Wow! You guys are the greatest! Such awesome support for this story. I hope I continue to make you proud

Chapter 3

When Bo's brain finally reboots, she notices that Lauren has gone. Shuffling over to the couch, she looks out the window at the wonderfully perfect day outside. Somewhere out there is the blonde that just changed everything. A brilliant smile breaks out at the realization that she has just spent the night with the most awesomely amazing woman she had ever met and she can't wait to see her again. It takes a lot to make her blush, but Lauren Lewis does that and much more. It seems the blonde has the uncanny ability to make her tremble like a school girl with just a look. Anxious to leave her own mark on the woman, she takes action.

Her ride on the train just about to get under way, Lauren's thoughts are consumed by the lovely brunette. She pulls out her phone to read the incoming text and she can't help but grin when she reads Bo's words:

Bo: "Lauren, I really enjoyed our date. I hope you have a great week. Thx for the pic, but be warned that you will pay dearly for leaving me all hot and bothered when next we meet ;) xoxo Bo"

The blonde is so tempted to be flirty back. She quickly types out a reply but freezes before pressing send.

"This is not you Lauren. You don't want to send this" her logical, conservative mind trying to talk her spontaneous love struck mind from proceeding. A lack of experience in this department is suddenly causing fear to rise up in side of her. Fear of going too far. Fear of actually letting herself go for a change. It's as if someone has taken over her body as she hits the send button.

Lauren: "Feel free to think of me if you decide to take care of that little problem of yours."

Grinning wildly, she is a little nervous after several minutes with no response. Worried that she went too far, she is able to breathe again when her phone vibrates and she sees Bo's name.

Bo: "Little Vixen! That just upped your punishment, which I will ponder once I take care of said problem"

Lauren: "Do the crime, do the time, so I have no choice but to accept my punishment. I am at your mercy. Please be gentle ;)"

Bo: "Mmmm...I can be pretty creative, as you shall see on Friday"

Just thinking of the brunette causes Lauren's stomach to flutter, never mind the meaning behind the words that are making her spine and other areas tingle. Staring at the screen she comes to the realization that not only is it going to be a long couple of days, but it's going to be an unusually long train ride from New York City to New Haven, Connecticut without her textbooks to read.

Lauren: "Can't wait"

The finality of the last text setting in, she just committed to another date, albeit with an incredible woman, but right now…in the middle of the most important time of her med school career?

"Did I really just do that? What the hell has gotten into me? Focus Lauren, big day. Need to focus."

Her stomach is doing flip flops as a small panic sets in. This is not Lauren Lewis, the shy, logical, career minded woman that is about to graduate at the top of her class from Yale Medical School, the one that has gotten her family through hard times. No, this was some other Lauren Lewis. She doesn't recognize this woman, the spontaneous, sex on the first date, thinking of forever with another human being she just met, Lauren. Her mind spins off into cold reasoning and self-doubt.

"Technically I can't be someone else, I can only act out other latent characterizations of myself that are hidden deep inside, but that is not me, not anymore. I can't keep that act up. I used my professional persona that I use on stage or at clinic. The one that gives me the strength to proceed with the task at hand. The real Lauren is this one right here, the one that will geek out to herself with some science based rationalization on why I should or shouldn't do something. The one that right now wants to analyze the psychosis behind different personalities in different situations. Sure, Bo likes the other Lauren. Why would she want quiet, insecure, nerdy Lauren? But, Bo was so charming and we felt so good together. The sex was mind blowing, but more than that, it was just easy to be with her and I felt so...fulfilled? Is that the right word? Emotionally and physically. Ugh, this is a disaster! Are we there yet?"

Dropping her head back against the wall behind her seat, she tries willing herself to sleep to pass the time and take her mind off of the real problem- one hot brunette that she has obviously fallen for literally overnight.

XXX

Bo imagined that the blonde was something special, there just seemed to be something about her, but she was definitely not prepared for the real deal. She was also unprepared for the onslaught of emotions that have resulted from their date. Her feelings are all over the place, torn between wanting to find Lauren and never let her out of her sight to wanting to write her name all over her folder like a teenager. She loves how easy it is between them with everything from conversation, to flirting, to making love. This was definitely new territory for the transient brunette who frequently drifted between lovers and places to live, with six places and at least twice as many meaningless relationships in the last two years. For the first time in her life, she feels like she may have found a home with a job she likes, people that want to see her do well, and maybe, just maybe, a woman she can settle down with.

Still glowing from this morning's events, Bo finally makes her way into work where she is greeted with group applause for her latest business conquest.

"All hail the victor" Mr. Santiago yells, pulling Bo into a quick hug in celebration of the final closing of the deal from the other night.

"Mr. Cantori had nothing but praise for you my dear" Hale finished, releasing the brunette but leading her towards his office with his arm around her shoulders.

Cheekily she waved back to everyone before entering the office "Thank you guys."

"Please, have a seat Bo."

Looking across the desk at his prized asset, he notices something different about her today. Bo shifts uncomfortably under his gaze.

"What? What's wrong" she asks worriedly.

Letting out a hearty laugh her settles back folds his arms. "Oh nothing is wrong per se, just...there is something different about you today. It's almost like rainbows and unicorns want to burst out of your ass. Not that you are really ever in a bad mood, but something good definitely happened to you."

Unconsciously Bo begins to blush, thinking of that "something good," as she tries to brush off the comment. She doesn't like to let home intrude on work, even though Hale has been a great friend and boss to her since she arrived. She learned her lesson when she dated Dyson, another ad executive when she started. That was a disaster, and even to this day he still pines over her despite being the one to break it off. Nope, no more mixing work and pleasure.

The silence signals that she is not in the mood to discuss it "Well, whatever it is, I hope you keep it up, Bo. It looks good on you." The sincerity in his words and eyes sets her at ease and she acknowledges his well wishes with an accepting nod. He really does want the best for her, especially if it means closing more deals.

"What I brought you in for is that we are going to pursue a very big company. One that, until you came in, was out of our league. They still may be, and not want to take a chance on us, but I am hoping that you can change their minds. Their current contract is up and they are shopping. I will have the details emailed to you right away. Bo, this is a big one and I am entrusting it to you."

Blown away by the vote of confidence for such an important client, Bo jumps up "Consider it done. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, I am sure it was not a popular decision."

The brunette is well aware that Dyson and some of the other "boys" do not think she could handle herself in this world she is so new to, so they are always trying to jump in and save her. Hale finally made it clear that when Bo was given a client, it was hers to lose, and unless she asked for help, they should keep their focus on their own deals. That is one of the reasons she really wanted to close this one. He has named her his champion on the most important client the company has ever tried to land. The man has continually been in her corner, and she wants to repay him by making the impossible, possible.

With great enthusiasm, Hale shoos her out "Go get'em!"

XXX

In what feels like the longest trip home ever, the blonde stirs in her seat. Unable to get comfortable or fall asleep only serving to make her more frustrated. Adding to her worries was the fact that besides her classes this afternoon, she has an interview for a coveted intern research position. It was a paid position that would last until graduation and would be enough to make ends meet so she could quit the dancing job.

Dancing certainly paid more, but it is a lot of commuting and every night she worries that someone from school will walk into that club and recognize her. In an uppity college town where most students are well off, it's bad enough when you have to work to get through school, never mind being a stripper, too.

Finally the train stops. Lauren grabs her belongings and sprints home.

Busting through the front door of the apartment, her roommate jumps up off the couch with a lamp in her hand pulled back into a threatening position.

"Christ Lauren, I thought it was a home invasion. I was totally about to go all ninja on your ass."

"I'm sorry Kenzi, I am running a bit behind and I cannot be late for this interview." Not even paying attention to the girl, she sets her bag down before finally turning and offering a regretful smile for scaring her friend.

"Whoa Doc! Turn down the glow, your blinding me" the girl covers her eyes, trying to suppress her giggle.

"Where do you get that stuff? I don't know what you are talking about" Lauren blows past her to her bedroom.

Kenzi follows her around, attempting to dig into her evening a little. "Someone had a great date. I swear your aura is off the charts right now."

"I don't have time to talk about it Kenz. I gotta get ready for my interview, then I have open lab tonight." Running back and forth across her room, she frantically gathers everything she needs for the evening.

"Wanna workout after and then grab some dinner?"

"Sure sounds great" she answers mindlessly, her focus on much bigger things.

"Then you can give me all the deets" she winks and heads out of the room.

Lauren rolls her eyes and quickly throws scrubs and shoes into a bag with her books. She puts on one of her high end suits that she bought with the money she has earned while dancing. Over the last several months she been able to buy a couple of suits and dresses for various events and interviews that come up during the year. Dancing has definitely afforded her a few more luxuries than she is used to, which has made her better able to stand doing the job.

This suit is her favorite, tailor cut, black with small pinstripes and a light tan silk blouse that matches her skin tone. This one really allows her to fit right in to the high class society at Yale. "Later Kenz" she yells over her shoulder as she darts out the door.

"Knock'em dead Hotpants!"

XXX

The phone on the other end of the line rings several times with no response. Impatient and irritated, Bo waits for the voicemail to finish.

"Hey, I need you to do a job for me. I will be at the corner bar at seven thirty. Meet me there. I promise it pays well."

Bo hangs up, wringing her hands out nervously. She has never had such a weight on her shoulders as what Hale has just placed on her. An interesting combination of bursting with excitement and sick to her stomach is running through her body right now. The first step to closing a deal…find out everything about your client, so that is what she plans to do as she sits down and begins her Google search, but it's so hard to focus when all she can think about is her mysterious Lauren Lewis.

XXX

Finally home from her long day Lauren crashes on her bed. Not a moment passes before her phone vibrates with a message. She smiles big when she sees it's from Bo. Kenzi walks into the doorway and notices her expression when looking at phone "So, that must be the mystery woman. Like I said before, you are in lurve already" she sings, much to the dismay of her best friend.

Defensively, Lauren huffs "No. That's impossible, I just met her."

"Whatevs. I bet you don't even realize that you are grinning like an idiot at your phone right now?"

Lauren didn't realize it. Her face just automatically lights up with anything related to Bo.

"Okay, so I like her. It doesn't mean I am in love with her. We had an amazing date last night. I want to see her again Friday, but I am also worried about getting involved in anything that might mess up my goals."

"Well, was living happily ever after with an awesome hot chick one of your goals?"

Lauren purses her lips, knowing she got caught, "Well, yes…but down the road, not now" she amends in a panic.

Kenzi places he hands on her hips like a parent giving a lecture. "Yeah well, life don't wait Lauren. You know that better than most people. You gotta take opportunity when it comes. I'm not saying she is the one, but in the twenty years I've known you, I have never seen you lit up like a Fourth of July finale, so I think you need to play this one through."

Her hand running through blonde locks, she looks to the ceiling and sighs before turning back to the girl. "I don't know. I feel different with her, like I lose control and turn into someone else. Does that even make sense?"

"Of course it does. You were not always this Lauren Lewis" the girl passes her hand up and down in front of the blonde. "I remember you before your father died. Girl, you were all kinds of adventuresome. That changed when you took it upon yourself to hold the family together and now you are frozen in that shell of yours. If you met someone that can help you break out of it, then that is definitely a sign to jump on it. Well, I guess you already did that" she smirks as Lauren's face turns beet red with embarrassment "so I mean stick with it. Besides, if it's meant to be, it won't interfere with anything, as long as you can focus and not spend all of your time in a sex coma" she winks.

Shaking her head and chuckling "You are very wise, Kenzi the great. What would I do without you?"

The girl shrugs, her curiosity peaking regarding the mystery woman that has her friend head over heels "So…when do I get to meet her, or at least see a picture?"

There was no way in hell Lauren was showing her BFF the pic she took this morning. Even though Kenzi would applaud her for going so far out of her comfort zone, she would surely never live it down. The girl has a memory like an elephant.

"Let's see how things go. She doesn't even know I'm a student or in Connecticut, yet."

Folding her arms and giving her friend a condescending look, Kenzi calmly reminds Lauren about keeping her out of the loop. "Aright, but don't keep her hidden from me too long. I know people ya know."

Her comment causes the blonde to smirk. Her friend always says she has Russian Mafia connections. "Yes. I am constantly reminded of that fact."

"Get changed and let's go Doc!"

When Kenzi exits her bedroom, Lauren turns her focus back to the message.

Bo: "I hope you had a good day. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't been able to think of anything but you all day"

Lauren: "Yes, well I am pretty amazing"

"JK. Truth? I haven't been able to get you off my mind either"

Bo: "You are amazing and you have no idea how happy that makes me. Would it be alright if I called you tomorrow?"

Lauren: "I would like that. I am usually home after seven"

Bo: "Great! Sweet dreams Lauren"

Lauren: "You too Bo"

XXX

The popular bar is packed this time of night and Bo struggles to hold a place for her meeting. Her irritation beginning to show she orders up a shot of whiskey to calm her nerves when a taller, blonde in jeans and a blue jacket comes striding up.

"Hey. I was beginning to think you weren't going to come" Bo grumbles without looking up from her drink.

"Yeah well, I got things to do besides be at your beck and call ya know" the woman snarls back leaning against the edge of the bar with a smug smile. "So what do you need me to do?"

Bo slides the woman a beer and a piece of paper. "I need you to find out everything you can and get back to me ASAP… and keep this quiet."

"Fine, but it will cost you extra" she smirks.

"Yeah, well, put it on my bill" Bo replies with sarcasm. "Call me when you have something. This important to me, Tamsin."

The woman nods her head and tips her beer Bo's direction while the brunette makes her exit.

She opens the piece of paper and sees a name. "Looks like I'm going hunting."

XXX

Thursday comes and goes in a flash and as the evening approaches ten o'clock, Lauren is passed out on her bed with books and papers all over the place. A buzzing sound from her phone scooting across her text book wakes her just in time to see Bo's name on the screen. Fumbling to answer in time, she rasps out "Bo?"

"Mmmm, the sound of her voice is like a drug," Bo thinks to herself. She catches herself daydreaming and struggles to recover "Umm, hi Lauren. I'm sorry it's late. Did I wake you? I mean, we can talk later" she stammers, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No Bo, it's okay. I am really glad to hear your voice" Lauren stretches and clears the sleep from her throat.

The brunette could hear the smile in her voice, setting her nerves at ease. She has been on edge about calling, not wanting to be too aggressive, but longing to have any type of contact with the woman that she could get. "Really? Well, I am glad to hear yours. Did you have a good day?"

"It was a hectic one. How about you?"

"Same here. I just got home and I am exhausted, but I couldn't go another minute without talking to you. I hope that's not clingy or anything" she asks sheepishly.

The blonde feels a blush rise up, surprised that the brunette could do that to her with such an easy gesture. "No, it's sweet. I uh…I have missed you."

"I'm glad, because you have certainly been missed. What would you like to do Friday night? Do you need a place to clean up after work?"

Lauren fidgets with her pen. She's pretty certain that if she went to Bo's to clean up, they would never leave the apartment, and she was kind of ready for a night out. "No, there is actually a shower in the dressing room. I will have a bag with me, so if it's alright I can meet you at your place and we can go out. Maybe some food and… do you like to dance?"

"Yes, I do" Bo can already imagine the blonde's body moving against hers on the dance floor. Holding her again is all she has been able to think about since that morning. "I know a nice club we can go to."

"Sounds great. I know I'll be starving after work, do you like sushi or Thai?"

"Either works for me. Whatever you are in the mood for."

Both ladies take notice of the comfortable interaction between them, as if they have known one another forever. It was evident the other night on their date, but even now, several days later, it just feels so easy.

"Well, I suppose you should get back to sleep. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow" the brunette's smile creeps up in anticipation of seeing the woman tomorrow night and it resonates through the phone pulling Lauren's smile up to her eyes.

"I'm really glad you called. See you soon, Bo."

"See you soon Lauren."

XXX

Oh no! That was a tame chapter, lol! So sorry guys, but I had to have a mild one somewhere to build the story, but never fear, I will make it up to you somehow. Thank you again for all of the reviews. Please don't hate me too much for this one