacey said a few hours later after he swallowed another bite of pizza.
"Thanks. Sorry, I'm not really a formal person. I actually tend to avoid it at almost all costs." Joey smiled as she took a sip of her Coca-Cola. "So, should we actually start on the business part of the dinner? Because, we've literally been sitting around here for three and a half hours talking about nothing."
"Oh, yea sorry about that." Pacey took a sip of his beer, and grabbed a napkin to wipe the tomato sauce from his mouth, hearing Joey's small laugh, he raised an eyebrow.
"You." She shook her head at the sight of the poised and charming superstar with a streak of pizza sauce all the way across his cheek. "You just wiped the sauce all the way." She gestured at her own cheek, almost brushing her ear.
"Oh," Pacey took another napkin and wiped at his cheek, only getting a small amount of the sauce off of his face.
"No, here, let me." Joey smiled as she dipped her clean napkin into a glass of water, dampening an end. She leaned over the small corner of the table, and took Pacey's' chin in her hand. She took the napkin, and started wiping at the sauce near his jaw line. Smiling she pulled back, her eyes meeting his. Seeing his famous stormy blue eyes looking deep into hers, she shivered.
Looking into her now stormy moss green eyes, Pacey started to lean towards her slightly. Giving into the temptation that had been hounding him since he first saw her in the art gallery, and that had intensified only with time. He saw Joey moisten her lips slightly with the tip of her tongue and he almost groaned. Leaning towards her more he let his lips brush hers lightly for a moment, and then pulled back, gauging her reaction.
Joey looked into his eyes, the electric blue, almost black. She smiled slightly, and leaned forward to capture his lips with her own.
"Hi, aren't you Pacey Witter?"
Pacey closed his eyes, and stifled a groan. Straightening in his seat he threw an apologetic glance at Joey, and then turned with an easy smile to the shy teen that was standing at the end of their small table.
"Hello. I am. And what's your name?" He asked, used to the attention that he got from fans.
"Umm. Leia. I'm so sorry to bother you, Mr. Witter. But I was just leaving and I saw. . . I'm sorry." Evidently, she had just realized that she had interrupted a private moment.
Pacey shook his head. "It's alright, Leia. And please, call me Pacey. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"Ummm.. I was wondering if I could get your autograph." The girl stammered, and blushed almost as bright as her flaming red hair. She held a napkin, and a pen in one hand, and motioned with them as she spoke. "I don't mean to be a bother, but my favorite movie is Making Me Wonder, and you were amazing in it."
Pacey smiled, genuinely glad to perform this small task that would obviously mean a lot to the younger girl. "Of course." He took the pen and napkin in his hand, and wrote 'To Leia, thank you. Pacey Witter.'. He handed it back to her and smiled again at the look on her face as she read what he wrote.
"Thank you so much Mr Wit-Pacey." If possible, she turned a brighter shade of red. "Have a nice night."
"You too, Leia."
She turned to Joey. "And I'm sorry for bothering you."
"Really, it's fine. Have a nice night." Joey smiled as the girl walked away, and then looked at Pacey. "You're good with your fans." She stated.
Pacey shrugged. "They keep me working. Sometimes I don't like what I do, but then someone like Leia comes up to me, and I can see how happy they get when I talk to them. and I.. I don't really know. It reminds me that I help make people happy, even if it's only for an hour or two in a movie theater. . . an escape from reality, I guess." He shook his head, his smile sheepish. "Sorry."
Joey looked at him with a small smile flirting with her lips, "It's okay. I understand, sort of. I love my work, but when I go to the galleries and see people look at my work, get pleasure from seeing it. . . I don't know, it makes me feel good about it, I guess."
"Yea, that's it exactly." Pacey said before he put his bottle of beer to his lips.
"So, does that happen a lot?" Joey questioned when he had swallowed.
"What, the autograph thing?" Pacey asked, and then answered when she nodded. "I guess. Whenever I'm recognized, really." He shook his head. "I just don't get why me scribbling my name on a piece of paper is such a big thing. But if I make people happy, then I'm happy to do it."
Joey nodded. "Yea. Apparently my signature is a big thing, too." She chuckled.
Pacey chuckled, too. "Yes. Well. What were we doing before we were interrupted?"
Joey blinked, but then decided to take the safe road. "Well, you were about to talk to me about what this business meeting was all about, actually."
"Right. so, here's my idea."
About ten minutes later and after a few moments of silence, Joey spoke. "So. . . pretty much what you're saying is that you want me to do all of the pieces of artwork in your new restaurant?"
"Basically, yea. I'm going to have it set up as many private dining rooms, each with a separate theme. And I think it would really give the whole place more depth and feeling if someone who is an amazing artist would do a few pieces for each room. There will also be a main dining room, that is larger, and has more tables.You would be able to select the wall colors and everything, too, so it flows evenly. "
Joey steepled her fingers and stared hard at them. "Who else were you considering for the artist?"
"Well. Umm, no one, actually. I've always loved your work, and when I had the idea for the restaurant, I thought that you would be perfect for it."
Joey nodded, "Well. Set up a meeting with Kate. We'll negotiate."
Pacey frowned, uncomprehending, "Does that mean that you'll do it?"
"Yes, it mean's I'll do it." She smiled at the look of shock on his face. "Did you expect me to say no?"
"Truthfully?" Joey nodded, and he continued, "Yes."
"Why?" She asked curiously.
"I don't really know, I just. Didn't think that this was your type of thing."
"It's not, really." Joey replied, "But, I'm always up for a challenge."
*~**~*~**~*
"So."
"Yea. Umm. . . I had a really nice time tonight."
"So did I, Pacey." Joey paused as she unlocked the main door of her apartment building. "And thank you again for asking me to help with the restaurant. I think I'll have a good time doing it."
"I hope you will. You'll get free food while you're there. The kitchen staff is going to be practicing, and perfecting new recipes, so you can pretty much have whatever you feel like."
Joey laughed, "Pace, you don't need to convince me. I already said that I'd be happy to do it."
"Right. So. Can I walk you to your apartment?"
"Sure." Joey walked into the old building that had been refurbished into apartments, and headed to the elevator.
"The elevator, Jo?"
"Ah, I'm fine in this kind. . . It's big. . . and it's not really closed off." She grabbed the handle of the metal gate, and slid open the elevator. "And there's only twelve floors. So, I'm fine in this one." She waited for Pacey to walk into the elevator, and close the gate. She pressed the button for the top floor, and turned to him with a wry grin as the elevator started moving. "I don't think that I'd be able to make it up the stairs in these heels, anyway."
He looked at her again, his eyes taking in the halter style dress that she was wearing. It started as a cool lilac at the top, and then gradually darkened into a deep purple where the front ended at her knees, the back was practically non-existent until the waist, where it flowed gracefully to brush against the back of her calves in a purple that was almost black.
"Have I told you tonight that you look absolutely stunning?"
"Umm." Joey could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, "No, you haven't, actually."
"Well then, Pardon my thoughtlessness. You look absolutely stunning tonight, Josephine."
Joey would wonder later why she didn't object to him using her full name, but then she couldn't think of anything to say except, "Thank you."
They both looked up as the slow elevator creaked to a stop on her floor. She swung her purse nervously as they walked to her apartment door, well, as she walked to it, and as he followed.
"So."
Joey laughed nervously, "So." she repeated, smiling.
"I just got this weird feeling of deja-vu." Pacey said, chuckling at himself.
"Me too." She smiled and took her keys out of her purse, turning so her back was to him, she fitted her key into the lock. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she slowly turned to face him. Finding Pacey's lips only centimeters from her own, she let out a breathy gasp.
"I'm sorry, Jo. I have to do this-" Pacey broke off as Joey caught the back of his head with a hand, and brought his lips down onto hers.
She opened her lips on a small sigh, and Pacey took advantage of that fact by plunging his tongue into the warm recess of her mouth. He sighed himself when he felt her tongue sliding against his. With one hand on her waist, and one coming up to muss her hair he drew back for a breath before bringing his lips back to hers in a sweet kiss.
Joey sighed a moment later as she pulled away, a small smile forming on her lips. Letting her arms fall from where they were wound around his neck, she opened her door, and backed into it. As she was shutting the door, she said with the smile that she doubted would fade that night, "G'night, Pacey."
"Goodnight Joey." He replied, with a mystified smile forming on his own mouth, as she closed the door.
Joey leaned back against the door, and slid down, her hands on her still swollen lips. She smiled whole-heartedly, and laughed out loud, thankful for the soundproof walls.
Pacey sighed, and walked back towards the elevator. He strolled into it, and closed the gate behind him. Pressing the button for the main floor he leaned back against the strong wood panels that passed for elevator walls and licked his lips, damn. He could still taste her.
*~**~*~**~*
Merry X-Mas
~Jayde