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Chapter 4 – Open Opportunities


Standing at the top of the stairs, Buffy tried to maintain some distance from the partygoers. She had been there several hours, and even though Spike had been attentive toward her, he still had to play the role of host, leaving her alone every now and then.

Staring over the railing, she looked at the hundreds of people who were still wandering the ballroom and foyer of the mansion. Feeling someone walk up behind her, she tensed when an unfamiliar hand settled on the small of her back.

“Unless you want to pull back a bloody stump, I suggest you remove your hand,” Buffy said, tightening her jaw.

Turning around, she raised an eyebrow at the sight of the middle-aged man standing behind her.

“I’m assuming you have a purpose for touching me, but I’m thinking it’s just because you’re looking to get lucky.”

“Charming girl,” he said in a British accent, offering her a smile that might have been attractive if her ‘creep radar’ wasn’t going off the charts. “I’m Ethan Rayne.”

Buffy watched, raising an eyebrow when he extended a hand toward her, making it known she wasn’t interested in meeting him.

“Is there a problem?”

Turning at the sound of Spike’s voice, she gave him a dazzling smile, grateful that he was there to rescue her from the other man. Not that she needed rescuing, but she appreciated the gesture.

“Not a problem, Spike,” Ethan said, putting a friendly arm around the younger man, earning a glare from Spike in return. “I was just introducing myself to this lovely young woman.”

“I think she can do without your introduction, Ethan,” Spike said with a cold smile, walking over to Buffy.

“Can you blame me?” he asked, looking at the younger man. “I had to discover the woman who seems to have you so enamored by her presence.”

Stepping closer to Spike, Buffy looked at the older man through narrowed eyes. She was definitely not getting good vibes from him.

“Buffy Summers, meet Ethan Rayne,” Spike said after a moment, his tone of voice making it obvious that he didn’t want them to meet.

Accepting his hand, she kept an indifferent expression on her face when Ethan lifted her hand to his mouth, leaving a lingering kiss on the back of it.

Feeling Spike’s hold on her waist tighten, she felt relieved when he forcefully pulled her away from the other man, offering him a slight smile when he looked up, meeting Spike’s gaze with a slightly startled expression.

“Good seeing you, Ethan,” Spike said, guiding Buffy away from him and down the hall, not bothering to wait for a response. “God, I hate these parties,” he groaned, causing a genuine smile to play on Buffy’s lips.

“Then why do you throw them?” she asked in amusement.

“One of those expectations that I can’t seem to get away from,” he replied, leading them out to the privacy of the balcony.

Looking at the view as people milled around below them, Buffy took a deep breath, letting it calm her nerves.

“What do you do, Goldilocks?”

“What?” she asked, looking over at him and seeing him watching her with interest.

“Your job.”

“Oh,” she said, smiling in comprehension. “I’m an independent art dealer.”

“Really?” he asked with a smile. “Wouldn’t think that would be your chosen profession.”

“Why’s that?” she asked, turning toward him with a smile of her own.

“You just seem a little too…strong, I guess is the word.”

Her smile immediately melted away as she turned to look at the view once more. “Strong?” she repeated, shifting on her feet and feeling the gun brush against her thigh, putting her at ease.

“You just exude this confidence and assurance,” he clarified. “Definitely assumed that you were a strong woman.”

“And I can’t be that if I’m an art dealer?” she asked, relaxing enough to look into his eyes again.

“Guess I just figured you’d own a martial arts studio or something,” he said, laughing and shaking his head at the absurdity of what he was saying. “Forget it,” he continued, chuckling. “Don’t know what I’m saying- must have had too much to drink already.”

Giggling softly for a moment, Buffy paused when she saw his thoughtful expression.

“And what do you do?” she asked after a moment.

“I own a company in Los Angeles,” he said, avoiding her eyes.

“And the ‘company’ gave you this fully-furnished mansion and limousine?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“That was my dad’s,” he said softly. “Everything you see in the house was inherited from some family member.”

‘And everything I don’t see?’ she wondered silently.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re easy to talk to, love?”

“You haven’t really talked to me that much,” she answered with a smile.

“Guess I haven’t,” he replied with a slight nod. “But I feel a hell of a lot more relaxed than I have in a long time.”

“That’s always good to know,” she said quietly, pulling her shawl closer to her to ward off the chilly night air.

Seeing her discomfort, Spike quickly shrugged out of his coat, draping it around her shoulders in one fluid movement. Turning toward him, Buffy felt her stomach tighten when she watched him tenderly adjust the collar, letting his hands linger on the fabric as his eyes met hers.

“Thanks,” she murmured, blushing under his gaze, seeing the way his eyes were drifting from her eyes to her lips. Her breath caught in her throat when he slowly tilted his head toward her, seconds before she turned away, narrowly avoiding the brush of his lips against hers and causing him to pause for a long moment, trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Why me?” Buffy asked with interest, swallowing hard at the thought of the near-kiss.

“Why you?” he repeated with a raised eyebrow, standing up to his full height, trying not to think about the rejection he’d just received.

“Look around, Spike,” she said, gesturing toward the crowded area below them. “I’m not the most beautiful woman here. I’m not the smartest, the richest, the most confident. I’m just me. That’s all I know how to be. So…why me?”

Spike stayed quiet for a moment, solemnly studying her as if he was trying to figure out if she was serious or not. “Why not you?” he replied.

“Come on,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’ve had women drooling over you all night- probably your whole life- and you’re standing here with me. You obviously have everything you could ever want…is this just some kind of game to you?” she asked, trying to keep the accusation out of her tone.

“No,” he said softly. “Is it so hard to believe that I might be genuinely interested in you?”

‘Yes,’ Buffy silently told herself, outwardly shrugging.

“You’ve been hurt before,” he said softly, finally understanding where she was coming from when her eyes raised to his.

“Hasn’t everyone?” she whispered, seeing him contemplate what she said for a moment before nodding.

“So tell me, Miss Summers,” Spike said, offering her a smile while he readjusted the collar of his coat that was still securely wrapped around Buffy. “Is it worth the risk?”

“Maybe,” she replied softly.

Looking down for a moment, Spike took a deep breath before raising his eyes to hers again. “Will you have dinner with me?”

“Will this be a quaint little dinner party like tonight?” she asked in a teasing voice.

“I was thinking more of a one-on-one scenario,” he said, looking at the crowd below him with disdain.

“And will I get to know the real Spike Reed?” she asked, seeing the flash of something unidentifiable cross his face before it disappeared.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said in a teasing voice, but Buffy could hear the underlying truth in the statement. She wasn’t stupid enough to think that he would just open up to her after knowing her for such a short time, but she was definitely not going to let this opportunity pass her by, giving him a bright smile before she spoke.

“When and where?”



Thanks so much to: caatje, kay, BuffyandSpikeForever, Alison, gypsy_jin, willowmouse, Cordykitten, Tahmoe, Shippy, jennybean, Smitten, Cordykitten, Caitie, Sevvy_O, Kelly, & Kez for reviewing!





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