Caviar and BBQ ~ Worlds Collide (Close)

[No_such_thing]

He glanced over at her.

"Who you are? You're Alessia De Veaga, a customer at my resteraunt, and someone who's just been through a loada shit with two thieves. What you were before that doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned you can make what you want of yourself."

His smile faded a little and the tone dropped from his voice.

"Everyone here is running from something."

 

[Asa]

Running from isn't exactly the case. Except from the press...

She tried to relax and laugh a little.

Perhaps the name most people over here on this side of the pond know... William Da Veaga married to Cassandra O Kellen... Europe's answer and then some to Donald Trump. Only one child from that marriage their precious princess as they called me in public... Alessia. Here now to in theory escape mother and grandmothers matchmaking and to prove I can handle their businesses in the US on my own.

She sighed doubting this wonderful man would be interested now in anything more than her money just like everyone else.

So now that I have no doubt bored you with that tell me about you.

 

[No_such_thing]

"Bored me? No, go on, all you've given me is your parents, I want to know about you. Why only in theory? Are they still matchmaking you? Got some handsome hunk lined up?"

Though he tried to hide it, the meaning behind the question was implicit in his words.

 

[Asa]

Still not as much hard to match make when we are on different continents. Mother wants someone better capable of taking care of me "Just in case" I don't feel comfortable in taking over the day to day running of her precious corporate empire like she does. Which would have to say I don't believe is the whole thing I think its more an expansion ploy just like in the grand old royal days. marrying the children off to people who can profit from your business but you can also profit from having that "family" connection with. So to prove her wrong here I am and barely a month into my time here in the states I end up in a robbery attempt gone wrong. Luckily none fathers business associates here will ever know about that... I hope... or they will tell him and he will tell her and who knows what sort of fit she will pitch then.

No one lined up as you put it no... I have not found any of their choices remotely acceptable... attractive yes acceptable no.

She was really relaxing she was talking with a down to earth stunningly handsome man who had no clue before tonight who she was and she found this utterly amazing not to mention very comfortable to almost familiar.

 

[No_such_thing]

"It's good that you've made your own choice, I know what overbearing parents can be like. They wanted me to go into law, somehow I don't think they meant law enforcement."

He chuckled to himself at the bad joke.

"Sometimes I think they were right, sometimes I'm glad I didn't listen, we never really forgave each other though."

He glanced at her, then regretted it, it was hard to tear his eyes away, back to the road, and he lingered a moment longer than he really should have done. When he finally managed to concentrate on driving again he saw that they were at the address she'd told him, he had to focus on not letting his jaw drop. The house must easily have cost millions of dollars.

He pulled up, getting out and opening the door for her, and looking around uncomfortably, he wasn't at home in a place like this, he looked and felt out of place, like a tasteless ornament.

 

[Asa]

The house had Ben fixed up more than it should have but that was all for shoe if her mother showed up or third to secretly drive by. Beyond all the gardening and decor on the inside it was more relaxed comfortable peaceful. She noticed his expression and bit her lip...

Its all for show for mother...if she ever comes to.visit... the house itself isn't that big of a deal once you get past this gardening and landscaping fiasco. Come on in... I'll show you.

 

[No_such_thing]

"Errrr, I..."

He bowed to the pressure.

"Ok, sure, show me around."

 

[Asa]

You don't have to...

She bit her lip scared this would be the last time she saw him outside of the BBQ place.

 

[No_such_thing]

She bit her lip, as though worried about something.

"No, I want to. Come on, what's the worst that could happen? I'm hardly going to run away."

He laughed, his tone relaxed and friendly, how uncomfortable he felt in thissituation was disguised almost completely, he didn't know why, but he wanted to make this girl happy.

 

[Asa]

She smiled and led the way into the house. The stairs leading to the second floor were nothing more than a bookshelf for her she did not need all that room and she really didn't want it. The main floor was the kitchen dining area den guest bathroom and a workout nook leading to the deck and then the beach. The basement was a bedroom with a master bath style bathroom. This was her domain clearly with its own sliding glass door to the beach as well from a little screened in patio.

Want something to drink? I have a few English and Irish beers in the cabinet.

 

[No_such_thing]

He smiled at the improvised bookcase, clearly she didn't use the upper floor, so maybe this idea about it all being for show was serious.

The main floor was laid out pretty professionally, but simply. The kitched was well equipped, but looked hardly used, the den much the same while the guest bathroom looked like it might have cost as much as his car.

The master bedroom was simply amazing, with a huge bed and an ensuite the place was rounded off by the sliding glass door directly onto the beach.

Slightly stunned by everything he had seen he barely heard her question, only realising a few moments after she had asked.

"Sorry, errrrr, anything, whatever you have. This place is amazing. Have you been here long?"

 

[Asa]

No not really just a few weeks.

Walking back to the kitchen sh grabbed a couple of English beers from the pantry and popping them open held one out to him.

Warning we don't chill ours.

 

[No_such_thing]

"Not chilled? How do you people even live over there in Europe?"

He joked as he took a swig from the bottle, it wasn't actually all that bad. He toasted her, "to exotic women from across the pond."

"So what drove a woman like you, to visit the humble resteraunt of a mere copper like me."

He almost winced at what he'd said. He hadn't meant to sound bad, he just wasn't comfortable in the proximity of so much money.

"I, I'm sorry... you know what I mean..."

 

[Asa]

Its quite alright. I finally got them to let me simply take time to drive around and get used to the town and was getting a little hungry so thought I would stop in and see what it was like.

She smiled to him taking a drink from her beer. Leaning back against the island there in the kitchen she smiled a little finally feeling fully relaxed after the events at the restaurant

 

[No_such_thing]

He almost laughed inwardly, she'd been perfectly relaxed in the resteraunt, perhaps a little out of place, but at least comfortable. Here he stuck out, not simply by his casual and ill-kempt appearance, but because of how uncomfortable he obviously was. He wasn't right here, he didn't fit in. Truth be told, he'd be desperate to get away if she wasn't there. As it was he had to fight his own instincts to stay, they were winning, and he was having trouble keeping it off his face.

"So... was there anything else you wanted?" He shifted uncomfortably.

"I can have a guard outside your house if it makes you feel more comfortable?"

 

[Asa]

She was fully relaxed now and took a step closer to him.

Why are you so scared... its just you and me not some grand ballroom full of people.

She reached a hand to his trying to help calm him any. She realized that he wanted to hide that he was uncomfortable in a place like this or maybe it was her there was only one way to find out. She leaned in a little closer to him to let the soft accent nearly whispered wash over his ear.

Anyways I have not offered a kiss to my hero yet for saving me back there.

With that she closed the distance and pressed a kiss to his lips softly.

 

[No_such_thing]

He stiffened in shock at the first touch of her lips, then felt his body loosen and relax, enjoying the approach before he started to kiss back. He was leaning back against the counter and one hand came up to her waist, the other round to her back as he deepened the kiss. They broke apart "you're welcome"

 

[Asa]

Taking a step back she smiled to him before taking another drink of her beer. Brushing her hair back a little she motioned to the living room.

We could go relax if you like or if you need to go I could run you back to BBQ Bobs.

 

[No_such_thing]

Now he didn't want to leave, but he couldn't stay, it would be like he was taking advantage of her. He already had. Oh god. What a stupid thing to do.

"No, I'd... I'd best get back, you stay I'll get a taxi."

 

[Asa]

She nodded and smiled.

Okay. Thank you again though... helping me get past the press and all the stuff earlier.

She bit her lip and motioned to the phone on the wall as she went to toss out the empty beer bottle and set up the coffee pot timer for the next morning.

 

[No_such_thing]

Had he just ruined everything? Should he... No. he couldn't.

He smiled in thanks and took the phone, dialling the number of a local taxi company, giving them the address. He turned back to her.

"Is there anything else you need? Make sure if you're ever down my way you drop into BBQ Bob's to say hi, hopefully it will be a less eventful visit than tonight."

 

[Asa]

Okay. Don't be afraid to stop by here either... if you want. I tend to be in office just during the first half of the week then whatever functions they want me to attend on the weekends... Maybe...

She bit her lip...

Maybe you could escort me to some of those events sometime?

 

[No_such_thing]

"Escort you, yeah sure."

His mouth ran away without him.

"I'd love to."

He stood, frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do now. His indecision was rendered obsolete as a horn sounded outside. The taxi was here.

"I'd err, I'd better go."

As he got into the taxi he was wondering at his own stupidity, functions? Like black tie? How could I just say yes?

 

[Asa]

Slipping one of her business cards into his shirt pocket before he left she smiled to him and saw him to the door.

Yeah... See you later then.

She was smiling watching his eyes again... he was terrified of her world and yet she wanted him to be a part of it... to be near her... some reality in all of this pomp and formality. Something real and so charming and wonderful. Looks like she would be learning to love BBQ.

As the taxi pulled away she sighed turning from the door closing it and locking it. Activating her alarm system and going to get ready for bed.

 

[No_such_thing]

"See you later."

He just managed to croak the words out as he went out the door, the slight weight of the card in his pocket comforting somehow. He felt like he'd made a fool of himself, he'd been stiff and uncomfortable in there, and that was only her home. Now she wanted him to accompany her to events. His mouth went dry at the thought.

He somehow managed to get into the taxi and then get home and into bed without any mishaps. He lay there in the darkness, staring at his phone, unable to push the keys, unable to put it down.