The second she saw Will coming toward her, Sarah felt a lightening bolt of excitement that was so strong she thought everyone in the bar must have seen her eyes sparkle. Her skin blushed slightly as he sat beside her, and as she inhaled she caught the familiar scent of him. 

"My goodness, look at you. Yes, Will Byrne, please meet Kate Logan. She's my new body guard and neighbor."

Under the table, Sarah let her hand slide over and run a few fingers lightly over the top of his leg as she smiled to Kate. 

Will smiled at Kate, who grinned back at him and Sarah like she was in on a very clever joke. Raini leaned against the bar and ordered a drink, keeping an eye on the three young people. Will and Kate exchanged introductions, and the conversation soon shifts to Gavin's new bar. Kate was particularly intrigued by the oil paintings: a red dragon, a tropical island, dogs playing poker, a lioness in mid-chase, a young wolf standing proud on top of a rock, a pair of boxers lost in combat, a pair of twins standing in the forest, a bear, and an old, scarred silver wolf with one icy blue eye cracked open, curled up and half asleep.  

Will glanced at Sarah.

"Do you have a favorite one of these paintings?"

"Hmm..."

The fact was that they were all very well done, with the most beautiful use of color and light. Sarah studied each one of them with a careful eye, but two of them stood out especially. 

"I think I have two favorites. I like the one of the twins standing together in the forest, and the portrait of the wolf on the rock. The artist put so much personality into his face. Who did these?" 

Will shrugged.

"Someone my dad found. We can ask him, if you like. The twins represent my father and his sister growing up in the forest. But you have particularly excellent taste with the young wolf, who represents yours truly."

Kate rolled her eyes.

"You're not the dog playing poker?"

Will laughed.

"She's funny. I like her. So what did the two of you have planned for the day? Anything else on the docket? Or would you be up for a bit of fun?"

"Oo! I'm always up for fun. What about you, Kate? I know I've already dragged you hither and yon and you're not even technically on the job yet."

Sarah gave Will a sheepish grin and shrugged. 

"I might have done a little shopping for the apartment today. A little might not be accurate."

Will cracked an easy grin.

"Well, you can afford it after all that New York business."

He dropped his voice.

"I heard of a new speakeasy downtown. Has the strongest liquor in the world- got banned from the U.S. even before Prohibition. Now I'm not saying that we should go crazy here, but I figured it's worth trying, right? I mean who's ever drank green liquor before?"

"Green? It's actually green?!" 

Sarah's eyes were wide and full of curiosity. She grabbed Will's arm and nodded. 

"Count me in. But, if we're going to a real speakeasy, I'm going to have to put on something more appropriate. In fact, I picked up the perfect thing today. Oh! And you can see the new place!" 

Glancing at Kate, the look on her face told Sarah she might be a little bouncy. Truth be told, she was. She'd missed Will, and part of her wondered if he had missed her, too.

Kate rolled her eyes at Sarah's excitement- but to tease, rather than to outright mock. Shit, it seemed like Sarah was going to blow that guy under the table when he sat down. Chuckling softly to herself, Kate stood and stretched.

"Yea, let's go."

Kate shrugged as William quietly suggested they take the back door. The trio paid and exited silently, but when they turned the corner to the sidewalk to hail a cab Will sighed: the Jamaican woman was standing there waiting for him with an overly happy smile plastered on her face. The four of them jumped in a cab back to Sarah's. Raini rode in front. Kate wisely took one of the window seats so Sarah and Will could sit next to each other. They repeatedly glanced at each other during the ride, whether the other person was looking or not. They were also holding hands- not in the way that an old married couple would do it... but they...

Kate frowned. Their hands were basically fucking. That was the best way she could put it. Will would trace his thumb along the back of her hand, and after a little while Sarah would caress his thumb with his own. 

By the end of the ride, Kate was surprised the windows weren't fogged up.

As they entered the apartment, Raini poured herself a glass of water and leaned against the kitchen counter while Will headed to the bathroom. Kate followed Sarah into the bedroom as the redhead, undoubtedly had an outfit in mind. With a simple style and limited options in her life, Kate wasn't really into clothes, but she was very into people. She liked to understand them, how they thought and what made them tick. She was curious what Sarah would wear. Something classy? Couldn't fault someone with a sense of style. Something slutty? Kate hadn't worn a dress in almost a decade, but she could certainly see the allure of showing off your assets. Kate had a lean, muscular body... she knew she was attractive, but she also knew she'd never be beautiful the way you saw models or actresses in pictures. If she had a body like Sarah's though...

"Oh, that reminds me."

Kate stuck her hands in her belt as she approached Sarah, who was rifling through options in her closet.

"How, uh, close do you want me to guard that body of yours? I had to hit a guy one time who made his bodyguard sit in the shower whenever he took a shit. Something like this, with you getting dressed. Want me to wait outside the door, I assume? Not sure how nervous you are after the kidnapping thing. I'd turn around, obviously. And I'm into guys, not girls, just for the record. Unlike Mr. Young Wolf out there, you'll never have to worry about me falling for you."

Sarah nearly jumped out of her skin hearing Kate behind her. She'd been so giddy with Will being so near and excited about going out, she hadn't even noticed Kate that close behind her. 

Laughing, Sarah shimmied out of her casual dress and started pulling on a pair of thigh-high nylons with a seam up the back. 

"Oh no, you're fine. I lost all shame living with five other girls in one room. But, when we're home, I think it's fine as long as you're within ear shot. In public, though, I don't like the idea of just anyone walking right up to me. You just don't know, you know?"

From the closet, she pulled a garmet hanger out and took off the linen cover. The dress inside was black with a halter top neckline. The back was completely open, and the dress was fitted and fell just below the knee. Tiny black beading gave it just a bit of sparkle. 

Laying the dress on the bed, she hurried into the bathroom in her bra and slip, quickly tossing her hair into a fancy sort of bun. A little mascara and red lipstick and she was back in the bedroom sliding into the dress. 

​​​​​​"Kate? Would you mind terribly helping me with the zipper?" 

​​​​​​"Kate? Would you mind terribly helping me with the zipper?"

Will sprawled out on the couch, dramatically collapsing his head backwards before turning to Raini, begging with his eyes. Kate was hot. Sarah was on another level. And they were just in there, doing God knows what.

“They sound like they could really use some more help in there...”

Raini chuckled to herself and shook her head.

From the moment Sarah stepped out of her room and into the living room full of still-wrapped furniture pieces, she and Will didn't take eyes or hands off each other. For Sarah, it was as if the world had simply stopped around them. It was a feeling she'd never known before. 

On the ride to the speakeasy, Raini sat up front again, leaving Kate again in the back with the two. She didn't seem to mind much, casually taking in the sights and rolling a couple of bullets between her fingers as they rode. Sarah, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, leaned over and whispered something into Will's ear that left an immovable grin on the young man's face. 

When the car pulled up to the curb, Kate got out first and made a visual sweep of the sidewalk and street. Raini exited next, seemingly impressed with the young guard's keen attention. Next, Will slid out and waited for Sarah, who stepped out and took his offered arm. Several heads turned at the pair as they walked inside. 

The dimly lit club was everything Sarah had always imagined. The music was live and sultry. Tables were surrounded by upholstered, plush chairs. The huge bar had mirrors behind it, and three bartenders made drink after drink. Waitresses sauntered around in tiny dresses, handing out drinks and smokes. Sarah took it all in with wide eyes and squeezed Will's arm. 

"Oh...I think I like this place already."

Will walked into the club and heads turned to follow him. It wasn't every day that someone this young walked in looking so wealthy with two beautiful women. He quickly arranged a private booth. As Will and Sarah sat on the same side, Kate hesitated, then sat down across from them.

"Uh... so I don't want to intrude on y'alls privacy or anything... but I'm kinda curious about that green stuff. I'll try some, then mosey off somewhere if that's fine?"

Both Sarah and Will nodded. A waitress wearing a dress that seemed like it was the size of a handkerchief came to take their order and Will confidently ordered three glasses of absinthe. The waitress grinned and turned to the table behind them, bending over to take the order of a couple businessmen. She was, undoubtedly, trying to show off some of her goods by leaning forward, but she inadvertently exposed some others to Sarah, Will, and Kate. Sarah and Will, however, were too busy whispering to each other. Kate lightly whipped her napkin against the waitress.

"Hey. Hon. I can see your colon over here."

Kate couldn't tell whether the waitress was amused or annoyed... but she came back with three very large glasses. They toasted each other and each tried a sip. 

Kate smackled her mouth like a cat that had tasted sour milk... but the feeling passed and she soon went back for more. It... wasn't that bad, actually. Strong as hell, but it tasted vaguely like licorice.

"Alright, you two. Commencing Project Wingwoman. How do you want me to help you ditch your bodyguard over there? Try to get her drunk? Try to distract and delay here? Don't think I should knock her out, but I'm open to other ideas..."

"Holy..." 

Sarah's reaction to the taste of the absinthe was not nearly as smooth as Kate, but she managed to keep from looking like a complete rookie drinker. 

"That's...unique."

Cautiously, she took a smaller sip, followed by a swallow of water that the waitress had brought along with the alcohol. It was then that Kate mentioned distracting Raini. Sarah paused, her glass still to her face, and then looked at Will. 

​​​​​​"You think it'll work? Raini doesn't seem like the kind too easy to sway." 

Kate grinned.

"Well, if I'm wrong... what do you lose? I'll say I acted alone. I don't have to try it, if you'd rather not..."

Will held back from saying anything; he didn't want to tell Sarah's bodyguard what to do... but he certainly didn't seem to have an issue with it.

Sarah turned from Will and looked squarely at Kate, grinning before taking another drink of absinthe. 

"Do it. Succeed, and you're getting a raise."

Kate finished her drink... far, far too quickly, she realized in the moments after tossing it back. She made a face as the absinthe hit her.

"Oh... fuck me... God... don't do that. Drink it slow. Fuck."

Standing and blinking, Kate made her over to Raini and leaned on the bar next to her. Raini was friendly enough to Kate, but still professional. 

"Hey, Raini right?"

"Yes. Kate?"

"You got it. Can I buy you a drink?"

"I don't drink while I'm working. Unlike some people."

Raini was more smirking than judging. Kate chuckled.

"Yea. Figured I had to try something new, ya know?"

"Sure. I was young once. A long, long time ago."

"Can't be that long..."

"I've got a daughter older than you."

"Well... okay then. Guess it has been that long. How'd you get involved in all this?"

"I met Mr. and Mrs. Byrne when they were vacationing in Jamaica."

"God, that sounds relaxing."

"Well... Mrs. Byrne was arrested, and then Mr. Byrne started a prison riot, killed several rogue federal agents, and jumped out of a plane."

"Alright, so the old guy's got moves. Good to know."

Kate and Raini continued to make small talk as she glanced over at Will and Sarah. She'd give the lovebirds some time to finish their drinks before she made her move.

Across the room, Will's eyes bugged out slightly as he took a large sip of the drink.

"Shit. I don't think I can finish this. I've barely had anything and I've got a good buzz going. How are you feeling?"

Will draped his arm on the back of the booth, tracing a pattern with his finger on Sarah's bare back.

"I feel...drunk; but I think it's more you than the absinthe."

Sarah shivered with delight while Will let his fingers glide over her skin. From the corner of her eye, she could see Raini and Kate chatting, and Raini didn't seem to be watching their table too closely. Easily, she pushed the half - empty glass away. With her emerald green eyes locked into his, Sarah let her rouge lips part just slightly, leaning into him so close that her breath teased his skin. 

"Kiss me, Will Byrne." 

As Will leaned forward to kiss Sarah, Kate grinned and headed toward the bathroom. Stopping to "tie her bootlaces", she retrieved the small gun she kept near the bottom of her right calf. Moving past Sarah and Will's table... shit, really? they didn't even look up?... this girl does need a bodyguard... Kate "tripped" and slipped her secondary weapon into the jacket pocket of one of businessmen. Apologizing, she quickly headed to the bathroom.

A couple minutes later, she returned to Raini. Kate appeared agitated, not joking around like earlier.

"Hey, not sure what kinda connections the owner of this place has, but we've got a problem. Guy in the table in front of the kids..."

... did I just call them the kids? I'm 21. Shit.

"... has been sneaking glances at them. I thought he was just interested in Sarah, but just saw he's carrying."

Raini's spine straightened. She nodded her thanks at Kate, and then was in motion. Within 30 seconds, she'd confiscated the gun and marched the guy out the back door to "interview" him. As soon as the backdoor closed, Sarah and Will were in motion, heading out the front door and into the backseat of a cab waiting just outside.

Laughing, Will gave the address as he pulled Sarah onto his lap. As the car pulled out into traffic, Will reached around to grab Sarah's ass as he-

"Son, it'd be awkward if you continued that right now."

Sarah slid off Will's lap and blinked in confusion.

"Dad?"

Gavin adjusted the mirror in the cab and smirked.

"You don't think I'd let someone I'm looking after hire a new bodyguard and not keep an eye on her, do you? If Miss Logan was able to help you slip Raini's clutches, she must be as talented as I thought."

Both Sarah and Will were staring at the rearview mirror. Gavin sighed.

"Look, kids. I don't want to see either of you get hurt. That's why it's generally not a good idea to ditch your bodyguards. But at the same time, it's obvious that the two of you are going to escape from Alcatraz if it means getting a few minutes alone. So here's what we're going to do. I'm going to drive you back to Sarah's, and I'm going to stick a couple people in the lobby to make sure you're safe. Will, I'll swing by around lunch to pick you up. And in the future, I'll let Raini know that it'll be fine for her to hang out in your general vicinity... And Will... if this ever comes up with your mother I expect you to take the fall for me."

______

Fifteen minutes later, Will sighed as he kicked off his shoes and shrugged off his jacket; Sarah locked the door behind her as she came in.

"So... my family is... unique."

Will grinned as he slid onto the sofa bed. 

"I'm still feeling a good buzz off the absinthe and that dress of yours, but we could have another drink, if you'd like?"

"Unique doesn't even begin to cover it."

Sarah smirked as she padded on bare feet to the kitchen. From behind a few boxes that had been delivered, she pulled a bottle of whiskey and then took two coffee cups from the sink. Whatever, they were clean. 

She returned and handed one to Will, then settled on the couch, beside him but cuddled close against him. 

"But I have to say, your Dad is a smart man."

She lifted her cup to gently clink against his. 

"To our first night together, uninterrupted." 

Her smile was as bright as her eyes. 

​​​

As Sarah said "uninterrupted" Will looked around, waiting for his mother or his sister to emerge from a closet or one of the vents. . But the only thing that greeted them was silence. He grinned and took a small shot of the whisky, but his grin faded as he met Sarah's eyes. Not because he wasn't happy, but because his happiness was being overwhelmed by other emotions.

"Sarah, I'm going to be honest with you. I keep expecting the phone to ring or my dad to pop out of the toaster or something."

Alright. Maybe he was a little more tipsy than he thought. 

"We've never had the chance to talk about stuff before... and I don't want to pressure you in to doing anything you're not comfortable with... but all I know is that if I don't kiss you right now I'm probably going to spontaneously combust. Or die one of those slow, tragic lovelorn deaths the poets write about."

Abandoning the English language to convey his feelings more directly, he moved forward to kiss her.