Rhys didn't normally read the Post but he'd picked up a copy to check out the movie listings and the want ads. Imagine his surprise when he noticed her name mentioned in the local gossip column connected with some guy that definitely wasn't him. Ed Batten. Who the hell was Ed Batten? He'd let it go for a few days, trying not to let it bother him, until he couldn't stand it anymore. He didn't want to seem jealous, but if she was toying with him, he wanted to know now before it was too late.

It was mid-afternoon on Sunday when he finally got around to calling, unable to stand the suspense any longer. The phone rang four times before a slightly disgruntled-sounding Lelah answered.? In the background, typing could be heard loudly over the faint sound of Spanish guitar.? It was clear that either Rhys's phone call had interrupted something important or Leelee was already in a bad mood - or possibly both.? "Yeah?? What do you want?" she snapped.

He paused a moment, surprised by the tone of her voice. Had he done something to piss her off? Maybe the rumors really were true. "Uh..." he stammered, at a sudden loss for words. "It's...uhh...Rhys. Is this a bad time?"

The typing stopped and her voice changed, becoming softer, happier sounding.? "Hi, Rhys," she said with an obvious smile.? "No, it's not a bad time.? I was just doing a little work.? I can take a break, though."

That explained the sound of the typing. "Having trouble writing the story of my life? Need some inspiration?" She could probably almost hear the smirk on the other end of the phone. He relaxed a little, relieved at the change in her voice, and he took a lean against the kitchen counter, slumped over, legs stretched out behind him.

She chuckled and her chair squeaked as she sat back in it.? "No, I'm drafting a press release announcing a career fair so I can hire a tech crew."

"Career fair?" What a coincidence. He'd just been perusing the paper for a job. "The last job I had was as a cook in a diner," he answered. He didn't mention that the job was taken as part of a probation agreement. He also didn't mention that he'd violated probation by leaving the state of New York.

"Hmmm," she said thoughtfully.? "Ever been in a band?? Know anything about recording or lighting?? Or what about design?? Art?"

"I can play guitar a little," he said hopefully.

She grinned and let loose a little chuckle.? "Unfortunately, I'm looking for a sound designer and an art director.? But I would love to hear you play sometime."

"I'm not very good. I don't think I qualify for any of those positions, but thanks for trying. But if you ever need your oil changed or want a grilled cheese sandwich, I'm your man."

"Ooh, I know.? You can be my PA.? How about that?"

He chuckled. "Your gofer, you mean. Your bitch."

"Exactly.? But you know, it would have its benefits, too."? She grinned again and sat forward, the chair squeaking as she stood up, and wandered into the kitchen for a bottle of water.? She glanced out the window above the sink and was shocked to see that it was dark outside.? "What time is it?"

"Uh..." he glanced at his watch, seeing it was a lot later than he thought. "Dinner time. You hungry?"

"Famished.? You?"? She glanced down at her clothing; if he was winding up to ask her out for dinner, she'd need to change into something less slouchy and thread-bare.? She put the water back into the fridge and went into her bedroom.

"I'm always hungry. You like pizza? I found this pizza place that you'd almost swear was made in Chicago." He smirked a little when he heard what sounded like drawers opening and closing. "You don't have to get dressed up for pizza, Le."

"Pizza sounds great," she said, ignoring his comment about her clothing.? Besides, jeans and a sweater were hardly getting dressed up.? "Where is it?? Do you want to meet there?"? She slid her feet into a pair of red, peep-toe, f*ck-me pumps and left her bedroom, heading into the bathroom where she could do her hair and make-up.

"I can pick you up, unless..." He hadn't seen a car in her driveway, but maybe she had a chauffeur or something. He broke off, not wanting to sound pushy or nosy.

Their pizza came soon after and much to Lelah's delight, she discovered that it was nearly as good as Lombardi's, in SoHo. She also discovered that Rhys had lived in Brooklyn. It really was a small world...well, a small bizarre little pocket of the multiverse at any rate. Before starting on the second slice of pizza, she said, "Guess what I saw in the Marketplace?"

"Hmm?" he asked, finishing off his first slice, trying to catch up to her. He snagged a second slice and this time folded it New York style.

"An ice cream and gelato shop.? I'll buy if you want to go after this?"? She started on slice number two as she waited his answer and nodded when a passing waiter offered to refill her wine glass.

He grinned at her over the slice of pizza, looking boyish and full of mischief. "Are you asking me on a date, Miss Rivka?"

She arched her brow and finished her second slice before answering him.? "No, I'm offering to continue the date you've already asked me on, Mr. Bristol," she retorted with a smug, superior smirk.

He took another bite of the pizza, still grinning at her, and terribly amused by the fact that she was ahead of him be nearly a whole slice. "So, you admit it's a date. Maybe I should drop a note to Emmet Bane and tell him we're engaged."

"Yes, I believe it's our second, possibly third if you count the accidental meeting at Teas and Tomes."? She rolled her eyes and groaned at the mention of the gossip guy at the Post.

He lifted his beer and drained it. Two slices was enough for now. He'd have the rest boxed up for later.

She nodded towards the remaining pie.? "Are you done?? Can we have gelato now?"? She managed to sound like an excited child.

He grinned over at her. "I think you ate enough to warrant some dessert."

"Yay!" she exclaimed and shot out of her seat like she had springs in her backside.? She rounded the table and grabbed his hand, hauling him up to his feet.? "C'mon.? I hope they have peach Bellini flavor.? That's my favorite."

"Peach Bellini?" he repeated, unsure what that was. He liked chocolate himself. He waved a waitress over with one hand, while Lelah tugged him to his feet with the other. "Can we have this boxed?" he asked the girl when she arrived.

"Yeah, it's fresh peaches and champagne," Lelah said and smiled politely to the waitress.

"Oh, will it make you tipsy?" He tossed a few bills on the table for a tip and took the box from the girl, ready to make their escape onto the next destination.

"If I drank them, sure.? But if it's in gelato form, I think they leave out the alcohol. Sorry. You'll have to try a different way to get me drunk and take advantage of me."? She tucked her arm through his and willingly followed him out the door to his ridiculously loud car.

He chuckled and tried to look shocked at her accusation. "I would never do that!? What kind of guy do you think I am?"

She rolled her eyes.? "I know what kind of guy you are, sir."? The grin that followed the statement was full of teasing.

He led her by the arm out to his ridiculously loud car, stopping beside it to dig his keys out of his jacket, a small smirk on his face. "And what kind of guy is that?"

Her teasing grin softened into something far more complex.? "You're sweet, and chivalrous, and gentlemanly."

He laughed. "I thought you were going to say sleazy. Do me a favor and don't let that get around. You'll ruin my reputation." He smiled as he unlocked her door and pulled it open.

"I suspect you can be sleazy.? When the situation calls for it."? She slid into the car and crossed her heart.? "Your secret is safe with me."

If she only knew. He said nothing, only grinned back, eyes dancing, hinting at the things that he knew and she didn't. "I knew I could count on you." He pushed her door closed, went around to his side and climbed in, pausing a moment in quiet contemplation before shoving the key in the ignition and turning over the engine.

He grinned at her almost smugly as she pulled away, noticing the effect his kiss was having on her and wondering if she was feeling even half what he was feeling. He merely watched her a moment with that smug grin. "I still got it," he said, still grinning and put the car in drive, glancing over his left shoulder before pulling out onto the street.

"You still got what, exactly?" she shouted over the sound of the engine.

He grinned over at her, quoting Austin Powers. "My mojo, baby, yeah!"

?That movie is crap."? She was still wondering at his reaction to the kiss.? Did she have bad breath?? She shouldn't; he ate the same thing she did.? Did he really think that she was two-timing him with What's His Face?

"It's not exactly Oscar material, but it's still entertaining," he'd argued. "How far is this gelato place?'

"In the Marketplace, near the bank."? She was introspective suddenly, quiet and feeling uncertain and more than a little vulnerable.? It was like the air had been let out of the balloon of good feelings she'd held onto since he called earlier.

He was completely oblivious of her uncertainty, though he did notice she'd grown quiet and thought maybe she was still dwelling on the gossip column. He headed toward the Marketplace, glancing over at her a moment, looking a little concerned. "Are you okay?"

She shrugged a little.? She didn't want to lie to him - she had been nothing but honest with him so far - but at the same time, she didn't want to put herself out there and say something that would get her hurt.? She swallowed and took a deep breath, having decided to plunge in head first.? "Did you, you know, like kissing me?? Just now?"

That got a puzzled expression from him, and he looked over at her again. "Of course I did. Why would you think I didn't?"

She felt like a complete heel now for even bringing it up.? But she had and now she had to finish it, even though she felt like running away and hiding for a week.? She bit her bottom lip and said softly, "You...ended...it rather quickly."

He frowned, looking back at the road. They finally arrived at their destination, and he pulled the car to a halt. He sat there a moment, thinking about she said and feeling like an idiot. He'd been teasing her, not realizing the kiss was something she took very seriously. Of course, he'd enjoyed it and he hadn't meant to toy with her feelings. "I'm sorry, Le. I'm a fool."

She frowned sharply at him, not quite understanding his meaning.? "You're a fool?? For kissing me?"? It felt like someone had kicked her in the gut suddenly; she couldn't breathe.? She reached out and caught hold of the car door handle and gripped it in a tight, white-knuckled fist.

He felt a sudden wave of panic when she reached for the door handle, afraid she was going to walk out and leave him behind forever, just toss him aside and forget about him. He lunged toward her, grabbing her arm and pulling her back toward him. "No! Not for kissing you."

"Don't play with me, Rhys," she said in a voice that was striving for harsh and warning, but came out as afraid. His fingers felt like a steel vise on her arm and she struggled a bit against it.

He loosened the grip on her arm, but didn't let go, searching her eyes and realizing suddenly how much she meant to him. His expression softened as did the tone of his voice. "Lelah, I'm not playing. I..." He swallowed nervously.

She let go of the door handle and gave him a challenging look.? "If this is just some rebound relationship, and you think you're gonna get laid and then walk away, you can forget it."? She set her jaw stubbornly.? "I'm not that kind of girl. I deserve more than that."

"If I wanted to get laid..." he trailed off again, clenching his jaw. If that was all he wanted, he could have had it by now, more than once. This went so much deeper than that. "Le, I think I'm falling in love with you."

She froze and the blood drained from her face, leaving her ashen.? She shook her head, denying his words.? "No," she said with utter and absolute certainty.? "You are not.? You cannot."? She reached for door handle again, this time managing to open it and slide out of the car before he could stop her.? She hunched her shoulders against the crisp wind and turned towards home.

He was quick to hurry after her, in such a hurry that he thought he'd locked the keys in the car, still in the ignition. "Lelah, please!" he called, following her and grabbing her by the arm and turning her to face him. The look on his face was sheer panic. "Please, don't go. Just listen to me a minute. Please?"

She shrugged off his hand and shook her head again.? "No, Rhys.? I need...? I need some time.? This is crazy.? It's going too fast."? She turned and started for home again. She kept walking, even as he called to her again, trying to keep the tears from falling, berating herself for falling for it again, hook, line, and sinker.? She felt like such a fool. She'd opened herself to someone, trusted someone and it had exploded in her face.

((Many thanks to Rhys Bristol's player for this scene.))