A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
C POV
"You don't seem too disappointed the London trip is off.", Ros Bailey, my second in command at GEH says as we're finishing up lunch in my office. My business trip to London has been postponed. I've been working on closing a deal with Hanson Industries, but Gil Hanson, the CEO, lost his mother yesterday so the deal is at a stand still.
"It's sad that Gil Hanson's mother passed away, but his family is more important. I was also dreading getting on that plane. I sometimes feel like I'm traveling more than I'm home."
"Because you are. You weren't planning on being in the office so why don't you take a few days off. Stop and smell the roses." I'm reminded of the roses I sent to Ana. It was a milestone since it was the first time I had ever sent flowers to a woman other than my mom and sister.
"I might take a day off." Being in town will give me a chance to step up my plan to win over Ana. Ros stands and throws her empty plate in the garbage can.
"I wish you'd take off more time, but a day is a start.", she says before leaving the office.
I reply to an email from Sandra Wilson, the chairwoman of the Wilson Organization which helps abused women start new lives after escaping the nightmare of being battered by their spouse. She's asking if GEH might be willing to serve as a corporate sponsor for an upcoming fundraiser. Ms. Wilson is probably only asking because she knows of my charity work. Little does she or many people know is I've seen the abuse in a home first hand. I was only a small child, yet the memories of my birth mother being slapped, pushed, and kicked are still very much engrained in my memory. My birth father was an alcoholic who loved booze more than his family. He might have hit me a few times, but it was my mother who endured his wrath the most. Things came to a head one night when he pushed her down the stairs, causing her to break her neck and die. He got in his truck and drove off, leaving me alone in the house. The drunk bastard lost control of his truck and hit a tree. He died instantly. I love Carrick and Grace, yet I can't help but wonder what if my birth mother had the courage to leave.
"Penny for your thoughts?" I look up from the computer screen and see my mom standing in the middle of the room. "I'm sorry for showing up unannounced, but I wanted to see you before you left for London."
"London's not happening. The guy who I've been working on the deal with lost his mother."
"How sad.", my mom sighs as she sits in the chair Ros vacated.
"He said she was ninety and lived a good life which is comforting."
"I had lunch with Elena and Leila yesterday, and Leila said she had invited you to accompany her to Richard's birthday party, but you had to say no due to the London trip. Are you going to go now that you're going to be in Seattle?" I close out my email and shake my head fervently.
"Leila said she wanted us to go together as friends, but I know she still wants to be more even though I've told her I'm not interested.", I murmur.
"Leila's a lovely girl.", my mom says.
"Her being a lovely girl isn't good enough for me to date her. Besides, I'm interested in someone else." My mom's ears instantly perk up. Shit. I only wanted my mom to not continue with her interrogation over Leila, and now I've only made things worse. My mom met Ana at the hospital, yet I'm not about to tell her Ana's the woman I'm referring to. "Disregard the last part."
"Too late. You opened the door, and now you've got to elaborate."
"There's not much to say. I met a woman who I can't stop thinking about, but she says she's not interested even though her body language tells me that's not true. Part of me says to just wash my hands of her while the other part of me wants to keep trying." The face in front of me is beaming more and more. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"It's nice to hear something other than work has your brain in overdrive. My advice is to not give up. Keep expressing your feelings about her." She glances at her watch and stands. "I've got to get home and get ready for work. I'm working the late shift at the hospital." I get to my feet and walk around the desk to hug her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Word on the street is your trip to London is a no go." Glancing up from my phone I see Elliot standing in the doorway of my living room.
"Hi Elliot.", I mutter before going back to my phone. I'm not aware that he's in front of me until I feel my phone being snatched out of my hand. "What the fuck?" I jump off the sofa and try to get the phone which he's now holding behind his back. "Give me back my phone."
"On one condition. You come with me to Garage." I draw a blank look. "It's a cool ass place that has pool tables, bowling, and a bar. What better way to spend your Friday night than losing to your brother in a game of pool while drinking beer?"
"Me lose to you?", I scoff. "I win every time we play pool, and I'll go tonight to prove it." Elliot does a fist pump in the air as I stand.
"Great. How about we make a wager. If I win, you let me drive one of your cars for a week. You've got who knows how many so you won't notice one missing. What would you like in the slim chance you win." I tap my index finger againt my chin in an attempt to come up with something. "Name it."
"You have to eat a pickle." Elliot's a food lover, but he can't pickles. My mom tried years ago to get him to eat one, and he literally burst into tears until she gave up.
"Dude, you might as well have asked me to rob a bank. You know damn well how much I hate pickles."
"Either take it or let." I extend my hand to him, and after several moments of contemplation, he shakes it.
"Any news on the Ana front?", Elliot asks as we're playing pool. Trying to figure out my next move, I give him a harsh glare. "I'm not trying to distract. I'm simply asking."
"I sent her eleven red roses and a white one along with a card that read "In every bunch there's one that stands out, and you are that one." Elliot almost gets choked on his beer. "It's not something I would normally do, but she's not just a normal girl. I've always did the deed with a woman and moved on. There's never been any inclination to take things further. Ana, though is different." I knock the six ball into the left corner pocket.
"Show off. Step aside and watch the master. I'm going to knock the five ball in the right corner pocket."
"Um..I'm not sure how that's going to happen but help yourself." Elliot blows out a breath and closes his eyes. "Are you going to sleep or going to play pool?" He answers by opening his eyes and taking his position. My concentration on him is broken when I spot Ana walking through the door with her friend Kate. Fuck Ana is smoking hot in her jeans and red one shoulder blouse.
"I did it!", Elliot shouts. "And you didn't see it." He follows my eyes and sees Ana. "Oh. This night just better. Who's the blonde with Ana?"
"Her friend Kate.", I reply. It's Kate who spots me first. She smiles and whispers something in Ana's ear. I worry that Ana's going to give me the finger and walk out the door. She surprises me by walking in my direction. "Ladies, hello."
"Hi.", Ana mutters to me. She turns her head to Elliot. "We met at the hospital. Elliot, right?"
"The one and only. It's good to see you again Ana. Christian says your friend is named Kate which is a perfect name for an angel." Ana laughs at Elliot's cheesy line, but Kate blushes and steps closer.
"It's very nice to meet you Elliot.", Kate says softly. She licks her lips and motions to the pool stick he's still holding. "That's a big stick you've got."
"Baby, you have no idea.", Elliot smirks. "I was in the middle of a game of pool with my brother. He's never won against me, and I'm leaning towards letting him win just to help his ego."
"I'm sure Christian's ego is just fine.", Ana scoffs.
"In any case, would you and Kate like to be spectators?", I ask Ana. She glances over at Kate who's deep in conversation with Elliot.
"It seems your opponent has other ideas."
"Christian, would it be cool if we do a draw? I'd like to buy Kate a drink and get to her better?", Elliot asks. I could be an asshole and say no, but Elliot talking to Kate would free up Ana up for me.
"Go ahead.", I tell Elliot. He wastes no time in taking Kate's hand and leading her to the bar. I flash a grin at Ana. "How about you and I get some drinks as well?" With a shake of her head, Ana grabs the pool stick Elliot had been holding. "You want to play pool?"
"I want to play pool. I'm quite good at it."
"I bet you are good at it, but I'm better." She waltzes to the pool table and leans against it. I can picture us fucking right there on top of it. "But if you want to play, we can play. If I win, I get dinner with you."
"I'm not sure what I want so I'll decide later.", she smiles. "Let's play."
Thirty minutes later, Ana and I are nearing the end of our game. What I thought was going to be an easy win has been the most challenging game of pool I've ever played although I shouldn't be shocked considering Ana's the most challenging woman I've ever met. She brushes against me, making me even harder than I was.
"Sorry.", she says, yet I'm not so convinced she is sorry. "I win if I make this last shot." She studies the table and makes her move by knocking the six ball in the left corner pocket. "That Mr. Grey is how you play pool."
"Tell me the truth. How long have you been hustling people in pool?", I ask.
"I've been playing since I was thirteen. We moved into a house that had an extra room. My mom wanted to make it a sewing room while my dad wanted to put a pool table in it. They let me make the decision which was a compromise. My mom's sewing maching went in there as well as my dad's new pool table. I would split my time by learning how to make clothes and by learning how to play pool."
"You're a woman of many talents who I unfortunately won't get the chance to know better." I set down my pool stick. "Congratulations on the win and good luck with whatever happens in life." I'm about to start walking away but feel her grab hold of my arm.
"So that's it? You're done?" I didn't want to be done, but it might finally be time to accept the fact that I need to stop my pursuit.
"You won, and I assumed your prize would be for me to leave you alone."
"You really shouldn't assume things. I've decided what I want my prize to be. You and I can have coffee at a time and place of my choosing." I pinch my arm and close my eyes, opening them to see that everything is still the same.
"I was making sure I wasn't dreaming. I heard right then?"
"You heard right. You, me, and coffee."