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Chapter Two: Dinner and a Diva

At the restaurant, Kali sat deliberately between her sister and Dave. She couldn't explain it, but she felt drawn to him. The waitress came and took their drink order and left them to review the menu. "So, Kali, Sara, how long are you gonna be with us?" Hunter asked.

"Well, I'll be here just for tonight, but Kali is going to be traveling with you guys for the next, what is it? Two months, Kali?" Sara said, turning to her sister, who nodded in response. Dave looked up from his menu at that. She was going on the road with them?

"My beautiful niece here is training to be a Diva," Ric said looking at her proudly.

"Oh really?" Hunter asked looking pointedly at Dave. "Two months is a long time."

"I know, but I want to get the feel of life on the road," Kali said. "Besides, Trish Stratus has been training me whenever she can, so I figure this will just make that easier on both of us."

"Hey, Dave, you're an amazing wrestler, why don't you help with her training?" Sara suggested, flinching slightly when Kali kicked her under the table.

"Hey, now that's a good idea!" Ric exclaimed, "When she's ready, we could even bring her on as part of Evolution!"

Dave looked down at Kali, and could immediately see she was uncomfortable. He came to her rescue. "I would love to help train her. That is, if you don't mind," He said, directing his words to her.

"Actually, I'd be honored. You're really talented," She said, a grin lighting up her face.

"Just don't play too rough, Dave," Hunter said, smirking. The waitress came back then, and though the conversation was over, Kali was feeling elated. Not only was she going to be a Diva, but Dave Batista, who had long been one of her favorite wrestlers, was going to be training her. She couldn't imagine life getting any better.

xxxxx

Sara dropped Kali off at their hotel, and went to meet John. "Why do you bother pretending like you're not into John?" Kali asked, rolling her eyes at her sister.

"Playing hard to get is part of my allure," Sara replied coyly. "Besides, John knows how I feel. He likes to chase just as much as I like being chased." Kali let herself out of the car and wished Sara a fun night. "You sure you don't want to come?" Sara asked.

"I'm good, just have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't," Kali replied. Sara laughed and drove away. Kali walked slowly to her room, choosing the stairs over the elevator. When she got to her room, she felt her cell phone vibrating in her purse. She sighed and smiled when she saw who was calling. "Hi Hunter," she answered.

"Hey Beautiful, what're you doing?" He replied.

"I'm on my way to bed, what's up?" she asked.

"Are you flying out with us tomorrow?" He asked.

"To Vegas? Yeah," She answered, "Why?"

"Are you interested in taking in the Vegas nightlife Evolution style?" he asked. She stifled a laugh. "Is that a yes?"

"Well, with a pitch like that, how could I say no?" She said.

"Excellent, I guess we'll see you bright and early tomorrow on the plane," he said. "Is your uncle picking you up in the morning?"

"Yeah, I'm letting Sara use my car while I'm gone," Kali said.

"Is that a good idea?" Hunter joked.

"I hope so," she said through a yawn.

"Well, Dave's hotel is just around the corner from you, so why don't I have him come get you tomorrow instead?" He suggested, and Kali could sense he had an ulterior motive.

"Um… that's fine with me I guess," she replied, "Is Dave okay with this?"

"Oh yeah, I already asked him, he was more than happy to see you in the morning."

"Hunter, what are you doing?" She asked suspiciously.

"Driving, and talking to my favorite 'little sister'" He said, trying to sound innocent.

"That's not what I meant and you know it," She said, to which he laughed.

"I'm not doing anything, I promise," he said.

"You've always been a bad liar."

"Yeah, one of my finer qualities," He said, "But listen, I gotta go. I have another gorgeous woman waitin' on me back at my hotel room."

"Better be your wife," she said.

"Of course she is, who else would I be talking about?" he asked.

"Bye Hunter," She replied, and flipped her phone closed. She changed into her pajamas and climbed into the unfamiliar hotel bed. She had been tired before, but now she was anxious for morning and knew sleep would be hard to come by.

xxxxx

The next morning, Kali was up a good hour before her alarm clock was set to go off. She sat counting down the minutes until she heard the telltale sound of Dave knocking on her door. She drew a breath, opened the door and smiled up at Dave.

"Hi," he said simply.

"Hi," she replied

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, to which she nodded. He offered to take her bags and led the way out to his sleek, black Mercedes.

"This is a beautiful car," she marveled.

"Think so?" he asked with an amused tone. "Glad you like it." He put her bags in the trunk next to his, and then hurried to open her door for her.

"Wow," she commented when he got in after her.

"Huh?" he asked.

"No one's ever done that for me," she answered, "open my door I mean."

"Really? I always do," he said.

"You're very surprising, Dave Batista," Kali said as they pulled into traffic. "You're really not what I expected."

"Well, what did you expect?" Dave asked.

"I don't know, not this," she said, "maybe someone more like… more like Hunter." Dave laughed out loud at that.

"No, I think Hunter is cocky enough for the both of us," he said.

"That's putting it mildly," Kali replied. "But you're nothing like that, and… and I'm glad." Dave turned and smiled at her, and was suddenly overcome with an urge to kiss her. By the look on her face, he could tell she felt it too.

xxxxx

Hunter and Ric were already waiting by the gate when Dave and Kali arrived. "Hey, took you guys long enough," Hunter said, looking suspiciously at the two of them. Kali punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"There was some traffic comin' into the parking lot," Dave explained, and Hunter rolled his eyes. Ric seemed completely oblivious to all that was going on, he was staring longingly at the Starbucks across the terminal.

"Does anyone want coffee?" he asked after a moment.

"I do, so I'll go with you to get it," Kali said.

"Yeah, I'll take something, anything that's hot," Hunter said.

"Dave?" Ric asked.

"Um… yeah, I'll take mine black," Dave answered.

"So," Hunter said once Kali and Ric were out of ear shot, "Why were you really late?"

"I told you, traffic," Dave answered.

"You can't be serious," Hunter replied. When Dave said nothing, he continued, "You're telling me you were alone, alone with a girl as attractive as Kali, and you did nothing?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm telling you," Dave answered, sitting down and placing his bag beside his feet.

"What is wrong with you!" Hunter cried.

"Hunter, what are you trying to pull here, man?" Dave asked.

"Just looking out for my friends," he replied.

" Maybe I don't want or need you to look out for me," Dave said, beginning to sound hostile. "Did you ever think of that?" Before Hunter could react, Ric and Kali walked back up, carry their drinks.

"You guys okay over her?" Ric asked, handing Hunter his drink. "We could feel the tension when we walked up."

Dave took his drink from Kali, his fingers brushing against the soft skin of her hand. She looked up at him and their eyes locked. They held like that for a few moments until they noticed Ric and Hunter watching them. "Flight 566 to Las Vegas now Boarding First Class passengers," the voice called out over the loud speaker.