Lucky shook his head and stepped back when she did some sort of fancy turn. Stopping then to gesture at him as if it were his turn or something. ‘Yeah right,’ he thought. Grinning from ear to ear.

How had he gotten himself into this mess?

"I’m supposed to do that now?!" He shouted. His eyes wide in shock as the loud beat of a salsa groove floated over from the band across the room.

"Yeah!" Elizabeth smiled widely as she shouted over the music. Completely content in her element. "It’s your turn!"

Other couples whizzed past them, and he shook his head once more. Elizabeth pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes before clasping his hands in hers. Leading him further out onto the dance floor and away from their little corner. "Come on…I’ll show you how…It’s not hard at all, I promise."

"Famous last words," he grinned. Beginning to imitate some strange shuffle thing she was doing with her feet.

"It’s not about the feet," she said quickly. Following his gaze. With a gentle finger she lifted his chin and softly met his eyes. Placing the very same hand on his chest a moment later.

Jesus, had she felt what she’d just done to his heart, by touching him? God, he hoped not.

"It’s about here," she said. Her hand directly over his heart. "And here," she finished. Moving both of her hands to sit at his hips. "Don’t think…just move."

‘Jesus woman, get your hands off me!’ He thought grinning broadly through the cold sweat that swept over his body. "Ok…I’ll try not to think too much!"

"Give me your hands," she instructed playfully. "I’ll lead."

Lucky laughed out loud when they started to move. Their bodies still nestled in the tiny section of the floor that they’d claimed as their own. Thankfully she hadn’t pulled him too far out into the masses.

It wasn’t even a fast song, but his feet felt like lead. "Oh man…I don’t know Elizabeth…first you pay for dinner – now you’re leading while we dance…I’m starting to feel really emasculated here…"

Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow in amusement. "Next, I’ll be asking to wear your pants!"

He grinned at the sound of her voice over the music and as she turned, her skirt flitted about her petite little body.

‘Nope, definitely not lending you my pants,’ Lucky thought. ‘Covering those legs would be a crying shame.’

"No…no…don’t do that."

"Huh?" Elizabeth asked. Craning her neck up to look at him. "What did you say?"

Lucky looked down at her. His eyes wide again. Had he said something out loud again? Jeez…he had to stop that. "Nothing!" He yelled.

Looking into his eyes, she suddenly smiled brightly. "You’re doing it!"

"Huh? What…what am I doing?" He stammered.

"You’re dancing," Elizabeth smiled. Even more widely this time. Watching him with pride you’d have at watching your child take his first steps.

Lucky looked down for a second. He actually was sorta doing it…sorta. "I don’t know," he said. "Don’t they have any beginner’s salsa clubs?"

Her broad, booming laugh made his night. She sighed and slowed her movements. "Do you wanna sit this one out?…I’m thirsty."

Grateful to her, he grasped her hand and led her towards the bar. "I thought you’d never ask…Name your pleasure."

She could have named many. But they probably wouldn’t have been appropriate.

"Um…uh…just Rum and Coke, please," she stuttered. As he placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her towards the bar.

"One ‘Just Rum and Coke’ coming up," he agreed. Leaning over the bar to shout their orders as he pulled the only open stool out from underneath the bar.

She gripped his hand to climb up the single rung. Not noticing how he positioned himself in front of her while she adjusted that short little dress of hers. Blocking the view of any male onlookers with good taste.

"What?" Elizabeth asked suddenly. Catching his eyes when she glanced upwards.

"What?"

"You were staring," she said quickly. The bartender placed her drink in front of her on a small square napkin. Ironically enough, it read, ‘Lucky Strike.’

"I’m sorry," he answered. Shaking his head. "I was just thinking."

"Thought I told you not to do that," She laughed. Taking a sip through the red straw, but quickly deciding to forgo the straw and drink straight from the glass. The plastic tube, not having provided nearly enough alcohol for an occasion such as this one. She felt like downing it.

She lowered her glass after one hard gulp and closed her eyes for a moment as it slid down her throat. His voice prompted her to open them.

God, the way he stared at her sometimes…She shivered a little. Unfortunately it wasn’t a bad kind of shiver. It was good. Too good.

"Yeah, I know," Lucky sighed. "But that was about dancing…this time I was thinking about how beautiful you are."

The bartender slowed his hand as he lowered Lucky’s plain Dr. Pepper, and a few other drinkers looked his way, halting in mid conversation.

‘Oooh shit…You didn’t say that within the confines of your own head Spencer, did you?…Nope…you never do,’ he thought. Biting his lip. ‘Could you learn to hold back?…Just a little, maybe? I mean she ALREADY thinks you’re a freak…do you really have to help her along every chance you get?’

She stared back, not saying anything at all. The silence so overwhelming that even the pulsating beat of the music seemed to fade away. The only beating he felt in his own throbbing heart. If he hadn’t felt that he probably would have thought he died.

A moment’s more silence, made his Adam’s apple bob up and down quickly, and he watched her duck her head a bit shyly before catching his eyes again. When she caught them she held them for a moment.

Just like he knew that she suddenly held his heart in her hands.

There would be no going back now. There’d be no leaving for New York without SOMETHING coming of this magical spell that seemed to enchant him every time he looked at her. Every time she smiled or ran her fingers through her hair.

Elizabeth fiddled nervously with the hem of her dress that lay just above her knees. He was just SAYING these things…they didn’t actually mean anything. Of course they didn’t. They couldn’t.

Trying desperately to think of some snappy comeback or witty remark was useless. Her tongue seemed to cement itself to her jaw every time he said something like that…

Something beautiful like that. Something that had the power to make her feel, even if only for a moment, as beautiful as he claimed she was.

Swallowing hard she finally responded with the only thing she could, "Thank you."

Lucky could barely nod as he nervously took the first sip of his soda. ‘Could you possibly embarrass yourself of HER anymore, you idiot?’

"I think I need to go the bathroom."

The words were so random even he didn’t know where they had come from.

"You think?" Elizabeth asked. A sudden grin pulling at her lips. "You don’t really know for sure though? You have to ponder this for a little while?"

Lucky drummed his fingers against the bar and smirked at her. "Yes – I have to go to the bathroom…I’m usually pretty definite about these things."

And just like that, the moment of tension had eased. God, it was so easy just to BE with her. Just to be himself and not try to be something he wasn’t. Not try and fit into some mold that a man his age that was financially successful was "supposed" to fit into. Or some mold that a woman – namely Stephanie – tried to force him into.

He smiled at her widely and she laughed. Not sure if the sudden giggles were an after effect of the quick intake of booze, or the dizzying effect that his smile was having on her. Thankfully, he removed himself from the equation before she had a chance to think very long.

"I’ll be right back."

Strolling towards the men’s room, he knew his bladder could have waited. That having to pee was the least of his problems. What he really needed right then was to clear his head before he did anything else stupid. Before he completely scared her away.

Taking a deep breath he ran his fingers through his hair and thought about how he’d gotten here. A place where he could no longer function without thinking of this girl. A place where he no longer WANTED to function without this girl. A place that he’d gotten to in the time span of one night…it didn’t make any sense.

But hadn’t he always trusted things that weren’t too rational? Weren’t too sane?…

Elizabeth swiveled around on her stool to watch him disappear before staring into her glass and taking another long guzzle. This was insane. Shear insanity…there was no other name for it.

The ‘date’ could have easily ended hours ago at the restaurant. She’d known while they’d danced in each other’s arms, that it should have been. That she should have called an end to the night right then and there. At the exact moment that her heart flip-flopped in her chest, but she hadn’t…she hadn’t BECAUSE her heart had flip-flopped in her chest. And never in her life had she felt that before. Not ever.

And now she was paying the price for giving into her heart and acting on a whim. This wouldn’t be fair to him. He didn’t know who she was. Where she came from. What she’d done. He didn’t know…and if he did know, he wouldn’t want her like he did. Not in his bed, and certainly not in his heart.

‘Heart?’ She thought smirking to herself. ‘Come on Lusty Lizzie you already established that he wants you in ONE way only…don’t go getting any romantic notions of what is really going on here…It’s much easier this way anyhow.’

This guy had come to her apartment that night for one reason and one reason only, to do what they hadn’t done that first night. Any other reason was incomprehensible. Ludicrous. Nothing else made any sense. Guys like him did not ‘date’ girls like her.

‘And so what Webber? What’s the harm in having a little fun while it lasts, right?’ She thought, forcing some more alcohol into her system. ‘If all he wants is sex…I mean…he’s beautiful…and he…he’s nice…………When was the last time you met an actual NICE guy?

‘Hmm…that would be never,’ Elizabeth thought finally. Resting her glass against the dark mahogany bar. When a hand that she already knew from experience wasn’t Lucky’s touched her wrist, she glanced upwards.

"What are you having?"

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth asked. The music seeming to have become deafening all of a sudden.

"Is that a rum and coke? You want another?" The stranger asked. Letting his eyes slither slowly from the tips of her strappy, black shoes to her near naked shoulders.

And she suddenly felt naked. More naked than when she stripped. Not the powerful kind of naked that came with that, but the vulnerable kind of naked that made her feel sick to her stomach.

"No thank you," she said quickly, withdrawing her hand from under his. "I appreciate the offer though."

The man with dark eyes leaned against the bar next to her. Obviously one of those people that failed to grasp the concept of personal space, or the subtext of ‘go away,’ beneath the words actually spoken.

"What’s a nice girl like you doing here by yourself?"

Elizabeth stared into her drink and rolled her eyes. Guys actually used that line, huh? Just when she’d thought she’d heard them all.

"Well some would say I’m not that nice of a girl…aside from that – I’m not."

"You’re not what?" Idiotboy asked. Moving closer still.

Elizabeth grimaced. ‘Did you have to go and say you weren’t a nice girl?…Now he’s just intrigued.’

"I’m not here alone," she said over the rising beat of the salsa groove. "My…my boyfriend just went to the bathroom."

"Aaaah, you’re boyfriend?…Well that’s too bad," Idiotboy slurred. "Whoever he is though - he must be a complete ass for leaving a beautiful girl like yourself sitting here all alone...where just anybody could come pick up on her……

"So what’s your name, beautiful girl?"

Elizabeth sighed loudly and gave a light slam to her drink against the bar. He obviously wasn’t going to go away if she stayed ‘nice.’

"My name’s Liz…but my Native American name is ‘Doesn’t Talk To Drunk Assholes In Bars!’"

The instant she jumped down from her stool to leave, his fingers laced tightly around her arm. So quickly, that it jerked her backwards and into his chest. Though she’d become adept at pretending she wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone, the fear that ricocheted through her body was palpable.

Hands from last night…hands from before. Eyes…eyes everywhere.

A wave of cool, wrapped her body in sickly ice chilled goose bumps. And the thickness of adrenaline tasted metallic on her tongue. She was going to be sick…she was going to be sick all over the place.

Everything was starting to swim. The dancers behind him floated.

"What did you just call me?"

"Let me go please," she said. Her voice merely a whisper in the sea of noise. She hated it. She hated sounding weak. BEING weak. Hated…hated. Hated him.

"Oh come on," He smiled perversely. His mouth too near her ear. His hands slithering around her waist. "I didn’t mean to scare ya…I just wanna dance? You wanna dance? I saw you before with your friend…come on, one dance for me."

Pushing at his chest, something exited her mouth that she wasn’t sure of. That she couldn’t seem to stop. "I said no…I said not to touch me."

It didn’t seem right. She hadn’t said that a moment ago…she hadn’t even told him not to before..but something in the back of her mind had said it anyway. ‘Shut up, shut up…you’re not making any sense.’

"Oh honey, I know you wanna dance," he sighed. The hot whisper of his breath on the side of her face now. She jerked her head around quickly and managed to maneuver within the circle of his arms. Someone was moving through the crowd towards them…someone was calling her name…

"I think she said to get the fuck off of her!"

His hands and voice came at once. But she would only really remember the sound of Lucky shoving the guy off of her with two hands. The force of it nearly knocking the wind out of the nameless creature who’d felt it his right to put his hands on her.

She felt herself fade into the background as Lucky pushed the guy once more when he staggered forward.

"Hey, Buddy I’m not looking for a fight…You need to tell your girlfriend not to be such a fucking cock tease. Sitting here in her little dre-

Again all she heard was the sound of flesh being damaged. This time, a cracking sort of noise as Lucky’s fist collided with his nose. She watched him step backwards and shake out his hand as if the crunch had hurt him more than the guy’s face he’d just pummeled.

But before she knew what was happening, his good hand was on the small of her back again. Ushering her out of the room.

There was suddenly air. Fresh air…but it was cold.

He was taking off his jacket, and flexing his hand. Maybe it was broken…maybe she’d broken it.

Shaking herself from the trance she knew she’d fallen into she reached for his hand. His reddened knuckles standing out against his pale skin tone. "I’m sorry…I’m so sorry," she said. Panic tingeing the ends of her voice. "Oh your knuckles…they’re swelling already…does it hurt? I’m sorry."

"No…no…Sweetie, don’t worry about my hand." Lucky said quickly. Watching as she shivered something awful inside the jacket that swallowed her whole. Yet it wasn’t the cold that made her shake like that.

"Hey…come here…come here," he repeated. Wrapping her in his arms before she could protest.

"I’m fine," she said weakly. Trying in vain to pull away. "I just…overreacted. He wasn’t –

"You weren’t overreacting to anything," he contested. Shushing her as he held her. Why was she constantly negating her only feelings?

His fingers moved involuntarily throughout her hair. "You got scared Elizabeth…it’s perfectly natural to get scared if some guy is all over you…especially after last - ."

She shook her head vehemently against his chest. "I don’t get scared…he just…he just startled me that’s all."

God, she wouldn’t even let HIM talk about what happened the night before. She was trying to act as if it had never even happened. As if being scared was some sort of sin. How could she just sweep everything under the rug?

"I don’t get scared," she mumbled again. With more conviction this time, in spite of the shake in her voice.

Lucky pulled away slightly and held her face in his hands. Bending at the knees to gaze into her glassy eyes. "Well I DO…I get scared – and he scared ME."

She looked down quickly and nodded slightly as his thumb drifted lightly across her cheek. He pulled her back to his chest for a moment before speaking again. "I’m gonna take you home now ok…I think we’re both ready for some shut-eye."

"Yeah," she whispered. "I’m just tired."

Lucky closed his eyes for a moment. "Ok."

He kissed the top of her head before he had time to stifle the impulse. "Let’s go."

He held both of her hands in one of his as he led her towards the car. She was tired. She looked like she hadn’t slept in years.

~~~~~~~

~~ About 20 minutes later ~~

Lucky watched her unlock the door and then move inside to switch on the light by the entrance. She turned to him a moment later to smile weakly. In that instant he knew he wanted to stay. Didn’t want to turn back around and drive to a lonely hotel room on the strip. Didn’t want to leave her here in an equally lonely apartment in the decidedly more desolate area of town.

"Elizabeth do you think I shou -

She interrupted him quickly. Already knowing what he was going to ask, and not wanting him to. She didn’t want to have to say no and didn’t want to have to deal with the temptation of saying yes. Pulling his jacket a bit tighter around her, she leaned against the door. "Thank you…for everything."

Biting his tongue, he smiled. "You’re welcome – for everything." He shoved his hands into his pockets forgetting the bruising on his knuckles for a moment. Besides they were nothing compared to what that animal had done to her face the other night. He caught himself staring at the bandage on her head for a moment and quickly turned back to her eyes. "I had a really great time."

Rolling her eyes she smiled slowly. "Sure you did…What with me forcing you to dance, and getting you to break your hand…yeah, I can see how those would be good times for you."

He couldn’t help but laugh, but he quickly sobered and shook out his hand. "Look," he began. "It’s not broken, see……I can probably even still play guitar."

She watched him flex his fingers and then let her eyes travel dangerously back to his face. "You play the guitar?"

Lucky shrugged nonchalantly. "I’m not Hendrix, but I dabble in it a bit.

"And," he continued. "As far as the dancing goes…you did me a FAVOR believe me…at least now I know that I can move my feet to music without falling flat on my face…at least as long as you’re there to lead me."

She grinned and her head fall against the door in a way that made his knees gel a bit. "You gonna be ok?…Tonight, I mean?"

"Yeah," she said, nodding. "I’ll be fine…I’m just gonna get some sleep…maybe get a snack first."

"Oh that’s right," Lucky said shaking his head. "We forgot to get dessert. Well…I’ll have to take a rain check on that ice cream."

"Yeah," she sighed. Nodding once more. "Maybe so…Good night Lucky."

"Good night Elizabeth…oh hey," he said turning back around. "Do me a favor."

"What’s that?"

"In about an hour…if you’re not already asleep…would you call me?"

"Lucky…I said I’m fine."

"I know you did…and I believe you. Just…for MY benefit, could you?…It’s actually JUST for my benefit. I have a little trouble falling asleep in beds that aren’t my own…so – if you could…

"I will," she smiled. Although she knew it was a crock. He just wanted to make sure she was ok. He was too sweet to be true.

"Good night Lucky."

"Good night," he said softly. "Again."

She smiled as she shut the door, and he listened as she locked the door. ‘Click…click…click.’

Lucky took a deep breath and started for the steps. That fear that she tried so hard not to show tonight wasn’t something that had been brought on by one night of terror. There was something more. Something deeper that had developed over time…and he had a feeling he knew who had caused it.

Elizabeth may not have known the man who’d shown up at her apartment that night and attacked her, but she knew who had sent him, and so did Lucky.

She would call him in an hour…so he had exactly one hour to show the man the error of his ways.

~~~~~~~

Showgirls on the Strip

Lucky ran a hand through his hair as he watched the last few drunken stragglers mozy out of the club. The bright pink, neon sign fizzling out with a pop at the close of another business day.

He just had to think of it like pitching an idea to the sales committee. No biggee. He did this all the time.

Moving through the front door and into the dimly lit room he glanced around. The man behind the counter halting in his quick count of all the green he’d made that night. Or rather, his girls had made.

"Mr. Spencer!" He greeted kindly. Placing the stack of money against the darkened bar. "What can I do for you?…I trust last night went well?" He said. Raising one dark eyebrow.

Lucky smiled and slid onto a barstool. "Well…it coulda been better actually."

Gino tilted his head to the side. "Shit…don’t tell me she was in one of her moods?…I’m sorry man. I mean I thought she really liked you…I mean she seemed to only want YOUR business if ya know what I mean."

Lucky bit his lip hard and grinned. He was sure he’d drawn blood. "Yeah, well the thing is it coulda gone fine…but someone ELSE sorta beat me to the punch that night."

Gino closed his eyes and pushed back on his heels. "Oh man…yeah – see I thought that guy was gonna back out, so I thought it was cool to send you over there…I’m real sorry about that Mr. Spencer…

"Damn," Gino continued. Completely unaware of the false smile that Lucky wore. "You mean to tell me the guy was still there when you got there?"

Lucky scratched his head. "Yeah."

Gino sighed. "Well you know," he began with a mischievous grin. "The three of you coulda had some fun…ol’ Lizzie coulda gotten more bang for her buck if you catch my drift…but I can see that you’re a businessman in for a quickie weekend, so I understand if you wanted her all to yourself…I’ll tell you what – next time your in town, you drop by and I’ll make certain that Lizzie is –

"No, why don’t I tell YOU what," Lucky said breaking in. Smile still in tact as he leaned forward against the bar. "You leave Elizabeth the Hell alone and I won’t jump over this bar and beat the living shit out of you tonight? How’s that? Doesn’t that sound like a better arrangement?…I don’t know. From where I’m sitting that sounds like a better deal? What do you think?"

Gino was silent. Searching the man’s eyes in front of him. What the Hell was going on here. "Listen buddy –

"No, I’m not finished yet," Lucky started, staring straight into the sleazeball’s eyes. All pretenses of friendliness, having vanished into thin air. "When I’m finished, you can talk…but not before.

"I want you to listen very closely to what I’m about to say to you, because I don’t like repeating myself. If I’m forced to repeat myself I’ll probably get nasty…so listen very, very closely…Elizabeth Webber is an employee of this establishment. Which means she dances and strips in this club. That’s pretty much the job description correct? Nod if I’m right in that assumption."

Biting his tongue, Gino nodded as Lucky continued.

"Good. We agree on that then…Now, the way I see it, that’s about ALL she’s required to do for you. Which means there are no other little ‘favors’ that she needs to perform. That includes the ‘servicing’ of any customers that you seem to want to send over to her house.’…

"Now I realize I made a big mistake coming here last night to get her address from you…that was wrong. But I’m just gonna go ahead and advise you against that in the future. You aren’t to send anyone over to her place. You aren’t to give her address to anyone without her expressed permission…Honestly, I’d prefer you not even TALK to her unless she speaks to you first –

Lucky broke off mid sentence, his eyes darting beneath the bar as Gino’s hand did so.

"Ah-ah-ah," Lucky smiled again. "I wouldn’t go there if I were you…That’s a no-no. Shooting me would be a lot more trouble for you than it would be for me."

Gino’s eyes narrowed. "How’s that exactly?"

Lucky shrugged. "Well you know…I probably can’t impress upon you how dangerous I can be all on my own…my boyish good looks usually make guys like you a little skeptical…but I do have a few relatively notorious friends."

Gino scoffed. "Oh really…anybody I’d know?"

Lucky shook his head. "I don’t like to name drop."

"Humor me."

"Well actually you might know him -…Sonny Corinthos?" He watched as the sleazes’ arm pulled back from whatever piece he had hidden beneath the bar. "Yeah, I see the name rings a bell. I thought it might…but honestly you shouldn’t even worry about him. I don’t usually rely on him for favors. I’m perfectly capable of fighting my own battles.

"Look Gino," Lucky began again. Completely tired of the game. "I don’t understand it, but I think Elizabeth actually enjoys working here. Dancing…but don’t, don’t, don’t, DON’T – I can’t stress this enough – make me have to come back here. Because next time I’ll have something much larger than the .45 you’ve probably got stashed under that bar and I won’t hesitate to put it to the base of your skull and blow your brains right out of your fucking head…Please don’t fucking test me."

Gino swallowed a bit and continued to stare at Lucky. Trying not to flinch. To show fear.

"Do you understand everything I’ve just said?"

There was no answer.

Lucky leaned forward a bit. "Look Asshole, I can’t read your fucking mind so you’re gonna have to open your mouth and speak. Repeat after me: I understand Mr. Spencer and I will not EVER do it again."

Grudgingly Gino repeated the words slowly and Lucky grinned.

"Now see! That wasn’t so hard was it?…I’m so glad we understand each other and got all that cleared up," Lucky sighed. Lifting himself from the stool.

He passed his hands over his pants as he stood. "You have a good one Gino…take care."

~~~~~~~

~~ Approximately One Hour Later ~~

Elizabeth turned over in bed. Her own shadow causing her to jump a little as it shifted against the wall. ‘Maybe if you’d turn out the light that wouldn’t happen you wimp,’ she thought silently.

At least she could legitimately call Lucky now. It had been exactly an hour according the clock on her nightstand. But what if it was too soon? What if she sounded too eager?

‘You shouldn’t even CALL him,’ she thought to herself. ‘He only said that because he thought you’d be afraid tonight…if you call him, he’ll know you couldn’t sleep and he’ll know you were scared…that’s the last thing you want or need.

But it’d be so nice just to hear his voice. He had a wonderful voice. One of those voices that you never ever wanted to stop talking.

It wasn’t like with most guys where they made you want to gouge your eyes out while listening to their pointless drivel. No, the things Lucky said made sense, and he made her laugh…and more than anything, he listened.

If she could just talk to him for a few minutes, maybe she could fall asleep…maybe she could breathe again.

"Just a few minutes," she said aloud. Reaching for the phone.

She was connected to Lucky’s suite in a matter of seconds. Damn, rich people got good service.

"Hi…it’s – it’s me."

Lucky smiled and sunk down to the bed. "Hi, ‘It’s-It’s Me…I’m glad you called."

"What’s wrong? You sound out of breath."

"Oh," Lucky said, unbuttoning his shirt as he propped the receiver between his ear and shoulder. "I had to take care of something downstairs with my bill…but I didn’t want to miss your call, so I was kinda running down the hall."

At least the last part of it was true.

"Oh," she said softly into the receiver. Settling in against her pillow. "I was just calling to…you know – check on you."

He chuckled a bit as he shed his pants and drew the sheets down on the bed. "Well thank you…but you’re gonna have to hang out on the phone with me for awhile I think…I just got in bed, so I still might have trouble falling asleep…you can never be sure about these kinds of things."

She smiled and turned to her side. Pulling her legs up to her chest and bringing the phone closer to her ear. His voice was like a lullaby. "So…are you ready for that convention? Are you speaking at it?"

"What?" Lucky asked. Completely clueless as to what she was talking about.

"Your convention…You know the one you flew to Vegas for?" She asked. Giggling on the other end. Her eyes beginning to feel the weight of the day.

"Oh…oh yeah…"

‘Another lie Spencer…How the fuck are you gonna clear these up, huh?’

"Yeah, um…I’m ready for it."

"Does it start tomorrow?…The convention?" She yawned.

"Oh no…I’ve got a couple of days."

"Wow, you sure did come early."

"Well, it’s Vegas…I decided I needed a little vacation anyway."

Elizabeth blinked hard. Suddenly not exactly wanting to fall asleep. She wanted to talk. Wanted to hear him talk. "Working too hard?"

Aw, he didn’t feel like talking about work. He just wanted to listen to her…Maybe they could talk about anything other than real life?

"Yeah," he sighed. "But I don’t wanna talk about work."

Elizabeth held her breath for a moment. What did he wanna talk about? She turned over on her back.

"Elizabeth are you still there?"

"Yeah," she mumbled. "Um…What-what did you wanna talk about?"

Lucky licked his lips and placed one hand under his head. The cool sheets, doing nothing for his overheated skin. Just the sound of her voice made his pulse race.

"First I’d like to say that I had a…a really, really wonderful time with you tonight."

She was quiet again for a moment, and her voice was soft and as silky as her hair when it finally emerged. "You already told me that."

"I know…but I kinda felt the need to tell you again…I don’t think I’ve ever actually had that good of a time on a…a date."

‘A date…so that had been what it was?’ Elizabeth thought silently.

"I, had a good time too," she began. Knowing it was a lie. It hadn’t been just a good time…it’d been the best time. "But if this was the best date YOU’VE ever had then I feel sorry for you."

"You think you can do better?"

She gulped loudly. Sure that he’d heard it through the speaker.

How did he do that? Completely catch her off guard like that. She’d never met anyone like him before.

"Elizabeth I’d very much like to see you again…if you’d like to see me that is."

"Lucky…" she began. Sighing as she looked at the ceiling. Hadn’t tonight been evidence enough of the fact that they just didn’t mix? That they were from two very different worlds that should have never collided? "I don’t…I don’t think –

"Did you not have a good time?" Lucky asked quickly. Sitting up in bed. "Because if that’s the case then I’ll be the one to do better."

"No, no," she explained rapidly. "You were…Lucky it’s not that….I just – look we’re from two entirely different places."

"New York and Vegas aren’t THAT different."

She clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. "You know very well what I mean."

"Yeah, I know what you meant…but it’s a crock."

"Excuse me?"

Turning her words back on her, he sighed. "You know very well what I said………Elizabeth, we’re practically the same person and you know it."

"What?"

"Stop me if any of this sounds familiar: videogames, basketball – the KNICKS in particular, coffee – black –

"Lucky!" Elizabeth interceded. "That’s not enough reason to start…to start…

"What? Dating someone? Elizabeth all I’m asking for is a CHANCE…and where I come from that’s more than enough reason to start dating someone."

"I like to dance and you don’t."

It was Lucky’s turn to laugh. Was she for real?

"I’ll learn to love it…I love watching you do it – so it won’t be that difficult."

Speechless for a moment, she gathered her thoughts. "Lucky, you live in New York City."

It was indisputable fact. He couldn’t argue with that one.

"True…but I also have a job that allows me to travel quite a bit…I could come and see you anytime I wanted to. Every weekend if I wan –

"Lucky!" Elizabeth interrupted again. "This is crazy."

"Elizabeth, what EXACTLY is so crazy about it? I’m not asking for a lifelong commitment here…I’m asking for a few hours of your time for the few days that I’m here. If within that time you decide that you hate me…I’ll leave and you’ll never, ever hear from me again."

Elizabeth sighed. "I won’t decide that I hate you."

"Well, see…that’s points for me already."

Closing her eyes for a moment, she opened them to look at the clock. "It’s getting late."

"Yeah," he sighed. Eyeing the digital numbers of his own clock-radio. "So…can I see you tomorrow."

"Ugh, God…You don’t take no for answer do you?"

"Yes I do…always," he said soberly. Knowing it hadn’t been what she’d meant, but feeling the need to say it anyhow. "If you really truly, don’t want to see me…you can say so."

"It’s not that –

"So I can collect on that rain check for ice-cream tomorrow then?"

Elizabeth groaned out loud and smiled in spite of herself. "Yes!"

"Wow, a girl who knows what she wants!"

"You could very well be the most infuriating person I’ve ever met."

"I could be…but you’d have to get to know me to really test that theory, wouldn’t you? I mean you wouldn’t wanna go spreading that rumor if it weren’t true."

Elizabeth covered her face with her hands and shook her head. He had this down to a science. "I can meet you tomorrow…for ice cream."

"Ok," Lucky sighed. Closing his eyes. "That sounds perfect."

"I’ll see you then…goodnight Lucky."

"Goodnight Elizabeth."

It was the second time he’d said those words that night, and each time it made her insides warm. Something about the way he said her name.

Something about hearing it at night…

She suddenly had a flash of what it would be like to hear it with him lying next to her. Not on the phone, but in her bed. How it would sound if he had his arms around her when he said it.

When he hung up, she almost felt pain. ‘Don’t get attached Webber…don’t get attached….ugh, it’s too late.’

~~~~~~~

Lucky pulled the chain on the lamp next to him and rolled over to close his eyes. He didn’t know how he was going to make this work. How he was going to make her see that they were meant for one another…but he was going to.

Before he left Las Vegas, he would make her see that they were destined to be together. He wouldn’t be going back to the city only to face endless nights of dreaming about her.

By the time he left he wouldn’t have to dream anymore…and she wouldn’t either.