A/N: Okay ya'll, I got five reviews within like…six hours of posting Chapter 9…Yay! But keep 'em comin, and if there's anythin that's botherin ya'll or ya think may be a good idea for the book, let me know. Can you believe we're already at Chapter 10…? Well don't worry…the book isn't ending any time soon… :) Yep, ya'll are in for the long haul. (PS, I had no intention of that rhyming…it just happened.)
Rating: R for adult situations, violence, and language. Yep, this chapter has it all…almost.
Chapter 10: "I have good news…they're gone."
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Delmarco Residence
Living Room
Tuesday May, 10 2004
8:56 p.m.
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Anna pressed one of the bags of ice to Nick's jaw, and the other to his eye. He winced, "Ow."
"Well ya know, you wouldn't be in pain if you'd have kept your promise." Anna said, her accent still thick with her anger from earlier. She sighed and shook her head. Her lips were in a tight line and her face was still flushed, the tiny curl that continuously fell into her eye was back and she brushed it away with a shaky hand. He couldn't help but think about how cute she looked when she made her angry face. "What are you smiling about? This isn't funny Nicholas Stokes."
"Oooh! Full first name and last name, not good." Greg said as he sat on the counter and continued eating the delicious Greek dessert Anna had made. The couple on the couch looked at him with their eyebrows raised.
Nick smiled. "We've only been together a couple days, but I know when I'm in trouble…full first name." He said smirking and Greg laughed. "I got 'full named' even when we weren't dating." Nick relied and Greg smiled.
"Poor Nick…his super hot girlfriend 'full names' him when he's in trouble." Greg said sarcastically and Nick made a face at him. "Hey Anna this is good, what is it?" Greg asked changing the subject.
She looked over at his plate and sighed exasperatedly. "Amigdalota…its sugar almonds."
"And this?" He held up his other plate he was eating from and she sighed again, but smiled when she saw what he was eating.
"Htapodi me makaronaki kofto…octopus with elbow macaroni."
Greg's eyes widened in horror, he blinked, then shrugged and continued eating. Anna shook her head and then turned to face Nick. She frowned in disappointment to make him feel good and guilty. Nick rolled his eyes and sighed. "Darlin, look, I'm fine." He winced as she touched his jaw and nodded. "And just so you know, when I told you this morning that I had a surprise for you after work…this wasn't it."
She shook her head. "I forgot about that…what was it?" She said as she continued to ice his wounds.
He chuckled. "I was going to take you out to dinner."
She chuckled. "Twice in two days…someone's lookin for extra credit." She joked and he sighed. "But I think you'll need a lot more make up before we take you anywhere."
He made a face at her. "It's not as bad as it looks. See, Ow."
"Yeah, I'm lookin Nick, and I see the bruised and battered face of a man who didn't listen to me and didn't keep his promise." She sighed and looked at him with a pained expression. She continued surveying his face at the bruise forming on his jaw, a small ring indention could be found, and his black eye was more evident. His lip was broken and a cut had formed from his cheek bone to the dimple from his smile and a smaller cut was on his forehead, parallel to the one he had attained from wrestling with Josh. Anna sighed as she found the common factor of his fights…disrespectful men. "Nick…" She looked down at her hands and he brushed the curl from her face, a common habit with him. "…you can't keep beating people up every time they threaten or disrespect me."
"I don't beat up everyone…I was good with the people in the diner today."
"But you did with Josh.
Nick shook his head while smiling, "Josh was on"
"It only takes one. And you lost it today with Darren."
"Darlin, that was underlying, ancient problems…"
"But his insulting me triggered your fight." She said; her accent thick with empathy for Nick and the situation.
"So this is like a regular thing with you guys." Greg asked as he continued to eat. The two people on the couch slowly turned to shoot death glares at him. He ignored it and continued, "Anna steps foot outside the house, guys hit on and harass her, Nick beats 'em up…you have coffee…" He shrugged and looked up at them. He coughed and nodded. "Yeah, oops, not supposed to joke, okay…continue." He shoved his face with the dessert and tried to disappear.
Anna shook her head and turned back around. "Nick…you can't beat people up when they threaten or disrespect me because you'll loose your job and I know that'll kill ya. If you can't get a hold of your fighting then this…this is-"
Nick cut her off by pulling her into a hug, not wanting to hear her say the words. He sighed. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, just please don't…don't…" Knowing he couldn't say the words and she didn't want to hear them he let the thought trail.
She squeezed his hand and he stopped talking. She nodded and hugged him tighter. Anna buried her face in his neck and he buried his in her hair. Nick looked up and saw Greg smiling at the scene before him. Anna pulled away and looked at Nick. "So no more of this?" She asked and he nodded.
"No more."
"Hey guys, I put Regan to sleep." Jennifer said walking out of the room and grabbing her purse. "I had fun." She joked and Anna gave a tired smile. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"I'll walk you out." Greg said and jumped off the counter. She turned around to look at him but nodded and smiled. Anna and Nick watched the scene and smiled. But a voice Anna heard wiped the smile right off her face. Anna stood up and turned around sharply to see Jillian Stokes walk into the room.
Jillian saw the look on Anna's face and raised her eyebrow. "What?" She asked dumbly and Anna glared.
"You're the one who brought Darren here and started this whole mess. Don't you think you owe Nick an apology?" Anna snapped.
"Anna, honey, calm down." Nick said and put his arm on her shoulder. Anna jerked her arm away and scowled at Nick in incredulity.
"No! She brought this into my home and I won't stand for that! Especially when it inflicts harm upon someone I care about!" She narrowed her glare on Jillian and she returned the look, in full force. "You put everyone here in danger."
"I didn't do it on purpose. I would never intentionally put my son in harms way." Jillian defended.
"What if he hadn't gone after Nick, what if he had taken his anger out on someone else? What if he had attacked Regan?" Anna began loosing her temper and Nick looked to his father for help.
"That obviously wasn't my intent."
"Well then what was Jillian? To get your son beaten up? To degrade me? To disrupt the piece in my house? To possibly get Nick fired?" Anna burst.
"Listen little Missy, I care very much about my baby boy and I would never hurt him or put him in hams way! Friends and women come and go but family stays forever."
"I agree, and I don't know about you, but family comes first in my house."
"It's the same in my family." Jillian snapped.
"So explain to me why you would bring someone you knew had issues with your son to dinner! I don't get it Jillian. If it wasn't your intent to hurt Nick then what the Hell where you trying to do? What! If I didn't know any better I'd say you where trying to get rid of me."
Not too eager to blow her cover, Jillian shifted the focus to Anna. She smiled deviously and walked towards her leisurely. "You know what, I've seen women like you come and go. Nicky goes through 'em like air, and you're no different."
"Mama." Nick breathed as he shifted nervously. Bill had left the room by now and was no where to be found.
"You think you're special? You think that this is it for you? Please, Nicky deserves so much better than some tramp with too much baggage. Nick deserves more than you can give him."
"Mama stop it." Nick ordered, but Jillian persisted.
"You are just a place holder till something better comes along. Nick won't settle for you. I may not approve of my son's ways but I at least know him. And I know this won't last…so care about him all you want…you're wasting your time." Jillian was inches away from Anna's face. Anna's features were hard and cold.
"Mama. Stop it right now." Nick barked and stepped forward, but his mother's glare sent him back.
"I'm just saving you time because I know my boy. And he won't stick around for this. There's too much baggage." Jillian said and backed away from Anna to admire her work. She had hit a soft spot and she knew it. Anna stared at her, visibly distraught and heart broken, but not crying or showing emotion. It all lay in her sad green eyes.
Nick stared at his mother in disbelief, too shell shocked to say anything…maybe he should've. Anna blinked and looked at Jillian. "I think it's time for you to find somewhere else for you to stay." Anna said barely audibly and Jillian nodded and bit of triumph in her eyes.
"Let's go Nick." Jillian said and Nick finally snapped out of his trance and shook his head.
"No. Mama how could you say that to her…I think you should leave."
Jillian stared in shock. "Nick…I did it for you."
Nick shook his head. "Go back to Texas Mama." He darted off towards Anna's room and knocked on her door. "Anna…" He knocked again. "Anna please." he still received no answer. "Anna talk to me."
"Please go Nick…go with your parents."
"Anna please, you need to listen. I'm sorry about what my mother said. Anna please. Don't blow this out of proportion."
"Go away Nick."
He sighed and turned away from the door and walked out of the hallway, but he wasn't leaving. He went out the sliding door in the dining room and crossed the patio to the sliding door leading into Anna's room. As he had hoped it was open and he walked through her curtains. She bolted upright. "Nick! What the Hell are you doing?" She got off her bed and stood far away from him.
"This is the only way I can get you to listen." He walked towards her. "Anna I am so sorry for what my mother said. I have no idea what in the world would posses her to do that. I really don't." He took another step closer and Anna watched him carefully. "Anna what she said couldn't be farther from the truth. You know that."
"No Nick, no, I don't know that. You could leave me for some older, more mature blonde with less baggage at any given moment."
Nick looked at her as if she had just said fingerprints were no longer admissible in court and Grissom didn't have secret feelings of love for Sara. "What are you talking about? What brought this on?"
Anna sighed and sat down on the bed. "Your mom knows you better than I do…she's seen your relationships…so has everyone else…and they've all said the same thing."
"Who? Who in the world is saying that I would leave you?"
"Everybody that knows you said that this was how all your other relationships were."
Nick shook his head and sat down on the bed next to her. "Honey…I was in every one of those relationships…and they weren't like this. I didn't wake up every morning waiting to see the girl I was with…mostly because my relationships didn't last till the next morning. I didn't go through the day without them and count the minuets until I got to see them next. I didn't call them for any apparent reason other than to her their voice. I didn't kiss their forehead and their hand when they were making dinner just because they smelled so good." He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead.
She sniffled as he continued. "I didn't sit on the couch and pretend to watch football when I was actually watching her cook dinner and then get so tired of being twenty feet away from her so I'd just up off the couch and offer to do something just so I could be near her." She gave a small chuckle and ducked her head. Nick lifted it back up with his finger. "I didn't stay awake for all hours of the night just to watch them sleep. I didn't rush them in the morning so they wouldn't have time to put on makeup because they look absolutely beautiful without it. I didn't take them to Wal-Mart at four in the morning so I could show them off in sweat pants because they looked beautiful no matter what they had on…I didn't have that with them. But I do with you."
A tear slipped down Anna's cheek and Nick caught it with his thumb as he stroked her cheek. "And I'll tell you what, none of them ever threatened to leave me because I was overly obsessed with keeping them safe and defending their honor."
Anna chuckled and looked down. Nick brought her chin back up to his. "Nick I uh…I just kicked your parents out of my house…and you're in here trying to comfort me…what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. Anna what my mom said to you was wrong and couldn't be farther from the truth."
Anna nodded slowly and looked into his big brown eyes. "I'm sorry I over reacted…I tend to do that." She said smirking. Nick smiled and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "Get ready for drama Stokes."
"Hey, the course of true love never did run smooth." Nick quoted and Anna chuckled and kissed him softly.
"You've said that twice today."
"Wow…well you are dramatic." He joked and she swatted his arm.
"I feel bad for kicking your parents out. Well…"
Nick chuckled. "You feel bad for kicking my mom out." Nick finished. "She can be hard to take."
"Do you think I should let her stay?"
"No." Nick answered automatically. She bit her lower lip and Nick leaned in to kiss her quickly on the lips, he rested his forehead against hers. "Darlin…do what you want. What she said to you was wrong."
"But why punish your Dad for it?"
"Because he didn't try to stop her." Nick said.
Anna chuckled. "Geez Baby, you seem kinda cold about this."
"She made you cry…I don't like that." Nick said and Anna merely looked at him. Her lips twitched into a smile.
"Nicky…how long are you planning on staying here?"
"Probably until my parents leave. Why?" He asked not catching on.
She smiled. "How about they stay somewhere sort of close, not too far away, but far enough as to where I don't have to come into contact with her. But Regan and I can still visit your father." Anna suggested and Nick smiled.
He took her by the hand and the two of them walked out of Anna's room and down the hall, through the dining room, kitchen, and stopped outside the guest room door. Nick gripped Anna's hand tighter and knocked on the door. "Mama, Daddy, I need to talk to you."
The door opened and Bill appeared in the door way. He looked at Nick, then Anna, "I'm sorry Anna…I'm sorry for my wife's behavior."
"Maybe you should've done something to stop her." Nick said and Bill hung his head momentarily, and then looked his son in the eye.
"I'm sorry son."
"She didn't say it to me…" Nick hinted and Bill looked at Anna again.
"I'm deeply sorry Anna."
"Well we have an idea." Anna began. "Instead of the two of you going back to Texas, you can stay at Nick's apartment while Nicky stays here…because I frankly can't bear to see her everyday, but Nick can still easily keep contact and Regan and I can see you."
Bill smiled and looked at Nick. "She's a smart one." He said jerking his head towards Anna.
Nick smiled. "That's one of the reasons I've fallen for her." Anna blushed.
"Okay…Nicky, why don't you show them the way to your apartment and get them settled in there tonight." Anna replied and Nick and Bill nodded, smiling. Being forced away from her baby boy was punishment enough, but the fact that he would be staying in a huge house, alone, with his girlfriend would practically drive her insane.
"Let's break the news to your mother son."
"I think she'll prefer going to Texas than have her baby boy staying here with me." Anna whispered as Nick and his father snickered and walked into the room. They left Anna standing outside the room so she could hear, but didn't have to see Jillian. "Mama." He said and he and Bill stood by the door and looked at her as she packed her bags with a slight spring in her step.
"Nicky, is your bag packed?"
Nick shook his head. "No Ma'am, I'm stayin here."
Jillian stopped and looked at them. "What?"
"Jillian, we're going to stay at Nicholas' apartment while he stays here…with Anna." Bill replied and Jillian dropped her jaw.
"W-w-what w-why? No, no Nick. You should come with us." She took a step towards him. "Nicholas…" She said desperately and Nick shook his head.
"No Ma'am. I'm stayin here with Anna. After the emotional and verbal heartbreak she endured tonight I think she needs a shoulder to cry on." Nick replied diplomatically. He and his father crossed their arms over their chests.
Jillian looked back and forth between the two, desperate for any sign of this being a joke. She huffed. "I might as well go back to Texas." She plopped herself on the bed and Nick heard a snicker from Anna, her suspicion had been right.
"Mama, we still want you here so we can see you, but I think its time Anna, Regan, and I had our space."
Jillian looked up and glared. "You just want me out so you can be free to fornicate with that little-"
"Jillian enough!" Bill interrupted and reached back and put his hand on the door and held it shut, sure enough to his suspicions, Anna pushed against the door but Bill held it in place.
"Well that-"
"Hey, hey, hey." Nick interrupted. "Her name is Anna. And you brought this upon yourself. And if something does happen that's none of your business."
"Oh, none of my business. I gave birth to you Nicholas. I gave you life."
"Exactly, you gave me one. That makes it mine, not yours. You have to know where the line between your life and my life is, and don't cross it. I love you Mama…but you gotta give me room to breathe. Yeah, I made mistakes in the past, I treated girls like nothing more than a good time…but Anna's not like that. I care about her, I respect her and I would never hurt her…and I know she feels the same way about me." Nick replied and his mother looked at him defeat.
She clenched her jaw and looked at the two men. "Well…I guess that's it then." She zipped her bag and turned back around to face them. "I want to leave tonight." She pushed passed them and opened the door. The men winced and waited for Anna's hiding spot to be revealed. When nothing was heard they turned around confused. Jillian was frowning at the door. She was sure Anna had been listening through the other side. Jillian huffed. "Let's go Bill."
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Delmarco Residence
Wednesday
May 11, 2004
12:16 a.m.
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Nick walked through Anna's front door and looked around. The television was on and Anna was asleep on the couch, waiting for him. He smiled as he rounded the couch and knelt down in front of her. He felt a smile grace his lips as he took in her appearance. She had washed off all of her makeup, changed into a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt and socks, and had tied her hair up into a pony tail and was curled up hugging a blanket.
Nick brushed a stray hair, that had escaped from her pony tail, out of her face and kissed her cheek. She moved slightly and moaned as she stretched and rubbed her eyes. "Mmhhmm." She said and Nick chuckled. She blinked and looked at him. She brought her hand to his face and rubbed where the scruff had already begun to grow. "Hey." She said softly and stroked his cheek, being careful to avoid the bruises and cuts he had attained from earlier. She sighed and Nick took her hand off his face and kissed her palm, she smiled as he put it back on his face.
"All better. And Good mornin Beautiful." He said and rubbed his hand across her cheek.
"Hi Hon." She said sleepily and she shifted so that she was lying on her back. He saw that she was wearing the locket necklace he gave her and smiled. Nick put his arm on the couch behind her and leaned on her so he could give her a kiss.
"I have good news…they're gone. They're at my house." Nick said and she smiled. "They settled into my apartment and they're staying there." He said and crawled on the couch next to her. She turned to face him so he was between her and the back of the couch. "They're going to stay there till Friday…they'll be out of your house."
Anna chuckled. "Yay! Don't get me wrong, I adore your father, and I'm sure your mother can be a great person." Anna said and Nick chuckled. "I'm just used to it being Regan and I like all the time. So to have three more people in my house all the time…" She inhaled and sighed. "…it's tough to take at times."
Nick chuckled and put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "You sayin you want me to leave?" He asked playfully and Anna chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head to hers so she could kiss him. He inhaled and pressed his hand flat against her back and pressed her to him. He cocked his head and kissed her neck and she giggled and cringed as she squished her body into his. He chuckled and she kissed his ear. "Oooh! Feisty." He mumbled and she chuckled and shoved his shoulder lightly. Nick stopped kissing her and pulled back.
She growled. "Okay, okay…we have to think of something to use as a 'safe word'."
"What's a 'safe word'?"
"Come on! You have sex more than anyone I know and you don't know what a 'safe word' is?" Nick shrugged. "Okay, it's a word you say during sex, foreplay, or making out when you seriously want the other person to stop doing what they're doing and back off."
"Well why don't say stop?"
"Because whenever I play around when you tickle me and say stop you actually stop even though I don't mean it. It's like another anti-boner for you."
"Well…" Nick shrugged.
"And that's okay, it's sexy that you're like that…but we have to think of something."
"Hmm. How about…grandma."
She laughed. "Well…that's good, but I don't think if we're in the middle of sex, I want the word grandma being shouted at me."
Nick chuckled and sat up as she did also. "So, you're ready for sex?"
"Well…I don't know. I don't think I'm ready for it right away…but eventually…maybe. I don't have any intentions of dumping you so…I think I like you Nicky." She said in a baby voice and cuddled up to Nick. He chuckled and she sat on his lap sideways and threw her arms around his shoulders. "I think I'm gonna keep you for a while."
Nick smiled. "Well…I like you too. And I have a confession." She shifted so that she was now straddling him and his hands rested on her thighs. "I had the best nap ever this after noon. Seriously…it was amazing."
"Me too!" She said mock-excitedly and Nick laughed.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Never." She replied and kissed his lips gently and chuckled when she felt something against her thigh. "Oops…sorry."
He chuckled. "You just got right to work the minute my parents were outta here huh?"
She laughed. "I can't help it you're so damn excitable. You're like a friggin puppy in heat…ya horndog." Nick tickled her side and she shifted her hips against his in a grinding motion. She felt him inhale and she put her hand over her mouth. "Oops, sorry again."
He growled. "Anna…" He moaned her name and she laughed. "Don't start somethin you can't finish baby." He chuckled
"You started it. You tickled me first buddy." She poked him in the chest. Nick squeezed her hips.
"Don't do that." He growled as he smirked and she grinned deviously.
"What, this?" She shifted her hips and he gritted his teeth.
"Anna…no fair. Girls have it easy." Nick said and Anna laughed.
"What?"
"Yeah, when girls are horney they can just walk around and act like its no big deal. But guys, we've got this…" He gestured to his pants and chuckled.
She shoved his shoulder and laughed. "It's tough for women too ya know."
"Oh yeah, walking around with a huge bump in your pants must be terrible…oh wait, that's us."
"Okay, now who are you referring to when you say 'us'?" She teased and Nick shook his head. "Baby, I'm sorry that I uh, made you frustrated, but…"
"I know, you're not ready."
"Even if I was, we don't have protection so…"
"Yes, but I could run out to the store and be back in like ten minutes." Nick said shifting her off of him and lying back so that she was sitting next to him.
"You're Hell bent and eager…a funny combination."
"For you maybe."
She chuckled and lay back down next to him and he enveloped her in his arms. "You're cute, but that black eye is getting bad."
"I'm gonna have to borrow your makeup tomorrow." Nick relied and she laughed. "We still need a safe word, and we know grandma is out." He pointed out.
"What about dog?"
"I think I'd take that offensive." He joked.
"Well what about computer?"
"Are you making up random words?"
She laughed. "You could help me out. Give me a random word…anything."
"Okay…biscuits." She laughed and Nick smirked. "Biscuits it is." He held her tighter and she chuckled and buried her head in his neck.
"Let's give it a test run." She said quickly and started nibbling on his ear. He felt a chill go up his spine as her hands glided over his chest, down to the waist band of his jeans, and under his shirt. She let her loose fingers drag on his flesh and he met her lips with a fiery kiss. His hands went up the back of her shirt and he pressed his flat palm into the small of her back, forcing her body to meld with his. She moaned softly and Nick felt desire rise through him. He moved to kiss the flesh of her shoulder that was exposed by the shifting of her shirt and he let his hands explore the bare flesh of the flash underneath her shirt on her back. "Biscuits." She replied and subconsciously, Nick pulled away from her and then looked at her confused at how he'd done that.
She chuckled at the expression on his face. "Well…that works."
She laughed. "It's like your entire 'system' shut down."
"Well, I'll admit, I've been with a lot of women, and hearing the word 'biscuit' when we're fooling around is a little strange."
"Well good…biscuit stays."
"Hey Darlin…"
"Yes?"
"Um, kinda personal question comin your way."
"Alright." She snuggled into his embrace as they relaxed on the couch.
"Are you a virgin?" He asked seriously and she burst out laughing. Nick blushed. "Is that a no?"
"Far from it baby."
"Ahh, this entire time you dogged me about bein a Playboy…are you a Playboy bunny?" He joked and she chuckled.
"You wish…but no." She stood up and stretched.
"What, do you like, have a kid or somethin?" He joked and she walked into the kitchen. "When did you loose your virginity?" He asked following her.
"Wow, what a great midnight talk, so romantic." She joked and he plopped down on a stool by the bar/counter and watched her put water into a pot and let it boil.
"Well if you don't want to talk about it."
"When did you loose yours?" She countered and Nick stared at her blankly. She searched his eyes and frowned when she saw them darken.
"Touché." He replied dryly and nodded his head as if it was a joke and he was trying to shake it off.
Anna raised her brow. "You okay Hon?" She put her hand on his forearm and he nodded.
"Uh huh. I'm just tired." He lied and the squeal of the tea pot cut off whatever she was about to say. She poured the water into two mugs and took two packets of hot chocolate mix out and mixed them in. She handed Nick a cup and kept one for herself. They stayed as they were for almost ten minutes, without saying anything. Nick stole a glance at her and could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking about something. "What ya thinkin 'bout Darlin?" He drawled, his tiredness affecting his accent.
She shook her head and looked at him. "Nothing." She jumped up and sat on the island and continued to sip her hot chocolate. Nick did the same with his and set his mug in the sink when he was finished. He walked around to the counter and stood in front of her. He put his hands on either sides of her thighs and shifted his weight to one foot as he looked up to her eyes. She gave a crooked smile and finished off the last of her hot chocolate. He took the cup from her and put it in the sink. He walked back over to her and rested his forehead on her chest, so that he was face to face with her cleavage. She chuckled and ran her fingers through his hair and they stayed like that, in compatible silence.
After a few minutes he looked up. "Ready to go to sleep Sugar?" Nick drawled affectionately and she smiled and nodded. He wrapped her legs around his waist and slid her off the counter so that he was holding her. She chuckled.
"Anything to grab my ass, huh Nick?" She joked and he smirked and nodded.
"Damn straight."
She chuckled wrapped her arms around his neck so she could have balance. "Wanna sleep in my room? I'll even let you in the bed this time." She joked and he looked at her nodding.
"Yes, and I'll be the perfect gentleman."
She smiled. "I trust you. And we can't do anything anyway…"
"Yep…lack of condoms and aptitude of Southern Gentleman morals keeps us pure." Nick joked.
"At least for now." She said in a low voice and wiggled her eyebrows.
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Stokes Residence
6:05 a.m.
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The harsh drone of the alarm clock buzzed in Jillian's ear, and she moaned as she rolled over and hit the snooze button. Bill was sleeping soundly next to her and she sighed. "I miss the comfy bed." She whined to herself.
"Well maybe you shouldn't have been such a bitch to Anna; we could still be sleeping on the Heaven sent mattress." Bill replied lazily. Jillian sighed.
"Shut up." She rolled over and threw the pillow over her face. Bill chuckled.
"Out of bed ya lazy head." He ordered and grabbed her foot to drag her out of the bed. She moaned.
"I hate this. I just wanna lay in bed all day and mope."
Bill opened his mouth to protest but caught himself and formed an idea. "Alright honey, you can lie in the bed that your baby boy has fornicated in with dozens of women every night…and this bed didn't always have two inhabitants when it was seeing action." Bill said and Jillian jumped ten feet out of the bed.
"Oh GOD! We slept on that!"
Bill chuckled. "We wouldn't be here if-"
"I weren't such a bitch…I know."
"Have you learned your lesson?" Bill asked and Jillian nodded. Bill smiled and walked out of the room.
"Yeah, next time, don't get caught." Jillian mumbled to herself.
"What was that honey?"
"I just asked if we were having eggs for breakfast."
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Delmarco Residence
Kitchen
6:23 a.m.
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"Regan your French toast is ready!" Anna called from the kitchen and Nick walked up behind her and leaned over her shoulder to kiss her cheek. He lingered there for a moment then did, what Anna had deemed, 'the puppy kiss'. He sniffed, breathed, kissed, licked, and snarled on her neck and tickled her excessively. She giggled and cringed at her neck and Nick kissed her cheek again.
"Mornin Sugar." He drawled and grabbed a coffee cup and filled it with fresh coffee from the pot.
She chuckled and turned around to face him and chuckled. "You're in a good mood this morning baby."
"Yep…I slept really good last night."
"Laying in that bed is like laying in a cloud, huh?" She smiled and continued making French toast.
"Eh, I don't think it's the bed so much as the beautiful woman next to me." Nick remarked and Anna chuckled while looking over her shoulder and winking. "Are you workin today?"
"Nope…not till next Monday. When do you go back to work?" She turned on the water so she could soak the frying pan in which she had been making breakfast awaiting his answer.
"Saturday."
Anna nodded and turned to face him and wrap her arms around his neck. "What are we gonna do today?"
"Well, we've been out on the boat, we've been to the movies, we've gone put put golfing, we've gone out to eat, we've gone out to see the sights…I think we've done it all Sweetheart." Nick replied and Anna chuckled.
"Well there is one thing…remember when we were talking on our first date, and you told me you once went paragliding?"
"No uh uh, no. You are not going paragliding. It's too dangerous."
"But you went." She whined.
"And I almost got my head taken off by a flock of seagulls, crashed into a range of mountains, and went up too high like that paraglider that died did."
She swatted his arm. "Nick! You went paragliding when you knew someone had recently died from doing it?"
"I uh…I actually worked the case and went gliding that afternoon."
"Nick! What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't…"
She scoffed, "Good answer."
"I can promise I won't do it again."
"Well good…but I'm still going."
"What? But I just told you how dangerous it was…why are you still going?"
"Pretty stupid choice huh?" She smirked knowingly and he rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright…you've made your point I made a stupid choice. I promise I will never do it again or anything else in which I have finished working a case in which they died." He pledged and held up his 'Boy Scout's Honor' sign. She chuckled.
"Well good. Now what are we gonna do today? Oh wait…" She walked to her fridge and looked inside. "We probably need to go grocery shopping."
Nick laughed, "You do realize that's where I picked you up at right?"
"Correction, I picked you up."
"Did not."
"Who asked who to dinner?"
"Regan asked me…it took both of us to convince you to give me a shot." Nick reminded her and she blushed.
"Yeah but I like you now."
"Finally! Took ya long enough. I was crazy for ya the minute I met you." Nick replied and she chuckled.
"Judging by your crazy ass stories…I'd say you were crazy before you met me."
"True…but your natural craziness drove me over the edge."
"Sorry."
"It's okay…" He brought her closer to him and lowered his lips to hers but didn't make contact. His hands gently cupped her face. "I kinda like it." He said deeply and his lips gently brushed hers. She drew her lips closer to his but he pulled away slightly. She frowned playfully and he leaned back in, but before he reached her lips he backed away smirking. She wrinkled her nose, put her hands on either sides of his face, and roughly pulled him towards her.
He chuckled as she kissed him. She moaned in protest, "Quit laughing. Shut up and kiss me."
"I think that's a song."
She groaned and pushed him away mock-angrily. Nick chuckled and went to kiss her shoulder. "No, I don't want your kisses anymore. Go do what you need to do."
"Fine." Nick said pulling away, knowing that she wasn't serious but she was trying to be. He walked away and picked up his keys.
"Wait your not gonna kiss me goodbye first?" She asked innocently and as if she was offended. Nick shook his head chuckling.
"Nope."
She dropped her jaw and then gave him a puppy face. He laughed and walked to the counter to lean over and give her a passionate kiss. "See now, if you would've done that in the first place we could have saved ourselves," She looked at her watch. "Two minutes."
"Eh, this was funner."
"'Funner' isn't a word."
"Yes huh."
"No huh, go ask Regan. And tell her to hurry up because she needs to be at school." Anna called over her shoulder and wiped down the counters.
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Nick's Tahoe
8:04 a.m.
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"What do you mean Jen isn't there? Well I saw her last night…no she was fine…really? Well if she shows up let me know." Anna replied and hung up with Mac.
"What?" Nick asked as she had a suspicious look on her face.
"Baby, call Greg for me. I have an idea." Nick arched his brow.
"If it involves getting rid of me I'm not dialing."
Anna leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Nope." She replied and Nick smiled and took out his phone, while shifting his eyes between the road and the phone as he dialed. He handed her the phone and waited for her response. "Greg?"
"Yeah?" He answered drowsily.
"Wow, you don't sound too good. Are you okay?"
"I'm just hung over."
"Oh, you went out for drinks?"
"Yeah."
"Alone?"
"No. I mean yes!"
Anna smirked. "Really? That's funny, my friend, Jennifer, she's hung over too. She came into the diner with a killer headache. Yeah, poor Jen. I hope she makes it through the day. She's still a little drunk."
"But Jennifer's here with me." Greg blurted and Anna grinned from ear to ear.
"I knew it!" She yelled. "You and Jen hooked up last night!"
"Did not." He lied.
"Then why is she in the background murmuring for you to get back in bed?" Greg was silent. "Uh huh." Anna said knowingly.
"Can I have the phone?" Nick whispered and she handed it to him. "Greggo? You hooked up with Jen?"
He moaned. "Yeah, sorta."
Nick chuckled. "Well Anna, at least one goal from our party came through." Nick said loud enough for both parties to hear.
"You planned on this?" Greg shouted.
"Well we didn't think you two would pull a 'Nick'." Anna shouted so Greg could hear.
"Hey." Greg and Nick chorused, both offended.
"Why?" Greg asked.
"I had to get ya off my woman somehow." Nick joked knowing Anna would get pissed at how he referred to her.
"Your woman!" She shouted. "Gimme the phone." Anna motioned for it and Nick chuckled. "Well that was Fonzi's plan…your woman." She mumbled the last part and rolled her eyes. "I did it because I thought you two would go cute together. You like hot girls and she likes crazy guys."
Greg moaned. "Thanks…I think."
Anna chuckled. "Go back to sleep. Be good to her Greg."
"I will."
"And Greg,"
"Yes?"
"If you ever refer to her as 'your woman'…ask Nick what you put on your wounds from a 'pissed off girlfriend ass kicking'." Anna instructed and Greg chuckled.
"Ooooo! Nicky's in trouble." Greg said once Anna handed Nick the phone.
"Shut up." Nick mumbled and turned off the phone. He looked over at her and gave an innocent smile. "Sorry Anna. You're not my woman, you're your own woman who just happens to be my girlfriend…a girlfriend who I'm crazy about."
"I take it this has happened before."
"Oh yeah!"
"So why do you keep doing it?"
"I'm a man. I'm programmed not to learn."
She chuckled, "Good luck advancing in your career."
Nick grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it. "Sorry Sweetheart." He apologized and Anna smiled sheepishly.
"Thank you." He kissed her hand again and smiled as they pulled into the grocery store parking lot.
"Ah, the grocery store of love." Nick said in a French accent.
"Do you know how to speak French?"
"No."
"Oh…"
"Do you?"
"No."
"Why are we talking about this?"
"I don't know." Nick unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car. "You brought it up."
They grabbed a cart and wheeled it into the store. "No huh. You started it with the French accent." She pointed out and Nick rolled his eyes.
"You act like a little kid sometimes." He accused.
"Yeah, it's sad. My kid sister is more of an adult than I am at times." Anna said as they turned down the first isle.
"Shopping is boring." Nick said changing the subject. Anna chuckled.
"I know a game we can play. Do you have a pen?" Anna asked and Nick handed her a pen. "Okay, this is the Shopping Kiss Game. Each time you find an item on the list you put your initial next to that item that you found. Each initial is equal to one kiss. Once we find everything on the list we collect our kisses." Anna explained with a smile. Nick smiled.
"Hmm…you make act like a little kid at times, but you sure know how to make things fun." He stated and she gave an I-can't-help-it smile.
"So, you in?"
Nick chuckled. "Definitely." Nick replied and she handed him the list.
"Go."
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Zippy's Supermarket
9:37 a.m.
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"I creamed your ass Stokes!" She gloated.
Nick pouted as he loaded the bags into his Tahoe. "Yeah, well…you know the store better than I do."
Anna snorted in an un-lady like manner. Nick chuckled as they finished loading the bags and he tried to watch her without letting her know that he was. It still annoyed him that she did most things for herself and hassled him when he tried to help, but they were getting better at it. She started letting him help her with some things with only mild complaints. While Nick tried to assist less and let her do some things for herself with only mild hassles to let him help.
"Quit being a baby." She turned once he slid the last bag in the Tahoe. "I'll take my kisses now." She said sweetly.
"Oh really…well, I want my two and a half kisses."
She chuckled. "You're actually counting that 'half find'."
"Hell yeah!" He walked her to her car door and opened it for her, held out his hand to help her in, and closed the door once she was settled in. He walked back around to his side and slid into the car. "Kisses. Now. Please."
Anna chuckled and leaned over to kiss him on the lips. She did once, then twice, then let her lips linger over his for a moment, her soft red lips brushed his; barely touching his, and then she pulled away. "That was for your half kiss."
Nick moaned. "I should've just stuck with the two kisses."
She laughed. "You know I'm one of the best teases in the world." Nick arched a brow and she rolled her eyes and slowly nodded. "Okay, okay, at least the greater Las Vegas area." She reasoned and Nick chuckled.
"And I know this…so why do I torture myself with you?"
"I think it's because, 'I'm a man. I'm programmed not to learn.'" She said in a husky Southern accent. He blinked at her then cracked a smile.
"You are not nice."
"You do not learn."
"Touché."
She chuckled and turned back around to face forward in her seat. "So, I need to drop this stuff off at the house but after that you get to choose the next event of the day."
"Well uh, I may have to abandon you temporarily while you put away the groceries. I have to go see my parents and I didn't think you'd want to go see them with me."
Anna chuckled. "Not just yet. Give it a few days."
"I figured."
"Yeah, that's fine. I wanna change outta my sweats anyway."
"Nah, I think you're adorable in your sweats."
She chuckled. "No, you go and…abandon me." She said dramatically. "But…I will take my 21 kisses now." She replied and looked at him slyly. He chuckled and leaned over the cup holder to meet her lips. He gave her twenty quick kisses. "Hey! No fair! That was like a friggin machine gun." She whined and Nick leaned back over to give her a long, fiery, passionate kiss. He pulled away and she moaned again. "Ugh…now I know what its like to be you after we kiss." She said and turned back to the front of the car.
He arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" She pouted and ignored him. She quickly looked at him from the corners of her eyes and continued pouting. "Baby, what do you-" Suddenly it dawned on him. "Oh! I teased you!" He smiled in accomplishment and she frowned.
"Yeah, yeah. Congratulations, you finally teased your girlfriend…you want a medal?"
"Not exactly the kind of reward I was thinking of but…"
She slapped his arm. "Don't! Be nice to me." She said trying not to laugh.
He gasped in shock. "Be nice to you! You get pleasure out of teasing me!"
She chuckled despite herself. "Don't contradict me, I'm cute." She argued and Nick chuckled.
"Aww…poor baby." He moved closure to her and put his hand on her knee and gently rubbed it. "This has to be hard for you." He said jokingly and she brushed his hand away and pouted.
"Don't touch me." She snapped half seriously. Nick chuckled and gave his signature smile.
"Oooh, you're cranky when you're teased." Nick chuckled and looked out the window at the store behind them. "Want me to run back into the store?" Nick asked and Anna sighed.
"No…don't wanna keep your parents waiting." She replied and Nick chuckled.
"Well then we're buying you some Ben and Jerry's because you need some satisfaction." Nick replied in all seriousness and Anna bent over in her seat laughing. Nick smiled innocently at her. "What?"
She shook her head and continued laughing. "We're stopping at the first 7-11 we see. I need Ben and Jerry's."
A/N: Sorry I took so long with the update…I finally have a full on plan and outline for the book…it should flow easier now. --crosses fingers-- hopefully. I know the last part of the chapter was just rambling...but it was cute and it actually had VIP facts in it...see, I don't just put random things in the book...I have a plan...sort of
R&R
