Chapter Twenty-Three

Impulsive

SmackDown rolled into Las Vegas, setting up shop at the MGM Grand for a special edition of the show. Dave and Cassie were curled up on the couch in his locker room, watching the action unfold on the television. He had his arm around her. Her head was rested against his shoulder. It had been a long couple of weeks, but the fervor over what had happened between them had finally died down. Life was becoming peaceful again. Unfortunately, they had quieted down, too. Cassie noticed they had gone from being Edge and Lita to Booker and Sharmell, and she didn't like it. She wondered if Dave could sense it, too. But their schedules were pulling them in all sorts of directions, and they were always tired when they saw each other. All they really did these days was sleep. She was constantly being sent around the world to do promotional work, and Dave was constantly doing interviews and other things. They barely had time to say words to each other, let alone do anything remotely fun.

"Do you feel like going out and doing something tonight?" he asked her softly. She stared up at him with those big brown eyes that made his heart melt. He could tell she was exhausted. So was he. Dave was fresh off a recent leg of house shows, while Cassie had just spent some time in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dave thought she looked great in spite of her exhaustion. She wore a denim skirt and a pink V-neck sweater that showed off only the slightest hint of cleavage. Her hair was back in a high ponytail that swung back and forth when she walked. A simple gold locket and black knee-high leather boots completed the look.

"Mmhmm."

"You want to get a little wild tonight?" he asked her. She felt a surge of warmth at the suggestion.

"Oh no - remember what happened last time?"

"No. That was the point, I thought." She laughed.

"I think we'll just go out tonight and enjoy ourselves. Sober. Capiche?"

"Oh, all right," Dave grumbled, but the twinkle in his eye told Cassie he was joking around with her.

Jillian and Ashley Massaro were sitting at a back table at Cheetah's nightclub when Dave and Cassie arrived. They joined them at the back table. Ashley was dressed in a long black tank top that read "Talk Shit, Get Hit" and leopard print leggings. Jillian looked like she belonged in a lounge as opposed to a trendy nightclub, dressed in a shimmering violet dress that made her blue eyes pop. Guys were hitting on Ashley left and right, making the 2005 Diva Search winner more than slightly annoyed.

"Are you two out for round two?" Jillian teased.

"Funny, Jillian," Cassie drawled, taking her place at the table beside Jillian. Dave was wedged between Cassie and Ashley, who nodded a curt hello to Dave.

"Oh, I try," Jillian giggled, taking a sip of red wine. "Any plans for tonight, you two?"

"Nothing too crazy. I thought we'd break out the whips and chains in the hotel elevator. Give everyone a good show, since everyone was so upset they missed the last one," Cassie replied nonchalantly. Dave almost choked and spit out his Malibu and club soda as the other Divas laughed. "You know, since our personal lives are so damn fascinating..."

"That it is," Ashley agreed with a laugh. She was drinking a whiskey sour. "You okay there, Dave? Don't die on us. The night's still young."

"Fine. I'm fine," Dave assured them. He shot a look at Cassie. "Do you even own anything like that?" Cassie blushed. She had walked into that one, and she knew it. She snorted.

"I'm not going to answer that. Especially with these two here," she answered, taking a swig of her strawberry Daiquiri.

"Tell me later?" he asked. She almost laughed. He was persistent.

"Sure." That seemed to pacify Dave. They were talking about work when Pantera's "Walk" began blaring over the loudspeakers. Ashley screeched.

"This song is a classic! I didn't think they were going to listen to my request. Come on! Let's hit the floor!" she shouted over the music. Everyone stood and filed out onto the dance floor. They jumped up and down like they were at a metal concert, crashing into each other. Dave moved close to Cassie, wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips were close to her ear.

"After this song, why don't you and I get out of here?" he whispered. His voice so close in her ear caused her to shudder. She nodded. Once the last chords faded out, Cassie said her goodbyes to Ashley and Jillian before leaving with Dave. They were disappointed, but not disappointed enough for Ashley to not make a comment about their sex life before they left. With his hand over hers, Dave led Cassie out.

They drove around Las Vegas, taking in the sights. They should have been back at the hotel, sleeping and getting ready for their flight in the morning, but neither of them cared. Dave and Cassie joked around, smiling and laughing and singing off-key to the music on the radio.

Cassie felt his eyes on her. She looked over at him. He was staring at her differently. She smiled back at him, but she felt slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. "Okay, Dave, I know that look. What are you thinking?"

"Well, we are in Vegas..." He turned his gaze back to the road. "It wouldn't be Vegas if we didn't do something wild and crazy, right?

"What do you have in mind?"

"Something crazy and spontaneous, Cassie. Are you game? You want to shock the hell out of everybody?"

"I say that sounds like a good idea. Let's do it. What do you have in mind?"

"Shocking the world. That's what I have in mind," he said, turning the car into the parking lot of the drive-thru wedding chapel.