The Same Last Name
Disclaimer: This is an original piece based on a book of the same title by
Kathleen Gilles Seidel. No copyright infringement is meant and all rights for
Beauty and the Beast characters belong to CBS and the CW Network.
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR SEXUAL CONTENT, LANGUAGE, ETC. IF YOU ARE
UNDER 18, SCRAM!!! IT IS NOT MY JOB TO POLICE YOU!
#-----
Chapter 9
Every Saturday night, the spa held a huge bonfire down by the lake. The staff
put up flyers and called each room to invite any who wished to attend. On this
particular Friday, however, Catherine decided to personally go to everyone's
rooms, and extend the invitation.
Heather decided to tag along, intrigued by Catherine's new attitude. Since she
and Vincent had talked, Catherine had been re-examining everything from the
past. She remembered Vincent coming to see her in the hospital, his appearance
drawn, his eyes troubled. At the time, she had thought that he was relieved it
was over. But now, she knew that he had been just as affected as she had been.
She also realized that she had greatly misjudged Vincent.
She was also coming to terms with the fact that she was still very much in
love with him. Yes, she had loved him at 18, but it had been a childish love.
Now she was a mature woman of 23, with the life experience to know that it was
hopeless. He was leaving in 2 weeks, and she would never see him again.
Yes, they had slept together, but it wasn't because of love, at least not on
his part. No, it was simply two people who shared a past taking comfort in one
another. Catherine realized that what happened probably would not happen again,
as much as she wanted it to. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, she
would admit that it probably shouldn't have happened to start with. They both
had given in to the torrent of emotions that had encompassed them, each seeking
forgiveness from the other.
Catherine silently admitted that she wanted so much more...
#----
When Catherine and Heather reached their rooms, they knocked on the first
door. It was immediately opened by Tess. She smiled widely, and invited them
inside.
"I was hoping to see you again, Cat! I keep meaning to come see you, but
there is so much to do here, and you always seem too busy to chat," Tess
told her.
"You can come bother me anytime. I really don't mind at all," Catherine said,
liking her immensely.
"What brings you here? Certainly not a certain hunk, or you would have gone
to his room first," Tess winked, causing Catherine to blush and causing Heather
to throw her a confused look.
When Catherine failed to answer, Heather piped up. "We have a bonfire every
Saturday night. It's down by the lake. We are inviting everyone personally."
"Sounds great! I love bonfires. They are so warm and cheery," Tess exclaimed.
"Do you need any help setting up? I could come and help get things ready."
"Oh, thank you, but that's not necessary. We have enough staff to do all
that. Just come down at around 6, and have a good time. There will be music and
dancing," Catherine told her.
Tess smiled wider. "I will definitely be there. And, my offer still stands.
If you need anything, just let me know."
"We will. Thank you," Heather told her.
As they were leaving Tess' room, she pulled Catherine to the side, and
whispered, "Don't worry about Alex. She is all bark but very little bite."
Catherine looked at her questioningly, but gave no reply. They moved on to
the rest of the rooms. Evan asked if liquor was gonna be served. JT and Joe said
they would both be there. Alex said that a bonfire was not her idea of a good
time.
When Catherine knocked on Vincent's door, she heard a breathless, "Just a
second." Catherine's insides started to quiver, just hearing his gravelly voice.
Seconds later, the door was pulled open. Vincent stood in the doorway, sweaty
and shirtless. Catherine's mouth watered. Behind her, she heard Heather
squeak.
Composing herself, she smiled and said, "Well, that is a nice sight."
Vincent stared at her, a smile tipping his lips. "Like what you see, do ya?"
My God, was he flirting with her? Catherine quickly grabbed on to the
game. "I always liked what I see."
Vincent laughed, and for the first time, noticed Heather. "And who is this?"
he asked, gesturing.
"This is Heather. She works the front desk."
"Hi," Heather gasped out. She was staring at Vincent's broad chest. Vincent
backed into the room, grabbing his shirt off the bed. Slipping it on, he invited
them in.
"What's up?" he asked.
"We are having a bonfire down by the lake tonight, and we are inviting
everyone. It starts at 6, and there will be music and dancing," Catherine told
him.
"Sounds great. Need any help?" he offered. Catherine started to reply, but
Heather cut her off.
"We can always use help. Know how to build a bonfire? The guys here always
make it too small," Heather said, smirking at Catherine.
"Heather...." Catherine hissed, a warning in her voice.
"Sure I do. What time do you want me there?"
"That isn't necessary...." "Around 5:30..." Catherine and Heather answered at
the same time. Vincent raised an eyebrow, and quirked a smile. Catherine
sighed.
"We have all the help we need. Forget what Heather said," Catherine said, a
light blush staining her cheeks. Vincent chuckled.
"Well, if you change your mind....." he said, a teasing note to his
voice.
"I won't, but thanks for the offer," Catherine told him finitely.
Vincent shrugged. "See you later then."
"Yeah, see ya," Catherine replied.
Back outside, Heather gaped at her. "I knew it!!! You do know
him!! Holy crap, but that man is HOT!!"
Catherine blushed. "Yes, Heather. I know him. Vincent is my ex-husband. We
divorced 5 years ago."
Heather's eyebrows hit her hairline. "Seriously!? And you let him get
away?? What the hell is the matter with you??"
"I don't want to talk about it, Heather. Maybe some other time."
"Well, he was definitely flirting with you. Are you sure he wanted
a divorce?"
Catherine didn't respond. At this point, she honestly wasn't sure of anything
anymore.
#------
Catherine and the rest of the staff made their way down to the lake around
4:30. They set up tables, put drinks on ice and set out the snacks. She tasked a
couple of the younger staffers to find logs for the fire.
Catherine was so engrossed in setting up the sound system, that she jumped
when a gentle hand touched her shoulder. Her arm was immediately gripped, keeping
her from losing her balance.
Turning around, she saw Vincent standing there, still gripping her arm. He
smiled and she wanted to melt.
"Hey," he offered softly.
"Hey," she offered back.
"You look very pretty," he said, looking her up and down. Catherine had opted
for a light sundress, with matching sandals. Her hair was loose, cascading down
her back. Vincent felt his jeans tighten.
"So do you.....look nice, I mean. Not pretty," Catherine said, tripping over
her words. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt, but he still looked
mouth watering. Vincent chuckled. He released her arm, and stepped back a
little. Catherine lamented the lose of his body heat.
"So, it looks like you are having some trouble. Need any help?" he
offered.
"Actually, yes. Josh pulled all the wires out last time, and now I can't
figure out which ones go where."
Between the two of them, they managed to get everything back in order.
Catherine flipped the "on" switch, and soft music drifted out. She sat back with
a smile.
"Thank you. That helped a lot. I would probably be throwing this in the lake
by now," Catherine told him. Vincent laughed.
"Yeah, patience was never your strong suit."
"At least I can admit it," she said sweetly.
Vincent shook his head, a smile stretched across his face. "I just can't get
over this."
"Over what?" she asked, confused.
"This," he said, gesturing between the two of them. "Why couldn't we be like
this before? Why did we let everything get so far out of hand?"
She cupped his cheek. "It's in the past. We were both different people,
forced into a situation neither was ready for. We are both older now, and have
learned from the past."
His eyes darkened, and he leaned closer. Whispering in her ear, he said,
"God, you look so beautiful. Is it wrong that I want you again?"
Catherine closed her eyes. "No, it isn't."
"Catherine..." he started, his lips descending toward hers, when they heard
another voice.
"Hey, Cat! Where do you want the bonfire set up?" one of the male staffers
yelled. Realizing the spell was broken, Catherine and Vincent stepped away from
each other. He cleared his throat.
Throwing him an apologetic look, she walked over to the boy, and directed him
toward where she wanted him to set it up.
#-------
Disclaimer: This is an original piece based on a book of the same title by
Kathleen Gilles Seidel. No copyright infringement is meant and all rights for
Beauty and the Beast characters belong to CBS and the CW Network.
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR SEXUAL CONTENT, LANGUAGE, ETC. IF YOU ARE
UNDER 18, SCRAM!!! IT IS NOT MY JOB TO POLICE YOU!
#-----
Chapter 9
Every Saturday night, the spa held a huge bonfire down by the lake. The staff
put up flyers and called each room to invite any who wished to attend. On this
particular Friday, however, Catherine decided to personally go to everyone's
rooms, and extend the invitation.
Heather decided to tag along, intrigued by Catherine's new attitude. Since she
and Vincent had talked, Catherine had been re-examining everything from the
past. She remembered Vincent coming to see her in the hospital, his appearance
drawn, his eyes troubled. At the time, she had thought that he was relieved it
was over. But now, she knew that he had been just as affected as she had been.
She also realized that she had greatly misjudged Vincent.
She was also coming to terms with the fact that she was still very much in
love with him. Yes, she had loved him at 18, but it had been a childish love.
Now she was a mature woman of 23, with the life experience to know that it was
hopeless. He was leaving in 2 weeks, and she would never see him again.
Yes, they had slept together, but it wasn't because of love, at least not on
his part. No, it was simply two people who shared a past taking comfort in one
another. Catherine realized that what happened probably would not happen again,
as much as she wanted it to. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, she
would admit that it probably shouldn't have happened to start with. They both
had given in to the torrent of emotions that had encompassed them, each seeking
forgiveness from the other.
Catherine silently admitted that she wanted so much more...
#----
When Catherine and Heather reached their rooms, they knocked on the first
door. It was immediately opened by Tess. She smiled widely, and invited them
inside.
"I was hoping to see you again, Cat! I keep meaning to come see you, but
there is so much to do here, and you always seem too busy to chat," Tess
told her.
"You can come bother me anytime. I really don't mind at all," Catherine said,
liking her immensely.
"What brings you here? Certainly not a certain hunk, or you would have gone
to his room first," Tess winked, causing Catherine to blush and causing Heather
to throw her a confused look.
When Catherine failed to answer, Heather piped up. "We have a bonfire every
Saturday night. It's down by the lake. We are inviting everyone personally."
"Sounds great! I love bonfires. They are so warm and cheery," Tess exclaimed.
"Do you need any help setting up? I could come and help get things ready."
"Oh, thank you, but that's not necessary. We have enough staff to do all
that. Just come down at around 6, and have a good time. There will be music and
dancing," Catherine told her.
Tess smiled wider. "I will definitely be there. And, my offer still stands.
If you need anything, just let me know."
"We will. Thank you," Heather told her.
As they were leaving Tess' room, she pulled Catherine to the side, and
whispered, "Don't worry about Alex. She is all bark but very little bite."
Catherine looked at her questioningly, but gave no reply. They moved on to
the rest of the rooms. Evan asked if liquor was gonna be served. JT and Joe said
they would both be there. Alex said that a bonfire was not her idea of a good
time.
When Catherine knocked on Vincent's door, she heard a breathless, "Just a
second." Catherine's insides started to quiver, just hearing his gravelly voice.
Seconds later, the door was pulled open. Vincent stood in the doorway, sweaty
and shirtless. Catherine's mouth watered. Behind her, she heard Heather
squeak.
Composing herself, she smiled and said, "Well, that is a nice sight."
Vincent stared at her, a smile tipping his lips. "Like what you see, do ya?"
My God, was he flirting with her? Catherine quickly grabbed on to the
game. "I always liked what I see."
Vincent laughed, and for the first time, noticed Heather. "And who is this?"
he asked, gesturing.
"This is Heather. She works the front desk."
"Hi," Heather gasped out. She was staring at Vincent's broad chest. Vincent
backed into the room, grabbing his shirt off the bed. Slipping it on, he invited
them in.
"What's up?" he asked.
"We are having a bonfire down by the lake tonight, and we are inviting
everyone. It starts at 6, and there will be music and dancing," Catherine told
him.
"Sounds great. Need any help?" he offered. Catherine started to reply, but
Heather cut her off.
"We can always use help. Know how to build a bonfire? The guys here always
make it too small," Heather said, smirking at Catherine.
"Heather...." Catherine hissed, a warning in her voice.
"Sure I do. What time do you want me there?"
"That isn't necessary...." "Around 5:30..." Catherine and Heather answered at
the same time. Vincent raised an eyebrow, and quirked a smile. Catherine
sighed.
"We have all the help we need. Forget what Heather said," Catherine said, a
light blush staining her cheeks. Vincent chuckled.
"Well, if you change your mind....." he said, a teasing note to his
voice.
"I won't, but thanks for the offer," Catherine told him finitely.
Vincent shrugged. "See you later then."
"Yeah, see ya," Catherine replied.
Back outside, Heather gaped at her. "I knew it!!! You do know
him!! Holy crap, but that man is HOT!!"
Catherine blushed. "Yes, Heather. I know him. Vincent is my ex-husband. We
divorced 5 years ago."
Heather's eyebrows hit her hairline. "Seriously!? And you let him get
away?? What the hell is the matter with you??"
"I don't want to talk about it, Heather. Maybe some other time."
"Well, he was definitely flirting with you. Are you sure he wanted
a divorce?"
Catherine didn't respond. At this point, she honestly wasn't sure of anything
anymore.
#------
Catherine and the rest of the staff made their way down to the lake around
4:30. They set up tables, put drinks on ice and set out the snacks. She tasked a
couple of the younger staffers to find logs for the fire.
Catherine was so engrossed in setting up the sound system, that she jumped
when a gentle hand touched her shoulder. Her arm was immediately gripped, keeping
her from losing her balance.
Turning around, she saw Vincent standing there, still gripping her arm. He
smiled and she wanted to melt.
"Hey," he offered softly.
"Hey," she offered back.
"You look very pretty," he said, looking her up and down. Catherine had opted
for a light sundress, with matching sandals. Her hair was loose, cascading down
her back. Vincent felt his jeans tighten.
"So do you.....look nice, I mean. Not pretty," Catherine said, tripping over
her words. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt, but he still looked
mouth watering. Vincent chuckled. He released her arm, and stepped back a
little. Catherine lamented the lose of his body heat.
"So, it looks like you are having some trouble. Need any help?" he
offered.
"Actually, yes. Josh pulled all the wires out last time, and now I can't
figure out which ones go where."
Between the two of them, they managed to get everything back in order.
Catherine flipped the "on" switch, and soft music drifted out. She sat back with
a smile.
"Thank you. That helped a lot. I would probably be throwing this in the lake
by now," Catherine told him. Vincent laughed.
"Yeah, patience was never your strong suit."
"At least I can admit it," she said sweetly.
Vincent shook his head, a smile stretched across his face. "I just can't get
over this."
"Over what?" she asked, confused.
"This," he said, gesturing between the two of them. "Why couldn't we be like
this before? Why did we let everything get so far out of hand?"
She cupped his cheek. "It's in the past. We were both different people,
forced into a situation neither was ready for. We are both older now, and have
learned from the past."
His eyes darkened, and he leaned closer. Whispering in her ear, he said,
"God, you look so beautiful. Is it wrong that I want you again?"
Catherine closed her eyes. "No, it isn't."
"Catherine..." he started, his lips descending toward hers, when they heard
another voice.
"Hey, Cat! Where do you want the bonfire set up?" one of the male staffers
yelled. Realizing the spell was broken, Catherine and Vincent stepped away from
each other. He cleared his throat.
Throwing him an apologetic look, she walked over to the boy, and directed him
toward where she wanted him to set it up.
#-------