A/N: Back for another update, aww yeaaah! It's been a little while, but I hope it's worth it. I don't intend on this one being as long as my other ones – even the chapters are shorter. Which I hope isn't a bad thing!
Read and Enjoy, and maybe review?
Love!
~Matilda.
The Tour Pt 1
"O'Hara. I really don't want to go."
"Relax." Juliet urged. "It's one weekend. Besides I really want to meet this guy."
"He's not all that great." Lassiter informed him. "He's good looking to the point of cockyness."
"But is he mean?"
"Well – I've only met him for a couple of minutes. He could be."
"Huh." Juliet threw her bag into the open trunk of Lassiter's car. She slammed the door shut and went around to the side to get in. "Well I guess we'll find out. I for one am excited!"
Lassiter rolled his eyes, and getting into the driver's seat he let out a long winded sigh. "I just don't understand why his big introduction is a weekend on a beach. Beaches are dirty, and salty, and dirty, and.."
"I get it. I get it." Juliet raised her hands in surrender at chest level. "You don't like beach houses. But this guy is really important to Shawn it seems, and meeting him is a good idea. What if he's around for awhile? It would mean a lot to Shawn if we did our best to get along with him."
"Fine." Lassiter said the word in a low growl. He hated this. Hated this so hard. He was just starting to cope with the fact he liked Spencer, and now he had to suffer a weekend with Spencer's boyfriend. The knot in his stomach – he's had it since he met Cal, and it refused to go away. Lassiter never suspected he was the jealous type – but it couldn't be helped. Lassiter tried.
The drive to the beach was only about 20 minutes, and the road leading up to Cal's house was rather quiet. There were no other properties on the way.
"My god." Lassiter commented. "He lives in the middle of nowhere on a beach. Do you know how easily someone could hide a body out here?"
"Are you saying you want to look for bodies?" Juliet teased.
"There's trees, and sand, and water, and god knows what else. Why not? It'll probably get me out of all the stupid group activities Spencer probably has planned."
Juliet laughed. "I'm kind of hoping it doesn't. I want to see you squirm through a game of charades."
"I'm not playing charades."
"Rockband?"
"No."
"Beach volleyball?"
"You're getting on my nerves."
Juliet's teasing laughter was cut off when suddenly the road ended. Lassiter had to stop at the giant gate that blocked his path.
"The hell?"
"I think we're here." Juliet responded.
"There has to be at least another mile of road past this fence!" Lassiter complained. "Just how much property does this Cal guy actually own? This can't be legal!"
Juliet seemed to think for a second, but then the answer dawned on her. "It's Legal if his last name is Fray."
"Say what now?"
"Fray." Juliet explained. "As in the Santa Barbara Frays? They own all the banks in the city."
Lassiter understood then. The Frays were an old family name in this city. They were a family of corporate gods, even with the recession they didn't bat an eye. Lassiter always did his best to just kind of forget they existed, they only really showed up when it made them look good. So of course the detective had no idea they had an heir. Let alone a gay heir. Not that it really mattered. Only the gay heir was in a relationship with Shawn. Which sucked. "Well this is just fan-freaking-tastic."
"So he's rich!" Juliet shrugged. "Good for Shawn!"
"Right." Lassiter grumbled. "How the hell do we get in?"
"Uh...You're asking me?"
"Well it's settled then!" Lassiter nearly smiled. "This means we can turn around and just forget this whole stupid beach weekend!" He was absolutely thrilled. His thrill dropped though, when Juliet's response was to point out the windshield. Lassiter looked back ahead to see the gate was swinging opening. "God dammit."
Once the gate opened, Lassiter took a second to take a deep breath before he proceeded to drive onward. Within five minutes the road was narrowing down into a drive away. The house? Was huge. The lawn stretched on forever and was a luscious green colour. The house itself was white panelled with a porch and balcony that stretched around the perimeter, each corner being supported by a wide marble pillar. The drive way ended in a round-about with a fountain smack dab in the middle, on the other side was a garage that held ten cars at least. The garage door was opened and Lassiter took that as an invitation to park.
Lassiter and Juliet got out of the car, and grabbing their bags out of the trunk, they exited right when the door started to close.
"They're opening all the doors for us, but won't even come greet us. How rude." At this point, Lassiter was just blown away by the size of the place; he was looking for any reason to be mad. This guy was letting them stay in his huge house for the weekend – for free! How rude!
The two stepped into the drive way and were about to go around to the front when they were greeted by Shawn's voice.
"Lassie! Jules!"
Both the detectives looked up the side of the house to see Shawn standing on the balcony with his arm in a wave. Lassiter blinked then the blinked again. Shawn was dressed in all white – something he had never seen before. It was nothing fancy really, just a long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of white slacks, but the psychic was barefoot and the way he smiled made him look like a freaking angel. Lassiter cringed. This was going to be a long weekend.
"Go to the backyard!" Shawn instructed and he pointed in the opposite direction. "I'm going to come meet you guys down there!"
Shawn vanished into the house, the double glass doors closing behind him. Lassiter and Juliet exchanged a look before Juliet simply shrugged and followed the psychic's instructions. The back of the house was just as huge as the front, the lawn stretching out to a wooded area. Lassiter could smell the beach and hear the waves not too far off. The majority of the back lawn was filled with stone paths and a purple flowers, a large gazebo standing right in the middle. It was big enough for at least 40 people.
"We have died and gone to heaven." Juliet sighed happily, her gaze went all hazy and she was imagining herself in this place for the rest of the weekend. "This Cal guy has it made."
Lassiter didn't think. As far as he was concerned, he was standing in the middle of daddy's money. Lassiter suppressed the urge to say something really cruel, and he turned and walked up the steps to the back deck just as Shawn was coming out the back door.
"You guys are the first ones here." Shawn explained. "Gus and my dad won't be for another hour or so."
"Oh." Juliet answered. "What do we do until then?"
"I can show you to your rooms, and then we can just sit out here. Then when dad and Gus get here, I can give you all the grand tour!"
"Ohhh I can't wait!" Juliet was thrilled.
"Great." Lassiter was looking around constantly. "Where's Cal?"
"He's around." Shawn assured him with a smile. "He's waiting for everyone to get here so he can meet you all at once."
"I thought he already knew Guster and your dad."
"He does, but he's not sure how well you guys will like him, so he wants to wait until there's more friends around. That way if the reception is less than great, the silence isn't so awkward."
"Uh-huh." Lassiter didn't believe it for a second. This guy just wanted to gloat about his money infront of a bigger crowd. "So rooms then?"
"This way." Shawn motioned for the door. The two followed. The inside of the house was just as glorious as the outside. Lassiter was reminded of a castle. Just inside was a foyer, on each of the far sides of the room were curved stair cases leading up to an indoor balcony. With five doors lined up perfectly facing them, and two more on the side walls just the at the top of each stair case. "Those five doors." Shawn pointed up. "Those are the bedrooms. The middle one is Cals." Shawn then pointed to the two side doors on the upper floors. "Those are bathrooms." Shawn then pointed straight ahead to a set of double doors directly under the balcony. "Living room, which you'll see during the tour." He then pointed to each stair case, each one with a door under it. "To the left is the kitchen/dining area, and to the right is a ball room."
"This place has a ballroom? !" Juliet nearly squeaked.
"Yeah." Shawn laughed a bit. "It does, the kitchen also has a stair way to the basement. Its where all the modern stuff is. TV, computers, some book shelves – it's a man cave."
"I can't wait." Lassiter drawled a bit. This got him a bit of a look from Shawn. "Sorry." He covered his ass. "Long week. I'm tired."
"Its fine." Shawn insisted. "Bedrooms?"
"Sure." Juliet agreed, and Shawn led the way up the steps. As soon as he had his back turned Juliet shot Lassiter a silent look as if to ask 'what the hell man?' Lassiter didn't have an answer for her and instead just followed Shawn up the steps. He got even more mad at himself when he realized his eyes were travelling up and down Shawn's back side. Dammit. Lassiter really did like him – didn't he? Lord help him.
Once they were at the top of the stairs, Shawn opened the first door. The room was big; the interior was all white with dark purple highlights. The bed looked good enough for a five star hotel; it was the type you sank into.
"Jules this room is yours."
"Oh my god." Lassiter watched, slightly amused as his partner swayed into it like she was a princess. "I want to stay here forever."
"Right." Shawn smiled a bit. So far he was loving all of Juliet's reactions. Juliet put her bag down and tested the bed by flopping herself down onto it. She sank so far she vanished.
"This is the most comfortable bed ever!"
"Let's leave her for a second." Shawn turned on his heel and went to the next room opening the door. The room like Juliet's was all white, only the high lights were dark red. "This is your room Lassie."
Lassiter had to admit it was a nice room. "Thanks Spencer. This should do just fine."
Shawn turned and gave Lassiter a smile. "You're sure?"
"Yes." God did Spencer have to look so pure when he smiled? It made Lassiter want to do very – ver bad things to him.
"Did you want to try out the bed?"
"What?" Lassiter was pulled out of his stupor by Spencer's invitation. "The bed?"
"Yeah." Again Shawn smiled and he went over to the bed. He sat on the edge of Lassiter's bed and sank a bit. "Jules loves her. Give it a try. Come sit down."
Lassiter couldn't breathe. Shawn was sitting in his bed and inviting him to come closer. If this were like any of the dreams Lassiter had been having since last week, Spencer would be naked and begging by now – but he wasn't. He was just staring at Lassiter curiously, wondering why he won't come sit down. Lassiter cursed himself, and going over to the bed he sat next to Spencer and sank. "This is incredibly comfortable."
"The best sleep you've had in years." Shawn lowered his voice to sound like a sale's man. Lassiter actually chuckled a bit.
"Sometimes I wonder who decided to give you a mouth." Lassiter told him.
"Hey!" Shawn spoke up. "I happen to like my mouth. You wish you had a mouth like mine!"
"Outspoken and rebellious?" Lassiter tried.
"Uh, try awesome and empowering."
"Good words." Lassiter commended him. Lassiter turned his head to look at Shawn, and stopped. Shawn was looking right at him. He was sitting so close to him. Lassiter could so easily, tug the collar of Shawn's shirt and pull him into a crushing kiss. He wondered briefly what Shawn's reaction would be. Lassiter's hand flinched – wanting to find out. Before Lassiter could even move, Shawn turned his head, smiled, and got up.
"There you are!" Shawn went over to greet Cal who was standing in the door way with his arms crossed. His arms dropped and wrapped around Shawn protectively, and the other man brought Shawn in for a kiss. A kiss Shawn happily returned. The psychic's arms instinctively going up to wrap around Cal's neck. The kiss lasted way too long, and Lassiter was ashamed to admit he couldn't look away. He hated every second of it. He wanted so bad for Cal to die in that instant.
"I figured to hell with the group meeting." Cal answered once he released Shawn from his hold. "I wanted to see how our first guests were liking their rooms."
"Oh." Shawn stepped back, but his arms to Lassiter's dismay didn't leave Cal's shoulders. "Jules practically believes she's a Disney princess, and Lassiter thinks the rooms are just fine."
"Just fine?" Cal looked up over Shawn's head and locked eyes with Lassiter. That cockyness appeared, and he stepped away from Shawn and moved into the room closer to Lassiter. "Well I do hope you don't mind you got the adjoining room."
"The adjoining room?" Lassiter asked. He had to fight his voice; he refused to let on that Cal's relationship with Shawn infuriated him.
Cal pointed to a door which as right next to Lassiter's closet. "That door goes right into my room. It's been locked for years though, so no worries."
"Right." Lassiter didn't say anything else. He fumbled a bit uncomfortably. Shawn spoke up. "I'm going to see how Jules is holding up – see you downstairs?"
"Absolutely." Cal answered. "Just give me a moment. I want to show detective Lassiter the other rooms."
"Alright." Shawn smiled. "See you two down stairs."
Shawn vanished. As soon as he was gone, Cal spoke.
"I know."
"Know what?" Lassiter had to keep from rolling his eyes. He hated this guy.
"That you like Shawn."
"What?" Lassiter was taken aback. Was he that obvious? Of course he was going to deny it. "You've got to be kidding me. He's just Spencer to me."
"Right." Cal said. "That's why back at the bar you looked like you wanted to drag him away from me, and when I walked in a minute ago? You looked like you were going to jump him. I have to say detective. I don't like that."
"Fine." Lassiter was too tired to play this game. "Let's say I have feelings for him. Who's to say I'm not an honourable man?"
"I was hoping you'd say that." Cal answered. "I really didn't want to have to tell you, to back off my man."
Now that pissed Lassiter off. Royally. "You're the angry jealous type?"
"Jealous? Yes." Cal admitted it. "Who isn't though? As for angry. Well that's just an accusation. Let's just try to have a nice weekend shall we detective?"
Lassiter clenched his jaw. So much hate was flowing through his veins right now. Something about this guy – he had dirt. Lassiter just knew it. He was a rich brat who couldn't hear the word no. Lassiter was sure. Lassiter was vowing to himself to find the dirty on this guy and nail him for it before he had a chance to hurt Shawn. "Oh, we're going to have an awesome weekend." Lassiter promised. He was already working out an investigation in his head – he was so-SO happy he brought his laptop.
"Well." Cal smiled, and suddenly his demeanor was as happy and as friendly as could be. "Let's join the others down stairs? Its way too nice out to be stuck in here. I think after lunch we should all head down to the beach!" Cal was walking out of the room.
With a tired sigh, Lassiter followed him out. Tonight. Lassiter couldn't start his search until tonight.
He just hoped he found something.
