A/N: Bit of a boring chapter, just had to establish that they were at the charity event and who was there with them. Next chapter will be more entertaining.
"Ashley Hurry Up" just when he started to think that she was in a category of her own, she would go and do something that would put her back into the woman category, she had been in the bathroom for over two hours, doing what he didn't even begin to think about doing what.
He had it good, he didn't need to shave his legs or armpits, he didn't need to tweeze his eyebrows. He didn't need to put anything in his hair for it be manageable if he didn't want it to be. He spent roughly twenty minutes in the bathroom and half of that was for the shower.
The bathroom door opened revealing her, in a sleek black dress. That fit her in all the right places, her hair pulled back to rest at the back of her nape (neck). His brain did what any other guy's brain did when he saw a woman who looked gorgeous it shut off, leaving him without a thought and his mouth open any second drool was going to fall out.
"What don't you like it?" she ran a hand over the fabric, he liked it, he liked it a lot.
"I-It's-" okay brain turn back on now "I've never seen you like this" he wouldn't mind seeing more of this either.
"Is that good or bad?" she had walked over to the window closest to her bending over just enough that he caught a glimpse of a tattoo on her lower back. He'd have to pay special attention to that later tonight.
"Our limo's here" Limo?
"Why is there a limo outside?"
"To take us to the event of course" she started across the room adjusted her dress along the way
"I hope it doesn't rain, it'll ruin my hair" he doubted if a hurricane would knock the hair down.
She slid on her jacket; he guessed that was new, he'd never seen it before. It also helped his brain turn back on, making him realize that he hadn't moved in the past five minutes. On their way out he grabbed an umbrella just in case he had a feeling he couldn't shake and it wasn't a good one either.
The limo driver had opened the door for him, something he wasn't accustomed to, you wanted in a car, you opened the door yourself. Living the good life did have its advantages, the limo had been decked out with a full bar, a colour tv, he knew cause he checked it out the moment he got in, and a good stereo system to boot. Ashley handed him a glass of champagne, and say back holding hers.
"What's this for?"
"Everyone's already half way drunk when they get there, why not join the party?" she takes a large sip from her glass. He looked at her over the rim of his glass as he drank, there was something she wasn't telling him.
He knew where the money was going from these events the moment he walked in, the place was strung out for a rich party. One's who had money and quite often flaunted it.
"It's still not to late to back out" she whispered into his ear as she was getting her coat checked.
"No I wanna stay" the band in full swing, the dance floor was crowded with older couples, roughly same amount was sitting down talking to each other. He saw various waiters around the room, serving champagne and appetizers, they were probably named something he couldn't pronounce. If he couldn't pronounce it, he didn't eat it. He also didn't like the music either, too oldish for him, he liked something with a good beat, and didn't mind if he couldn't understand the words, as long as he could understand one word he was set.
She stayed away from these kind of parties for a reason, everyone was out to show others what they had, and those who didn't to want it. He father had taken her to many of these parties when she was a little girl, filling in for her mother who was too drunk or high at the time to know her own name. She always sat by herself, no one talked to her, they talked about her literally behind her back, about how much of a whack job of her family was, soon she had learned you create a little ruckus between the ladies they didn't talk about you they talked about the women in question. It was great; by the time she was twelve she caused three divorces, ten separations and one overdose. Bosco didn't know about this or where she had grown up she left out the parts of the parties, and exactly where she lived. This was something that she thought he didn't need to know. She recognized most of the people in the room, except some new husbands and wives were added, this was where you could only have old money to get in, new money wasn't welcome.
Some actually welcomed her, with big grins and told her they were very sorry for her loss and for her mother to give them a call, when she had the time. That was a message she wasn't going to pass on, they were baiting her mother, just some lame excuse to talk about her. Things must be getting dull, she'd cause some ruckus.
Bosco looked like a deer caught in the headlights, he didn't know these people nor did he want to but they didn't need to know that. Some of the men had struck up conversation with him, disappoint came over their faces when he told them what he did. The women however were a different story, they were all over him, he liked it, even if they were old enough to be his mother and grandmother. They hung onto his every word, like he was a god.
He'd lost track of Ashley some time ago, but he needed to find her, he politely excused himself and quickly glanced around, he found her talking to the other half of the woman who weren't paying him any attention. She saw him and too quickly excused her self, she'd give them thirty seconds after she left for them to start talking about her.
"I need a drink" she said to him, they made their way over the open bar at the side of the large room. There was a little bit of a line so they waited their turn; quietly talking about the night they had so far. He stepped closer for only to hear.
"I wonder if they know, you have a tattoo" she side glanced him.
"Oh I bet they do, you part your hair differently one day they know" they moved up to the bar, finally their turn, they placed their orders and the waiting began again. Soon they were walking away drinks in hand, to an empty table. They sat side-by-side knees touching.
"Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?" he leaned forward; if he planned it right he could have a kiss within seconds.
"Only the five times between home and here"
"Well I'm saying it again, you look gorgeous" he leaned even closer
"Your trying to get a kiss aren't you?" she leaned forward too, mere inches separating them.
"So what if I am is it working?" she leaned forward so their lips about to touch.
"No" and pulled back completely, looking around. She downed her drink and stood up to get another, he stood up quickly too, downing his drinking in record time.
"Don't worry I got it" she smiles as she motions him to sit
"I think your newly found fan club wants you back" she motioned him to look a few tables down where at least half a dozen women were watching him intently.
"Just remember who you're going home with" she walked away. She ordered two more drinks, looking around her, thinking off a way to cause a little scene, between ladies. But she had to say it casually if not they would come down on her. As much as she wanted that to happen so she could tell where to stick it, it was best if they didn't talk about her.
The bartender handed her drinks and she turned around, ready to deliver his drink when she ran into something tall and smelt good, she looked up. His name hadn't been on the guest list, that's why she agreed to come.
"Hayden, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing" he moved in front of her and placed his order, leaning against the bar, preventing anyone else from getting their orders filled. She downed half her drink as he paid for his then slipped another bill on the counter and moments later, a repeat of her drink stood with his.
"I'm here because my step father convinced me to go in his place, him and mother are out on business" she downed the rest, he handed her, hers and picked up his two. Of course he brought someone, he had moved on, that should excite her but it didn't.
He made her go with him to deliver his dates drink to his date who sat sitting by herself, her back to them. Her skin soaked up the light around her, dread started pooling in her stomach, she knew who it was but would act surprised when the woman turned around.
"I brought you, a drink" the woman turned around, revealing what she had guessed from the beginning. She plastered a smile on, and welcomed the woman
"Hello Sgt, I didn't know you were going to be here" the smile was starting to hurt.
"We're not at work you can call me Maritza"
"Ok"
"Hey you still haven't told me why you're here"
"I donate money"
"Certainly you don't make enough to donate a large sum"
"I do what I can" she tried looking anywhere but them, she needed to deliver Bosco's drink to him.
"If you'll excuse me" she tried to make her getaway, didn't happen
"Wait, why don't you join us?" how to tell them no, without sounding like a bitch?
"You two probably want to be alone" hoping that one of them would catch the hint she dropped
"Come on, it'd give us somebody to talk to" sensing neither knew much here, Hayden had said his step father sent him in his place, so that meant the marriage was recent. Who knew she didn't keep up to date with these people anymore.
"Who you here with?" Hayden asked her, she'd rather not tell them but she was going to.
"Bosco" the smile on Hayden's face fell
"Speaking of which, I better deliver his drink" she left, and no one stopped her.
"I thought you got lost" he took his drink from her and sipped.
"No, just ran into some people I know" she would only tell him, if he asked if he knew them, thankfully he didn't. Clapping began the only sound between them, as they silently sipped their drinks. The band started up again, more couples came out to dance.
"Care to dance?" he set his drink down on the table, getting up and extending his hand for her to take.
"Thank you" she placed her hand in his allowing him to pull her up and off to the dance floor.
They weren't dancing long before, he became tense
"Were they the one's you stopped to talk with?" she turned to see who he was talking about. Hayden and Cruz
"Ya, they asked us to join them but, I told them no"
"What are they doing here?"
"Not sure, Hayden said something about his stepping in for his step father or something.
"Look at her, she doesn't have a care in the world" the carefree woman and stepping in man slowly made their way over them, civilly smiling at the two. The song ended and everyone clapped along, a new song started up and Hayden whisked Ashley away before the second note was played. Leaving Bosco to ask if Cruz wanted to dance. She said yes and soon they were dancing unaware of the Ashley and Hayden making their way off the dance floor and out onto the terrace.
They moved aside to let a couple could pass, the rain had held off so far. The distant thunder told everyone a storm was coming and soon. She casually strolled to the end of the balcony. The dampness of the recent rain prevented her from touching the railing and anything else that wasn't covered.
"You look beautiful tonight" his fingers stroking the exposed flesh of her shoulder.
"Thank you, you also look lovely tonight" she took a step side ways away from him and his touch. He dropped his hand to his side. Her skin suddenly hot, she leaned forward so her arms were the only thing touching the dampened railing, she welcomed the coolness of the metal against her skin.
"I've been thinking" he scanned the sky, the thunder growing louder with every bolt of lightning.
"There prolly wondering where we are" she stood up ready to go back in.
"I'm sure they can get along without us for five minutes" she wanted to protest but it would have fallen on deaf ears, so she remained silent.
"Ever since that night in the park, I've been thinking about you, me us" she didn't like where this was going.
"I want us to get back together" oh no, Oh no. A few weeks ago if he wanted her back she would go willingly, now she wasn't so sure.
"Hayden I" he silenced her with his lips.
Shock was an understatement when Bosco saw Hayden pull Ashley into a kiss, and it hurt more when she didn't pull or push him away. He heard a short gasp beside him and glanced that way. Cruz stood beside him in awe, could it be that the ice queen had feelings for the Assistant DA? No it couldn't be, he glanced at her again. Yup, miss ice definitely had feelings for the guy. He looked back to the couple oblivious to everyone, the kiss had ended, he wasn't sure but from this distance Ashley looked pissed. She walked away from Hayden and back into the ballroom, no one paid any attention to her, she bee lined for bar, and down two before Bosco got to her, he hadn't said two words before Hayden came up behind them. Now was as good time as any to tell a person you loved them.
"Ashley" she looked at him, gulping down the drink. Hayden came up beside her, out of breath from the extrusion he had catching up with her.
"I love you" was said at the same time from both men as the lights went out.