Author's Note: Hey! I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! The weather was perfect where I live! I hope you all enjoy the next chapter. It was fun to write, so I hope that it'll be fun to read! I imagine that you'll let me know! You guys are great, and you always do!
JulesMorgan: Is that a bribe? How'd you know that I take them? I'll be expecting an update of Beer and Peanuts sometime in the near future! Thanks for your review!
ImJustKidding89: I'm glad that you loved it! I hope you love this chapter as well!
Theblondeone07: I'm glad that you like where it's heading. I think that if you liked the first chapter, you'll like this one even more!
Emmalee05: Thanks for the praise! I don't consider myself a fantastic author, as you put it. But thank you just the same! Ah yes, the sexual tension. It's going to be such a factor in this story!
Christie: Thanks for your review! I've never done an AU story, so we'll see how it goes. I wanted to try something different. I hope you like this chapter!
Laurenmlbc: Thanks for your review! I'm happy that you like it so far!
Jess: Courtney is lucky isn't she? If Jason was real… mmm! There'd be some serious girl fights over him! Thanks for your review!
WATTERS: Yes, I'm aware of that fic. Cheeseburger In Paradise is a wonderful fic, and I'm going to encourage all of you to go and read it. It's written by corkybo. I'm glad you're liking this fic so far! Personally, I like it better than my other fic! Thanks!
Nicole: I'm glad that you like Rodrigo! I wanted the readers (you guys) to like him! Ah, yes. The instant chemistry. It's something I wanted to explore in a fic, I'm glad that I'm actually doing it! Thanks for your review!
Pureevil320: Thanks for your review! I'm glad that you like it so far!
Bre: Last but not least! You were my first review! Wooo! Thank you so much! I hope this story is going to be long enough for you! Since STA is winding down, hopefully when it's over, this story will be well on its way!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Rodrigo. He's mine, allll mine!
Courtney applied the black eyeliner with caution. She lined the inside of her eyelids with the makeup and took a step back from the mirror. Not bad, she wasn't going for elegant. Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, her bangs parted to the side.
She adjusted the light blue halter top, and fixed the white skirt that drifted down to her knees. The look was casual, but pretty.
Why did she care so much?
So what? So what if he had the prettiest blue eyes that she'd ever seen? A rock hard body that made her palms get sweaty? Or lips that were just shy of being too full? So what if he was perfect?
Courtney sighed. She had to remember that not everyone were always who they appeared to be. She'd learned that lesson the hard way with Kent. She had no intention of ever letting a man like Kent get near her again.
The rapping on the door startled Courtney. She looked at the clock, the man was prompt. Another admirable quality.
Courtney sprayed her Chanel No. 5 in the air and walked through it. Something her mother had always done before going out to do whatever the hell it was that she did.
She glanced in the mirror before she walked over to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.
He was wearing khaki slacks, loafers, and a white collared shirt, showing off his deep tan. Courtney smiled as she stepped into the hallway.
"You look nice," Jason commented, looking her up and down. He wasn't sure that he'd ever seen a woman as beautiful as she was. And if he had, he couldn't remember.
"Thank you. So do you," Courtney said as she felt his hand on the small of her back, leading her towards the golden elevators.
"Thanks. I was thinking that we could walk, if that's okay with you. It's supposed to be a beautiful night." Jason pressed the button for the lobby.
"Sure," Courtney was mentally telling herself that this tour was for business, not for pleasure. And one of her rules was not to mix business with pleasure. It complicated things far too much.
"There's a great little place where we can stop for dinner, later on." Catching the look Courtney threw his way, Jason quickly added, "It's cultural. Something you can put in your article."
The elevator doors opened, and Jason ushered Courtney out. "Mr. Morgan," Courtney began.
"Call me Jason."
"Okay, Jason. I think that perhaps I should tell you, I don't mix business with pleasure…" Jason smirked, that was also one of his rules. Funny how he didn't give a damn at the moment. "I think you're very attractive, and so far you seem nice, but this isn't a date or anything like that."
"Did I ask you on a date?" Jason asked, deliberately trying to make her uncomfortable.
"Well, no. But I'm just letting you know…" Courtney finally got the nerve to look up at him, and saw that he was smiling widely. She caught her tongue between her teeth, a gesture that Jason found tempting, and nodded her head.
"You're teasing me." Courtney said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Only a little. Oh and by the way, I think you're very attractive too."
As they stepped out of the casino, Jason led Courtney across the street, to the sidewalk.
"So what is there to do for fun around here?" Courtney had brought her tape recorder and her notepad, but she could take mental notes for now, and if she forgot anything, she could always ask Jason later.
"Tourists mainly come to San Juan for the beach. There's surf lessons, scuba diving, that sort of thing. We don't really advertise the casino, which is why we called you in, to do the article." Jason explained, steering Courtney through the crowd of people.
They passed by families, the parents yelling at the children to stay close. They passed honeymooners, their arms wrapped around each other. They passed the natives, who were always smiling. Courtney couldn't imagine a better place to be. Everything was so, happy.
"You'd think, that if people saw the casino, they'd go in and try their luck. Some do, others don't. No one comes to Puerto Rico because of the San Juan Casino. We want to change that."
"Who's we?" Jason looked down at the blonde beauty walking next to him. He made the quick decision to tell her about his business partner later.
"We can get into that another time. I want you to see the little shops up here. You're a girl, you'll probably like them."
"Are you a sexist, Jason?" Courtney asked playfully, before remembering that flirting was something that she didn't do on business trips.
"Not at all, Courtney." Seeing the look in her eyes when they came upon the shops had him biting back a laugh. "Looks like I was right, though."
She quickened her pace, seeing an antique shop that caught her eye. It was called Memorables. The little shop was a treasure, Courtney discovered as she opened the door.
There were little teapots and tapestries everywhere. Armoires and chests were in abundance. Courtney patted her purse and smiled. Thank you, Visa!
Jason watched from the entryway as Courtney poked around. He tried to keep his gaze off the way her hips swayed as she walked. He tried even harder not to groan when she reached up to take something off a high shelf.
"Nececitas ayuda?" The woman behind the counter asked of Courtney. Courtney looked confused, and turned her head to Jason.
"She wants to know if you need any help." He translated, and Courtney looked relieved that he understood.
"No, gracias." Courtney replied before going back to examining the china doll. It was beautiful, with porcelain skin and bright blue eyes. Courtney could tell that it was fragile, so she was careful when she held it.
"This doll is really beautiful," Courtney said more to herself than to her companion.
"It reminds me of you." Jason said, without really meaning to. He had talked more to Courtney than he had to most people in San Juan, and she'd only been around for four hours.
"Why?" She asked, turning her gaze onto him.
"The eyes, I guess." Jason replied, before giving in and pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. She flinched at his touch, but her eyes glazed with desire. "I like you."
"Jason, look. I meant what I said about not mixing business with pleasure. And besides the fact, you don't even know me." Courtney stepped back, still holding the china doll.
"I'd like to get to know you. We have two whole weeks to spend together. I'm sure we'll end up being friends." Jason smiled before he walked towards the register. "Come here."
Courtney obeyed, as she walked to Jason. She watched as he took the doll out of her hands and placed it on the counter. He exchanged a few words with the woman at the register before taking out his wallet. Courtney stopped him.
"No, I want to pay for it. There's no need for you to do that. Do they take Visa here?" Courtney began to rummage in her purse for her wallet. While she was doing that, Jason handed the cashier the money.
By the time Courtney had taken out her Visa card, Jason was holding the white cardboard box that the woman had placed the doll in. "It's a gift." Jason said before Courtney could open her mouth to argue.
"Why?" Courtney asked, stunned that this man who she'd known for a grand total of four hours, had bought her something. An expensive something.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" Jason asked, as he took her hand and led her out of the antique store.
"I'm a journalist." Courtney replied, loving the feel of her hand in his. Being with Jason made her feel safe, for the first time since she was with Kent in the beginning. Memories of her brief marriage came whirling back, and Courtney took her hand out of Jason's. She was determined to never let a man get that close again.
"That's right. You're a journalist." Jason said, as if he'd forgotten. And maybe he had. She wasn't there for him, she was there to write an article for her magazine.
"Thank you, Jason. I really love the doll. I know exactly where I'll put her when I get back to my apartment in Boston." Courtney felt his arm slip around her waist, and she sighed. Why the hell did it feel so right?
"You're welcome." Jason said, as he directed them out of the cluster of shops. "So Boston huh? Do you like it there?"
"It's home. I needed a fresh start, and I was lucky when Denial hired me. But I must say, Boston's crazy." Courtney said, with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked, pleased to see the smile back on her face.
"They really do love their Red Sox. And they really hate those Yankees." Courtney laughed, ignoring the quick pang of nostalgia.
"Greatest rivalry in sports," Jason commented. "I'm fan of neither, but I still watch occasionally."
"It's addicting." Courtney added as Jason stopped in front of a little restaurant.
"Hungry?" he asked.
"You have any idea what they give you on airplanes?" Courtney joked, before she led the way inside the restaurant and asked for a table for two.
Two hours later, Courtney was on her fourth cosmopolitan, and Jason was having his second beer. He was going slow on purpose. He wanted to be able to catch her if she happened to pass out on the way back to the casino.
"Jason?" Courtney asked, holding her drink by the stem and swirling it around.
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to dance?"
Jason was startled by her request. He didn't dance. He couldn't remember the last time he had. But the way her eyes looked straight into his, the way her lip stuck out stubbornly, Jason found himself unable to say no.
He stood up and offered his hand. Courtney smiled and took it. She knew that she was being seductive, that she had way too much to drink, and she could care less. She was in the arms of an attractive and kind man. She could shut out the rest of the world for just one night, couldn't she?
"You're asking for trouble, Courtney." Jason moved his hand down her bare back, her skin was as smooth as the pedal of a flower.
"I don't normally do this type of thing."
"I don't normally dance, talk to people, or buy presents for women that I barely even know." Jason countered.
"Then why are you doing it for me?" Courtney asked, taking her head off his shoulder and looking into his eyes. They were a darker blue now, darkened with desire.
"There's something about you, Courtney," Jason said softly as he pushed the hair out of her face and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Courtney moaned quietly and leaned into him, placing her head on his strong chest. Her head was starting to spin slightly, maybe she just needed some air. Maybe she just needed him.
Jason marveled at the fact that he hadn't noticed her scent before. Maybe you could only smell it if you were close. But now it seemed that he couldn't get enough, he wanted Courtney more than he ever remembered wanting anything before in his life.
Once the song ended, Jason took his chances, and did what he wanted to do ever since he saw her. He kissed her.
Courtney was surprised when Jason softly placed his lips on hers, but she tilted her head to deepen the kiss anyways. Some part of her mind was screaming that she was making a mistake. The other part, the part that mattered, didn't really care if she was or not.
Jason pulled away first, not wanting to take advantage of her, and smiled. "Well, that was everything I thought it would be and more."
"Thank you, Jason." Courtney said, entwining their fingers.
"For what?" he asked, as he signed the bill for their dinner and drinks, and led Courtney out of the restaurant.
"For dancing with me, for dinner, for kissing me. It was nice." Courtney knew she'd regret drinking so much in the morning, but right now, she wanted to stay in the moment.
"God, you're sweet." Jason said, and he gave into temptation and kissed her again.
"I'm not sweet. I'm just drunk." Courtney admitted before kissing the palm of his hand, in a romantic gesture that he didn't expect from her.
"You're the sweetest drunk I know." Jason commented as they crossed the street, looking just like the honeymooners they'd passed earlier.
"Can we walk on the beach before we go back, Jason?" Courtney asked as she leaned against him.
"Sure."
It was pitch black outside now, and the sound of the waves crashing against the beach soothed Jason. He ran on the beach in the mornings, if he had the time. And if he needed to think, he came to the beach. Just to watch the ocean. There was something calming about seeing the waves crash, hearing the wind blow…
"I've never been to a place as beautiful as this," Courtney said as she started hopping on one foot.
"What are you doing?" Jason laughed as she reached down to take off her shoe.
"I want to feel the sand beneath my feet!" Courtney exclaimed, as she removed the other shoe. "I want the wind to blow through my hair!"
Courtney twirled around in a circle before Jason, her eyes were closed and her white skirt was flowing out around her.
Jason didn't think that he'd ever seen something so beautiful and innocent in his life. It struck a chord in him that he hadn't known still existed.
Courtney looked back at him, "Can we sit and look at the stars, Jason?"
"You'll get sandy."
"I don't care!" Courtney said as she laid down on her back, and looked up. There were so many stars in San Juan, Puerto Rico that Courtney thought she might never want to leave. Ever since she was little, she'd liked to look at the stars. For some reason, it made her feel like she could do anything.
Jason laid down beside her and felt her immediately lay her head down on his chest. His arm came instinctively around her and began stroking her shoulder.
"It's beautiful here." Courtney said, sleepily.
"You've said that about a thousand times."
"I can't say it enough. I don't remember the last time I was this happy." Courtney allowed herself the luxury of closing her eyes.
"You're beautiful." Jason said, placing a kiss on her temple.
"So are you." And she was asleep.
Jason had known in the back of his mind since he first laid eyes on Courtney Matthews, that he was going to feel something for her. As he picked her up and placed her shoes in her purse, along with the box holding the doll, he began the walk back towards the casino.
If Jason Morgan had ever had a night like the one he just had, he couldn't remember it. If there was ever a woman that made him weak and desperate for more, he couldn't remember her.
And he had a feeling that he was never going to forget Courtney Matthews.