City of Angels

A/N: Hey guys, I hope you're liking the story so far - if you are reading it. Anyway, please review. I don't want to come across as starved for attention, but like any human being I'd like to receive some sort of feedback. Thanks!

Randy glanced up at the sign and back down into the address he had programmed into his iPhone. It was definitely the right address but he was unsure if it were the right place for him.

The business card proposition from a week ago turned out to be a modelling offer. Angela McBride worked in an advertising agency. She was working on a project for Calvin Klein's underwear line and when Randy had called her, she raved about how much he fit the part for the conceptual shoot. Randy was hesitant at first. He never had any modeling experience besides looking tough for WWE programs and posters.

Had he been wrestling, he would have probably turned down the offer, but L.A. and the monotony of it all was beginning to get boring. He was so used to travelling and wrestling three-hundred days a year, and hanging out in a hotel room while watching Tarantino movies was wearing him out. The twenty-thousand dollar pay check also helped him make the decision.

When Randy arrived in the studio, the receptionist led him into the male dressing room where he met two other up and coming models. The three couldn't have looked more different. The youngest of the three had a preppy, boy band appeal with his Chace Crawford. The African American had a body like Batista's and a face like Taye Diggs. He didn't really know what was going on or what kind of concept the photographer had in mind. But he was definitely going to bolt if he had to pose in his underwear with these guys.

One by one, the models were called into set. A sigh of relief escaped Randy's lips as he realized that they didn't have to model together. Randy sat on the stool for a good hour before the two models were done with their part of the shoot. No one came in the dressing room to tell him to get dressed – or undressed – and no one had applied any make-up. Not that he didn't mind.

Just then, Angela walked in with the make-up artist who had worked on the previous models.

"Randy, I'm glad you came. This is Veronica," she motioned to the bespectacled girl, "
she's our make-up artist and I told her to go easy on you. We're going for this edgy, rough and tumble look for you so we'll keep the concealer to a minimum."

Angela handed Randy a paper bag, "Your underwear is in here. Get dressed and we'll see you there in fifteen."

He walked across a ramp and wrestled with other men in nothing but a pair of spandex Speedos, but something about a pair of briefs that had no support made him feel a little apprehensive. He wrapped the white bathrobe around his body and walked into set. Studio lights surrounded a king-sized bed. Silk pillows and sheets were strewn across the mattress. Three women knelt on top of it as the photographer snapped a few test shots.

Randy's eyes widened when one of the models flipped her hair and turned to his line of sight.

She shared the same shocked expression. It had been exactly a week since they ran into each other in the club and Randy was certain that it would be the last time. After all, he was banned from the club. It was bad enough he has to get in front of the camera and pretend like he knew what he was doing, but now he had to share this experience with her.

Stacy felt knots form in her stomach as Randy fixed his gaze on her. She turned her head and mentally shook the thoughts from invading. She needed to focus. She had a job to do.

Randy peeled off the bathrobe and settled in the middle of the bed as the three girls surrounded him. He and Stacy had exchanged looks but they weren't attempting any small talk. The two other girls were quick to get their hands on Randy's body. He smirked, realizing that he was instantly warming to the idea of modelling.

Markus, the photographer, began to direct the shoot but he felt a sort of uneasiness present in every shoot. He called Angela and they spoke briefly. Worry washed over Randy. Sure, he wasn't a professional but he hated being inadequate; he hated screwing up. He decided he wouldn't hold back and let the girls hold him. He promised Angela he was going to knock it out of the park and he was going to do just that.

As soon as the photographer reluctantly turned back to his viewfinder, Randy pulled all the girls close to him. Passion burned through his eyes and the images captured just that. Impressed by the sudden turn of events, Markus threw compliments at Randy.

Stacy rolled her eyes when she realized that Markus had changed his view of the wrestler. She knew the shoot focussed on the male models but she wanted to challenge Randy until he couldn't keep up. She pushed Randy against the headboard and pretended to whisper something dirty in his ear. Randy knew what she was trying to do. He knew she couldn't stand the praise he was receiving so she tried to steal the limelight. It wasn't going to happen.

He took her lithe body and crushed it against his. The two other models languidly posed behind the two. The competition to surpass each other continued for the next few frames. The room was heating up and everyone took notice. Markus stood up from his stool and motioned for Angela to come to him. He whispered something in her ear, and the models watched as her eyebrows shot up and a smile formed across her bold, red lips.

"Natalia and Anya, you may return to the dressing room. We won't be needing you for the next few frames." The two girls shrugged their shoulders and crawled out of the bed. Randy and Stacy retreated, finally giving them the chance to study each other.

Stacy was beautiful. Her long blonde hair was curled to appear like bedhead and her eyes smouldered in the dark make-up. Her long limbs and tan skin were luminous. The black lingerie hardly left anything to the imagination. She had lost some weight since her days in the WWE. She looked so thin and vulnerable, but when he looked in her face he could see a familiar fighting spirit.

Randy's blue eyes were almost transparent under the studio light. They looked like they could burn holes through walls. His jaw was clenched and his muscles were taut. She could feel he was agitated, like he wanted to break through his bronze skin and break free.

Markus signalled with his thumbs up and Stacy took notice. She and Randy had a lot of history, but they needed to put that aside right now. She still had a challenge to win.

She inched closer and placed a soft kiss on his collarbone. She tilted her head to the side to face the camera.

Randy reached behind her head and let his fingers wrap around her hair. Stacy arched her neck as Randy trailed kisses from her jaw line to her clavicle.

She shifted behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He turned his head to face her, but she pushed it back as she softly tugged on his earlobe.

The pictures continued to heat up and Markus had almost forgotten he had to cut the shoot by 5PM. He had gone twenty minutes overtime and the owner of the studio angrily spoke with Angela. "That's a wrap," Markus called out. As if they were holding their breaths the entire time, the two former wrestlers exhaled deeply. They took turns shaking Markus' hand as the renowned photographer praised them for making his job easy. At that point, the two didn't care if they were standing in the same room, they exceeded everyone's expectations and everything else didn't matter.

Stacy fumbled with her folders as she searched for the car keys in her purse. The folders fell into a cluttered pile on the floor as she finally retrieved the keys at the bottom of the bag. She rolled her eyes at her luck and crouched down on the floor to pick up the files and promotional pictures. She noticed a pair of tattooed arms help her with the pile. She glanced up to meet Randy's gaze.

"Hey," he mumbled.

She hurried with the task at hand and pulled the files away from Randy's grasp. She shoved it all in the folder and kept a tighter grip on it this time. Randy stood in front of her and rubbed the back of his head.

"What do you want, Randy?"

"Uh, I don't really know. I saw you dropping your stuff and I helped you – I guess."

She raised her eyebrows and grinned, "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"What?" He shot up, "No... no... of course not."

"I beg to differ. I think I made you change the way you feel about me in there," Stacy motioned to the door of the studio.

Randy scoffed, "You wish. But really, Stace, you really knew what you were doing in there. I think Markus was in love with you."

Stacy laughed, "Randy, Markus swings for the other team. If he were in love with somebody it would be you."

Randy's eyes widened and the two shared a laugh. "You heading home?"

"Yeah, I was just going to my car," said Stacy, showing Randy her car keys.

"Let me walk you over to your car," he grinned.

"Oh please, Randy. I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to see what car I'm driving so you can judge me." She playfully narrowed her eyes.

He raised his arms in the air, indicating his innocence. But she was right; he was coming with her just to see her car. When Stacy stopped in front of a silver sedan, he couldn't help contain his laugh.

"Ok, lay it on me,"

"A Prius. Stacy, a fucking Prius?" He said it as if she were riding around in a rickshaw. "Stacy Keibler drives a hippie mobile. She probably eats like a rabbit and boycotts plastic water bottles," mocked Randy.

"Shut up," she folded her arms across her chest, "It's not a sin to care for the environment."

"Okay fine. But a Prius? These cars can't go past one-hundred."

"It's not like I run red lights for fun, Randy,"

"You could've gotten a car with a little more power," he pointed out.

"At least it's not a gas-guzzling Hummer."

"I'd have you know, I no longer have that Hummer. I gave it to my brother."

"Well, Sofia would be proud."

At the mention of her name, the smile on Randy's face quickly disappeared. The blonde quickly took notice and regretted her words. She reached to touch his arm. He held her hand for a bit before he let it fall back on her sides.

"Stace –"

"Randy, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's not your fault. It's just – for the last year I've tried my best to get away from it and now I'm here with you and I can't help but be reminded of her."

"I understand."

He shifted his weight to one foot and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Anyway, I have to go."

Stacy nodded her head and watched as Randy walked across the parking lot. There was so much pain in his eyes and she couldn't believe it. She needed to talk to him. She needed to listen to his side of the story. She couldn't go on with her life despising the man who meant so much to the most important person in Stacy's life.

"Randy," her touch caused him to stop. He turned around to face the beautiful girl. "Randy, I know we're not in the best terms right now, but would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?"

He bit his bottom lip.

"It's not a date or anything like that. I just want to talk... as friends."

He looked at her for a moment and nodded.

Stacy smiled, "Meet me tomorrow at the Ivy at 12:30. I'll see you there."

How'd you like this chapter? The next one will fill in a lot of gaps and you'll begin to understand the relationship between Randy and Stacy.

Please, please, please review!