Title: Acting The Part
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: None of the BtVS
characters belong to me.
Feedback: Love some, thanks.
Rating: Up to NC-17
Summary: AU. William St. James is
an actor in a hit television show. While
appearing at a fan convention, he meets
Buffy and her six year old daughter, Melanie.
Part ten.....
After dropping Melanie off at school the next morning, Buffy
decided to go in to work early, before the mall opened for
business. Both Willow and Anya wouldn't come in until afternoon,
which would give her some alone time to finish changing the
window displays and tag some new merchandise.
She swung into a space in the far end of the parking garage
and switched off the engine. It made an ominous rattling sound
as it died out, making her wonder just how much longer she'd
be able to extend the life of the elderly Plymouth Sundance. It
was already having electrical problems, the key was constantly
sticking in the door locks, and it was in desperate need of a
tune up.
But as badly as her little car needed some serious TLC, most of
her available income was tied up in other areas. Her store
was just starting to show a profit after it's monthly expenses, but
it wasn't exactly putting her and Melanie in fat city. By the time she
made the lease payment and paid her employee's salaries, she just
about had enough to cover personal expenses...like rent and food.
Although Angel was making a large salary, she had refused to
accept alimony when they'd split up. She hadn't wanted them to have
anything but Melanie in common, and he hadn't argued about it
with her. He was fairly good about child support, more because it
would hurt his 'image' with his firm and whatever political cronies he
was currying favor with if he were to be seen as a 'deadbeat father',
rather than any actual concern about his daughter's needs, she
suspected.
Making her way through the empty corridors where the back doors
of the mall shops were located, she dug through her purse to find her
key. When she pulled it out, there was a small piece of paper stuck to
it. She unlocked the door and dropped her bag inside, flicked on the
interior lights and then unraveled the scrap of paper....it was the phone
number that William had scribbled out for her the night of the convention.
Just thinking about that made a pleasant shiver creep all over
her, giving her goosebumps. She stuffed the little piece of notepaper
back into a side pocket of her bag and headed for the front of the
store.
She spent most of the morning trying to distract herself from concen-
trating solely on William St. James and his deliciously sexy face and
form. It had definitely been too long since she'd been kissed and
touched the way he had been doing last night. Now, it was all she could
seem to think about.
When her watch beeped the hour of 10:00 am, she flicked the switch
that raised the electric door at the front of the shop, then placed her
white signboard advertising a sale she was running on Easter clothing.
The mall was never very busy so early on a weekday morning, so
she decided to take advantage of the free time and began clearing
items out of the display case beneath the cash register. When she
had everything out, she located a bottle of glass cleaner and a roll of
paper towels and proceeded to give the inside of the case a proper
cleaning.
She was so engrossed in what she was doing that she failed to
hear someone enter the shop.
"Good morning!" William was bending over and looking in at her. Buffy
was so startled that she jumped backwards, banging her head against
the wooden frame of the display case and making the glass rattle.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concern on his face as she fell back
onto her rear. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Rubbing the back of her head, she grabbed hold of the counter and
climbed to her feet, her face bright red. What an inelegant performance
to put on before a man who had shown definite signs of interest in her.
"I'm fine," she assured him, trying to smile as though the whole
episode was just too funny for words. "Just...surprised."
"Well, I guess you were," he replied, a smile curving the corner of
his mouth. "You're not bleeding, are you?" Without waiting for a reply,
he headed around the side of the display case and joined her behind
the counter. "Let me see."
Placing one hand on the side of her head, he tilted it slightly and
examined the area in question. "Well, there's definitely a bump, but
no blood," he informed her, then bent his head and kissed the injured
spot gently. "Poor baby."
Buffy tipped her head back to look up at him. "It feels much better,"
she said softly.
He stared down into her eyes, hypnotized by the gold flecks in
their green depths. "I really am sorry."
She was equally fascinated by the deep blue gaze meeting hers. "I'm
not," she said, before she could stop herself. Her cheeks instantly
turned pink and she withdrew a little, breaking the spell his eyes had
begun to cast around her heart. "Um...what are you doing here?"
William took a deep breath and backed off a couple of feet. "Turns out
I wasn't needed on the set today," he said, glancing around at the
various displays of merchandise. "I wanted to see 'Melanie's Garden'."
"Oh....well, this is it," she replied, gesturing at the interior of the
store.
Buffy was proud of the small shop that she had put together all
by herself. It was the first completely independent project that
she'd ever undertaken, and she'd put in a lot of time and effort to
make it special.
The store was decorated in soothing pastels and delicate
fabrics. The various racks where clothing hung were made of
heavy wrought iron that she had painted white. There were several
tables covered with different types of clothing, from hats and shoes
to daintily made gloves and scarves.
The left side of the store carried boys wear, while the right side
catered to little girls. At the very end of the center aisle, there were
four fitting rooms around which she'd arranged three plush armchairs
and a white wicker table covered by children's books and fashion
magazines.
The main counter where purchases were made had an antique
wheelbarrow that she'd also painted white and filled with pots of
colorful flowers resting next to it. Behind the counter were three
wood shelving units holding a selection of picture frames and candles.
The top shelves were home to several china dolls in elegantly old
fashioned formal wear, interspersed with teddy bears and other
assorted stuffed playthings.
Inside the main counter, she had stocked a selection of children's
jewelry. There were lockets and tiny pearl necklaces, a velvet
ring case with several birthstone rings in varying sizes, thin gold
chains with fanciful pendants hanging from them, and a display of
pierced earrings designed for very small children.
She had adorned the walls with framed photographs of children. Some
black and white and some sepia toned, most of the kids in the
pictures were dressed in vintage style clothing that could be made to
order in the shop.
William wandered around the store, a delighted smile gracing his
handsome features. He picked up a few items and carefully replaced
them, examining everything with genuine interest and appreciation.
He was standing in front of a display of children's bath products,
uncapping and sniffing the different fragrances of bubble bath and
body wash, when his eye was caught by a large framed photograph
in the front window.
It was Buffy's favorite picture of Melanie. She'd had it enlarged to
15 X 20, and had placed it in a beautifully carved walnut frame, which
she'd then perched on a small easel.
Her daughter had been visiting at a friend's house that afternoon.
The two little girls had found a trunk full of old clothes and they'd
spent the day playing 'dress up'. When Buffy had come to pick
Melanie up, she'd been sitting in a patch of sunlight and wearing
a dressy satin and lace camisole that reached to her knees. The
thin straps had continually fallen down her arms, and her light
brown curls had been mussed and shining in the afternoon sun.
Buffy had quickly reached for her camera. When she saw that
Melanie had coaxed her friend's cat up onto her lap, she'd called
her daughter's name softly and snapped the photo when she'd
looked up and smiled.
The child looked angelic in the photograph, and it had been the
inspiration for 'Melanie's Garden'.
"She looks like an angel here," William said as he looked
at the picture. He grinned at Buffy. "I don't suppose this is for
sale?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No. Sorry. But..." She returned
to the main counter and opened a drawer in one of the shelving
units. Returning to the front of the store, she handed him a 5 X 7
copy of the picture. "For you."
His wide smile softened a little as he looked down at the
picture, then turned his eyes on Buffy. "You know that I've fallen
completely in love with this little girl, don't you?"
Buffy felt a swelling in the region of her heart. He was being
truthful about his feelings. She could see it in his eyes and hear
it in his voice. It was a lovely moment, made bittersweet by the
sad realization that Angel had never made such a sweeping
statement of love for his daughter...and probably never would.
This man....who had only known the child for a very few days...cared
more for Melanie than the man she'd called 'Daddy' all her short
life.
"Well, you're in luck," she replied. "Because I happen to know that
the little girl returns the sentiment."
He looked into her eyes, then placed the tip of his index finger
beneath her chin. "And what of her mother?" he asked softly,
tilting his head slightly. "Where do her affections lie?"
Buffy couldn't stop herself. She placed her hands on his
shoulders and lifted her face to meet his intent gaze. "She's...also
quite...fond."
"Is she?" he whispered, lowering his head until their lips
were very close.
With a tiny nod of her head, Buffy said, "She is."
William pressed his lips to one corner of her mouth, and then to
the other. When she didn't make a move to pull away, he slipped
his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, then captured her
lips on a softly indrawn breath.
Buffy's arms slipped up and around his neck as she lost herself
all over again in the heady euphoria his touch roused inside of her.
Making a soft sound in her throat, she pressed closer.
They broke apart for air, but stayed close, their lips not quite
touching.
"Buffy," he murmured, leaning his forehead against hers. "Do you
have to stay here all day?"
"Well," she breathed warmly against his skin, "I guess not. Why?"
"Because....because I want to go somewhere...with you. Somewhere
we can...talk...be alone. Please, honey?" he sighed deeply.
She tried to clear her head and think. Willow would be coming in
soon, then Anya would come later in the afternoon and stay until
closing. There was no reason she had to stick around. Anything she
had been planning to do could wait one more day.
"When Willow comes in," she said, returning the kiss he gave
her, "then I can leave."
"When?" he asked. "Soon?"
Buffy nodded. "Um-hmm. Very soon." They exchanged another long
and lingering kiss. "You could...you could wait in...there's a coffee
shop a few doors down," she panted as his mouth traveled down the
side of her throat. "I'll...I'll come and...and find you when...she gets
here."
"Yes," he groaned, his hands sliding down her back to her hips. "Okay,
I'll wait for you." He forced himself to let go and took one step back, then
lunged forward again and stole another kiss. "Hurry," he hissed against
her lips. "I don't know how long I can stand it."
She watched as he left the store and turned in the direction of the
coffee shop she'd directed him to, pressing her hands against her
warm cheeks, and still feeling the touch of his mouth on hers.
"Neither do I," she whispered.
TBC.....
Comments are appreciated.
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