"You said what?" JT roared with laughter. "You called her a mess?"

"Yeah it just came out. I was an ass wasn't I?"

"Can't argue with you there Keller. What's the deal with this girl anyway? Do you like her?"

"I dont know man." Vincent ran his hand through his hair and looked around the coffee shop."Not really."Lie. I see her eveywhere and i can't get her out of my head.

"I still don't understand why the hell would you say something like that to her..let alone any woman. You might as well have told her to never talk to you again."

"Because that was insane. How much of a klutz do you have to be to forget your stuff? Twice? Like she's a kid and someone needs to look after her."

"And that someone could be you? Maybe she dropped it on purpose? To get your attention? I dont know. Women do dumb things..." JT went on about how women are from a different planet but Vincent stopped listening.

Could she have really done that on purpose?But why?

"Im telling you. She might be into you man."

"Yeah right. She seemed way too good for me. And well that's too bad" he took the last gulped of his coffee snd stood up? "because I don't know when or if Ill see her again".

"Omg. And you didn't punch him? What an ass!"

"Right! Im telling you Tess, I dont know what I was thinking flirting with him. I mean I don't know. I'm destined to be alone"

Catherine sat back on her couch and closed her eyes. Although she was irritated at him she still couldn't stop thinking about him. Seeing him asleep on the bench waiting for her and his smile seems to have an affect on her.

"Well are you ready? I don't want to be late. We can talk about your miserable luck with men on the plane." Tess grabbed her bags and headed towards the door.

They were always traveling and mostly don't even have time to unpack before they are called to run again.

"Where are we going this time?"

"There's a vendor in NAPA that they want us to talk to."

Catherine and Tess works for an advertising firm along with Catherine's sister. They are on the marketing team and are sent out to acquire new accounts.

"Sunny California. Not bad."

"Hopefully i finally get to see this "ass" so I can give him a piece of my mind."

Vincent started his shift today on a mission. He wanted to redeem himself with her. He needed to apologize to her for what he said. Frantically looking through the crowd and making sure he made eye contact with everyone that passes through his gate, it seemed like today was not the day.

As he looked up, he smiled as he saw a pair of jade eyes that he knew too well. He nodded over at JT who gave him a thumbs up. He's glad that he was working with him today and he can cover while he tried to talk to her.

As Catherine was walking up heading thru security, he noticed Vincent was there. She quickly turned around and Tess stopped her.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Tess grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. "Which one is he? I'll handle this."

"No its not that. I, uh forgot something."

Tess looked over to the direction of the screening area. She immediately recognized Vincent from the way Catherine has described him about his "rugged look." He was handsome, that was obvious, he had a muscular build, shade of dark brown messy hair that fell just over his brown eyes and his jaw was firm and strong although a sudden, unexpected dimple made its way to surface when he gave a small crooked smile, "Not bad Cat."

"Shh." They finally made it to the gate and Vincent politely handed her a tub. As soon as she passed the metal detector she felt him standing infront of her.

"Sorry." she heard him say in a low voice.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" She looked at him.

He pulled her gently to the side."Look, about what i said." he awkwardly ran his fingers through his hair, "about you being a mess and all."

"Uh huh. Go on. What about it?" She urged him.

"Well i wanted to apologize that i acted like a jerk."

Suddenly a voice came from behind them. "Let's cut this short. Yes, she accepts your apology and expects you to call her soon." Tess interrupted handing him their business card. Catherine looked at her wide eyed. "What? Like you weren't going to forgive him. And seriously, " she looked over at Vincent, "you need to do better than that." She laughed as she walked off to a magazine stand infront of them.

"Sorry about my friend, she's a handful."

"No that's ok. I really was a jerk."

"Hey Catherine!" JT walked over to the two with a sly grin on his face. Vincent knew that look.

Seriously. Is he going to hit on her? Right now?

"Hey ... "

"JT" He reached for her hand and kissed it.

"Right JT. How are you?" She said as she awkwardly grabbed her hand back from him and wiped it on her jeans.

"Good."

"Hey listen." she looked back at Vincent, "Do you like basketball?"

"Uh. Well ..." Nope. Know nothing about it.

"Yes he does." JT nudged Vincent's arm who just smiled. "Why do u ask?"

"Well i got tickets to the game on friday and I still needed to thank you for holding on to my phone."

"He will go." JT answered for him

"Ok well its 2 tickets so maybe bring a friend with you?" She looked at him waiting for an answer.

"Yeah I will. Thanks."

"Ok well i gotta get to my flight. Tickets will be at will call."

"Ok later."He waved at her.

"So i guess ill see you at the game on friday?" JT said as he walked back to his seat.

"Uh yeah. I guess so buddy" he said almost disappointed. He was contemplating on asking her to go with him.

Well i guess that went better than what i expected. She might be busy anyway.

FRIDAY NIGHT

"Court side seats. This is crazy. What does she do again?"

Vincent had to think. "I dont know. I've never really asked her. We haven't really talked ... well at all."

"Whatever lets go get some beers. My treat. Since you got the tickets and all."

Vincent chuckled at his friend. "If you say so."

As they were heading to the bar, Vincent felt a jab from JT. "They are here."

"What?" He started looking around. "Who's here?" He looked through the crowd and spotted Catherine and Tess.

JT has already made his way to them and as Vincent approached Catherine gave him a smirk. "About time you two got here."

"What are you doing here?" He looked at her surprised.

Catherine face suddenly dropped.Wow Vincent. You are just Mr. Charming aren't you. "Ouch." She said drinking the shot that was in her hand.

"Sorry." he shook his head and threw her an apologetic look. "What i meant to say was I didn't think you were going to be here. But i think its cool that you're here."Good one Keller.

"Yeah ok." She glared at him and hopped out of the bar stool and walked over to Tess. "Let's go."

Catherine practically grabbed Tess from the bar at which she slipped and was falling. "Whoa!"

Vincent reached out and grabbed Tess. "Nice save hero." She smiled at him as she brushed off her jeans. "See you guys at the seats."

Great. He probably likes Tess. Who doesn't.

The girls walked off and Catherine still glaring at Vincent.

"Dude, she totally hates you. OMG. I see what she's doing here. She's trying to hook you up with her friend,Tess. I think she's using you as an excuse to get to me" JT said proudly."She and I made a connection when we were looking for you."

Vincent thought about it. He's right. That's why she's acting all bitchy at me. She's complicated. But she is beautiful.

They both headed to their seats to watch the game. It was Lakers vs Knicks and the New York team was winning. JT sat next to Vincent, then Catherine and Tess was on the other side of her. They were all into the game, every now and then each of then would cheer or shout out to the refs when penalties were called. Vincent who was extremely confused and just cheered on with his friends, was actually enjoying himself. Every now and then he would notice Catherine glancing at his direction and they would smile at each other. At halftime, Catherine got up and looked at them, "I'm going to get us beers. Anyone need anything else?" Before Vincent can volunteer to go with her JT shot up out of his seat, "I'll go with you." He turned over to to Vincent and Tess, "You two sit here and ... talk." He winked at Vincent who just shook his head and rolled his eyes. He then looked over at Tess, who sitting with her arms crossed. Then she got up and took the seat next to him. "So what's your deal?"

"Deal?"

"Yeah are you single?girlfriend? obviously not married."she inquired as she grabbed his hand and pointed at his ring finger.

"Single."

She nooded. "Good. Well since we have a minute, and she's always setting me up, but im honestly not interested. No offense."

"Uh ok. No offense taken. I'm good. Thanks for letting me know."

"What? You think? Me and You?" She almost choked. "I'm talking about JT."

What?

"What? So that would make us on a double date." He said awkwardly. Tess just nodded her head almost urging him to figure it out. "And that Catherine and I ..." It hit him like a ton of bricks. "No." He shook her head at Tess. "Yes, Catherine is into you."

Those words echoed in his head as he replayed all of their interaction.

"So, stop being a jerk."

"Im not trying to. Im...I...haven't done this in a long time. I don't... "

At the same time Tess noticed Catherine and JT coming back. She stopped him, "Well, figure it out." She got up and sat back down in her seat.

"Did you miss us?" Catherine joked at the two.

Yes. And Im sorry about being a jerk.

Vincent just smiled at her as she started to hand him his beer. "Thanks. You didn't have to." As soon as she reached over to give him his cup, her hand slipped and spilled beer all over Vincent's lap. She looked at him with horror anticipating mean things that might come out of his mouth.

"What is wrong with you?"

Tess smacked her forehead with her hand and just looked at Catherine. She whispered to her, "Dude you are like ... glitching when you are around him?"

"I know. He's right I'm a mess."

She looked back at Vincent who was now standing up shaking the remaining beer from his crotch area, "OMG. I'm so sorry." She reached out for the napkins she had with her and started rubbing his pants.

Vincent just stood there not knowing how to react as Catherine vigorously rubbed on this thighs.

"Um...umm."

JT and Tess now roaring wirh laughter and finally Catherine stopped.

"Whats so funny?" She looked at the three and then she realized her hand was now in between Vincent's thighs. "Oh". She snatched her hand back and Vincent now has the most uncomfortable look on this face.

He opened his mouth to say something but instead he burst out in laughter.

"Sorry." Catherine's cheek was now burning red as she sat down and looked away from her friends.

Vincent sat down and grabbed her hand and held it. He cautiously leaned over to her, "its ok. Thanks for helping."

They both smiled at each other and went on watching the second half of the game, neither one wanted to let go.

A/N: thanks again for all your reviews and input. I know that they r both a jumbled mess. Theyll find their way. Let me know what u guys think :)