| A few weeks later after a houseshow, a bunch of people decided to go to a nearby pool hall. Storm, Kane and Alex were walking out of the hotel to the car when they ran into Paul. �Do you want to ride over with us?� Storm offered. *Storm! -Will you relax!? �Yeah, if that�s okay?� Paul asked looking at Kane. Kane nodded and got in the car to drive. Alex got in the backseat with Paul. She kept telling herself to relax. -Yeah, that works! - When they got to the pool hall they spotted LaShana, Steve, Jim, IceWolf, 'Taker, Christian, X-Pac and RoadDogg. Everyone was in the corner near the back. The management was used to having well known clientele, so had directed most of his other customers to the other side of the hall. To give the wrestlers a semblance of a normal evening and he had provided two tables for everyone to play between themselves. After a while Alex relaxed enough to actually play a round, probably had something to do with the 3 tequila shots she had. �I�m not playing you, you�re a hustler.� Christian decided. �Yep, I heard all about you, baby girl.� RoadDogg added wagging his finger at her. �What are you talking about?!� Looking over at Storm and LaShana, �You make a few lucky shots and they call you a hustler.� Alex exclaimed jokingly. �I can�t believe you guys are afraid to play a girl.� Paul teased from where he was standing with Kane. �Excuse me?� Alex whipped around to glare at him with fire in her eyes. �Oh, now he did it!� RoadDogg said knowingly. Christian nodded and both walked over to the other table to stand with IceWolf and Jim who were watching X-Pac and 'Taker. �Tough talk for someone who hasn�t played all night.� Alex started, hand on her hip, the other on the pool cue. �I say put up or shut up.� She challenged. �Oh really?� Paul responded walking over to stand in front of her. He towered over her, placing his hand over hers on the cue. �What do I get if I win?� He whispered so only she could hear. Alex smirked, and then gave him a crooked smile, �What makes you think you�ll win?� �Name the stakes.� �Well, house rules don�t let us play for money. So we�ll have to think of something else.� �Have dinner with me.� he suggested. �But what do I get if I win?� She questioned. �You get to pick the restaurant.� Alex paused, realizing her mouth and her attitude had spoken without benefit of her brain. But she wasn�t about to back down now. �You�re on.� While Paul racked, Alex walked over to one of the tables. Alex whispered, �Okay, what did I just do?� �Looks like you set up a match that no matter who loses, you both win.� LaShana spoke up smiling, as Steve laughed lightly behind her. �I thought you said you were shy around guys?� Storm questioned. �That was shy?!� Steve questioned laughing. �Sshh!� LaShana chided, as Alex�s face turned bright red. �My mouth was moving, but my brain wasn�t on!� Alex replied in a hushed whisper. �He just ticked me off with that �girl� comment.� Paul had finished racking and graciously offered to let her break. As the game progressed, it stayed even and it came down to the eight ball. As Paul set up to shoot, Alex stood in front of the pocket he was shooting for. Paul looked up at her with his eyes. �You need to move.� �What?� �You�re distracting me.� He stated. Alex mentally grinned and put on her most innocent look, �Moi?� she asked looking shocked. �Move.� She walked around the table to stand opposite him. Alex looked over at Storm and LaShana, who stared coughing, loudly. Paul looked up at both of them sternly. They abruptly stopped having been caught. Paul looked at the table again, to set up his shot. 'Taker, having finished his game came to stand behind Alex. ~You�re not playing fair, little girl. He scolded. She turned to smile innocently at him. 'Taker looked at her sternly, knowing look on his face. She then looked at the floor, only slightly ashamed at being caught. As she did, she heard the click of the balls. Paul had made his shot and won the game. �I won.� he stated. �I noticed.� �Is tomorrow night okay with you?� Alex nodded, not trusting her voice. ~~*~~ The entire next day Alex didn�t have time to think about the date. Since 'Taker�s return Vince had decided she would be permanently assigned to him and Kane. Kane had an early signing and they had an early evening show. The next week they would be across the country, so Alex spent most of the afternoon with Travel making their flight arrangement As Alex finally sat down to get ready, she realized she wasn�t nervous. She told herself she really wanted this to work out and because of that she was going to have to relax. About 2 hours after the show, Paul knocked on her door. �Hi.� Paul pulled out a single yellow rose from behind his back. Alex heart melted as she took it, �So, where are we going?� �Surprise.� �Oh. Do I have to be blind-folded?� she asked smiling. �No, we�ll save that for next time.� When they got to the car, he drove to the nearby restaurant. As they entered, the waiter had obviously been waiting for them. He escorted them to a table in a not too crowded part of the dining area. As the dinner progressed, Alex discovered they had a lot in common. The conversation came easy. Alex felt she could listen to him all night. Alex told him a little about herself and her relationship with Kane and the girls. Her connection to them was far too obvious to hide that sort of thing. She enjoyed listening to his stories about being in the business. An autograph seeker interrupted them once. The young girl practically gushed. Paul signed the autograph and embarrassingly accepted a hug. �Sorry about that.� �Why? You�re not exactly inconspicuous.� She smiled. �Yeah, well, sometimes it's hard to have a regular night.� Somewhere in the restaurant, music started playing. The first strains of �Sleepwalker� by Santo & Johnny drifted through. Without thinking, Alex jumped. �Oh, I love that song.� Paul reached across the table and took her hand. He rose and led her to the dance floor. When he put his arms around her, Alex felt a chill run down her back. Something about the way he held her had her melting in his arms. The song was far too short, but they stayed on the floor for a few more songs, barely moving to the music. When the evening ended Paul walked her back to her room. �I had a good time tonight.� Alex smiled. �You�re a very good dancer.� Paul smiled, Alex wasn�t sure but she thought she saw him blush. �We'll have to do this again, next time you pick the place.� He suggested. �Okay.� She whispered. �Why are these moments so awkward?! - When Paul bent down, Alex held her breath and her heart started to beat faster. Paul held her chin in his hand and turned her face slightly. He placed a kiss high on her cheek. Alex touched his cheek and as he started to straighten up, quickly kissed him lightly on his lips. She whispered good night and turned to go into her room. Alex closed the door and leaned against it. Her mind was telling her to slow down, that falling in love so quickly simply wasn�t possible. That it was too soon. Her heart was telling her it was too late. The moment he�d held her in his arms he had her heart. ~~*~~ For the next few months Alex and Paul were inseparable. Whenever they weren�t working, they were together. After the first night Alex realized she had been nervous for nothing. Paul was extremely patient with her. Alex loved the little things he did; the way he held her hand or when he brushed her hair out of her face. Alex discovered she didn�t like to watch Paul�s matches. She knew the outcomes were pre-determined, but she also knew the pain was real. Alex was particularly busy one night and didn�t know whom Paul was fighting nor did she know the outcome. As she had finished some paperwork, she was walking back to Paul�s dressing room. She saw Paul come through the curtain; Alex�s heart hit the floor to see Paul was bleeding from his forehead. Alex ran to his side. �What happened to you?� She gasped. She turned when she saw Bossman walk through the curtain. �I�m fine. Ray �hit� me with his nightstick, so I had to blade.� Paul explained. Alex put her arm around him and walked with him to his dressing room. She had Paul sit down, while she took the peroxide and bandages from the doctor and shooed him out of the door. As she was tending to his head, she looked at Paul to see him smiling. Alex stopped what she was doing. �What the hell are you smiling at?� She demanded to know. �You.� he replied, �You fussing over me. Your hands are trembling.� He picked up her hand and held it. �You�re making fun of me.� She gritted, jerking her hand away. As she stood to walk out, he grabbed her before she could take a step. �No, of course not.� he said, pulling her down onto his lap. �It means a lot that you care about what happens to me.� She picked up his hand and interlocked his finger with hers. �Yes, I care.� she whispered. She laid her head on his shoulder. �I know this is your job, but watching you get hurt is not easy for me.� She sat up, touching his forehead she saw that the cut was far smaller than her imagination had made it. She tipped his head and kissed it. He nuzzled her throat then lifted his head to meet her lips. Alex placed her hands on each side of his face. Alex felt his hand move up her thigh, as he wrapped both arms around her waist. After a minute she grew dizzy from his kiss. Just as they both started to get lost in the kiss, Kane and Storm walked in. �Hey, that was a hard . . .� Kane started. �Oh, I see you�ve recovered nicely.� Alex felt her face turn 4 shades of red. �Stop teasing. Storm scolded Kane. �Are you okay?� Storm asked. �Yes, the �doctor� took care of it.� Paul teased Alex, patting her on her bottom. Alex stood up as she rolled her eyes at Paul. �You guys ready to go?� Kane asked. �Yeah, just let me get changed.� *Can I talk to you? Alex asked Storm. �We�ll wait for you outside.� Storm told the guys. When they got outside Alex sat down in a folding chair. �What�s wrong?� Storm asked her. Alex took deep breaths, �Do you get used to this?� Alex asked. �Watching them out there? I thought my heart stopped when I saw him walk through the curtain.� her voice trembled slightly. �No,� Storm replied, understanding, �you don�t. You just have to remember, they know what they�re doing and pray for the best.� �Where did I get the idea this would be easy?� Alex laughed lightly. ~~*~~ The next week Storm had to return to work. �I don�t like leaving you so soon. You�re still learning.� �I�ll be okay. You have been great, but I�ll have to stand on my own sometime. Besides I have the guys and IceWolf and LaShana here for me.� Alex reassured her, looking at the ladies. �You keep an eye on the guys for me. Keep them out of trouble.� Storm requested. �We�ll keep each other out of trouble. I�ll keep them busy. I still have so much to learn.� Alex remarked. �You know what to do if you need me?� Storm asked. �Yes, just call your name. I can�t tell you how much all this means to me.� Looking at all three ladies, Alex continued. �At first, it scared me to death. But you guys have been the part of me that was missing. All of you.� Alex glanced over at the guys. *I hope you get back soon. I don�t know how much longer I can handle having 2 �big brothers� dogging my every step. Alex laughed. For some reason since she and Paul had started going out, 'Taker and Kane had become oddly MORE protective. Wherever Alex was, Kane or 'Taker was sure to be nearby. Alex understood why, but it was beginning to make her jumpy. -I�ve talk to them, but you know how they are. Storm replied. LaShana and IceWolf nodded rolling their eyes, as Alex giggled, then looked over at the guys. �You know they�re talking about us don�t you?� Steve told 'Taker, Jim and Kane. �How can you tell?� 'Taker asked. �The way LaShana is looking at us.� Steve answered. �Why do I feel like I�m in trouble, I haven�t done anything?� Kane asked as Jim laughed. |
| Part XIII |