If At First

Part 4 - Chapter 3

Doug came quickly over to stand next to me – again, a little too close. "Do you need anything?" He asked, ogling.

"No. I'm much better now." I answered, inching away. Then I hesitated, brilliance dawning on me, "But... if...if I could ask just one tiny favor..."

Doug responded, again too quickly. "Anything. Name it."

"Well, you see, I was sort of in town...incognito. Gotta be sneaky these days, you know, with paparazzi everywhere."

"Of course," Doug agreed.

"I mean, with my family and everything, it probably wouldn't be good if it was found out that I was in a potentially questionable situation with two strange men."

Doug nodded knowingly. "You have a point," he said, "Haven is really strange."

"So I was hoping you might not mention the fact that you've seen me? You can have no idea how frustrating it is trying to escape all those people who don't care who you are, only what you can do for them. I was attempting to get away from all of that." I smiled convincingly. The lies poured out of me more naturally than it felt comfortable to admit. But the chances of me seeing either of these guys ever again was so remote, it couldn't possibly matter what I told them. My only objective was to let "Haven Casey" know that I did not care who he thought he was, and that I was not some conniving man-trap.

"You want us, not to mention that we've been with you." Doug asked.

"Yes, is that alright?" I made sure Haven was listening, and found him rooted to the spot he'd been in when Dr. Bennett left a moment before. He watched both Doug and I intently.

"Sure," Haven murmured, "Las Vegas would be the natural place to hide from attention..."

Doug sidled even closer. "Well, we promise not to tell a soul" he vowed, "What did you say your name was again?" He had to ask, clearly because he'd never seen or heard of me.

"Tabitha...Bridian...Of the Madison Bridian's." I stammered, with an attempt to convey an air of confidence. Why did I just say my real name? Please don't ask questions. Please, please....

"Bridian? Madison?..." Doug was apparently going through some mental catalogue of people he knew. I started getting worried, when Haven spoke up.

"Come on Doug, you've heard of the Bridian's. Everyone has." He directed his gaze at me, and it was suddenly full of warmth, "Have you just gotten to town?" He looked down into my face with an absolutely serious expression.

Did I just claimed to be an actual person? Was he trying to throw me? Or was he playing along? Either way, something in his manner was warmer, lighter. And allowed an actual smile as he met my uncertain eyes. I noticed a dimple in his cheek. His face illuminated when he did that, and it knocked the breath out of me.

"Ye...yes, I did just get to town." I stammered, but quickly collected myself. "-But I think you already knew that, didn't you?"

I examined his now comparatively unguarded expression, trying desperately to figure out who was conning whom. His smile grew larger, his translucent blue eyes darting to my forehead and back. He was beaming, and devastatingly handsome. Blood thudded through my veins and I knew I had to get out of here. My body's reaction to this guy was unreliable at best.

"You're right. And I don't think I ever apologized for the other day, did I?"

"You did not."

"I hope you're finding a way to recover."

"Was that an apology?"

"No," he mused, "When I apologize for something, you won't have to ask."

He seemed to be having as difficult a time looking away from me, as I did from him. Why was he messing with me? I stood my ground. I was determined to let him see the error of his snooty manners.