"The Most Eligible Bachelor"
Summary: Summer and Seth are leading separate lives now, but what happens when Summer's story for a leading magazine forces them together?
Disclaimer: I'd like to stake a claim on Adam Brody's dimples, but really, I don't own any of the O.C. characters or story lines.
Chapter Fourteen: The Offer
After Seth's awkward entrance, Summer made introductions, before excusing herself and Seth to get dressed. When she entered the room, dragging him behind her, Summer let out a huge breath that she had been holding.
"Could that have BEEN more awkward!"
"Well, I was going to come out naked to see what you were doing," Seth said, an amused look on his face.
"The question was more rhetorical, Seth," Summer snapped back.
He crossed to where she stood by the dresser and crooked his finger under her chin to tilt her head upward. As soon as their eyes met, the features on Summer's face softened. "Last night was," Seth paused. "I don't know. You are perfect. I, I don't think that I'll ever be able to forget it."
"Cohen," Summer breathed, unable to say anything but his name. "I'm sorry for snapping. It's just like you said, last night was amazing. And I wasn't really expecting THAT," she motioned towards the other room, "when we woke up in each other's arms." Seth opened his mouth, as if to say something else, but instead just shut it and bent down to lay a soft, yet passionate kiss on Summer's lips.
At first she was taken aback, but Summer soon opened her lips allowing Seth's tongue to enter her mouth. They stood near the dresser passionately kissing until he began steering her body towards the waiting bed. As they fell back, Summer broke away from the kiss, catching her breath.
"Do you think we can do this quickly and quietly?" she asked, before hungrily attacking his lips again.
"Mmm, hmm," Seth murmured against her lips, not wanting to stop what they were about to start.
Fifteen minutes later a flush-faced Summer exited the bedroom wearing slim fit jeans, a royal blue off the shoulder cashmere sweater, and a pair of six inch gold stiletto sandals. Charley turned her attention away from the dog and raised a questioning eyebrow at Summer.
"What?" Summer questioned, feigning innocence.
"Summer, baby, you're an amateur. If you didn't want me to know you were having sex, you should have tried moving the bed away from the wall," her boss said matter-of-factly. Summer's face turned bright red with embarrassment. "Oh, dear, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've never seen you look so happy in the 4 years that I've known you."
Seth soon walked out of the room dressed in a striped collared shirt, relaxed jeans and penguin track shoes. He walked over to the couch and picked up Blanche, who instantly started licking his face. "Sorry about this morning, Charley. I'm sure you hadn't planned on seeing a half naked man at 8 a.m.," he said, smiling.
"Oh, it's ok, honey. I'm just glad to see Summer finally using her body as God intended it to be used," she replied straight faced, only erupting into giggles when she realized that Seth and Summer had matching red faces. "You two are too much! You're young, in love, yet so private about your sex lives. Summer, if I landed a guy with those sweet dimples and slim body, I'd be shouting it from the roof tops," the older woman said, turning to look at the younger woman. She then turned to Seth. "And you! You just got laid by one of the sweetest, wittiest, most gorgeous young women I have ever met."
Charley paused for a moment and shook her head. "Young people these days are so crazy. You two are lucky to have each other, though."
"Right, Charley, thanks for that," Summer inserted quickly, trying to shift the topic of conversation. "So, what did you have planned for your visit? Were you going to get your own room? Or would you like to stay in mine and I can stay somewhere else for a couple of days?"
"Oh, sunshine, don't be silly. I'll get my own room."
"Sum, you can stay with me if you need to," Seth offered.
Before Summer could get an answer out of her mouth, Charley put her two cents in. "What a great idea, Seth!" she exclaimed, winking at Summer. "And seeing as you two are SLEEPING together, you won't even need to messy up a guest room."
"Charley, I love you almost as most as anyone, but you are sometimes SO maddening," Summer said, only causing more mischievous laughter from her editor. Summer just sighed. "But you actually have a good point, so I'll stay with Seth until you go back to New York."
"Ok, well, I'd love to stay and socialize, but I do have a business to run, or at least PRETEND to run," Seth cut in, giving the women a sweet smile. "Charley, it was great meeting you, but I'm sure I'll get a chance to see you more while you're in."
"Actually, Summer missed this Tuesday at the martini bar, so I was hoping we could find one around here, invite some friends. It would be great fun," Charley said.
"Sounds good. Just call me and give me the details around lunchtime," he said, excited at the prospect of talking with someone who was actually with Summer over the last couple of years. "Summer," Seth said softly, nodding a farewell in her direction.
"Cohen," Summer said back, smiling coyly. "I'll walk you to the elevator," she added, reaching for his hand and dragging him out of the room.
"She's great!" Seth said, when he and Summer were alone, waiting for the elevator.
"She is something," she replied in a funny tone. "But I do love her."
"And I love you," he said, placing a soft kiss on her mouth as the elevator dinged to indicate its arrival.
"I love you, too," Summer said back against his lips, pressing against them for one final time. "Have fun at work," she said as she pushed him into the elevator.
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fantastic," he said dryly, giving Summer one last smile. When the doors were closed, she melted back against the wall and let out a giddy shriek.
Suddenly, the door from her room opened and Charley appeared in the doorway with Blanche in her arms. "I so love the man that invented the peephole," she said, shooting Summer a wide grin.
"Woman! You are horrible," Summer yelled as she followed her friend back into the room.
Summer and Charley spent the rest of the day shopping on Rodeo Drive. Summer carried Blanche on her arm in a chic and not too cheesy designer pet purse. After hitting all of Charley's favorite designers, the three stopped off to rest at a small, upscale, outdoor café called Renaldo's.
"Summer, I have to be honest with you, I came out here to for reasons other than bringing you your precious pooky," Charley said, turning the light hearted small talk into a more serious discussion.
"What is it?" Summer asked, unsure of whether or not to be worried or intrigued.
"You know Kandice, the assistant editor for the Style pages, right?" the editor questioned, waiting for Summer to confirm or deny. As the younger woman nodded, Charley continued. "Well, she has recently decided that she feels the morals portrayed in our magazine do not fit with her personal 'standards,' so to speak."
"Are you serious?" Summer asked, shocked. "Are you saying she quit?"
"Yes, she did. And we desperately need someone in the next month to replace her," she replied, giving her employee a soft smile. "I think you know what I'm saying here, Summer. I met with the other editors and publisher this week, and none of us could think of a better candidate for the job than you."
Summer's jaw dropped to the floor. Or at least that's how she felt. Her mind was reeling while her stomach was churning. The editor-in-chief of Cosmo, who also happened to be her boss and one of her most reliable confidantes was asking her to consider a position as assistant editor of style-undoubtedly one of the magazine's largest sections. Finally realizing it was her turn to speak, she opened her mouth to say something. "I, well, uh, Charley, are you serious!"
"Quite serious, my dear. Now, I know that you are technically supposed to be enjoying your vacation right now, but after the meeting, I needed to talk to you. Summer, I really want you to do this. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity. For someone your age especially."
"Oh my god. This really is happening," Summer said, speaking more to herself than to Charley. "You're right, I definitely do need time to think about it." She paused. "But don't get me wrong. I am VERY interested."
"I knew you would be, dear, but I wanted to give you time to think about things yourself before the magazine tried to throw any official contracts your way," Charley said, reaching her hand across the table to touch Summer's. "I know it must be weird for you right now with Seth and all, I just thought that you might want to know that you have people and opportunities waiting for you back in New York."
Summer could not take sitting at the café any longer. "Charley, I'm not trying to be offensive, but I think I just need to walk for a little while, think about things." Charley nodded in understanding. "But we are going to the martini bar Seth suggested tonight, right?"
"Of course, my love. I can hardly wait," she replied as she rose to give Summer a farewell hug. "Just think about the offer whenever you get the chance."
"I will," Summer said in a barely audible whisper before walking away from the table. "See you tonight," she threw back over her shoulder, turning around and giving Charley one last glance, before heading toward beach.
A/N Ok, sorry it took a little while for this update. I hope that this chapter was ok. On to the real O.C. Did anyone else think that Seth being high was kind of cute! I thought it was hilarious. I am also thinking that this whole thing might be a way that Josh is trying to keep the show together for a fourth season. Let me know what you think (about the chapter and the show). Peace.