Chapter 2.5: Bedazzled

"And why are we here again?" Faye asks as she sits down at the bar.

Heath sighs dramatically. "Because, Faye. You never go out with me anymore," he complains. "It seems like you're always busy babysitting that little brat. Even on your nights off, you've been staying home with the kid, and I'm sick and tired of being less important than a two-year-old."

Faye opens her mouth to argue, but now that she thinks about it Heath has a point. She has been rather preoccupied with Audrey lately, and it's been several weeks since she's seen her good friend.

"See?" Heath pouts. "You're not even disagreeing with me."

"Of course you're important to me," she says, carefully avoiding his accusation. "It's just... Audrey is in such a delicate phase right now, and she requires a lot of my attention."

Heath frowns, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why do I think your absence has more to do with the doctor than the kid?"

Faye blushes and looks away. "It- It doesn't!" she retorts, not quite making eye contact. "Ryan is nothing more than my boss. We're just friends. I mean, he's Audrey's father, and that's all. The relationship is entirely professional."

Heath snorts. "Entirely professional? Since when did you start calling him 'Ryan'?" he wants to know.

Faye shifts uncomfortably. "He's much more relaxed now than he was when I first started," she replies defensively. "He prefers to be called Ryan now."

Heath rolls his eyes. "You wanna fuck him and you know it."

Faye looks shocked, so Heath back tracks. "Not that I blame you, love. A handsome, wealthy young doctor? I'd tap that."

"Heath, you're not gay!"

Heath grins. "Honey, for him I would be!"

While Heath gets into a heated argument with the bartender about the hottest lifeguard on Babe Watch, Faye tries her best not to act bored. Unable to stand it any longer, she makes her excuses and gets up to leave, but just as she's walking to the door a young man stops her.

"Hello," he greets her with a gleaming white smile.

"H-Hello," Faye stutters. Normally so confident and self-assured, Faye feels her stomach tingle nervously, and she wonders if her heart has just stopped beating. He's gorgeous, she thinks as she tries not to stare. From his perfectly sculpted hair to his glowing sun-kissed skin, she's never seen someone who looks so... polished.

"My name's Wesley."

"I'm Faye," she replies breathlessly.

"May I buy you a drink, Faye?" he asks smoothly.

"I- I- No," she says, shaking her head. "I was just about to leave."

"So soon?" He locks eyes with her. "But I was hoping for a dance."

The image of Audrey and Ryan flashes through her head. "You're sweet, but I-"

Heath interrupts her. "Of course she wants to dance!" he yells from across the room. Faye glares at him, but he ignores her. "Faye LOVES to dance! Faye, dance with the dude! Dance, monkey! DANCE!"

"I'm sorry," Faye whispers to Wesley. "He's a bit drunk. And mentally disturbed. Apparently he didn't get hugged enough as a child..."

Wesley chuckles. "I don't know. He seems pretty smart if you ask me," he says with a wink. "Just one dance? I swear I don't bite."

Faye hesitates. "Well, maybe just for a minute..."

"So where are you from?" Faye shouts over the music as they walk out onto the dance floor.

Wesley grins. "Nowhere special," he replies. "I'm a citizen of the world, you might say."

Faye laughs. "Okay, then. What do you do for a living?"

"Nothing, right now. I'm exploring my options," he says, running his eyes over her body.

The way he looks at her, the hungry passion in his eyes, makes Faye feel all tingly inside. "Why are you in Appaloosa Plains?" she wants to know.

"To get away for a while. From... people," he adds after a second.

"Well, how informative," she responds dryly. "You're quite the mystery, Wesley."

"I know," he replies, flashing her his most charming smile. "Enough about me though. Where are you from, beautiful?"

Faye feels a shiver go up her spine as their eyes meet. "Appaloosa Plains," she tells him proudly. "Born and raised."

"Really? And what do you do here in such a small town?"

Faye pauses. Wesley seems so sophisticated, so out-of-her-league; she doubts that he'd be half as interested in her if he knew that she worked as a nanny.

"Nothing special," she retorts at last.

He chuckles. "And who is the mystery here?"

As the bar begins to shut down, Wesley leans in and grabs Faye's hand. "Do you wanna come back to my place?" he whispers.

Faye frowns. "Wesley, you seem like a great guy, but I-"

He gently places a finger on her lips to silence her. "I won't take no for an answer," he grins.

Back at Wesley's house, things quickly begin to heat up. With a purposeful look in his eye, he pulls Faye toward him and runs his hand along her back, slowly tracing the curves of her figure.

"Wesley, I-"

"You're so beautiful Faye," he whispers, his hand moving lower and lower down her back.

"Thank you," she replies softly. "But-"

"Babe, there's no need to be shy," he says, gently grabbing her ass.

"Wesley!" she pulls away, shocked. "I don't even know your last name!" she blurts out.

To her surprise, he begins to laugh. "I don't normally get that response," he admits, his eyes twinkling. "Mason. My last name is Mason."

The name sounds vaguely familiar to Faye, but she can't seem to place it. "I'm Faye McKinley," she tells him.

"Well then, Ms. McKinley. I must say, I've enjoyed spending the evening with you."

Faye blushes. "Yes," she agrees. "But I really must get home now."

His face falls. "Already?"

She nods.

"What about a kiss good night?" he asks hopefully.

Faye is more than happy to oblige.

"When can I see you again?" he wants to know.

"I don't know," Faye whispers.

"Well, where do you live? How can I reach you?" Wesley asks.

Noticing the clock on the wall, Faye gasps. "It's 4 o'clock in the morning?!" She sounds shocked.

"Yes, but-"

"Oh! I really must go," she says as she heads to the door.

"But, Faye! I don't even have your number!"

"Bye Wesley!" she calls over her shoulder.

The next morning while Audrey plays in her room, Faye sits down to talk with Ryan. After her evening with Wesley, she feels tired and cranky and oddly guilty, as though she's betrayed Ryan by spending time with another man.

"You got in late last night," Ryan casually observes.

"I don't have a curfew!" Faye snaps. "I can get home whenever I please."

Ryan frowns. "Where were you?" he asks, trying to keep his tone impassive.

"Nowhere," Faye retorts. "It's none of your business anyway."

Ryan looks surprised. "No need to be so touchy, Faye. I was just trying to make conversation," he tells her.

"You don't need to keep track of me!" Faye responds angrily. "I may work for you, but you don't own me!" she yells. Then she storms off to Audrey's room, leaving a worried Ryan to wonder what he said wrong.

Faye emerges a couple hours later, and to her horror she sees Wesley and Ryan standing together in the living room, talking in hushed whispers.

"I had no idea," she hears Wesley say.

"Yes, she passed right after Audrey was born. Cancer, of all things."

"I'm so sorry, Ryan. I wish I knew she was sick. I would have come sooner."

"I appreciate the sentiment, old friend. How is your father?" Ryan asks.

Faye tries to quietly slip away, but Audrey begins screaming "Dada! Dada!" and both men immediately turn towards her.

"Faye!" Ryan's whole face lights up when he sees her. "Wesley, this is Faye McKinley and my daughter, Audrey."

Wesley frowns and looks from Ryan to Faye and back to Ryan again. "Wait. You're dating Faye?" he asks, confused.

Faye turns bright red. "No, Wes, it's not-"

Ryan interrupts her. "How do you know Faye?" he scowls.

Wesley hesitates. "We hung out last night," he says at last. "Faye, you didn't tell me you lived with Ryan Romulus."

"I don't!" Faye replies defensively. "I mean, yes I live with him, but not like that! Wesley, I'm Audrey's nanny..."

Wesley laughs, relieved. "You had me worried there for a minute, babe. I thought you and Ryan..."

"No!" she giggles. "He's just my boss."

"Excellent," he smirks. "I'm going to be in town for a few weeks, and perhaps you could show me around sometime?"

Faye leans in. "I'd love to," she whispers. "What would you like to see?"

"How about the inside of your-"

Ryan clears his throat. "Maybe Audrey and I should just-"

"Good idea," Wesley interrupts, not taking his eyes off Faye. "Why don't you go put the kid to bed or something, Ryan? I'm sure Faye wouldn't mind having the afternoon off."

 

Ryan stares intently at Faye. "Fine, but can I-" he begins.

Faye smiles at him. "Thanks, Ryan! I owe you one!" she says, quickly handing Audrey to her father.

Wesley and Faye spend the entire afternoon together.

...And the entire evening as well.

Faye sneaks out early the next morning while Wesley sleeps. She feels ashamed of herself and overwhelmed by guilt. She barely knew him, after all.

The following evening, Ryan gets home from his shift at the hospital earlier than normal.

"You slept with him," he says it more as a statement than an accusation.

"Why do you care, Ryan?" she snaps.

"Do you even know who he he is?" he asks, his eyes full of tender concern.

Faye sighs with exasperation. "Of course I know who he is. Wesley Mason."

"The Wesley Mason," Ryan corrects. "Heir to the Mason family fortune and a favorite among the tabloids for his numerous infidelities. Faye, he's married."