"No Longer Neighbors"
Chapter 2
Thank you Olivia for all your help an ideas!
Thanks Rainbow for all your help as my Beta!
Thank you JE for letting my play with your characters.
A/N: Character's thoughts in Italic.
Previously...
He had waited almost a year to share these places, these experiences with her. Now, finally, he would get the chance. She was only here for this one night. Her flight would leave tomorrow afternoon, but he was hoping this was the beginning. The beginning of more visits. The beginning of more.
…...
"Good night." He laid a small kiss on her lips before walking away and shutting the door gently behind him.
...
An hour later Ashley emerge refreshed and re-energized from her nap. She found Woody in the small apartment office busy with some paperwork. She gave a light knock at the door. He lifted his head and smiled at her.
"Feeling better, Sleeping Beauty?"
"Yes, thank you. I guess you were right. I was a little tired."
"Never doubt that I am always right." He teased.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far." She walked into the room. "Am I intruding?"
"No, of course not." He held out his hand to her. She walked closer and took it in hers. "I'm never too busy for you."
"So, how is business? Do you like it here?" She questioned.
"Oh, no you don't. No work talk. It's Ashley time." He stood and kissed her cheek.
"Ashley time? I think I liked that."
"I know I do." He replied making her blush.
"Um... So, what are you planning for Ashley time?" She asked.
"A night on the town of course." He winked. "If you were here a little longer I would love to bring you to six flags and try and scare you on the roller coasters."
"Eek. Glad I am only here for tonight then." She joked. "A night on the town... I'm not sure what I brought to wear."
He lead her to the living room and gestured for her to sit on the couch. "Close your eyes."
She gave him a questioning look, but then did as he asked. Woody waved his hand in front of her eyes to check if she was cheating, then ran to his bedroom closet. He returned a minute later with a large garment bag and a shoe box. He laid the bag across her lap. "OK. Open it." He announced.
"Woody, what did you do? You don't have to buy me presents, and..."
"Not listening. Open it." He insisted.
She sighed and did as he asked. She unzipped the garment bag to find a beautiful black silk dress trimmed with a small amount of crystals here and there. "Oh Woody. It's...it's beautiful!"
"Don't forget the box." He added.
"This is too much. I can't..."
"Not listening. Do what I say." He laughed.
She giggled at his bossiness and opened the box. Inside was a pair of black stilettos with a touch of scattered crystals. She stared at them open mouthed.
He gently walked closer, lifted her chin to close her mouth, and kissed her softly on the lips.
"I can't wait to see you in them. Oh, and the dress too."
She was breathless and speechless. Flirty Woody was new to her. Add to that the fact that it had been a year since she had any kind of attention, and she was ready to burst into flames with just a kiss.
...
Woody couldn't believe his dreams were finally coming true. He finally had the woman he had loved for almost two years now in his arms.
He guided her by the small of her back from the elevator to the GeO-Deck at the Reunion Tower. The observation deck gave you a 360 degree view of the city, and at night... with all the lights...it was amazing.
"Woody! This is incredible." She marveled.
He watched her as she looked through the kaleidoscope structural beams at the landscape. "Yes, you are."
She turned a bright shade of pink, then turned to him, and placed a kiss on his cheek.
They spent some time admiring the view and Woody pointed out different landmarks to her. He didn't want to man handle her as Tank always did, but he understood the urge to. He wanted to constantly touch her, hold her, kiss her, but he tried to control himself.
Soon, he lead her to Five Sixty, a fine dining restaurant in the tower run by Wolfgang Puck.
"Woody, this is extraordinary!" She turned and looked out the window at the city slowly spinning by as the restaurant turned.
"Only the best for you." He reached over and held her hand across the table. "I wanted you to remember our first date."
She smiled at him. "I would never forget a date with you, especially this one." She laughed.
Dinner continued with a small touch of the hand here, a flattering comment there, but was mostly filled with smiles.
I could stare at that sunshine of a smile for the rest of my life.
I want to tell her I love her.
I need to shout it!
I just don't want to come on too strong like Tank and scare her.
"Have I told you how much I love you in that dress yet tonight?" He asked.
"Only five or six times, but please continue. I never grow tired of your flattery." She joked.
...
After dinner, they drove back to Rangeman. Instead of going back to Woody's apartment, he brought her up to the roof. He had set up a few lounge chairs and a picnic table during the summer months for the employees to come up here and watch fireworks. He guided her over to a spot on the roof that he deemed had the best view, and stood behind her with his arms around her waist. She leaned back against his chest and sighed.
"Tonight has been magical, Woody. Thank you."
He couldn't help himself, he gently kissed her behind her ear. She let out a soft moan and he turned her in his arms and kissed her deeply.
Her hands soon began to roam down his back and he reluctantly broke the kiss. He chuckled at her pouty face and turned her around to see the view. He wanted nothing more than to make love to her right there, but he didn't want screw up his one chance with her. So, instead they spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing in each others arms until he said good night.
...
"I don't want to leave." She pouted as she held him tightly by the security checkpoint in the airport.
"Trust me. I don't want you to either." He kissed her lips. Once softly. Then again with more pressure.
She ran her fingers up his neck and through his hair. When he tried to end the kiss, she took charge and deepened it.
When she finally released his lips, he let out a small laugh at her eagerness.
"I still don't want you to go, but you are." He told her as he held her close.
"I don't have to, you know. I...I could stay."She whispered with her head on his shoulder.
He sighed. He wanted nothing more than to have her here in his arms forever.
"No. You have to go." Before she could argue, he continued. "I don't want to rush this, rush you. I have waited too long to risk losing you now." He kissed her lips quickly. "I'm going to court you, little miss."
She couldn't help but laugh. "Court me?"
Instead of him joking back with her, his voice took on a serious tone. "I want you, Ashley, in my life...by my side. I want to do this right. Take our time, and enjoy the ride."
She studied his face for a quiet moment. She wanted him to. She was willing to throw time and patience to the wind, and be with him right now. That last thought stopped her.
That's Tank's way of thinking.
Hmm...
Woody watched her and waited. He could be patient for both of them. There was too much to lose.
"OK." She finally answered. "Woo me." She added with a laugh.
Woody smiled down at her and kissed her tenderly.
"Hmm... Woo me some more." She pleaded when he stopped the kiss. He only laughed in return. "When will I see you again?"
"I can get a couple of days off in about two weeks. I would love to come visit you, and maybe take you out on a date or two." Woody answered.
"Then it's a date." She kissed him quickly on the lips and walked away.
"Wait! That's it?" He yelled after her. "What about my good-bye kiss?"
"You can collect it with your hello one on our date." She teased and kept on walking.
I wrote this chapter from the ending up.
Thank you for reading!
Melanie
groups/1531043130494701/