Chapter 8
“So…you never did tell me how you became a twenty-three year old CEO…” Spike smiled, shaking his head, man this girl never gave up.
“You never give up, do you?”
“Uh-huh.” Buffy smiled, taking a sip of champagne.
“Dad wanted to retire and keep the business in the family, Angel didn’t want the responsibility, so I took over.
“But you were fresh out of college.”
“No bother.” He shrugged. “Had to do what I had to do.”
“Isn’t there anything else you’d rather be doing?” Buffy asked, leaning against the boats railing. She had to admit this wasn’t so bad. There was a comfort factor with Spike, she could just relax and not be so nervous, plus when they weren’t fighting, he actually wasn’t half-bad to talk to.
“At one time I fancied myself a bit of a writer.” Spike chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ve got years worth of bad poetry hiding out at my dad’s house.”
“Maybe I could…read it sometime.” Buffy said, taking another sip of champagne. She focused her attention on the horizon, the setting sun gave a soft reddish glow to the surface of the ocean, it was all amazingly beautiful and romantic…romantic? No, now she’s starting to sound like poor high as a kite Angel. It’s definitely not romantic…Spike and romantic two words that don’t belong anywhere near each other…and why is he looking at her like that?
“What?” She asked, the word sounding a lot breathier than she had intended.
“Are we bonding, luv?” He grinned.
“You said we should make an attempt to get along…this is me making an attempt.”
“Right.” Buffy turned to face him, a smile creeping over her face, her fingers lightly tracing the glass in her hand. “So, Mr. Giles am I ever going to get to read some of your literary efforts?”
Spike could feel his heart slamming rather painfully against his chest; he could never figure this girl out. One minute he felt like strangling her and the next…
“Guess what…” He drawled, leaning in closer to her.
“What?”
“In five seconds I’m going to kiss you. You don’t have to kiss me back…I just thought I’d give you a heads up.”
Buffy’s eyes went wide and before she could open her mouth to protest, his lips were on hers. As much as she wanted to fight, desperate to fight, her lips responded to his. The kiss was demanding, passionate, not at all like the soft peck Angel had given her…Angel! Buffy’s brain quickly checked back in, and she pulled away from him, panting a bit.
She sniffed, bringing a relatively shaky hand to her lips. “It’s, it’s getting kinda late don’t you think?”
Spike cleared his throat loudly, shaking his head. “Yeah. I guess we should head back.”
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“I’m in love with her.”
Giles stared at his son, mouth agape, in utter disbelief, oh good lord…
“Oh good lord.” He sighed heavily, sitting down across from his son. “Angel you can’t be serious…”
“I am! I’m dead serious. I am in love with Buffy Summers!” Angel cried happily, slowly lifting up from the couch. He steadied himself on his cane, his look of happiness replaced with a wince of pain…he should have never tried sitting on the couch…
“Bloody hell…” Giles murmured, putting his face in his hands.
“Spike!” Angel smiled. “Hey little brother, can you help me get into the hammock?”
“Sure.” He nodded solemnly, noting his father’s look of desperation as he made his way towards the hammock. “What’s wrong with dad?”
“He’s about to have a heart attack because I told him I’m not marrying Cordelia.”
Spike smiled, shaking his head. “We went through this the other day, Angel. The pressure and jittery feelings will all go away once you’re standing at that sodding alter…”
“No, I’m not marrying Cordelia because I’m in love with Buffy.” Angel stated matter-of-factly. “Could you hold that steady for me, please.”
Spike paled at his older brother’s admission, he couldn’t be bloody serious. “You can’t be bloody serious…”
“I am.” He smiled. “You know, I realized it yesterday when she came in to see me. After she was gone, I missed her so much, I didn’t even know that I had been really looking forward to seeing her all day until I thought about it…”
“But Angel…” Spike began, chuckling nervously.
“I knew you and dad were gonna be against this. Look, I’m sorry you guys won’t get your Chase/Giles merger…and don’t think for a second I didn’t know about that, but I just can’t marry Cordy knowing how I feel about Buffy. By the way, Spike, did I tell you how glad I am you’re keeping an eye on her for me…?”
“No…” Spike sighed wearily.
Angel let go of his cane, and slowly began to lower his self into the hammock. “I intend on showing Buffy just how much I love her once I’m able to at least sit on my ass again…” He said smiling.
It was his leering tone that made Spike’s blood run cold, yeah that was it. It was just the fact that he knew the brand of love Angel was in very well and he didn’t want him to use another girl that way, didn’t matter if that it was Buffy, had absolutely nothing to do with it…
He scowled at Peaches, and tipped the hammock back, effectively sending Angel barreling onto the floor.
Angel cried out in pain as Spike bent down to help him, the most insincere apologies imaginable falling from his lips.
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Buffy stopped suddenly as she headed up the Giles’ walkway. She should just turn around and go back home…he could be here after all. No, no she came to see Angel, not Spike and if Spike just so happened to be here then she would deal. It was just one kiss, one meaningless empty kiss…
“Hello, luv.”
She shivered once she heard his accented drawl and quickly scolded herself for doing so. Just say hello and move on…came here to see Angel, not him…
“Hi.” Buffy said in clipped voice, blushing furiously as she tried to hurry past him. Spike’s hand shot out, grabbing her back.
“What’s the big hurry, oh I see…” He smirked. “I make you nervous now.”
She could feel herself suddenly becoming extremely annoyed with him, that smug grin on his face having everything to do with it. Arrogant Bastard. “What, because of one little kiss? You wish. I came here to see Angel.” She glared.
“Then why run past me like I had the sodding plague if I didn’t make you nervous.”
“Because…” She could feel her face growing red hot. “I came to see Angel…not you.”
“Oh, someone’s blushing.” Spike smiled. “Well, goldielocks, if I don’t make you nervous, then have dinner with me tonight.”
“Have you been in Angel’s meds.” Buffy snickered.
He shook his head. “Does eight o’clock sound good to you?”
Buffy paused for a brief second, pursing her lips. “Eight o’clock sounds just fine.” She said, snatching her arm out of his, and heading up the rest of the walkway.
Spike smiled as he watched her go into the house, but it quickly faded once he realized that he was going to have to go through the daunting task of finding something to wear…