Chances Extended

Chapter 3

Lila took his hand in hers. He suddenly felt self-conscious that his hand was starting to sweat. They walked up the hill of the Griffith Observatory. The observatory had already closed for the night, but the Hollywood sign across the valley crest was fully lit.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Her voice broke the silence.

"Actually, beauty derives from a classical Latin phrase, which, although means beauty or aesthetically pleasing, was actually used more as an insult ironically, mainly towards men. Or, as it was used in English from a French phrase, beaute du diable, literally meaning 'devil's beauty' from 1825-"

"Spencer!"

"Ok, fine. According to the modernized English language, it is most definitely beautiful." He turned towards her with a smile. She laughed and shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"I didn't realize you had to." His smile widened with his amusement of his own witty response.

"Funny."

"I thought so." She looked up at him, and her smile softened. "I-" His attention left his words, and focussed on her hand resting on his, which rest on the metal fence surround the edge of the hill. He automatically licked his lips, a habit he'd had since childhood, he supposed. She took a step, and shifted her weight, towards him.

"I was hoping you would call me, back when you were here the first time, I mean. I always hoped you'd call, but you never did... why?"

"...Why didn't you call me?"

"I guess I was worried you hadn't really liked me. Especially how I blamed you for not telling me... well I guess I was just worried I'd scared you off."

"Believe it or not, I don't scare that easy." He turned to face her now.

"Well then, if that's the case, why didn't you ever call me?"

He shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back and forth. "I don't know, I guess... I thought you were just to good to be true. I mean, you are easily the most beautiful woman I have ever saved from a psychopathic stalker, and you are a big Hollywood actress on TV, and I'm the awkward FBI agent who is smarter than others for a living. And I was worried you were too amazing to be real, let alone... mine."

He looked up to see her staring at him, her lips partly open. Her gaze seemed awestruck. He was about to turn away when she stepped toward him, and placed her hands on the back of his neck. She stared into his eyes for a moment, before moving in to kiss him. He stood there for a moment with wide eyes, not sure what to think, so he decided not to, and just let his body take control. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. He felt her lips slide across his. Her fingers running through his hair. He felt his heart speed up as her hand slid from his neck down his body. She brought it up to his chest, and slipped it beneath his shirt collar. He ran his mouth across her chin, and down her neck. He once again found her lips as she smoothed his hair back, just like she had when they first kissed. When he finally couldn't hold his breath any longer, he pulled back, resting his forehead on hers, still feeling her breath on his face. They were both breathing hard, but still in each other's arms, both not wanting to let the other go.

Once he had oxygen back into his lungs, and brought his heart rate down enough, he whispered "I told you I don't scare easily."