Chapter 4

 

      Spike chose to sit at a table closer to the stage as he waited for Dawn to take her turn and finish her shift for the night. She appeared not long after and once again he was hypnotized by her act. Watching her move gracefully and seductively was turning him on, quickly. He knew he had to stop watching or it would be really bad when she met up with him afterwards. Reluctantly he turned his attention to something else, the drink on the table, not working, the crowd, no bad idea, jealousy issues.

      He could make out a few guys cat calling her as she continued. Spike glared at them and a low growl erupted from his throat. ‘What the hell am I doing? Why am I acting like I’m jealous?’ he thought to himself confused. ‘I don’t have actual feelings for her.’ Then he thought about it for a second. ‘Well maybe I do, but only in the friendly way, I think.’

      The next thing he knew, Dawn was taping him on the shoulder. He turned to look at her. “You ready to go?” she asked over the music.

      “Yeah, sure, let’s go.” He got up and walked following Dawn with his hand on her back as they walked out.

 

      When they were outside and away from all the noise she asked, “So did you like the show?” with a sly smile, catching him completely off guard.

      He looked at her for a moment before replying. “It was good.” He turned his eyes from her quickly while he spoke.

      “Please, Spike. I saw you stop looking half way through.” He frowned at her. “Now tell me what you really thought.”

      “You don’t want to know, believe me. I would make your head spin.” He tried to end it at that, but she wouldn’t let up.

      She stepped in front of him, causing him to stop. “Try me.” She tilted her head to the side. “I like to feel my head spin,” she said quietly.

      “I’ll tell you when you’re older,” he said with a smirk as he walked on.

      “Ha ha,” she said dryly. She decided to change the subject to Spike’s relief. “Can we go to the law firm?” she asked, “I want to see every body.”  

      “If you want to we can.”

      “I want to.”

 

      They pulled into a spot in the parking garage and took the elevator up to the inside of the building. They were met with Angel. “Do you know how many meetings you blew off because you left early without a notice, again?” he asked as Spike entered with Dawn in tow.

      “No, dad, how many?”

      “Three! Gunn and I had to cover for your sorry ass! And you stole my car again! And don’t call me dad, it’s just creepy. You’ve been ‘stepping out’ a lot lately; it’s not good for business, Spike!” Angel saw Dawn and continued to yell at him. “Is this who you were out with last night?” he questioned looking Dawn up an down. “Some street walker?”

      “Hey! I’m a stripper not a street walker, Angel, there’s a difference!”

      Angel was caught off guard by her using his name. “Do I know you?”

      “Oh hey, Dawn!” Harmony said to her as she walked bye. Dawn just waved to her as she let the fact of who she was sink in for Angel.

      “Dawn?” Angel asked, more to him self than to her. Dawn nodded her head at him.

      “I brought her here because she wanted to see ever body,” Spike explained.

      “Hi, Angel,” she said simply.

      “Hi, Dawn.” He stared at her not knowing what to do next. So he grabbed her in a hug, almost crushing her.

      “Ok, can’t breath. Need air.”

      “Oh, sorry.” He released her smiling apologetically.

      “It’s ok,” she smiled at him.

      “So how have you been?”

      “Good. You?”

      “Can’t complain. So you’re a stripper now?” Spike rolled his eyes at the crappy attempt of a conversation.

      “Yup.”

      “We should get together sometime.”

      “We should,” Dawn agreed nodding her head.

      “Unfortunately everyone’s pretty busy tonight. Well, I have to get back to work. And, Spike, why don’t you take the rest of the night off. But I want you to back here, early, tomorrow morning.  Nice to see you again, Dawn.”

      “You to, Angel.”

      “You’re welcome to come by anytime you like, ok?”

      “Ok, thanks. I’ll come by in the next couple of days, and then I can see every one else.”

      “Sounds good.”

      “Bye, Angel.” Spike said as he and Dawn turned to leave. “Well that was eventful,” Spike said as the headed back to the car. “Why don’t I take you home?”

      “Ok. We can hang out there if you want.”

      “Sounds good.”