Sweet About Me (Brendan)

[loreli]

Friday 3rd October 2009

Loreli was sick of seeing friends come and go, and it seemed that way with Caedin, who she met last month in New York. She hated being alone, and still had no boyfriend to speak of, or to show off to anyone that would bother to look. Loreli was not shy at all, but was feeling desperate, when she had been going out every single night at New York. It seemed that there were no other single guys who seemed interested in her. So this when she decided to go and look elsewhere.

She didn't have a job, so she just decided to take her father's private jet, and go to Las Vegas. At least she was old enough to go there and gamble. But what she would be gambling for was the attention of a male companion, and nothing more. If she happened to spend her money on the tables, and get lucky, then more fun for her. She could shower the unsuspected guy with more money than she had when she arrived.

So Loreli walked into the most expensive hotel there was, and charged the room for two days on her credit card. She then pulled out the most glamour dress that she had found in her closet, and put them on:

After putting on a nice pair of heels, Loreli made her way out of the hotel, looking to see if anyone was really watching her. She hit the doors, leading out of the hotel, and she was hit with camera flashes. Fuck, she thought. She hadn't told anyone, except for the people who looked after the house when no one was there, where she was going. She would have to remember to tell her father that there was a snitch in the household.

She quickly pushed her way through the small crowd, and headed to the nearest taxi. She got in and closed the door. "The MGM Grand please." Loreli saw him take a second look at her. "Yes, I am Loreli Hailliday. Just drive already." So the driver turned around, and headed the taxi in the direction of the casino. They were soon there, and Loreli paid for the taxi. She got out, and walked in confidently into the casino. The first place she had read about was the bar called 'Rouge'. She had heard that there were some sexy servers there, and hoped to maybe hook up with one.

So Loreli headed in that direction, soon spotting the red decor. She walked in, and decided to go and sit at the bar, in the red barstools. Looking around, as she headed in that direction, Loreli felt overdressed, but she just shrugged it off. She liked to stand out. She sat down, and got a bartender's attention, with a flick of her finger. "What can I get you Miss?" Loreli looked at him and gave him her smile that would melt any guy's heart. "Just a drink sweetie. Maybe a nice cocktail to start off with." He smiled at her. "Coming up. I know just the one." He walked off, and started to make up her drink. A couple of mintues later, he came back. "On the house. Just don't tell anyone." Loreli gave him a giggle. "Thanks. Will just have to give you my number then as payment later." The bartender just laughed, shaking his head, as he walked away.

Loreli lent over and began to sip on her drink. It was definatly nice, with the mango hiting tasting fantastic. Then someone caught her eye, making her sit up a bit, and smile in their direction. Fresh meat.

[brendan]

It had been almost three weeks since Brendan found out the baby Stacey was carrying wasn't his. He had been so happy that day, when he saw 'their' tiny baby on the screen for the first time, and then the doctor mentioned something about dates, and Brendan knew they didn't exactly add up. After getting the doctor to clarify it, he finally heard the sorry tale from Stacey, and what had hurt him the most was the fact the father was the bastard Jake he'd got put away. At the time he never thought he'd get over it, but after sending Libby to her grandparents, a night out with Gray, a telling off from Megan who happened to turn up that night, he realised he had to pull himself together.

A couple of days later he got Libby back and began to get back to normal. Tonight, was the first night he had been out since, well since he met Stacey that night. Not that he was looking for a new woman by any means, he just needed some alone time, and Gray was at home for a change, said he'd look after Libby for him. Gray was great with Libby, the pair of them were deadly together though, God help anybody who ever got on the receiving end of those pair thought Brendan with a laugh, when he wondered just what the two of them might be getting up to before it was time for Libby to go to bed.

Brendan didn't know what kind of state he would have been in if it weren't for Gray, he felt lucky to have him in his life, and he'd be surely lost without him now. Gray was the best brother Brendan could have ever asked for. From having only Debbie in his life whom he adored, to having a brother as well, was just amazing.

Now, here he was starting a new life so to speak, all over again, as he took time out to just enjoy himself. He went to one of the most expensive casino and bars, not that he was there to gamble, he was just there to have what he had hoped was a quiet drink. He was just heading to the booth after buying another drink when he saw her. Not that he cared much for people like that, even if he was extremely wealthy himself, he just had no time for people like Loreli Hailliday. He was a bit bummed when he saw her looking right at him.

He ran his hand through his hair, "Sure hope it ain' me yer lookin' at, I ain' interested." He sighed as he took a sip of his beer, and wished he'd just stayed in, or at best sent Libby off to Debbie so that he and Gray could have been here instead of him being alone. He wasn't sure he was in the mood to fight off the attention of someone he had no interest in.

[loreli]

Loreli just couldn't believe her luck. Of all the men for her to notice and see her in a bar, it was a much older man. He looked ruggedly handsome, with longish hair, looking like it was bleached a bit by the sun. Loreli then noticed the way he walked, and it was quite aluring. Well, to her anyway. Loreli licked her lips, as he turned to speak to her. But when he said what he said, she pouted a little.

"Oh." She moved one of her hands from her glass, and began to walk her fingers up his shirt. Looking up at him, putting on a bit of sad face, she decided to reply. "I was kind of hoping for some company." She removed her hand, and patted the stool beside her. "Just humour me, okay?" Loreli battered her eye lashes twice, waiting for him to agree to come and join her.

While she waited for his reply, she decided to put on more of an act for him, so that he might feel sorry for her. "I have had the worst couple of weeks. I have lost a best friend, who actually took my then boyfriend. Then now, I thought I had another new friend, but she has just fallen off the face of the Earth. And now hoped to find someone to possibly hang out with. Kind of hoping it is you, or that cute barman over there." Loreli nodded in the direction of the barman just behind her. She lent over to drink her drink, and hoped that this guy's eyes might see a bit more of her showing.

[brendan]

Brendan sighed when he heard her say 'oh'. Great he thought, obviously she hadn't taken what he said as a no. He honestly didn't know if he had the energy to fight her off or argue with her. He'd been through a lot in the past few weeks. He didn't need some rich bimbo trying to make his night 'so much more fun', because she obviously didn't realise he didn't need her money and wealth, he had enough wealth himself that he could probably out shine her, or at the very most, be up there with her.

The next thing he knew she was using one of her hands to start walking up his shirt. He rolled his eyes, and sighed again, running yet another hand through his hair. He really didn't need this. "Don' ya listen? I said I ain' interested. Besides, don' touch wha' ya ain' ever gonna afford." He was about to remove her hand, but she had already moved it, patting the seat beside her. She then began to talk saying she just wanted some company and to humour her. He sighed again, and ran his hands through his hair, as he began to shake his head, and couldn't help but let a small smile come across his face.

"Alrigh' then, jus' remember though, am only humourin' ya, righ'?" He sighed as he sat down beside her, and then wondered what he had just agreed to, what was he about to let himself in for. He hoped agreeing to sit down wasn't about to make her think her luck was in with him, because it sure as hell wasn't. He guessed he was just a sucker for a pretty face, no matter how much younger or annoying they might be.

No sooner had he sat down she began to talk, saying she'd had the worst couple of weeks, then went into rambling mode as she told him what had been so bad about it. Basically it was nothing compared to what he had been going through the past couple of weeks. Although, to give her credit, for being a young rich bimbo, maybe it had been a bad couple of weeks by her standards. "Yeah, well I ain' so sure am the best one fer cheerin' ya up Barbie, ain' exactly been a barrel of laughs fer me either, an' somehow I think losin' a fianceé an' a baby ya thought was yer own, is far worse than anythin' ya've been through yerself."

He could have kicked himself then, after everything Gray and Megan had told him, he was sure he was over it, but obviously he wasn't, but he figured that's what happens when you get yourself talking to someone who thinks breaking a nail is a disaster. Now he had to do his best to remain keeping his cool, he didn't fancy having to write a cheque out for property damages due to his out of control ability.

[loreli]

Loreli watched as the guy ran his hands through his hair, as she walked her fingers up his shirt. She continued to pout, as the guy asked her 'don't you listen'. She raised her eyebrows slightly. So it seemed she might have found herself a guy who had a bit of a smart mouth. Her eyes watched as her fingers stopped, and moved after she said that she had hoped for some company. Loreli patted the seat, hoping that he might at least sit down, and 'humour her' a little. She even added in the eye lashes trick as well, just to add to what she had just said.

Finally the guy decided to sit down next to her, with her little coaxing doing the trick. He told her to remember that he is only doing to to humour her. Loreli let go of her drink, and put a hand on his knee. "I understand. Thanks." She gave him a winning smile, and then went onto how her last couple of weeks had been for her. The whole thing just came out like word vomit. Loreli felt bad for telling him the whole sorry mess, but someone was going to hear it. And this much older man was the one who was going to cope an earful about it.

Once she was done talking, Loreli picked up her drink, and sipped it through the straw, which was in the corner of her mouth. She looked at the guy, just wondering what he might have to say about the whole thing. When he finally told her about what happened to him, she instantly put the drink down on the bar, and spoke in a somewhat empathetic voice. "Oh sweetie. I am so sorry. Here I am talking about losing a so called friend, when you have lost so much more." Without thinking, was was like Loreli, she got up from the stool, and wrapped her arms around the man, giving him a hug. "If you want to tell me anything else, just let it out."

But really, Loreli normally does all the talking, but it seemed that this guy really needed someone to listen to. She let go of him, and sat back down on the stool. Her eyes looked at him, all sad like, and then looked around, spotting a vacan booth not to far away. Pointing, Loreli suggested, "Why don't we go over there where it is more private, and you can tell me all about it." Grabbing her drink with one hand, and the guy's hand with the other, she moved them all over there, sitting down at the booth.

[brendan]

Brendan had absolutely no idea what he was doing. Why hadn't he just told her no, and walked away from her? She looked as if she was in her early twenties, and he had already made that mistake, twice. Should he really be trying to make yet another? Unfortunately, annoyingly, she had this lure about her, and he found that he pandered to her wish for him to humour her and sit down. He was going to get himself in so much shit over this, he could sense it. He still wasn't in a very good place, even if Megan and Grayson had sorted him out somewhat.

He soon downed the second drink, and waved his hand at a passing waitress to get him another, so he was about to start his fourth beer for the night, it wouldn't take much more than that, for him to start losing track of his inhibitions. With a rather pretty, he couldn't deny it, blonde next to him, he really would have to be careful of what he did.

When he had told her he was only doing it to humour her, she patted his knee and said she understood. Brendan couldn't help but look down at her hand when did that move, and thought what she said was slightly patronising. How the hell did he get stuck with the rich bitch? Of all the guys in the room, she had to corner him. Why? He wasn't that good looking, and he sure as hell didn't need her money. He didn't respond to her words or the hand movement, he would just be keeping a very close eye on her now. He was not about to give into her. He hoped.

She then rambled on about a bad couple of weeks, which in Brendan's eyes at least, was nothing comparing to what he had been through himself. Not being able to keep it to himself, he told her as much, by telling her about his own very bad couple of weeks. Or at least, telling her what she had been through was nothing comparing to what he had been through. When she spoke he did notice the empathy in her voice, which he guessed was a good sign. What he hadn't expected was for her to get up and wrap her arms around him in a hug.

"Yeah, am sorry an' all Barbie." His voice was sad, although he was much better about it all than he had been on the day it all happened, almost three weeks ago now. It didn't feel like that, it felt like it had only happened yesterday, maybe that's why he was still finding it difficult to understand what had actually happened. He should have been married by now, with his child on the way, and he had neither. At least he still had Libby, and Debbie, and now he had his new brother Grayson as well. Of course he still had his parents, but things had been a little up in the air there as well for a while, what with the whole secret about Grayson.

Loreli then told him, if he needed to talk, he could. But what was there to tell? He'd basically told her, there wasn't much else to tell, unless he went into the whole sorry story, and he wasn't sure he could be completely bothered with that. He was, after all, trying to get over it all. "Ain' much else to tell really, wha' I jus' said tells it all. I can bore ya with the proper details if ya wanna hear it." He probably wouldn't mind getting it all out there in the open, but at the same time, he didn't want to bore her to death. She was young, she didn't need to hear all about his woes.

He then watched as she let go of him, and sat back down on her stool. The hug had been slightly comforting, he couldn't deny it. He lifted up his beer and downed half of it, before he knew it, he would be on his fifth. It wouldn't take much more than that, and he'd be up for anything with anyone, other than sleeping with them. He wasn't like that anymore. He respected women too much. The next thing he knew Loreli was pointing to a vacant booth and suggested they move over to it. Not that he had much of a chance to reply, as she was soon taking his hand in her own and walking him over. He made sure to lift the rest of his beer.

As he walked, his own hand was subconsciously caressing the back of her own with his thumb, he wasn't even aware he was doing it. He guessed it just felt good to be in the company of a female again, and one who seemed willing to listen to his tragic story. Once he was sitting down in the booth himself, after waiting for Loreli to sit down, he looked at her and gave her a weak smile. "Migh' as well introduce maself, Brendan Harris, an' I already know who ya are, Miss Hailliday, but I got a thing fer nicknames, so I hope ya don' mind if I call ya Barbie. Cause tha's wha' I see when I look at ya. Yer like a Barbie doll."

[loreli]

Loreli watched him down a beer, and wondered how much it would take for him to lose himself completely. But really, she hated seeing guys drunk. They only had one thing on their mind when they were wasted, and she was never up for that when she knew that they would be forceful and rough. But this guy was older, but any guy at any age might all think the same, so she took note of what he was drinking and note how many he was having. So this one one, but by the look of him, it might not have been his first.

Loreli hadn't held back with the hug, after he told her what he had been through. Maybe she was getting soft as she got older, who knew, but the guy needed a hug. She parted slightly from him, still with her arms around him, and looked at him as he continued to talk in a sad sounding voice, and called her Barbie again. She frowned for a second, wondering why he was calling her that. Yes, she was blonde, and liked to dress up, but Barbie? Whatever, she thought, he can call me whatever he wants.

Loreli soon pulled away from him, after he told her that there wasn't much else to tell, and that he could bore her with the proper details. At this point in time, if this was the way it was going to be to get his attention, then she would sit through it all and hear it from the beginning. Loreli saw him drink half of his next beer, and noted that this second beer would just lead to another very soon. After this Loreli suggested that they go and sit in the vacant booth that she had spotted, so that he could tell her all about it.

As Lorelie led them both over to the booth, she felt him caress the back of her hand with his thumb. But she put it down to the alcohol probably talking, or initiating that bit of affection. But really, Loreli didn't mind. The only affection she ever saw from her last boyfriend was one of where he would continually feel her up, which was not appreciated in the company of others. Loreli slid into the booth first, and put her drink down on the table, and watched as the guy got in after her. She then caught that weak smile of his, and saw those dimples. God, their gorgeous, thought Loreli, don't see those much anymore on a guy.

He soon introduced himself as Brendan Harris, and then she gave him a sideways glance and grin, when he said he knew who she was. "So you have heard of me then Mr. Brendan Harris? Please to meet a big newspaper guy." Loreli held her hand out for Brendan to hopefully shake. "I know who you are, but not seen your picture, so had no idea it was you. Don't read the paper much myself, but have read a couple of your articles. Some have been quite good, especially some of the recent ones. And also read the gossip columns of cause, so know a little about what happened between you and your fiancee. But I would like to hear it all from you, if that is okay. I swear I won't tell a soul."

[brendan]

After Loreli had taken his hand to lead him to a booth, and they had both sat down, he had given her a weak smile, showing off those dimples of his, although they only showed up well when he was smiling properly, grinning or laughing. Before anything was said, he downed the rest of his fourth beer and beckoned for the waitress to bring him another, his fifth. He looked at Loreli, "Can I get ya a drink Barbie?" He waited for her reply before handing the money over to the waitress and she left them alone.

Brendan had then introduced himself, and when Loreli spoke, he couldn't help but give her a slightly brighter smile, those dimples coming out in full force now. Despite what he was thinking earlier, maybe she was just what he needed to get himself back in the dating game so to speak. Back to actually having faith in himself, back to actually liking himself. Not that he would even dream of asking Loreli Hailliday out on a date, she was too young for him, and as past encounters had proven, younger females with Brendan just didn't work, but there was no harm in a little harmless fun, right?

"Yeah, I've heard of ya, ain' many who wouldn'a heard of ya, am guessin'. An' it's a pleasure to meet ya Loreli." He then went right into his charmer mode and kissed the back of her hand after shaking it. Maybe he shouldn't have been so quick to blow her off before. She then said she knew who he was, but didn't realise it was him, as she hadn't seen a photo of him. She also mentioned about reading the paper sometimes, "Well, maybe now ya've met me, ya migh' jus' start readin' it more?" He was sort of teasing her with saying that, and gave her another one of his bright smiles, following it through with a wink.

Her last words were still swimming around his head, did she really need to hear all about it? However, it would seem that she was willing to listen. Maybe getting it off his chest to a stranger wouldn't be such a bad thing. Yeah, he'd told Megan about it, but she was hardly a stranger, she was his god damned ex. It wasn't the same. "Alrigh' then, but if ya get bored, ya best stop me, cause I ain' sure I'll be able to stop once I get goin' ya know?" He sighed, and took a sip of his beer, making sure it was a sip this time, he didn't want to get himself completely wasted. He was better than that now. He had Libby to think about, he had to keep his head straight.

"Met her in The Corinthian, love at first sigh' so I thought. Least, tha's wha' I reckoned it was, seemed she felt the same way. It was a quick romance, asked her to marry me after only a few weeks, after whiskin' her away to Paris fer a coupl'a weeks. Took her to Italy an' all fer her birthday, which happened while we were away." He stopped for a breath, took another sip of his beer, and continued, sighing gently, but looking at Loreli and giving her a warm smile, talking about it now didn't seem to be getting him down quite as much.

"Found out she was pregnant, while we were there. I was over the moon righ' away, took Stacey a bit of time to get used to it. We were real happy together. We was supposed to get married in July, but found out abou' a brother I never knew I had, an' a lot of things happened that nigh' we postponed it fer a bit. Would'a probably been married by now, 'cept I found out at the scan, the baby couldn'a been mine, due to the dates." He stopped again, for another break, took another sip of his beer, and gave Loreli yet another warm smile, "Sure ya wanna hear the rest of it?" He didn't really wait for a reply though, as he was sure she'd only have said yes anyway.

"Probably wouldn'a minded the baby not bein' mine, but turns out the father was a guy called Jake, a guy I got put behind bars fer sellin' dangerous drugs, an' jus' happened to have spiked Stacey's drink the nigh' I met her. So, as ya can imagine, I jus' couldn'a done it, havin' to look at tha' child knowin' who it's real father was?" Brendan shook his head, took another sip of his drink, and sighed gently, but got a little closer to Loreli and draped his arm over her shoulders. "So there ya have it, thanks fer listenin' made me feel a bit better tellin' someone who ain' family or a good friend, although, maybe tha' migh' be abou' to change." What he meant was, maybe Loreli could become a friend, ironic after what he was thinking about her when he first saw her looking at him.

[loreli]

Loreli watched as he drank the rest of his beer, and then got the attention of a waitress, to obviously bring him another. He then asked her if he could get her a drink. Loreli drank the rest of the cocktail from the glass through the straw, and then smiled sweetly at him. "Sure. How about a Cosmopolitan this time." Loreli watched as the guy handed over the money to the waitress. She got in quickly, and handed the waitress the now empty glass that she had her cocktail in. Then the waitress left.

When she heard him say that he had heard of her, and that there weren't many who hadn't heard of her, she smiled, as he shook her hand. She was just about to talk, when she watched him kiss the back of her hand. Tingles formed on her skin as he did so. She had only had a couple of guys do that, but they thought that they were just doing it to get her attention, when she was just out of high school. But getting a kiss on the hand of an older man, that was good enough for her to just fall for him right there and then. After her comment about not knowing what he looked like, Brendan replied, adding in a smile and a wink. God, those dimples are gorgeous, she thought. Loreli had to smirk, giving him a sideways look. "Maybe I will. Especially when I know how handsome Mr. Brendan Harris really is."

"Okay. I will be sure to tell you to shut up then." Laughing, Loreli soon controlled it, and got ready to hear about what happened to this poor, good looking man. Loreli listened to what Brendan was saying. At the beginning, it sounded like it really was love at first sight. Hearing about how they quickly fell in love, how they got engaged, the surprise baby news, and how he had really splurged out on her so much. No wonder they were so in love. Just looking at Brendan made her knew why this girl had been in love with him. He was handsome, loved a good chat, and had that amazing southern accent. But knowing Brendan, there was to be so much more to him than meets the eye.

Loreli took sips of her drink, while he talked, and found herself chewing on the straw for a few seconds. If he was her man, she would be sure to play by the rules, and not ever hurt him. But it seems that he had gotten hurt, big time. When he asked if she was sure that she wanted to hear the rest, all Loreli could do was nod, but soon realised that it didn't matter, as he continued on pretty much after her nod. He then mentioned who the actual father was, and she raised her eyebrows. That name was so familar, as she then remembered the articles about it all. "Wow," she said as he continued to tell her the rest of the story behind that.

Not wanting to sound rude or anything, Loreli really wanted to tell Brendan something about that, but she thought it was best to keep it to herself. She wanted to say that it wasn't the baby's fault that it's father was Jake. But knowing that he probably had a few beers already, didn't want him to get all angry. Some guys just couldn't handle the actual truth when they were wasted.

The next action he demonstrated that he was in fact getting a bit drunk. She watched as he took a sip of his beer, and then moved closer to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. Loreli didn't think it would hurt to encourage his more physical behaviour. So she put a hand on his leg, as he thanked her for listening. "Brendan, it's okay. I am glad that I was someone you could talk to." Giving his leg a bit of a sqeeze, she smiled. "Maybe we could be friends." Loreli then rested into the arm that was around her shoulders.

[brendan]

After Brendan had got the attention of a waitress to bring him another beer, he asked Loreli if he could get another drink. He smiled as she asked for another cocktail, a Cosmopolitan this time. “Sure thing Barbie.” So Brendan asked for the cocktail and once he was given both drinks and paid for them, he handed the cocktail over to Loreli. “I hope ya enjoy it.” To be fair, Brendan wasn’t really sure what he was doing, he should have stuck to his initial plan of avoiding her, but now, here he was sitting, still drinking and talking with a well known socialite who could probably do much better than him anyway. There were just some things you couldn’t avoid. Brendan was still in a bit of a vulnerable state, despite his siblings and friend’s words.

After Brendan had introduced himself and kissed the back of Loreli’s hand, he had commented saying she might start to read The Chronicle more now she knew what he looked like. Her reply made him chuckle slightly, so maybe he hadn’t lost that edge after all. “So, ya reckon am handsome then do ya?” Brendan wasn’t exactly big up on himself, but he also knew he wasn’t that bad looking either, and naturally he knew the women always fell for his dimples, so he usually tried to use them to his advantage at every turn, so he grinned once again and turned his head to the site a little so his fringe was falling over his eyes. “Well, tha’s real nice of ya to say so, an’ now I’ve actually met ya, migh’ I be allowed to say, yer quite pretty lookin’ yerself.” No sooner were the words out Brendan wanted to mentally slap himself, not because he had told a lie, but because he had promised he wouldn’t go all womaniser on girls again. However, the idea of still being attractive to females was making him feel good, especially after everything with Stacey that he couldn’t help but enjoy it.

When Loreli had commented about wanting to hear his story, he’d told her to tell him if she got bored, because he figured once he started he wouldn’t be able to stop. Brendan could only give her a weak smile when she said she said she would tell him to shut up and then followed it through with a laugh. In all honesty, maybe talking it all over with someone he didn’t really know was what he needed. It was alright his brother and sister and even Megan telling him to pull himself together, but they were sort of too close to him and the situation really, even if Megan was or had been an estranged ex. When he was finished she just said ‘wow’, but then she didn’t really know him, he hadn’t expected much more of a response than that. Brendan just shrugged his shoulders slightly, and then gave her a slightly brighter smile. “Yeah, but ya know somethin’ Barbie? I think tellin’ ya migh’a jus’ made me feel a little better, probably cause I don’ really know ya, ya know?” Now that he had told someone neutral to the whole situation and had time to think about it, maybe taking in that child of his own wasn’t so bad, but the idea of seeing Jake’s face in the child, it just wasn’t something he could consider.

Brendan had then moved a little closer to Loreli and wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulders, as he did that, he noticed one of her hands rest on his knee. This sort of move would normally have set alarm bells ringing off in his head, but not tonight. Obviously the alcohol was getting to him and he didn’t even realise it, because after telling Loreli that it was good to tell her what with him not really knowing her, he more or less said the same thing in a different way and didn’t even realise it. She then said she was glad she was someone he found he could talk to and then gave his leg a bit of a squeeze, something else which should have set alarm bells ringing, but it didn’t. Then she said that maybe they could be friends. Brendan looked at her then, and had to admit that she was pretty damn hot looking and the feel of her hand on his leg, was kind of driving him insane. He looked at her again, with his hair flopping over his eyes, dimples in force as he grinned, “Well, how abou’ tha’ then?” Without realising what he was doing, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and then leaned in even closer, so that his lips was like half an inch from hers, before he could stop himself, he began to kiss her. Brendan had finally lost it, and didn’t even realise it.

[loreli]

{ooc - sorry it has taken so long to reply}

Loreli took the drink off of Brendan, and took a sip. "Thanks." She tilted her head slightly as she sipped from the straw, occassionally biting on the end. Loreli then smiled, "I think I am enjoying the drink, and the company very much." She had a feeling that she might maybe meet someone and just have a chat, but never in a million years did she think she was starting chatting to a guy who was older than her.

When Brendan asked if she reckoned that he was handsome, she grinned, looking down at her drink, then looked back at him. Somehow she had lost her words then, as he grinned. He just looked so damn sexy with those dimples and now his hair was falling over his eyes. She sighed slighty, feeling her heart beat a bit faster. Loreli so wanted to reply, but then Brendan spoke to her again, saying that it was real nice for her to say he was handsome. Then added, asking if he was allowed to say that she was quite pretty looking. Loreli was definately finding it hard for some reason to find the words, or even her voice right then. But soon it popped up. "Well you are allowed, and thank you. I do what I can any moment I get to look my best. I hate leaving the house without my nice clothes on." Loreli hated leaving her house without any make up on as well. She hated for photographers seeing her 'normal', which she didn't want to look at all. She was a socialite for goodness sakes, and nothing more.

Loreli then sat and listened to what Brendan had been through. She was just in shock of what he just told her, and had just let out a 'wow' after it. Brendan then spoke about it feeling a little better after telling her the story, because he doesn't really know her. "I am glad sweetie. I don't often listen, as I am more a talker. But glad that you were able to tell me." Brendan then moved closer to her, wrapping a hand around her shoulder loosely, which led to her putting her hand on his knee. She again reassured him, and then mention about them being friends. Loreli joined brendan's grin with one of her own, as he seemed to like the idea of being friends. Then he leaned in a bit more, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, which made her smile, then she had a thought. "Well as my first official business as a friend to you, maybe I should start by ordering you a cup of coffee."

Her eyes looked right at him, seeing that he was definately pointed in the direction of becoming wasted very soon, but she didn't blame him, what with what he had been through. She waited for him to answer her, but instead his body language was talking a lot to her. Brendan moved in closer, with his lips so close to her own. She could smell his breath, which smelt like a beer brewry. Before she could do anything, Brendan's lips were on her own. Loreli let a breath out of her nose, as she felt herself kiss him back. Why was she doing this? She shouldn't be doing this. But why was she reasoning with herself like this? Really, she was Loreli Hailliday, the girl who can get any guy she pleased. And it looked like she had just gotten herself a much older guy. What was she in for.

Loreli began to open her mouth more, letting herself get lost in the kiss, allowing her tongue to explore Brendan's mouth. Her hands were on his back, tracing a finger every now and then down the back of his shirt. It felt so good to kiss him, but still it played in the back of her head if this was really what he wanted to do.

[brendan]

{ooc - it's fine - I can't say a damn thing - length of time it took me for some of my other posts haha}

Brendan couldn’t help but watch Loreli as she sipped on her drink, and noticing that she was actually really good looking, and now that he was talking to her she didn’t seem to be such a horrible person either. There was never a truer saying made then never judge a book by its cover, because when Brendan first caught her looking at him, she was the last person he had wanted to speak to. So when Loreli spoke again saying she was enjoying the drink and the company very much, he tilted his head to look at her with his fringe falling into his eyes and winked before saying, “Is tha’ righ’? Well I ain’ gonna deny it, kinda enjoyin’ the company maself to be honest.” It had been good for Brendan to talk to someone about his situation who wasn’t that close to it or close to him. He then couldn’t help but chuckle to himself, maybe he should have gone to see that counsellor who got Libby back to the happy little thing she was.

After Brendan asked Loreli if she reckoned he was handsome, he had then went into his womaniser ways for a brief spell saying that now he had met her, she was pretty if he was allowed to say so. She didn’t speak right away, almost as if she was lost for words or something, which Brendan thought was funny because there was no doubt plenty of guys would have said that kind of thing to her before. When she did reply to him, he just continued to look at her with his head tilted, and grinned, “Yer welcome, an’ I gotta admit ya always look damn pretty, but now I met ya, it’s clear to see tha’ the good clothes an’ make-up only enhance wha’ ya already got there.” Brendan moved a little bit closer to her then, taking in her scent and thinking it really suited her.

When Loreli said she was glad he was able to talk to her, and how she was normally the talker than the listener, he gave her a warm smile, “Yeah, well guess ya took pity on the old one here then eh?” Not that Brendan was exactly old, but it was clear to see he was definitely older than Loreli, by how many years he couldn’t be sure, but he was definitely older. Brendan then chose that moment to move even closer to Loreli, not sure why he was doing it, but unable to stop himself either. After he had tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, he smiled, saying the suggestion of being friends sounded like a good idea to him. Loreli then said that as her first official business as a friend to him, that he should let her start by ordering him a cup of coffee. However, right at that moment, coffee was the last thing on his mind.

“Maybe later Barbie, righ’ now I can think of better things to do.” With that Brendan moved in even closer and began to kiss her. He wasn’t sure why he was doing this, but like before, with moving closer to her, he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Maybe part of him was hoping she’d have slapped him and ran off leaving him sitting there by himself, but no, she just kissed him back. The kiss was becoming quite passionate as he felt Loreli open her mouth up to him more and explore his mouth with her tongue, so he returned the favour, getting lost in the moment. The move she was doing with her finger down his back was driving the passion within Brendan wild, and he soon felt himself beginning to push her back into a semi horizontal position. As he did this, one of his hands went around the back of her neck, while the other found its way to one of her breasts and began to fondle it gently.

The soon as he did this however, an alarm bell soon rang in his head. What was he doing? What was he about to do? As if snapping back into reality, he sat up, slightly out of breath and with his head reeling; he just looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. “Am real sorry sweetheart, I shouldn’a done tha’ to ya. I don’ know wha’ came over me. I ain’ ready fer anythin’ like this yet.” He wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to know him anymore, because he had basically just used her. He looked at her, and gave her a weak smile, “Migh’ be a good idea to order tha’ coffee now, if I ain’ blown ma chances of bein’ yer friend.”

[loreli]

Loreli gave him a bright smile, when he said that he kind enjoyed the company himself in honesty. So it looked like their chance meeting might be just the thing for both of them. Brendan needed an ear to listen to his problems, and she needed a good looking guy to hang out with, and maybe even been friends or good friends with. It was working out for the both of them. A few moments later, Brendan then commented about how she had always looked pretty, but now that he had met her, it was clear that the good clothes and make up only enhanced what she already got. "Why, thank you Mr. Harris." And that was all she got out, before he got close to her, and she closed her eyes, as she liked him that close.

Loreli smiled, and shook her head, when Brendan said that he guessed that she took pity on the old one. She put a hand on his arm, and looked at him. "You are far from old Brendan. Not sure how old you really are, but however old you are, you still look gorgeous." She giggled slightly then, feeling like a school girl, telling her crush what she was feeling. Well he was gorgeous, and she wondered if she would ever get a guy who looked like that. Ever. Someone who actually paid enough attention to her. But really, it might just be the alcohol talking with Brendan.

Loreli had then made the suggestion of getting him coffee, but he didn't want it. Her heart started to beat a bit harder, when he said that he could think of better things to do. At that moment, Brendan kissed her. Once Loreli started to let her tongue do some exploring, she felt him do the same. She was getting into it so much, that she had begun to move her finger along his back. Loreli soon got in a rhythm with that movement, which soon made her feel that it was turning Brendan on. He began to move her back a bit into a diagonal position. Loreli was feeling a mixture of things right then. Firstly, she felt that things were moving a bit fast with him, and secondly, Loreli was still getting into the moment still.

Brendan then moved one hand to the back of her neck, which she closed her eyes to, letting out a breath at his touch. But the next thing she felt Brendan do was place a hand on one of her breast, fondling it. This time, Loreli let out a gasp, low enough to now startle any other people around their booth. She felt her heart beat even harder, wondering what he was going to do next. Before Loreli could do or say anything under the kisses and touches, Brendan sat up. She sat back, swallowing a few times, trying to catch her breath, and to steady her heart that had been racing.

Loreli saw that look of his, and she felt a bit sad for him then. Brendan began to speak, first apologising. She sat up a bit more in the booth, and listened, as she straightened herself up, fixing her hair and moving her dress down again. Loreli bit on the inside of her cheek, and wondered what to say to that. In all honesty, she had been feeding the flames that he had been generating, so it was partially her fault as well. They were pretty much feeling like crap when they got talking, so they wanted to have someone close, and that was that. Loreli gave him a weak smile. "No need to be sorry. I should apologise for it as well, as I feel that I was kind of leading you on a bit. We both just needed to have someone, and that in itself is the worst thing to be thinking about right now." She touched his arm again softly. "And I think that the coffee might just go down for both of us right now." Loreli waved over the bartender that she had been trying to chat up before, and ordered two strong coffees.

Once they came, Loreli pushed Brendan's over. "Here. Down some of that. It will make you feel better. And don't worry, you haven't blown your chance of being my friend. As long as you forgive me for kind of leading you down the path of bad actions."

[brendan]

{ooc - again sorry - delays, delays - this better stop lol}

Brendan had thought he was over everything, but he wasn’t. Truth is, right at this moment he was living in another world, as he complimented Loreli to the extent he would have complimented a woman he was trying to chat up, and nothing was warning him to what he was doing or saying, it all just came rolling out of him. It was like he was back in his school days, when he used to charm the pants off of just about every girl he spoke to. Brendan Harris had told himself he would never do that again. However, some say a leopard never changes its spots and maybe it doesn’t, not fully, because Brendan Harris will always be a charmer when it comes to women, he just knew when to draw the line now, but tonight, tonight the line wasn’t being drawn very clearly at all. Loreli thanked him for his kind words, “Yer welcome, credit where it’s due an’ all tha’ Barbie.”

Brendan had then teased Loreli slightly when he suggested she was just taking pity on the old one, although he knew he wasn’t that old, against Loreli he was old enough. He couldn’t help but give him her famous dimple infused grin, “Well, am thirty as it happens, an’ thanks fer the compliment, I ain’ big up on maself, but I guess I know I ain’ tha’ bad either.” Brendan wasn’t up on himself much, but he did know he looked alright, well he figured he must, he was always able to pull women at a drop of a hat, even women he had never paid much interest in himself. When she giggled after saying he still looked gorgeous he chuckled. Her giggle was somewhat infectious.

Brendan knew he probably had too much to drink, but he wasn’t overly fussed, all he wanted to do was have fun, he wanted to be the man he used to be before he was hurt so badly, and that’s exactly what he was doing, except he was going back a little too far, back to the teenage Brendan, which really wasn’t him anymore. Loreli had suggested a coffee and Brendan shook it off, he wasn’t interested in a coffee, looking at her, the only thing, or person he was interested in at that moment was Loreli. Brendan had then moved in and began to kiss her, however, normally with Brendan it would have been just that, but for some reason he just seemed to want to push it, and he soon felt himself pushing her back as one of his hands began to do a bit of wandering.

Finally that alarm bell rang in his head and he realised what he was doing, and he knew in that moment it was far from the right thing. So he sat bolt upright, and immediately went into a rambling apology. When Loreli spoke again, he hadn’t expected her to say it was alright and she should apologise as well. If anything he had expected a slap for his troubles. She went on to say she felt as if she was leading him on a bit, and they both needed to have someone. He sighed gently, he knew what she was saying was right. Brendan had just wanted to feel loved, needed, and Loreli seemed to do that to him at that point. “I guess yer righ’, but I should’a known better.” Brendan had then asked if he could have that coffee now if he hadn’t blown his chances of her being a friend. Thankfully it seemed he hadn’t.

“Thanks sweetheart.” He was so annoyed at himself, he couldn’t even bring himself to call her Barbie anymore, it just didn’t seem right to him somehow. Loreli then got the attention of the bartender and soon ordered two strong coffees. Once the coffees arrived, Loreli pushed his over to him and told him to down it. She then went on to say he hadn’t blown his chances of being her friend as long as he forgave her for leading him down the path of bad actions. He shook his head, “Takes two to tangle sweetheart, ya ain’ done nothin’ wrong, I’d like to be yer friend, so yeah yer forgiven, even though there ain’ anythin’ to forgive ya fer.” Brendan lifted up the coffee and took a good few swallows of it, leaned back in the seat, and turned his head to her, and smiled weakly at her, “Tha’ tastes great, no more of the honey nectar fer me the nigh’.” He then reached his hand across and lifted up one of her hands and kissed the back of it, “Thanks fer understandin’, ya definitely ain’ the girl I thought ya were, ya’ll make me a good friend, am sure.” He then lowered her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before going back to taking more swallows of the coffee, sighing again, realising how close he had come to breaking point, he knew in that moment he finally had to turn his life around once and for all.

[loreli]

Loreli tilted her head, as he said that he was thirty. She would have guessed that, but it was nice to know that she was right. She gave him a smile, when he thanked her for the compliment. She then pouted her lips, looking at him all innocent like. "No. Definately not that bad looking at all. Much more than that actually." He had a right to know.

Loreli knew that they were both to blame for what might have happened if Brendan hadn't have stopped. She had been there looking for someone to love her, and it seemed that Brendan was after the same thing. But neither of them were good for each other. They needed someone much more like them to even get to where they wanted to go. Loreli nodded, giving Brendan a warm smile, when he agreed with what she had said. "But really Brendan, we are not in good places right now, and I think tonights little excitement was what we both needed to knock some sense into us. Maybe you should have known better, but really, I am old enough to read the signs, and somehow I was ignoring them."

After the coffees came, Loreli had pushed it over to him, telling him to down it, and that he hadn't blown his chance at her being a friend. When he said that she hadn't done anything wrong, she wanted to say 'yes I have', but decided that it wasn't the time to argue. "Okay," Loreli said, giving Brendan a sweet smile. She took a sip of the coffee, feeling like she needed to add some milk to it, but decided against it as she was in need of strong coffee as much as Brendan was. After he had taken some of his coffee, Loreli watched him sit back, commenting on the cofee. She giggled a little at his comment. Putting her cup down, she had to comment. "I have to agree with that Mr. Harris."

Loreli was about to pick up her cup again, when Brendan took her hand, kissing the back of it. She smiled again, as he said thanks for understanding, and that she wasn't the girl he thought she was. He squeezed her hand a little, and then went back to his coffee. "Well, the tabloids always get me wrong. And I am glad that someone has seen the real me for a change." Loreli lifted the cup to her lips, and took in some more of the coffee. She was glad that she had made a friend, after her little escapade with them. Loreli needed a friend more than ever, and she was glad that it was going to be Brendan.

{ooc: not sure if you want to have this as the finishing post, or if Brendan will finish it off.}