Thanks for the replies or just reading this fiction. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 2
Stubborn Woman why do you make it so hard?
we could be lovers but instead we are scarred
I remember games we used to play
the sun shined on a rainy day
but I don't look up anymore
Come here and tell me that you've been bad
Cause I have been bad too
and we won't change our ways Stubborn Woman
Why do you make it so hard?
we could be lovers but instead we are scarred Dan Goddard and The Volunteers
Haley strolled in the door, throwing the crotchet hat and poncho on the coat rack as she passed it. She shook her long strand of spun gold to rid them of any tangles as she took in her new surroundings.
Moments later, Nathan gathered his bags from the trunk of the car while the driver was sat Haley's things on the curb before driving away. He tugged his items through the door; still clueless to how the hell he had gotten himself into this mess. He left the baggage in the foyer before going in search of a bedroom. He wanted to make sure it was as far away as possible from Ms. Smarty Pants. He continued down the corridor to the open end where a huge and beautifully designed den lay.
Nathan instantly fell in love with the room. The three large, floor to ceiling windows that gave a perfect view of the Pacific Ocean and let the salt air waif through the room as thin oatmeal colored sheers blew against the clay colored walls. He laid back on the plush loveseat and took off his shoes. He placed his bare feet on the cool tile of the ceramic floor and sighed. This was the life! Lounging further down on the welcoming furniture, he enjoyed the serenity, but it wouldn't last long.
Haley sashayed in, nearly tripping in her four inch heels before catching herself and trying to play it off. Who said all celebrities were graceful? Nathan didn't even pretend not to laugh, sniggering. She narrowed her eyes at him, before taking a seat on the sage colored sofa, tossing the offending shoes to the tile and stretching out her striking legs so that the dress she wore barely covered her thighs.
"You don't have time to laugh or ogle me, you pervert. Take my bags to my room. It's upstairs, first hall on the left, last room. My keyboard can stay down here, but my guitar goes up there too, and don't you dare drop it or take it out of the case!" She ordered shaking a finger at him.
If it were plausible, Nathan made himself even more comfortable, crossing his long legs at the ankles and placing an arm behind his neck. So, she saw me checking her out? Damn!
"I'm not your slave, Hales. I'm your bodyguard." Nathan said casually without a sexy wink. "Do it yourself."
Did he just say no? Haley hadn't expected that. Do it myself! Now she was pissed. Who the hell did this guy think he was? She was the boss around here!
She got up and stalked over to her companion, catching her foot on the coffee table and tumbled on to him with an Oof!. Their eyes met and she blushed purple as a grape, while he seemed unscathed and amused by her yet again, giving her a smirk. She scowled and he could see the veins practically popping from her neck. What the hell? Now he had butterflies!
She pushed herself up and off him, almost falling to the floor, but recovering quickly and standing there tapping her foot. "I pay your salary, so you do as I say! Now go get my bags!" She instructed.
He sat up, but she was still only a few inches taller than him seated. His face slowly inched closer to hers and her heart started to dance. She was sure he was about to kiss her and for some reason she couldn't make herself back away. Instead, he reached on of his long arms past her slender frame and reached over to the coffee table for a handful of nuts from the crystal serving dish.
"Actually, I'm not getting paid for this torture. I owed Marvin a favor so now I'm stuck BABY SITTING. Now I'm debating on whether what he did was compensation enough for having to deal with a condescending, snotty little diva, who should remain nameless." He coughed Hales before chewing on the cashews in his hand and moving back in front of her again.
"You're too tiny to try and bully me around, Shorty and being your bitch was not in the agreement."
She just kept staring at him in disbelief until he nodded toward the outside view.
"I'd make a move. It's starting to cloud over." He observed, lying back again. "You wouldn't want to get that pricey keyboard wet, wouldya, Hales?"
She cut her eyes at him and he waggled his brows. She stomped off in a huff. She hated Nathan Scott.
"Fine! I don't need your help anyway. I can and will do it myself!" She swayed down the hall.
Nathan quickly flipped onto his stomach and peered over the end of the couch that was in direct view of the door.
"I can't wait to see this!" he chuckled heartily, doubting Haley James had ever carried her own bags in her life.
Haley left the door open and brought the bagged keyboard in with not too much effort, setting it in the foyer. She smiled proudly. This was going to be a piece of cake.
She went back outside to lift one of the Louis Vuitton suitcases. It was so heavy; she stumbled back against it without lifting it from the ground. The next thing she knew, she was face down, ass up in the air.
Nathan had to give it to her; she was certainly entertaining as he continued to eye her with fascination. She may be a major pain in the ass, but she was nice eye candy and good for a laugh.
She got to her feet and brushed herself off determined to get her things inside before the darkening clouds poured precipitation down on her. Next, she tried to get behind one of the bags and pushed it through the doorway. Her bare feet slipped from und her on the slick marble steps, sprawling her legs around the luggage like newborn Bambi trying to stand. The rains took that opportunity to soak her.
"No! No. No. No." Haley whined and struggled to get back up. She was sick of playing around.
Noticing her silk dress was now see through, she decided she would put on the charm. After all Nathan was a man and she knew he was already attracted to her. All she had to do was bat her eyes, lick her lips and show a little cleavage and Nathan would come get this crap.
She was about to head in the home back inside when she saw him practically rolling off the couch with laughter. Shit! Her stubborn pride would not let her ask him for help now.
Haley gave the item another push, but nothing budged. She pouted and groaned, sitting down on the big trunk, while the clouds continued to drench her with the heavy downpour. Now, she could hear Nathan howling at her misfortune. She stood and gave the lodged trunk a forceful shove, only to release it from the top of steps. It went sailing down toward the driveway with the petite woman atop, riding against her will. She was wet, battered and fed up. She got up and kicked the accessory before remembering she was without shoes.
"Owwwww!' She yelped and bounced around, rubbing her big toe.
Nathan had made his way to the door, holding his tummy that was aching from laughing at her performance.
"You should have been a comedienne instead of a singer, Hales." He teased as she called the trunk every ungodly name in the book.
The strong male decided to put her out of her misery. The rain ended and the sun filled the sky once again just as he strutted down to gather the baggage. He hit a button beside the handle of each piece causing the handles to expand out and wheels to pop out of the bottoms.
Haley stopped in mid rant and watched in disbelief. I'm not some ditzy blonde. How could I have not known there were wheels? She mentally cried with rage as she stamped her feet and glanced up at a smirking bodyguard. He taunted her, rolling the trunk around her and up the steps before stopping at in the doorway.
"What's the hold up, Hales? Get the rest. Chop! Chop!" snapping his fingers.
She slumped down onto the bottom step, resting her elbow on her thigh and her chin in palm, just as the rain ripped through the sky again. She raised her head and looked back to see Nathan chuckling as he carried her trunk up the stairs to her room.
Nathan and Haley spent their time settling in separately by first taking a nap. Later, the dark haired man strolled down the houses left wing and into the world class gym when he heard Haley counting off reps. He quietly crept back up the steps. He would have to do his workout later. The only way he would survive his time with the little ball of fire in there was to avoid, avoid, avoid! But he bet her boobs looked phenomenal in a sports bra.
Around six o'clock, Nathan checked his reflection in the hall mirror. Please with his appearance, he made a beeline for the front door when he remembered leaving his mints on the nightstand in his room upstairs. He bounced up the stairs only to stop half way.
Haley pranced down the stairs, shutting off her phone and putting it in her purse when she noticed her housemate standing there gawking at her. He certainly didn't look like the jock that had laughed at her this morning. His hair was actually combed and lightly spiked and he had shaved. God, he smelled heavenly! He wore a nice fitting pair of dark blue jeans and a red polo with a familiar emblem on it.
Finally, he realized he was eying her. Sure, her appearance was much more subtle than that of the morning.. Now her make up only consisted of some eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss, and her hair had a natural wave as it fell in layers around her lovely face and down her back. She wore a strapless, yet tasteful black dress that hugged her body halfway down her thigh. He could have sworn his tongue rolled across the floor as he admired her magnificent legs and pretty feet in her sexy black high heels. He fought off the constriction in his pants and increasing heart palpitations he felt looking at her. Then she spoke.
"You're a fireman?"
"You recognized the Fraternal Order of Firemen symbol? Of course Blonde bimbos are great at starting fires." He retorted.
"Maybe I use to date a hot fireman." She rolled her eyes and shot him the finger. She knew she was brainy, no need to argue the point.
"Dating an actor from Rescue Me doesn't count." He sassed. "Anyway, there's a convention downtown. I'm going to meet some of my crew maybe I'll even find a woman I actually like conversing with, among other things."
He gave her the nod and she snorted, to cover how disturbed she was by his sexual innuendos.
"Like you could get a woman to talk to you without paying first, much less anything else." She insulted. "People really trust you to save their lives and put out fires? Scary thought, loser." She said shivered dramatically, always giving as good as she got.
Nathan took two steps at a time until he hovering over her and whispering.
"Forest fires have nothing on you, Hales."
He wasn't sure why he seemed to migrate close to her, but knew he made her nervous as she wrung her fingers together. For a second, he was lost in her. The beautiful smell of vanilla filled his nostrils. He watched as she closed her eyes and her large eye lashes lay flush against her face. He hadn't realized just how striking her beauty was. How could he? Her self centered and hateful attitude overshadowed her appearance like a black cloud.
"Did you know a body can be chopped up and burned on a basic barbecue grill until it turns to ashes? Then someone….for instance me, can sprinkle said ashes out in that gorgeous water out there….never to be found. Interesting fact huh, Hales?"
"Oh my God, you're a complete psycho! You stay away from me! I hate you!" She exclaimed.
He chuckled, pleased with her reaction.
"Oh, you're into me!" His words lingered in her ears as his warm breath was felt on her ear lobe. "I know I'm not, Hales."
She shoved her way by him, not as annoyed as she let on, the delicious smell of his aftershave still giving her goose bumps.
"Whatever, Nathan I'm outta here. Don't wait up."
He trotted down the staircase behind her, grabbing her wrist before she could open the door for the waiting car.
"Wait a minute! You're not going anywhere! You're laying low, remember?" He moved around to look at her and she pulled away from him.
"So you get to go out and I'm cooped up in here like a rat in a trap? Think again, Loser!"
Nathan looked over at the clock. He really didn't have time for this. He just wanted to snap her pretty little neck and be on his way.
"You don't have a choice. Marvin put me in charge of your safety. I have somewhere important to be and you're going to be a good little rock star and stay here and behave yourself. Do I make myself clear?"
She ignored him, opening the door. He reached over her, slamming it back. She faced him.
"Look, Christina, and Kelly are here for some big festival. They're having a party at the Hilton. I'm going to be there."
"I don't care if the pope and the Dalai Lama are break dancing at a Luau. You can't make it. Now go watch MTV or something." He looked at his watched. "Please don't give me a hard time, Hales. I really need to go."
She gave him a stunning smile with a nod before turning back down the hall.
"You win. I'll play along." She said sweetly. "Have a good time with your friends and get laid. Lord knows it's probably few and far between."
He just stood there. This is what he had been waiting for, some co-operation. But something wasn't right. She would not give up that easily. She had to be up to something. He followed her into the living room, stopping in the door.
"By the way, there's a twenty foot tree line around this compound and there will be attack dogs on the lawn once the gates shut behind me,. Plus the two armed officers at the entrance have instruction not to let anyone else besides me in or out of here tonight... Later, Baby."
Haley knew he wasn't bluffing. She was under house arrest.
He backed out of the room, only to feel the breeze as a golden streak blew past him. Haley was blocking the door.
"If I'm stuck here, so are you!" She commanded.
Now this was Haley! He tapped her nose with his finger and let his own playful blue eyes meet flaming coffee ones.
"Au contraire, Shorty, I'm not a celebrity and I won't be hanging out at place where my picture will be plastered all over the paper the next day. I can go and come as I please."
He was intrigued by her as she chewed on her bottom lip, scrambling for a victory. He easily lifted her by the waist and off to his side, before opening the door.
"Then, I'll just go with you." Frantically, she blurted out.
"No, you're not!" He shook his handsome face rapidly.
She was back in his path as he pushed her aside to get out the door, closing it behind them. She couldn't believe she was stooping to this. She threw herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him the doe eyes.
"Pretty please, Nathan. Pluheeeeeezzee! I'll be good." She pouted and batted her big brown eyes.
He tried to ward her off, but she was like a tick.
"Nope, I don't even like you!" He said honestly not realizing his words actually stung her a little.
"Sure you do. I'm cute and loveable." She flirted.
"About as cute as an angry grizzle bear!" He chortled dryly. "You're not going."
She nuzzled her nose against his chiseled chest..
"Please! I won't be any trouble. Just don't leave me here...I've spent most of my life stuck in some stupid hotel room or private cottage. "
Her sadness was felt since her words were truer than she meant to disclose. Again, Nathan tried to peel her off, but those toned arms of her were locked around him. He would deny it, but he was certainly enjoying it. She let her eyelids flicker and continued to grovel.
"You wouldn't even like it there. It's going to be a bunch of regular people, not your kind."
She let go and smoothed her dress.
"Are you calling me a snob, Nathan Scott? ...Cause I'm not like that! I'm not!" She defended, extremely bothered by his accusations.
Haley grew up in a low income household with her parents barely scraping by. She had gone to sleep hungry on more than one occasion. The only reason she started singing at thirteen was to help her oversized family when her dad was laid off from the power plant and her mother's teaching job just couldn't cover their debts. She won a national talent contest six month later. Her parents hire her a manager/chaperone and she has been making hits and touring ever since.
"This isn't like watching television with the maid because you don't want to alone."
She clutched his wrist, nearly in tears. He swallowed hard, not expecting to upset her.
"You don't anything about me, you son-of-a-bitch! I remember my roots. I would never forget...never!" She stated barely above a whisper.
Silence surrounded them and Nathan felt like a total heel, but he knew he was going to regret this.
"Alright, alright, you can go, but you have to keep that trap of yours shut and no sneaking off!"
Her eyes floated up to connect with his wary ones. A warm feeling covered her as she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you! Thank you, Nathan. This is going to be so much fun! You'll see!" was her enthusiastic cry as she clapped her hands like a toddler before taking his hand and leading him the waiting limousine.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of." He sighed as he let her drag him away.
Pamela