Accidentally in Love (Buffy and Angel)

Chapter One

Angel POV

In thirty-six years, I hadn't found a woman yet who could handle me.

My friends teased me that I had the attention span  of a gnat, and while that wasn't true - I had a 7-year career in the IE Army as a Ranger in The Army Ranger Wing (ARW), and over the  last few years I'd built my business into something I could be proud of- I let them go on thinking it. No, there wasn't a damn thing wrong with my focus or level of commitment. Once I decided on something, I was all in.

It was just the idea of being tied down to the same woman day after day—well, let's just say it didn't hold a candle to my freedom. I liked things the way they were. I was free to come and go as I pleased, work long days when business called for it, and take off for a weekend away when the mood struck. I enjoyed my life just the way it was, and I had no plans to change that anytime soon.

"How long's it been since you've been laid?" Asked me my good friend Spike, grinning at me over the rim of his pint glass with a crooked smile.

My life was simple, and I cherished simple. I didn't do complicated. Didn't do messy relationships or complex emotions. I was the center of my world and that was just fine with me. I knew it was selfish, but that's just the way things were.

Realizing Spike was actually waiting for me to reply, I muttered out a curse and took a sip of my own whiskey.

"You've been a crabby asshole at work lately," he added for emphasis.

"You do understand I'm your boss, correct?" I glared at him, but he merely flipped me the middle finger. An asshole.

We were seated at the bar of our favorite local hangout after a long work week. The Rooftop at The Standard in Downtown LA have a large lit up pool, lit up bar, that are first come first serve and strong drinks. We found ourselves parked right here most Fridays. I was almost surprised the owner hadn't marked these stools as reserved with all the time we spent on them.

"Thank fuck someone had the balls to bring that up," Gunn muttered under his breath.

"You draw the short straw?" I asked Spike. They weren't generally the type to pry into my personal life, but they never hesitated to point out my foul mood.

Despite their annoying probing, they were both pretty good guys. They'd worked for me since I started my construction business  five years ago. They stood by me, agreeing to work for less than they were worth until I could afford to pay them more. Now we all did pretty well, but then again, we worked our asses off, so it was all relative.

"Seriously, man. You could use a woman in your life," Spike said, gazing down into his half-empty beer glass.

"Or at least in your bed," Gunn added.

My life? That was a big fat no-fucking-thank-you. But my bed? That wasn't the worst idea they'd ever had. I tried to remember the last time I'd had the pleasure of a woman's company. To be fair, it had been a little while, maybe a couple of months, and damn if I was going to admit it to them, but there was a chance they were right.

"I'll take that under advisement," I mumbled, trying not to stroke their egos too much.

"Good, 'cause there's a cute little number giving you the eye over there," Spike said, nudging my ribs with his elbow.

His gaze drifted over toward the pool tables in the back of the bar, and mine followed. A blonde with heavy eyeliner and dressed in a pair of cut-off shorts and a red tank top that was cut dangerously low to reveal the edges of a lacy push-up bra stood with her hip out, staring me down. He'd just heard the suggestion of sinking into warm, wet pussy tonight, and he was all in.