Copyright © 2011 Kirsty Moseley

Chapter 4

The week passed quickly, Kurt was placed on office duties as punishment for his little stunt that he pulled at the raid on Monday so that made me feel slightly better even though he would be back in the field in two weeks. There wasn't really much they could do about him, they had put a warning on his file and if it happened again then he would be transferred to a less field based team. Personally I wanted him gone, the whole team didn't like him, he was a loose cannon and all week he'd refused to even think he had done anything wrong. He saw me killing that guy as part of the job, nothing out of the ordinary. That was lucky for him I guess that he could see human life that way, in a way I wish I could just see it like that; just one of those things that happen on the job, but it had never been that way for me.

Today was Saturday, Seth's twenty sixth birthday so we were all heading out tonight to celebrate and get him wasted. I was actually looking forward to it, Ashton was still coming out even though Cameron had been born. He didn't want to, he'd cancelled but Anna had called me today in secret to tell me he was going and I was to come and pick him up. I wasn't looking forward to dragging his ass out of their apartment but Anna had insisted that he needed a night out with the boys.

I pulled up in one of their allocated spaces and met the guy who was replacing Ashton, he was waiting at the door of the building just like Anna had arranged. I smiled, "Hey, you ready? I might need your help to get him in the car."

He laughed and ran a hand through his hair looking a little nervous, I'd met him a couple of times before but I couldn't remember his name. "Yeah, does he not know he's going?" he asked wincing slightly.

I shrugged, "Not unless Anna's told him since this morning." She had said she wanted me there when she told him so he couldn't back out. She'd arranged everything in secret so he had no excuse not to go.

I scanned my key card that they gave me allowing us into the building, and then went over to the elevator punching in the code for their apartment so that we could get to their floor. They had so much security it was a little crazy, I can understand why, but it still amazed me every time. Probably because I never really saw Anna as the President's daughter, she has and would always be just my best friends girl.

I called Ashton when we were in the elevator so he wouldn't be all defensive when I knocked on the door. "Hey bud, I'm now in the elevator." I chirped grinning as he answered his cell.

"Yeah? I guess we'd better get some clothes on then huh?" he joked laughing. I heard Anna giggle in the background so I rolled my eyes, I didn't need to hear about their sex life at all. Especially since I hadn't gotten any for almost a week, but that would change tonight thankfully. I'd been too busy working all week and the little thing with the blonde in the bar had knocked me a little. I really needed to start making an effort to remember the girls, at least their faces so I would know not to approach one I'd already been with!

"Yeah, make your girl put on something sexy for me." I joked laughing.

"I'll tell her." Ashton laughed as he disconnected the call.

When we got to their apartment door Ashton opened it before we even knocked. He grinned happily before his eyes flicked over my shoulder to the secret service agent. His smile fell from his face and he shook his head apologetically. "Sorry Bradley I'm not going tonight, I thought I'd cancelled you. Sorry to waste your time but you can have the night off now I guess."

I grinned and slapped him on the shoulder as I walked past him into his apartment like I owned the place. Anna was leaning against the wall grinning, she was wearing a pair of grey sweats and a black tank top and looked hot even though she'd had a baby less than a week ago.

I turned my nose up jokingly as I looked her over slowly, "I thought Ashton was gonna tell you to wear something sexy for me?"

She gasped faking hurt and did a little twirl, "My sweats don't get your approval? They're designer!" she cried with mock horror.

"Designer trash?" I teased.

She stuck her tongue out at me and rolled her eyes, "Whatever, I'm not going anywhere anyway so I'm not squeezing my fat postnatal ass into my jeans to sit around on the sofa."

Ashton walked past me and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him, bending in close and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle and bite her lip.

I cleared my throat loudly, "Cut that crap out! Can you at least wait for a time when I'm not here? You know seeing that kind of thing makes me sick." I coughed dramatically pretending to gag.

Anna laughed and pushed Ashton away from her, "Don't make him sick on the carpet." she joked. She looked at me and nodded towards Ashton discretely and I groaned internally. Great, I had to tell him he was going out? Fun!

Ok so how do I drop this bomb on him? Direct approach would be best I think! "Ashton, get your shit together your woman wants the apartment to herself for the night." I stated shrugging.

He looked at me a little confused, "What's that mean bud?" he looked from me to Anna and I saw understanding cross his face. His shoulders stiffened and he shook his head. "I'm not going out tonight." he said sternly.

"Come on Taylor, it's Seth's birthday you can't punk out of that. Just for a couple of hours, Anna's arranged for a guard to replace you and everything." I looked at him hopefully, we hadn't been out for a long time and still needed to wet the baby's head too.

Ashton looked at Anna accusingly, "You arranged for me to go out tonight?" he asked obviously not impressed about it.

She sighed and gave him the puppy dog face and I knew he was done for, I'd never seen her not get her own way, he was putty in her hands and they both knew it. She stepped closer to him and gripped the front of his t-shirt playing with the neck of it teasingly with her finger. Wow she was good!

"You should go out with your boys, me and Cam will be fine and you need to have some fun. Bradley can look after us until you get back. Please pretty boy? Just go and have some fun with your friends." she said in her sexy voice and I resisted the urge to laugh, she knew exactly how to work him.

"I don't want to go out baby girl. I'll go next time." he bent his head brushing her hair away from her face smiling.

"Ashton Taylor, you're going out with Nate tonight, everything's arranged. Go have some fun for me." She moved closer to him pressing her body against his, "I promise I'll welcome you home properly when you get back." she flirted.

I turned back to Bradley shaking my head, man my best friend was pussy whipped.

Ashton moaned a little breathlessly, "Mmm how about we just pretend I went out and you can welcome me home now?" he suggested pulling her closer to him looking at her hopefully.

She shook her head narrowing her eyes, "If you don't go out with Nate tonight then there's no way you're getting anywhere near me. It's your choice." She raised one eyebrow challengingly and he frowned obviously thinking it through.

After a minute of silence he sighed and shook his head sadly, "Fine, but I'm only going for an hour."

"Two hours minimum." she said slapping his ass as he walked towards their bedroom. She turned back to me and grinned, "That was easier than I thought." I smiled and nodded, hell that was a lot easier than I thought too! She wrapped her arm around my waist as she pulled me to the lounge plopping herself on the sofa pulling me down next to her. "Make sure he has a nice time ok? Don't let him back too early because who knows when the silly boy will agree to go out again."

"I'm gonna get him trashed." I waggled my eyebrows at her making her laugh. I looked around the room for Cameron but he wasn't in there. "Where's Cam?" I asked.

She rested her head back on the sofa closing her eyes and I noticed the circles under her eyes for the first time. "Bedroom sleeping." she mumbled stifling a yawn.

"Everything ok? Is he not sleeping well or something?" I asked worriedly.

She smiled happily, Anna was incredible with Cameron and I'd never seen a more devoted mother. They had tried for so long for him that he was going to be spoilt rotten. "He sleeps fine but I just keep waking up and checking him every hour or so. I keep thinking something's going to happen to him while I'm asleep." she admitted wincing slightly.

I slung my arm around her shoulder, "Nothing will happen to him Anna so stop stressing about it."

She nodded and rested her head on my shoulder, "Yeah I know, it's just something I can't stop worrying about. In my head I know I'm being irrational but I just can't stop myself getting out of the bed and making sure he's still breathing."

"You're gonna become one of those clingy, overprotective mothers that don't let their kid play on the slide incase they get hurt. You need to chill out, nothing will happen to my godson I promise." I said smiling reassuringly.

She smiled gratefully and Ashton walked out of the bedroom changed and ready to go out. "You making moves on my girl again? Seriously how many times do we need to talk about this?" he joked as he grabbed his wallet and keys from the sideboard.

"You know I can't resist a girl in sweats." I smirked at Anna making her laugh and push me away from her.

"You two boys get the hell out and don't come back until you're good and drunk." she laughed.

Ashton grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the sofa giving me a little shove towards the door before he bent over her and kissed her so passionately that I had to look away. I could hear him whispering little warnings to her about not answering the door, calling him if there was a problem, staying with Bradley and all the other little things he was probably feeling sick with worry about.

I headed over to Bradley and smiled teasingly. "Just ignore his threats of death and castration, he gets a little overprotective."

He laughed and Ashton came over with his face hard and stern as he ran through the rules of the building, how he wasn't to leave Anna or Cameron if there was a problem, blah blah blah. I gripped his shoulder tightly stopping his worried rant. "Ashton, he knows how to do his job! Besides we're going to a bar that's like ten minutes away. You could run it in about four so stop stressing and leave the poor guy alone."

He sighed and nodded reluctantly, "Fine, come on let's get this done so I can get back."

I rolled my eyes and headed out of the door, I wonder if I'll ever feel so strongly for someone that I would put their happiness and safety over my own. I actually didn't hold out much hope for it, there couldn't be two girls that are as awesome as Anna in the world so I had no chance at finding one. My mind flicked to Rosie again, it had been doing that a lot recently and it was driving me crazy. Stupid brain thinking about a girl I couldn't have. Oh well I was going to make my brain think of something else tonight, two things actually; alcohol and girls.

We headed to the bar chatting about Cameron, I'd seen him after work everyday this week and he was such a cute kid. It was nice, I got to fuss over him and then hand him back when he cried, perfect. We made our way into the back of the bar ignoring how the people that we walked past stopped and stared because he was 'Ashton Taylor - Presidents son in law and part of a celebrity couple' he got that wherever he went but that was part of his life now so he just accepted it.

Seth was already leaning on the bar heavily with Rick, Wayne and Ryan, they were laughing and doing shots. I slapped Seth on the back as we walked over making him choke on his drink and almost spit it everywhere and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Want a bib?" I joked as he wiped his chin laughing. I waved to the barman ordering eight shots of tequila watching as Ashton frowned and groaned. "You're drinking. Anna told me I had to get you drunk tonight so she could take advantage of you." I laughed.

He grinned, "She'd do that anyway whether I'm drunk or not."

"Yeah but she said if I get you really wasted that she'd take advantage of me too, so I'm gonna get you so drunk that I have to carry you home and then I'm gonna have me some fun with your wife." I smirked at him teasingly making him laugh. He knew I was joking, the idea of Anna being with anyone but him just the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard.

When the drinks were made I passed one to the other four guys and two to Ashton and two for myself. "We need to catch up." I said to his horrified face. "On three."

After we'd had a few drinks we were all standing around chatting and laughing, Seth had disappeared off with a girl dancing and working his magic. I felt a little tipsy but not drunk yet. A group of girls walked past us and Ashton stiffened and grabbed one of their hands as they walked past. What the hell?

The girl turned around quickly, "Hey!" she cried angrily as she yanked her hand from his grasp. My breath caught in my throat, oh shit it was her, the girl I'd been thinking about for the last few days, the only girl that had ever turned me down flat. "Oh hey Ashton! Sorry I didn't realize it was you I thought someone just grabbed me." she said smiling as she pulled him into a hug.

"Hey Rosie, what are you doing here? I thought you were going for dinner tonight with your sister." He looked over her shoulder and smiled at the other girls that were with her.

Rosie nodded and smiled, "Yeah we went for dinner and then they wanted to come dancing." She shrugged, her eyes flicked to me for a second but held no recognition whatsoever. Holy crap she didn't even recognize me? Wow I must have made an even worse impression than I thought!

"So where's DJ tonight?" he asked.

She grinned her eyes doing that little softening thing that they did when she told me she already had a man. Was DJ the guy she was seeing that she was in love with? I couldn't help but frown, I didn't really want to hear about her stupid ass of a boyfriend but I couldn't bring myself to walk away.

"He's still in Barstow, he'll be coming here on Tuesday once I've got everything sorted." She smiled happily.

She looked incredible tonight, when I saw her at the hospital I thought she was beautiful but tonight she was dressed to kill. She had on a little black skirt that came to mid-thigh and made her legs look perfectly lickable. A blue top that hung off of the shoulders, it was fairly loose but still hinted at what was underneath. Her hair was down tonight and was in lose waves, every single inch of her was making my mouth water and I was racking my brains thinking of the best line I could think of to use on her. I had another shot tonight to make her forget her man and I was so taking it.

"How's the new place? Anna said you were settling in ok." He looked at her curiously. Wow she'd moved to LA already? Wait of course she has Nate, stupid asshole she's out at a bar in LA so of course she lives here! I rolled my eyes at how stupid I was sometimes.

"It's ok, weird being here but I'm looking forward to starting work on Monday." she said smiling proudly, one of her friends touched her arm and I heard her say something about wanting to dance. Her friend glanced at Ashton shyly, her eyes raking down his body but he was completely oblivious, it was kind of like he didn't even see other girls anymore or something.

"Ok well I'll see you tomorrow, you're still coming over for dinner right?" Ashton asked looking at her curiously. She was going to theirs for dinner tomorrow? Well this just gets better and better, maybe I'd invite myself over too and then I'd have another shot at her tomorrow as well.

"Definitely, see you then." She hugged him again smiling happily.

As she turned to walk off he called to her making her stop again, "If you get in any trouble tonight and need any help then I'll be here for a little while. When I go you can still come to my friends, ok?" Ashton said sternly.

Rosie's eyes flicked to me again and I had time to smile this time before she looked away. "I have a feeling your friends are the trouble I'd need help with." she winked at him and walked off through the crowd and I just stared at her in shock. Damn it I was seriously losing it! Had I lost my mojo or was it just her? I needed to check this out.

I turned to the girl standing near me and smiled. "Hi, I'm Mr. Right, I heard you were looking for me." I stated confidently. She giggled and blushed nudging her friend and I felt myself relax, it was just Rosie that had no interest in me. Was she a lesbian?

The girl I'd used the line on was talking to me but I wasn't interested, I was too busy looking through the crowd watching Rosie shake her perfect little ass on the dance floor. God damn she was a good dancer! I groaned and turned back to Ashton ignoring the girl who was trying to get my attention back again.

"What's the deal with her? She's not interested in me at all!" I whined.

He laughed and gripped my shoulder, "She's not your type Nate so let it go." He pushed me towards the bar again laughing his ass off.

"Why not? Come on she's a girl, she's my type." I stated crossing my arms over my chest, this girl was seriously denting my ego.

"Nate, Rosie is Anna's best friend and she's an incredible person. She doesn't deserve you messing her around and using her. Let it go." he said sternly looking at me pleadingly.

I sighed and frowned, I can understand him not wanting me to hurt her but that was just damn annoying, I really wanted to sleep with her. In a way I needed to, I had a feeling that this girl would be playing on my mind as the one that got away. I didn't want to be imagining what it would be like to run my tongue down her body, I wanted to do it and then maybe I'd realize that it's not as good as what I thought it would be! I only wanted her because she didn't want me, at least I hoped that was the reason I wanted her. It scared me a little just how much I wanted her, I was a player I should just grab the nearest girl and take her out the back for some fun. I shouldn't still be looking through the crowd for her, damn it stop looking Nate! I forced my eyes away and looked at Ashton.

"So you're saying I can't go over there and dance with her?" I grumbled.

He laughed and nodded, "That's what I'm saying. Go find some other girl and leave Anna's friend alone ok?"

I nodded reluctantly but he'd just made me want her even more; now she was forbidden uninterested fruit, and that would taste even better.

We went back to our friends playing a drinking game and I tried desperately not to look for her but I just couldn't keep my eyes in check and every few minutes they would wander to where she was dancing and giggling with her friends chatting animatedly. She looked so cute when she laughed, her nose did this little crinkling thing as she giggled.

After about another hour Ashton bailed out, "I'm leaving. Have a good night and happy birthday Seth." he said smiling apologetically.

"Taylor you're a lightweight." Seth scolded shaking his head in disapproval.

"Yeah but when you have a little hottie waiting for you at home and a baby that you know is going to wake you up early in the morning then you'll be a lightweight too." Ashton shrugged. He turned to me and gave me the man hug, "See you in the week or something yeah?"

"Sure bud. Maybe I'll pop by tomorrow, I'm not working so I could come hang out or something." I suggested trying to look innocent so he wouldn't know I was going there to see Rosie.

He saw straight through me though, a knowing smile on his lips as he rolled his eyes. "Right, well then I'll see you tomorrow."

As soon as he walked off my whole body was trying to force me to go and find her, but I was fighting it. He was right, this was Anna's friend and I would probably see her a lot so I couldn't exactly ruin everything and make it awkward for us to be in the same room at the Christening or something.

I had a few more drinks and completely forgot the reason I was supposed to be staying away from her. She walked past me with one of her friends and headed to the bar leaning on it waiting to be served. I grinned and headed over there watching her ass the whole time, I leant on the bar next to her making her jump slightly at how close I was.

"Hey muffin." I chirped.

She smiled, "Hey player."

"So are you gonna let me buy you a drink?" I asked curiously.

Her friend was grinning happily and completely checking me out, I was definitely in there, I could have her if I wanted; the thing is I didn't. The one I wanted was smirking back at me looking so $exy that I could barely stop myself from wrapping my arm around her waist and crushing her body to mine.

"Why's that? Gonna put some Rohypnol in there to help your chances of this latest flirting session working out in your favour?" she asked cockily.

I laughed, this girl was too funny. "It does look like the date rape drugs are the only way I'm going to get you into bed." I confirmed playing along making her friend giggle next to her. I frowned, that was how a girl was supposed to act, how is Rosie still keeping her cool around me?

"I would, but I have to get up early and those drugs give me one hell of a headache in the morning." she joked shrugging. The barman came over smiling at her and checking her out but she didn't even notice as she ordered drinks for her girls. At least it's not just me that she's not interested in!

"So you moved in ok then?" I asked wanting to keep her talking as long as possible.

She turned her nose up and nodded, "Yeah it was a pain in the ass but it's done now thank goodness. I better go take these drinks back to the girls." she nodded at the tray the barman put down in front of her. I couldn't help but feel disappointed that I didn't get to speak to her for longer.

"Want a hand?" I offered reaching for the tray.

She smiled and shook her head slapping the back of my hand teasingly, "If you think I'm letting you get your hand anywhere near my drink then you've got another thing coming." she joked winking at me as she picked up the tray and walked off without another word. I laughed and just watched her walk away without even looking over her shoulder at me. Her friend was glancing back looking at me with wide eyes before leaning in and whispering something to Rosie.

"$hit." I mumbled to myself, how on earth was I going to get this girl interested in me? Maybe I should take my shirt off in front of her or something, maybe she was more impressed with a body than a face. I chewed on my lip thinking, I dismissed most of my pick-up lines almost immediately most of them were pretty crude and wouldn't work on a girl like her.

I walked over to Seth who was looking at me confused, "Did you just get rejected?" he asked shocked. Yeah welcome to the club I'm shocked too!

"Yep." I said popping the p, making his mouth drop open as he looked over at Rosie with wide eyes.

"Holy $hit, seriously? What did she say?" he asked.

I shrugged, "I met her the other day, that's about the twentieth time she's brushed me off."

He laughed and shook his head, "I'm going to try."

He immediately walked off and I wanted to grab him and beat the crap out of him. I groaned as he got over to her, please don't get it on with my friend, please! I begged internally. He had his game face on as he put his arm around her shoulder smirking at her cockily. I could see his mouth moving but I couldn't hear what he was saying, after he finished talking she said something and he lifted his arm off of her shoulder holding his hands up innocently. He backed away a step and shook his head saying something else and I felt myself relax as I started laughing. Thank God for that!

He frowned and walked back over to me looking shocked, "She's a lesbian." he said downing his drink quickly.

I laughed harder, "Yeah that's what I said."

After a few more drinks Rick came back from the bathroom looking pleased with himself. "Nate, your girls not a lesbian. I just heard her and her friends talking and they were all trying to get her to give someone a chance tonight. She just gave in and said to shut them up that she'll dance with the tenth guy that hits on her, apparently there's already been four guys try tonight." he said grinning happily.

Ten guys? I looked at my watch, it was already almost midnight. She probably said that knowing that she wouldn't get another six guys to hit on her before she left for the night! Damn that's crafty. Ok I could make this work to my advantage I needed another five guys to hit on her then I'd make sure I was number ten and I'd get to dance with her.

"Yeah? Awesome! Rick go hit on her." I nodded towards her and he looked at me horrified, he wasn't the type to just walk up to a girl and try his luck, he wasn't confident enough.

"What? No way!" he said shaking his head fiercely.

"Oh come on please? You be number five, Wayne you can be number six and I'll have to find another three guys to hit on her so I can be number ten." I said pleadingly. He frowned and shook his head, he wasn't going for it at all. "Please? I'll tell you what to say, I just need her to reject you so I can be number ten. Please?" I begged excitedly.

He sighed and closed his eyes looking like he was in pain. "Fine, give me a damn line." he muttered defeated.

I didn't want to give him one that was too good, I didn't want her to actually fall for it, not that there was much chance of that though she really wasn't interested in cheating on her man. "Ok how about you say; do you mind if I hang out here until its safe back where I farted?" I joked knowing he wouldn't ever say that to a girl. He looked at me horrified and Seth and Wayne burst out laughing. I laughed and shook my head, "I was kidding, ok here say this; do you have sunburn or are you always this hot? That's an oldie but a goodie." I shrugged, that corny line had worked for me in the past.

He groaned and looked back over to her nervously. "She's going to shoot me down." he whined.

"That's the point Rick, I want her to shoot you down so I can go and tap that." I teased.

He rolled his eyes "You owe me for this Nate." He turned and walked off and we watched as she laughed and shook her head, he was back within thirty seconds, damn that girl rejects quickly!

Seth had already hit on her so I sent Wayne in next while I went to go find three others to hit on her too. I spotted a group of five guys standing off to one side drinking. I headed over there quickly, "Hey guys, can I ask a favour?" I asked not sure how to approach the subject.

They all looked at me curiously, "What favour?" one of them asked.

"I need three of you to go hit on a girl and let her reject you. I have a bet on with her that she'll get hit on ten times tonight and I really want to win." I grinned.

They laughed, one of them looked over my shoulder. "Which girl?" he asked.

I turned around and pointed at her, "The hottie in the blue shirt."

"Nice." he purred, crap I shouldn't have asked this guy he actually looked like he wanted her too! Damn it, the last thing I needed was competition.

"So I need three guys to go and hit on her so I can win the bet. You up for it?" I asked hopefully as I looked around at their faces.

"What's in it for us?" the guy asked still looking at Rosie hungrily.

"I don't know, how about fifty bucks?" I offered grinning. 

"Fifty bucks for three of us hitting on her?" he laughed. "How much do you stand to win?" he asked curiously.

"Pride and bragging rights." I shrugged.

He laughed and shook his head amused, "Ok I'll go for it." I grinned and pulled out my wallet grabbing the spare fifty that I always kept in the back of my wallet for emergencies, this definitely qualified as one of those!         

I went up and requested a song, luckily I knew the guy so he didn't mind adding it to his playlist, he said it would be in about four songs time so that would give them time to approach her. Hopefully this would work because otherwise I have no idea what I could do to get her attention.

I went back to my friends and downed my drink quickly watching as she looked a little pissed off as the guys started going up to her one at a time. I couldn't help but laugh as she basically told one guy what he could do with his drink, at least he was getting paid for it so he wasn't that bothered. When the three of them had had their turns I went a little closer to her waiting for the song to come on.

I was actually nervous for some reason, I really wanted this to work and either way I was going to get to dance with her. I could actually feel my hands sweating a little, what the hell? I wiped them on my jeans and ordered myself to calm down. She was just a girl, just another lay, just a bit of fun that I could forget in the morning.

The song that was on was about half way through so I knew it was probably about time to make my move because the one I had requested would be next. I took her hand pulling her away from her friends slightly. Her face snapped round to mine looking pissed off at being grabbed.

I smiled happily. "Hey there pumpkin. So are you originally from Tennessee? Because you're the only ten I see." I smirked at her, she groaned and rolled her eyes. "No wait, number ten, that's me." I said faking shock. "That means you owe me a dance." I smirked at her.

She looked at me a little bored, "Again player? Are you gonna give up soon because seriously; it's not working."

"No seriously, I'm number ten." I pointed to Rick, "He's five, the guy next to him was six and those three guys that just came up to you were seven, eight and nine. That means you owe me a dance sweetheart." I grinned. Her friends were all watching with wide eyes and even wider smiles.

Rosie's smirk fell from her face as she realized what I was talking about. "No," she muttered shaking her head. "Seriously? No way you can't be you were number three." She brightened as if she suddenly had a get out clause.

$hit if I was three could I be number ten too? Damn it! Ok if she wants to play it like that, fine. "Ok bunny you asked for this. I know the guy that has the power to stop the music playing. When I raise my hand the music's going to stop and I'm going to propose to you in front of everyone. Do you have a ring I could borrow or should I just wing it without one?" I asked trying to keep a straight face.

She looked at me sceptically obviously trying to work out if I was serious or not. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "No way." she said trying to look confident but I could see she was a little worried by her eyes. She already told me she hated to be centre of attention.

I shrugged, "You asked for it sweetie." I turned back to look at the DJ and raised my hand praying this would work otherwise I'd look like a moron. She gasped and grabbed my wrist yanking it back down again and I couldn't help but laugh.

"$hit Nate, you're so freaking annoying!" she whined frowning and looking cute as a button. Holy crap again with the cute thing? I need to grow some balls!

"Thanks muffin. I requested the next song for you." I smirked at her and pulled her to the dance floor while she closed her eyes and looked like she was in pain or something. Wow was dancing with me really that bad? I couldn't help but feel a little hurt about it.

Beautiful Monster by Ne-yo started and she burst out laughing. "You requested this for me?" she asked faking hurt.

I nodded and took her hands wrapping her arms around my neck as I pulled her closer to me. "Yep, the song fits you, the words are you all over. Now are you going to dance with me or not?" I asked wrapping my arms around her tightly. Damn she felt good in my arms, perfect height, just like she was made for me or something.

"You know this isn't a slow song right?" she asked as we started dancing. I nodded and she started dancing properly, swaying her hips and shaking her ass to perfection, I could feel myself getting turned on so I willed myself to calm down before she noticed. I danced with her whilst looking at every inch of her face. Wow she looked even prettier now than when I spoke to her earlier, is she getting more beautiful as the night went on or is that just because I've had more to drink?

She smiled and I couldn't help but smile back as I bent my head slightly and pressed my forehead to hers looking into her big brown eyes as I slid one hand up her back to the nape of her neck tangling my fingers in her hair. Her breathing had definitely sped up as her arms tightened around my neck as she was grinding against me. Oh $hit this girl is going to give me blue balls!

Neither of us spoke but I didn't need to, it was weird having her in my arms. I'd never felt anything like it and I savoured every second in case I didn't get the opportunity again. When the song finished she pulled back slightly her arms moving from my neck slowly, trailing down across my shoulders and down my chest and I bit my tongue to stifle a moan. Damn it this girl was a serious turn on!

"Thanks for the dance then player." she muttered, was it just me or did she look a little disappointed? Or maybe I was reading something out of nothing again because that's what I wanted to see.

I groaned internally as I let go of her. "Want another dance?" I asked hopefully.

She smiled apologetically, "Sorry I agreed with my friends; one dance with guy number ten, so I've kept up my end of the bargain." She shrugged but still hadn't walked away from me which I took as a good sign.

I nodded, "Yeah ok. That dance was totally worth the fifty bucks, I don't think I could afford another one anyway." I joked laughing and running a hand through my hair nervously. Why the hell am I so freaking nervous? Jeez get a grip Nate!

She looked at me confused, "Fifty bucks?"

Crap I shouldn't have said that! Oh well can't take it back now. "Yeah, I had to pay those guys to come and hit on you so I could be number ten and get the dance." I shrugged watching her mouth drop open in shock.

"Wow now I feel a little like a hooker." she gasped making me laugh.

"A hooker, really? Does that mean you'll put out if I take you home with me?" I asked laughing.

She smirked at me and moved closer making my mouth water slightly, "I think we both know the answer to that player. Do you really need to ask?" she teased looking me right into the eyes. Usually a girl wouldn't be like this with me, once I'd made the move they would be hanging all over me listening to me talk or just checking me out. It was refreshing to meet a girl that could hold her own against me.

"My guess is I'm going to bed with a mental image of you and a box of tissues." I joked.

She burst out laughing and shook her head, "You just get cruder and cruder the more I talk to you."

I did a little bow as if it was a compliment which made her laugh harder. "If you really want crude I got a ton of those." I said honestly. I probably knew every pick-up line known to man, most of them crude and suggestive. A couple of them were even too bad for me to use because I didn't want to kicked in an area that God only intended to be treated nicely.

"Oh I bet you have. Come on then hit me with your best line. Your all time favourite, get the girls every time line." she said looking at me expectantly.

"Just one? I don't have a favourite, but for you I guess I'd have to go for something intelligent rather than just plain slutty, so the your shirt has to go but you can stay line wouldn't go down very well I don't think. Hmm I guess my other favourite one; you, me, handcuffs and whipped cream, interested? Wouldn't work very well on you either." I tapped my chin pretending to think as she just laughed and shook her head disapprovingly.

"And you don't think you're a player?" she asked raising one eyebrow at me knowingly.

"I'll freely admit I'm a player, but maybe I've just never met the right girl. So anyway, change of subject; why would your parents name you Rosie if your surname was Right? I mean that's just a little mean." I asked pretending to be serious.

She looked at me as if I'd lost the plot a little. "I'm not Rosie Right, I'm Rosie York."

"Holy crap really? Damn it, I could have sworn you were Miss Right."

She rolled her eyes as she got it and smiled. "Nice, didn't see that one coming so good job." she said. I resisted the urge to turn what she said round and make it rude, she really walked into that one with the I didn't see it coming line.

"You like that? I made that up on the spot, just for you." I said laughing and pulling her closer to me as a guy almost bumped her from behind. Her hand rested on my chest making me feel a little hot and bothered but I worked hard not to let it show.

"Very clever Nate I'm officially impressed." she said sarcastically as she patted my chest teasingly and walked off through the crowd. 

I grinned and caught up with her quickly, "I knew I'd impress you eventually." I said confidently.

She smiled and instead of stopping at her friends she walked to the bar, there wasn't much room so instead of standing next to her I stood behind her putting my hands on the bar either side of her, trapping her there as I pressed my chest against her back. I bent my head forward and smelt her hair discretely, she smelt delicious, like strawberries and chocolate. Wow now I'm turning into some kind of pervert stalker guy!

She turned her head to the side looking at me over her shoulder. "What do you want to drink? Payback for the money you spent on the dance."

I bent my head down closer to hers running my nose up her cheek softly making her breathing falter slightly as she shivered slightly. "How about another dance as payback?" I whispered in her ear going for the $exy approach.

She gulped and I knew it was working, her resistance was crumbling and I could feel the hope bubbling up inside. "You said you couldn't afford another." she teased turning back towards the bar and I knew she had her defences back up again. I was so close to breaking her, for a couple of seconds she honestly considered it but the moment was gone and so were my chances.

I let my arms drop from the bar and couldn't help but feel rejected and disappointed. This was killing me, it was fun in a way; she was fun, but I had no idea how to make this any better so I knew I was fighting a losing battle which was really frustrating.

"I don't want a drink Rosie. But thanks for the dance." I muttered needing to walk away, I couldn't take anymore rejection for tonight. There was only so much bashing my ego could take all in one go.

She turned back and looked at me curiously, "You don't want one? Ok, never mind then." She shrugged easily but she had a look on her face, like sorrow or maybe guilt. Did she want me or not? Damn this girl was freaking confusing!

"Maybe another time but I need to go and lick my rejection wounds." I joked making her smile. Wow her smile was so beautiful and I wanted nothing more than to press my body against hers and take her right on the bar in front of everyone. I took her hand and pressed the back of it to my lips kissing it softly going for the old fashioned approach, hell something had to work on this girl so it was worth a try. "It was good to see you again." I said honestly.

"Yeah you too. I think we're leaving now anyway." she said looking over my shoulder to her friends, I flicked my eyes to them to see they were all finished their drinks and standing around watching us talking.

"Ok well get home safe ok?" Should I walk her home? What if something happened to her on the way home, maybe I should, yeah I think I will. I opened my mouth to offer but she interrupted me.

"I will, Candice is driving so she's dropping everyone home." She smiled sweetly, "See ya Nate." She patted my chest again and walked off to her friends. I watched as they all converged on her immediately, casting sly looks back at me obviously asking for the gossip. She shrugged and shook her head and I felt even more rejected for some reason, she was even telling her friends that she wasn't interested in me.

I headed back over to my friends and saw Emma one of my friends standing there drinking and laughing with them. I smiled, now that's more like it! Emma was a little partner of mine, she liked $ex, so when she wanted to we went at it in a casual no strings attached way. Neither of us wanted more which worked out perfectly, she was just as big a player as me and would definitely make me feel better about Rosie, she was awesome in bed.

"Hey Emma, long time no see." I smirked at her.

She grinned happily and came to stand by my side smiling her little suggestive smile. "Nate Peters, it's definitely been too long." She looked around for something before turning back to me. "On your own?" she asked hopefully. I nodded and she grinned, "Awesome me too." I laughed as she gripped my hand and pulled me off towards the toilets at the back of the bar. Now that is definitely more like it!

She locked us in and I grabbed her and kissed her immediately pushing her against the wall as her hands went straight for the buttons of my jeans, she never was one for patience. I slipped my tongue in her mouth and tried to force all images of Rosie out of my head, but it just wasn't working; she just kept popping back in there.

Emma slipped her hand into my boxers stroking me gently as I kissed her and slipped my hands down to her ass. She was still stroking me but nothing was happening. She pulled out of the kiss and kissed down my neck but I just couldn't shake the feeling that this was wrong for some reason. I didn't even want to be here with her, I wanted to be walking Rosie home and hearing her talk some more.

Emma pulled back and looked at me curiously, "Everything ok?" she asked breathlessly.

I nodded and gulped, what the hell is wrong with me? This had never happened to me in my life. When I wanted a hard on I got one, I never had to have the girl work for it.

"Want me to suck it?" she offered frowning looking confused.

The honest answer to that question scared me a little, I didn't want her to and I'd never even thought that before in my life either. Damn it Nate get your game on and have $ex with the pretty girl, you know she's good!

"Nate? I said," she started but I cut her off quickly.

"I heard what you said. Sorry I can't do this tonight, I'm not feeling too good. I think I'm coming down with something." I lied stepping back and buttoning up my jeans.

"You're sick? Aw does the poor baby need a nurse to look after him?" she asked flirtily as she stepped up to me again.

I groaned internally, just do it Nate for goodness sake, you're going to kill your reputation if you walk out of here. But the thing is I didn't really care, I couldn't bring myself to have meaningless $ex with Emma in the back of the bar when I was interested in Rosie.

Once I'd had Rosie then I'd be able to turn my game back on and get back to normal. This was just a little blip that was easily fixed, once I'd jumped her everything would be fine and dandy again.

"No, seriously Emma, sorry but I can't tonight. I need to go home." I muttered to her obviously disappointed face.

"Ok, well I'll catch you next time." She shrugged and flicked the lock on the bathroom walking away leaving me standing there in the middle of the ladies bathrooms.

I walked over to the mirror and looked at myself, I didn't look any different but I felt like I should for some reason. I looked down at my crotch and frowned. "Nice let down buddy, you couldn't just do it?" I muttered angrily. Wow I am seriously losing it, talking to my d!ck, great job Nate!

I sighed and headed out of the bathrooms deciding enough was enough, I was going home with a mental image of Rosie and a box of tissues just like I told her earlier. Tomorrow would be different, tomorrow I was turning my game back on and heading to Ashton's for dinner whether I was invited or not. Persistence was the key and I had never given up on anything in my life.

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Hope you all appreciated the length!! This was 17 pages on word :O   

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thanks - i'll update as soon as i can

Kirsty <3