Ch 5

A week had past since the night at the club and Melina was still reminding Randy constantly how he had lost the bet. Randy was tired of hearing about his loss and declined an invitation from his friends to go to a club after Saturday night house show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. He was returning to his locker room when he heard Katelyn's voice. His curiosity took over as he followed it coming to a halt right outside Wade's locker room.

"Katy, you're driving me nuts and not in a good way," Wade was throwing things in his bag while Katelyn stood in the middle of the room with her arms crossed watching him.

"You said you wanted to move in together so I'm just asking when," she stared at him as he shook his head.

"I don't know soon ok?"

"No, it's not ok. My townhouse lease is up next month. I need to know what's going on. If you don't want to take the next step that's fine just tell me and I'll renew the lease. I hate limbo Wade," she deeply sighed.

"I don't know if I'm ready to move in together and play house. As soon as we do that, you'll want to move to the next step and …," he was cut off by her getting tears in her eyes.

"Marriage and a baby isn't something you want," she whispered.

"Oh come on Katelyn," Wade gathered her in his arms. "Please be patient with me I promise I will make up my mind about the living together very soon. I love you baby please let that be enough for now," he kissed her forehead.

"It is enough you're the one that keeps teasing with the next step than getting cold feet," she looked up into his eyes.

"I don't mean to get your hopes up there are times when all I want to do is settle down with you then the bitter thoughts of my last go around at marriage taunts me till I start to rethink things. The issue is me not you just give me a little longer," he kissed her softly. "Are you sure you're ok with me going with Chris tonight? I can take you to dinner and spend the night with you."

"I'm exhausted. You go out with Chris. You can wake me when you get back to the hotel."

"Ok angel, I love you. I'll see you later tonight," he gave her a long kiss before heading out the door to meet up with her brother. Randy was captivated by Katelyn's face the way her eyes glimmered with tears as she fought so hard to not give into her disappointment. He hurried away when she grabbed her purse and started towards the door.

"Hi Katelyn," Randy came around the corner as she entered the hall.

"Hi Randy, how are you?" she glanced at him and he saw she was still battling her feelings.

"I still have a bruised ego but I'm ok," he smirked.

"I'm sure your ego will be healed in no time," she winked at him.

"Probably," he grinned. "Are you on your way to meet Wade?"

"No, I'm heading back to the hotel to catch up on sleep. Wade went out with Chris and some of the other guys. I can give them a call if you want to meet up them."

"I'm not up for drinking. I'm going back to the hotel too. Are you staying at the Fairmont in Santa Monica?" he asked as she nodded yes. "I can give you a ride back."

"What are you up to?" she stopped giving him a curious look.

"Nothing, I'm just being nice."

"Nice means you want something," she searched his eyes.

"I swear it's just a ride. I will be on my best behavior," he winked at her giving her a sexy smile. "Come on Katy, take a chance see if you can trust me," he hesitated for a moment. "I dare you."

"You dare me? I haven't been dared since I was a child," she laughed.

"Yes I dare you to take a risk and come with me."

"Hmmm not sure about that," she backed away from him colliding with the door. Randy kept his eyes focused on her. She took a deep breathe trying to keep her thoughts straight. "Fine Randy, let's go."

"I knew you wouldn't back down from my dare," he backed away slightly.

"First betting now daring you must love games. I have to admit you fascinate me Randy. You come off as such a jerk but right now you're really not that bad to be around."

"I have many sides Katy. There are reasons why I'm a jerk. I just don't have the patience or time to explain to people who don't give a shit. Its easy to be the one everyone hates much harder to be likeable," Randy spoke honestly.

"Well I like this Randy, don't want to be around the jerk Randy from the club," she smiled heading down the hall.

"Can we just forget about that?" he asked walking next to her.

"Sure, consider it forgotten," she smirked.

"This way Katy," he lightly grabbed her arm as she turned down the wrong hallway. He kept a light grip on her guiding her through the halls till the reached the door to the parking area. He opened the car door for her waiting till she got in. "Will Wade be upset you got a ride with me?" Randy asked as he got in the car starting up.

"No, he wasn't upset when I bought you back to the table was he?"

"He really didn't seem to care."

"Wade trusts me so no worries. That's why he wasn't with me at the club." she softly said as Randy pulled out in the streets.

"So I can be your friend and he wouldn't care?"

"Wade doesn't get jealous just don't treat me bad again. He is very protective in that way along with Chris," she stared out the window.

"Why are so tired?" Randy asked wanting to change the subject.

"I took a late night flight to get here. One of my seamstresses is out on maternity leave so I had to help with alterations for a big wedding happening this weekend."

"Where is your shop?"

"I have a storefront in Tampa, Florida. It's really taking off have a steady flow of clients and now can afford to pay staff to help out," she lightly tapped her fingernails against the glass.

"My sister is getting married on Christmas Eve. If you give me your card, I'll pass it along to her," Randy glanced at Katelyn seeing a smile form on her pretty face.

"Is she really getting married? Or are you just trying to get my number?" she asked making him laugh.

"I'm not lying to you. If I wanted your number I would ask for it," he smirked winking at her. "Katy, no games I swear. I want you to learn to trust me. I respect you're with Barrett. I think we can be friends. Can you give me the chance?" he asked as they pulled up to a light and he turned looking into her eyes. Katelyn grew very quiet under his stare.

"Ok Randy I'll give you a chance," she softly said opening her purse giving him her card.

"Thank you," he smiled sliding it in his pocket as the light changed. "Are you going to be traveling with Wade more?"

"Yes, during the breaks I'll be at the shop. I know Wade has some promotional work to do over some of the breaks I won't be traveling with him for that."

"That's cool sounds like I'll be seeing a lot of you," Randy glanced at her again happy to see she was still smiling.

"We will see Randy," she looked at the window again then back at him. She was still stunned how he was being a gentleman instead of his normal cocky self.

"I think we will become very good friends," Randy said as they pulled into the hotel. Katelyn didn't say anything just shrugged her shoulders as the valet opened her door.

"Thank you for the ride. I will be seeing you around," Katelyn said as he joined her.

"Anytime you need a ride Katy just ask. Do you want to get a drink?" Randy took the chance asking.

"No thanks I'll take a rain check. I'm exhausted want to get some sleep. Good night Randy," she gave him one last smile before entering the hotel. He watched her go feeling something he had never felt before tug at him.

Randy went to his hotel room changing into his swimsuit deciding to take a late night swim. Randy walked along the moonlit beach before going into the ocean diving under the waves. He swam for awhile feeling the tension leaving his body till he needed to take a break and headed back towards the beach.

"Hi Randy," Katelyn's sweet voice froze him for a second before he turned seeing her drop a bag near his things.

"Hey there, I thought you were going to bed," he waded through the water towards her as she took off her shirt revealing a sexy red bikini making him swallow hard.

"I was planning to but I couldn't sleep. I decided to exhaust myself more then hopefully my mind will stop," she frowned thinking about something or someone else for a minute.

"Yeah, I know what you mean had many nights like that," he smiled down at her realizing for the first time she was a lot shorter without heels making Randy laugh.

"What is so funny?" she looked at him with amusement.

"Well you seemed pretty tall now I realize you are quite a bit shorter then me. You must have been wearing very high heels," he grinned making her shake her head.

"I'm not that short, I'm 5'6. You're making me feel like a munchkin," she started to laugh.

"You're a very cute munchkin. Wade is very lucky to have you. You two seem happy," Randy followed her as she waded out into the water.

"Yeah we are," her light blue eyes met Randy's for a moment and he saw a glimpse of sadness again before she blinked it away. She was about to say something else when a wave came knocking her off balance right into Randy's strong arms. He held her against him as an awkward silence formed between them, "Sorry about that," she softly said.

"Its ok no harm," slowly he moved his arm from around her waist as another wave pressed her against him again. Randy smirked as an idea popped into his mind. He swept her up in his arms and went into the deeper calmer water.

"What are you doing? Put me down?" she gave him a shocked look.

"Relax Katy just having some fun," he slowly put her down keeping an arm securely around her waist.

"I'm ok you can let me go," she protested pushing away from him.

"I won't bite Katy," he whispered in her ear. "Are you worried Wade will see us?"

"I'm not worried about him. It's me that is uncomfortable," she looked up into his eyes.

"Why? I'm only trying to help tire you out with some good harmless wet fun," he splashed her suddenly.

"That's not funny Randy," she tried not to smile.

"I bet dunking you would be really funny. Want to see if I can?" he grinned wrapping his other arm around her waist squeezing her tightly.

"I don't want to see anything," she tried to wiggle free.

"Ok Katy, if you can get free I will behave no dunking, splashing, or tossing you," Randy grinned.

"More games?" she rolled her eyes.

"You love games with me you just won't admit it," he tightened his grip on her pulling her against his body. "Come on Katy get free," he teased her loosen his embrace enough to let her wriggle freely before wrapping her up again.

"You're so unfair," she tried to break his hold.

"Why?" he laughed.

"Odds are all in your favor. You're bigger and stronger," she stopped squirming.

"Hmm you're right, so let's play a fair game," he smirked releasing her keeping a firm hold on her hand. "You have three tries to push me into the water. You win I owe you one favor anything you want. You lose you owe me. Deal?" he searched her pretty eyes illuminated by the moonlit as she shook her head no. "Oh I get it still think its unfair," his lips formed in a devilish grin as he kneeled down in the water. "Now I'm a munchkin like you," he said making her laugh. "Come on you know you want to dunk me for that comment."

"Fine Randy let's play," she shook her head not believing what she was about to do.

"I'm ready come get me," Randy let her hand go motioning for her to come get him. Katelyn thought for a moment trying to come up with the best way to knock him off balance into the water. "Come on Katy take your best shot," he stared at her till she came towards him. She tried timing her first attempt to push him with a wave coming. She had no luck as he didn't budge just watched her with a cocky look on his face. She tried moving behind him and pulling him down into the water with her but he stayed strong. Suddenly an idea came to her mind as she moved back in front of him.

"Last try Katy," he said as she looked over at the waves coming trying to pick the perfect one hoping her idea would work. She shifted her eyes to his and as the wave approached she ran her fingers along his sides getting the reaction she wanted seeing him trying not to squirm. She tickled him more as the wave hit knocking him off balance into the water. Randy grabbed onto to Katelyn taking her with him. They were both laughing as they surfaced. "Talk about unfair. Should have banned tickling?" Randy kept a hold of her hand pulling her back towards the beach.

"You'll have to remember that for next time," she giggled.

"You won, so what do you want?" he asked as she grabbed a towel drying off.

"Can I save my favor for later?"

"Sure Katy," Randy smiled liking that she had mentioned next time and she was saving the favor for a later time. Randy toweled off stealing glances at Katelyn. When she yawned, he knew he had to let her go and get some sleep. "Come on I'll walk you back before Wade starts worrying where you are. I think you'll sleep now."

"You're right he is probably back. I'm exhausted going to sleep like a baby," she smiled grabbing her stuff.

"Anytime you have trouble sleeping give me a call. We can play games till you're exhausted."

"Thank you Randy. You were right I like playing games with you," she admitted feeling her cheeks turn red after she did.

"I'm always right," he gave her a cocky smile making her laugh.

"Remember no cocky Randy around me," she nudged him as they neared the hotel.

"I forgot," he winked at her.

"Thank you again Randy. I hope you have a good night," she waved goodbye as they entered the lobby.

"You too Katy," Randy watched her go towards the elevators leading to her room. When she disappeared, he pushed the button for his elevator. He was staring into space thinking about her when he felt a tap on his arm. He turned surprised to see Katelyn again. "Are you ok?"

"Do you want to go running with me in the morning around 7? I hate running alone and Wade always goes to the gym with Chris first thing in the morning. I heard you run everyday," she asked right away feeling like she had to before her mind took over and she didn't.

"Katy, I do run. I'll meet you at 7 here in the lobby," Randy smiled making her relax some.

"Cool thanks. Good night again," she hurried away as Randy watched her go feeling a warmth in his cold heart he wasn't used to feeling.