Chapter 7
There was one very important thing that Rodney had learned all those years ago back when he had first started working undercover. And that one thing was that you had to have the ability to put on a happy face when the people around you were dangerous criminals and morally repugnant. Not that he thought dancing with a famous and quite frankly a gorgeous supermodel was repugnant, far from it. But as the one dance had lead to another and as the night started dragging by the woman's constant talking and harping about herself was starting to get on his last freaking nerve!
"...and than can you believe that the stupid photographer would have the audacity to ask ME? The famous Kate! To get down in that filthy nasty mud for some stupid photo shot he wanted to take! Can you believe that!"
Rodney did the only thing he could do he just nodded his head. He had long ago given up any hope of trying to get a word in edge wise with this woman.
"...I mean hello! It was like he had no idea how long it takes for me to get my hair done this well!"
Rodney watched as she took one of her hands of his lower back for a second so she could do that weird hair over the shoulder flip thing of hers again.
"...well, of course I didn't mean to say that I actually do my own hair. I have people I pay to do that sort of thing. And so that's how I know how long it takes to do my hair! Because I mean I do have to sit in that uncomfortable chair a long time well they work on it! And another thing..."
Dear God does this woman ever shut up, Rodney thought to himself as Kate's mouth kept on running.
"...they also wanted to take some pictures of me just laying there on the beach while the surf came in all around me! Do you have any idea what kind of damage salt water can do to your complexion! I mean talking about having to moisturize..."
I've busted major speed junkies that didn't have anything close to the amount of energy that this woman has been using to run her mouth, thought Rodney shaking his head.
"...and than after all of that can you believe that the crew there only had AMERICAN bottled water there for me to drink! I mean I had to have my agent point it out to them that it specifically states in my contract that they are to only have imported FRENCH bottled water there for me to drink!..."
I wonder if my falling down to the floor, grabbing my chest and faking a heart attack would be enough to get her to stop talking long enough for me to sneak away and make an escape, Rodney thought desperately looking around the dance floor for a way out.
But Rodney's escape from Kate came suddenly when a very determined voice spoke from behind him.
"Excuse me but if no one minds I would like to cut in?"
Rodney turned and much to his shock found the very last person on Earth he ever expected to find standing there wanting a dance from him.
"What do you want, Miranda?" asked Kate in a snide voice as she gave the other girl a very conceited look" Nice dress you have there by the way. Were they having some kind of sell down at the Salvation Army?"
Ok now this might be getting interesting, thought Rodney with raised eyebrows as he looked back and forth between the two sparring women. His previous thoughts of escaping was gone now. It had been replaced with the thought of maybe he should try selling some tickets to this.
"Ha ha, very funny Kate. I see all that time standing in the hot sun doing those photoshoots hasn't fried that little brain of yours yet," said Miranda while subconsciously using her hands to smooth out the nonexistent wrinkles in her red dress "This happens to be a very expensive and stylish dress from a very famous store in San Francisco."
"Of course it is," said Kate smiling sweetly at Miranda "But I'm sure as poor as you are every dress must seem expensive to you."
Oh yeah I should definitely be selling tickets to this, thought Rodney as he watched the anger start to spread across Sanchez's face after Kate's comment.
"Ok first off Kate I have a very good job so I am NOT anywhere near being poor," said Miranda trying very hard to hold in her infamous temper "And second are you going to shut up and let me do what I asked?"
"Oh I'm so sorry Miranda," said Kate yawning "What was it again that you came over here yammering about?"
"I believe you heard me the first time Kate," said Miranda glaring at her former high school enemy "Or has all the bleach you've been putting on your hair to dye it finally rotted your brain away?"
That's my girl, thought Rodney smiling at Miranda's great comeback. It took him a second before his mental brakes slammed down and brought his brain to a halt after suddenly realizing what he had just thought. MY GIRL! Where the HELL did that just come from!
"I do not dye my hair! You, you ..." screeched Kate unable to finish her sentence because she was becoming furious after seeing the faint smile that came on Rodney's face after hearing that comment from Miranda.
"Well good than Kate, because that means you heard what I said," said Miranda more forcefully "I would like to cut in."
"Oh I don't know Miranda," said Kate as she plastered her body against Rodney. Kate would be damned if she was about to lose any man, especially to Miranda Sanchez of all people "Why would I want to stop dancing and let YOU cut in. I mean me and Robbie here..."
"Rodney" said Rodney rolling his eyes. Damn dumb bimbo couldn't even remember his name!
"Yes, like I said me and Rodney here are having way to much fun here for me to just simply stop and let you..."
"Oh come now Kate," said Rodney taking a step back from the blonde and turning toward Miranda "I mean what would it hurt to give Sanchez here a little twirl around the dance floor? I mean she did ask nicely." And with that Rodney grabbed Miranda by the hand and started dancing her off to another part of the dance floor far away from the now fuming Kate Saunders.
"So Sanchez," said Rodney smiling down at Miranda after they had gotten a good piece away from Kate "You wanted to dance with little old me, huh?"
"Don't let it go to that big head of yours," said Miranda with a smirk as the current song came end and a slower one took its place.
"Oh and why shouldn't I?" asked Rodney as he pulled Miranda a little closer to him while they danced. Well, it WAS a slow song, thank you very much.
"Well, lets just say I did this on somewhat of a dare," said Miranda.
"Well, I don't care why you did it," said Rodney truthfully "You got me away from that woman and as much as I hate to admit this I owe you one."
"What?" asked Rodney as he saw the look of surprise that Miranda was shooting at him.
"Its just I'm a little surprised is all," said Miranda shaking her head in disbelief "I mean of all the women that is out there I thought Kate would defiantly be YOUR type."
"Oh is that right?" said Rodney smiling "Well Sanchez since you think you know me so well just what did you think my type is?"
"Well you know like I said like Kate," said Miranda shrugging her shoulders as they danced close together "Tall, blonde,blue eyed and with their bra size bigger than their IQ score."
"Nah Kate not my type she was to boring," said Rodney shaking his head "She's not as much fun to be around as you are, Sanchez."
"ME?" asked Miranda trying to calm her rebellious stomach as it started doing flip flops.
"Yes, you," said Rodney "Kate was about to bore me to death back there. I mean all she did was talk about herself. And when she would finally let me get a word in all she would do was agree with everything I said."
"And that was a bad thing?" asked Miranda a little surprised by that revelation.
"Well, yeah it was extremely boring. I prefer someone who makes life more exciting," said Rodney "That's why I like you, Sanchez. You're the only one I know who can keep up with me in an argument. And sometimes you even get the better of me and make me eat crow. Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
Miranda's mind had become hung up on one part of Rodney's last statement. "You like me?" Miranda asked with a weird mixture of surprise and happiness in her voice.
"Well, you're not all that bad," said Rodney hoping he didn't look as embarrassed as he felt "Now you don't let that go to YOUR big head."
"I won't" said Miranda smiling as the two stepped apart as the song came to an end.
"Well, who would ever thought that me and you could stand to be in one another's company long enough to share a whole dance?" said Rodney smiling down at Miranda.
"Definitely not me." laughed Miranda.
Miranda took a deep breath and held her hand out toward Rodney "Truce?"
"Truce" said Rodney shaking Miranda's hand. When another slow song started up Rodney held out his other hand to Miranda "Since we're here putting the past behind us and becoming friends may I have another dance ma'am?"
"Yes, you may," said Miranda smiling as the two of them moved closer to one another again and started dancing.
TBC
EGADS! Can it be true? Miranda Sanchez and Rodney Stevens friends! Maybe? But Miranda will soon find that she needs all the friends she can get when her life takes a sudden dramatic turn for the worst.
