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Chapter 17


Buffy woke up the next morning, feeling worse than the night before.
It had finally sunk in that she wasn’t good enough for Spike. All she had to
do now was except it. Rolling out of bed, she sighed. She would be here
until Thursday- might as well make the most of the few days she had on her
own.

After a long shower, Buffy dressed in a pair of off-white dress pants
and a long-sleeved, silky V-neck top. Drying her hair until it fell straight
and shiny, Buffy pulled on her shoes and grabbed her small cell phone to
slip into her pocket. She was going to finish her business before she took
in any of the sights or started a short shopping spree.

* * * * *

Spike nearly threw his phone against the wall in irritation. Buffy
still wasn’t answering her phone, and he couldn’t figure out where she was
staying. Suddenly an idea hit him as he picked up the phone and quickly dialed
a new number.

* * * * *

Buffy rolled her head around on her shoulders after the long day. She had
been dealing with the irate artist and his representation for the past seven
hours, and she thought her head was going to explode. As if it was her fault
that he was too much of a jerk to ship his work to her. And God forbid that
he didn’t know she was a woman. Would a woman be able to make sure all his
art got across the country safely? Buffy nearly told him where he could
shove his sexist views and his art, but she bit her tongue. She needed this
commission, and she couldn’t let him get to her.

Walking out of the building, Buffy looked up at the sky and saw the rain
clouds rolling in.

“Great,” she muttered. “It’s a beautiful day until I set one foot outside.”

Walking into the first restaurant she saw, Buffy headed over to the
bar. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she saw several new voicemails
from Spike and decided to listen to them later. She saw that Anya had
called and quickly returned her call, telling her about the day she had and
promising to be back with the items for the show. Hanging up, Buffy ordered
a drink from the bartender and was surprised to hear a male voice speaking
to her.

“Pretty girl like you, drinking all alone? Something must be wrong.”

Buffy turned to face the man and gave him a small smile. “Rough day.”

“I hear that,” he said with a slightly Midwestern accent. “I’m Lindsey, by
the way. Lindsey McDonald.”

“Buffy Summers,” she said, shaking his offered hand.

“So, what’s a girl like you doing here without anybody? Let me guess, you
and the boyfriend have a fight?”

“Something like that.”

“Aah yes, and let me guess, he hasn’t called.”

“Actually he has…I just haven’t talked to him.”

“I thought that’s what girls did. Sit by the phone, waiting for it to ring.”

“I’m not most girls,” she replied, arching an eyebrow at him. “I just fly
across the country to get away from him and then ignore him for a while.”

“You’re serious?” he asked incredulously.

“Somewhat. I did fly across the country, but it was for business, and I am
ignoring him for the time being. Besides, he never said he was my boyfriend.”

“I’m thinking the guy’s an idiot then. So, where’d you fly from?”

“California.”

“Really? Know any stars out that way?”

Buffy laughed. “Actually, yeah. Just one.”

“Impressive.”

Buffy looked at Lindsey as his eyes widened slightly. “It’s not by any
chance Spike Hawthorne, is it?”

Buffy froze. “How did you-“

“Not good to go to a strange city alone, pet,” a seductive voice whispered
in her ear.

Buffy whirled around and faced a dripping wet Spike.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Now, now, luv. Aren’t you gonna introduce me to your friend?” he asked,
staring daggers at Lindsey.

“Honestly, it hadn’t crossed my mind. What are you doing here?” she repeated.

“Finding you.”

“Yeah, now that you mentioned it, how did you do that?”

“A lot of effort, luv.”

“Such as…”

“Such as flying out early this morning after your mum told me you were here.
Putting in a call to Anya while I searched for you, waiting at your hotel
a few blocks away since you were out, and finally getting a phone call from
Anya a few minutes ago, telling me she just talked to you and you were
here.”

Buffy stared at him incredulously as he finished his story before she
snapped out of her daze. “Well, sorry you made the trip for nothing. See you
around.”

Buffy hopped off the barstool and turned to Lindsey with a bright smile.
“Nice meeting you.”

Leaving a ten on the bar for her drink, Buffy evaded Spike’s move to grab
her arm and headed out the door. Groaning as the rain fell from the sky,
she heard Spike approaching from behind and headed out into the storm.
Walking toward her hotel, she heard Spike jogging to catch up with her.

“Buffy…Buffy…wait up, pet.”

“Why?” she asked, spinning around and facing him. “Why should I wait for
you? It’s obvious that you don’t need me.”

“Buffy, the kiss-“

“Opened my eyes. Spike, I told you months ago that I didn’t have anything
to offer a movie star. You should have believed me then.”

“And I told you not to sell yourself short, luv.”

“Then why did you go and make out with another woman on national
television?”

“I’m sorry. It was for publicity.”

“Yeah, her tongue in your mouth was really public,” she spat back at him
before turning and heading down the street.

“It wasn’t like that, Buffy. The director wanted us to do it for the
cameras. I didn’t want to, but that’s what I’m paid a lot of money to do,”
he said, trailing her as the water pelted down on them. “I promise, if I’d
known how much it would hurt you, I wouldn’t have done it, and I’ll never do
it again. I don’t give a damn about Dru.”

Buffy stopped but didn’t turn to face him. “Then why come after me?”

“Because I’m in love with you.”

Buffy spun around to see him. His eyes looked so open, as if he was a
little boy, terrified of rejection. “You love me?”

“I’ve loved you since the night I came to your house. The night I met
Caity,” he said softly. “I knew I couldn’t live without you. Without
either of you,” he continued, slowly advancing on her. “When I heard what
you’d been through, what you were going through, I couldn’t help but want
to protect you. Everything you do, the way you are with your daughter…I
fall in love with you all over again every time I see you.”

Buffy pushed the wet hair out of her eyes as she stared up at Spike. “I love
you, too.” It was spoken so softly, Spike only stared at her for a minute
before a brilliant smile lit up his face. Buffy smiled in return as he
picked her up and swung her wildly around in circles before setting her down
in the middle of a puddle. Neither noticed as his lips met hers in an
intense kiss. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck, holding onto him as
Spike, once again, lifted her off the ground. This time, it was for better
access to her lips. As they slowly broke apart, both looked up as they were
drenched by the rain.

“Let’s get outta here,” Buffy said. Spike put her back on the ground, and
she grabbed his hand as they ran through the streets, back to her hotel.



A/N Hope everyone liked this chapter! Oh, and VamptasticA-I expect my sexy Spike pics-lol :-)





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