Kelsey dressed with care, knowing she'd be photographed. Don had chosen Nobu for many reasons, not the least of which was the food; it was of course world renowned for its delicious cuisine. Kelsey knew, however, that she wouldn't be able to enjoy anything tonight. It was a beautiful restaurant, located on the coast in Malibu, but she wouldn't be looking at the views, either. There were always paparazzi lurking at the entrance, waiting to see who came and went. It was the place to go to be photographed; sometimes, before she'd become so well-known that it didn't matter anymore, Ray had sent Kelsey to Nobu just so she could be photographed.

She knew that being photographed with Don would just set tongues wagging again, but whatever, it would be worth the hassle just to set him straight, once and for all. She didn't need him, or his stupid jewelry.

She debated calling JJ or Wendy to tell them where she was going, so that they could "accidentally" be there too, just in case Don wanted to cause a scene. Kiki had gone back to Switzerland the week before or she would've just asked her. She decided against asking either of the women, because she didn't want to deal with the explanations she'd have to get into about why she needed them there. Neither JJ or Wendy knew the specifics of why she'd broken things off with Don; they only knew she'd argued with him, and that he'd sent her the bracelet as a peace offering. Certainly they didn't know Don had gotten physical with her. Even Kiki didn't know that, though Kelsey had a feeling she suspected.

She hadn't meant to give that piece of information to Jack, either, but her hand had stolen up to her cheek of its own accord when she'd told him the story about the confrontation in the hotel room in Monaco. She could still remember the sting on her cheek, of how she'd suddenly been sideways on the bed, looking up at the wall. He'd slapped her so hard and so fast she'd fallen, and hadn't even seen his hand coming. He had those racer's reflexes.

Kelsey looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a short black leather skirt with a white blouse. Her legs were bare, and she was wearing black, strappy, high-heeled sandals on her feet. She was going to wear sheer black tights, but all the time she was spending in the pool had made her legs look pretty good, and she wanted to show them off. She pulled a red coat out of the closet in case it got chilly, and she was ready.

*********************

"You look lovely, my darling," Don said, removing her hand from the door handle to hold the door for her.

Kelsey found this move vaguely irritating, and reached out, pulling the door shut before he could push it closed. She saw his eyebrows go up slightly in surprise, which helped with her irritation.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they were photographed walking in, as she'd known they would be, and the paps got pictures of Don trying to take her hand and of her snatching her hand away, which made her smile.

After they'd ordered, Don started right away, remarking, "You're not wearing the bracelet I sent you. You didn't care for it, perhaps?"

Kelsey shrugged. "It's fine. It just didn't go with what I was wearing."

"Oh, but I beg to disagree," Don contradicted her smoothly. "Diamonds always suit you so well, you must know this."

Kelsey shrugged again. "Don, what did you want to talk about?" she asked, giving him a direct, gray-eyed gaze.

He blinked in surprise.

"You Americans have no sense of decorum, sometimes, my goodness," he murmured. "But fine. I think we parted badly in Monte, Kelsey. We were upset, we both said and did things we regret--" he spread his hands and tilted his head, as if asking her to agree with him. "I know I did," he added.

"Don, the only thing I regret is that I stayed with you for so long," Kelsey said, keeping her voice even. "I regret that I stayed with you after I heard you were fooling around on me the first time. I regret that I let you talk me into skipping that movie to be with you last year. And I really regret staying in that room long enough to let you hit me," she concluded. She picked up her wine glass and took a drink, smiling at him after, in case anyone was looking.

Don leaned back, taking a drink from his own wine glass. He regarded her over the rim, eyes narrowed. He set his glass down, continuing to look at her. "Look," he finally said. "I sincerely regret those things, I really do." He put his hands over his heart. "I've apologized for what happened, haven't I? What more do you want?"

"I don't want anything," Kelsey replied. "I don't want anything from you, Don, except for you to go away, don't you get it?"

Don wiped his mouth. "Do you remember we talked about Prince William's charity gala?" he asked. "We were supposed to go together? I still wish you would accompany me, you know? Have you thought about it any more?"

Kelsey was surprised. The Prince was hosting a huge event next year, a fundraiser for removal of landmines in Africa. It had been his mother's favorite charity, and was going to be a gigantic event, with A-list politicians and celebrities attending. And she had actually forgotten because it was so far in the future. To go to that, on the arm of one of Europe's most eligible bachelors, would be an amazing coup for an American model/actress.

"Think of it, Kelsey," Don said persuasively. "You would of course be the most beautiful woman there. That hair, that face, that body," he gestured appreciatively at her, smiling. "What a spectacular couple we'd make!" He took another swallow of his wine, smiling again after. "And you'd meet the royal family, Kelsey, wouldn't that be incredible?"

She and Raymond had talked about this a lot, before the fiasco in Monte Carlo. Fuck.

"Don, I'm not going to lie," Kelsey finally said. "The thought of going to the gala with you is very appealing. But things between us are different now, things have changed, you know? I'll have to think about--things, okay?"

Don nodded understandingly. "Of course, of course, take your time. But not too long. These things take lots of planning and organizing, you know?"

Kelsey nodded. She'd have to talk to Ray about all this, too.

As they were leaving the restaurant, Don put a proprietary hand on her back, and Kelsey didn't step away. And as they were doing the pap walk out front, he reached for her hand, and she let him hold it until the valet brought his car around.

Don reached over and laid a hand on her thigh as they were driving home, and Kelsey debated whether or not to ask him to move it, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. However, as they were climbing the hills toward her house, his hand started creeping up her leg, pushing her skirt higher and higher. She looked over at him, and he smiled back at her.

She finally removed his hand, placing it on the console between them. At his look of displeasure, she said, "Not a good time of the month for that, you understand?" with a smile.

He quickly put his hand back on the steering wheel with a small shudder of distaste. "Oh, no, definitely not," he agreed. Kelsey was glad she remembered how fastidious Don was about this topic.

When he dropped her off, she was able to get away with just a continental, double-cheek kiss and a simple, "Good night," but she knew she'd just set something in motion that would either have to be given gas or forcibly stopped by her.

She leaned on the front door after she closed it behind her, sighing.

It was barely eleven o'clock, and she didn't feel like sleep at all. She changed into cotton shorts and a T-shirt to sleep in and wandered down to the kitchen, looking for food, wondering who to text. Kiki would be heading to work in Geneva, and wouldn't have time to talk, she knew, and she really didn't feel like dealing with the gyrations and tribulations that accompanied talking to JJ and her ongoing soap opera with Rob. Wendy, who was actually pretty normal, had a family and a life, and was probably in bed, and everyone else she knew was just a casual acquaintance.

Kelsey thought it was ironic in a not funny way that the whole world probably thought her life was one never ending party, filled with non-stop gossip and fun, and here she was all alone at eleven o'clock on a Saturday night with no one to talk to. She only had the three really close friends, actual people she felt she could say anything to. She could call Ray, but he would just want to talk about work.

She grabbed some Ben and Jerry's out of the freezer and ate it standing at the sink. She saw out the window that the light was on in the cottage where Jack was living.

Hmm.

Kelsey picked up her phone and began typing.

"Hey. What are you doing?"

"Nothing. You OK? Back from dinner with race car driver already?"

"Yeah lol. I'm fine."

Jack didn't text back for a few minutes. Kelsey finally got impatient and texted him again.

"Could I come over and do nothing with you?"

"Sure, if you want"

'If you want?' Kelsey couldn't remember the last time the invitation had been left up to her, but whatever. She picked up her ice cream in her other hand and walked quickly down the path, knocking on his door before letting herself in.

"Hello," she called out as she entered.

"Hey there," he answered from the couch. He was wearing cut-off sweats and a UCSM T-shirt. He was scrolling through the Netflix menu, it looked like. "Come and sit down," he invited. "I was stupid and took a nap this afternoon, so I'm wide awake now," he explained as she sat.

He picked up a huge glass of something pink that had a straw in it, and Kelsey could smell something sweet as he brought it to his mouth.

"What are you drinking?" she asked curiously.

"Smoothie," he replied. "There's tons left, you want some?"

She nodded, and followed him to the kitchen, where he poured what was left in the blender into another glass, poked a straw in it, and presented it to her with a flourish. She took a sip and widened her eyes. "Oh my god, this tastes amazing," she said. "What's in it?"

"Uh, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, pineapple, yogurt, orange juice, and protein powder," he recited. "Maybe some other stuff, I just throw in whatever's around, you know?"

He gestured toward a bowl on the table. "Granola clusters. Made it myself, it's pretty good, I think. Try it."

She did, and it was. "Do you always eat like this?" she asked. "All healthy, I mean."

Jack shrugged. "I guess," he replied. "I mean, I try, I suppose. I'm not really in training now, because it's summer, you know? When I'm competing it gets pretty regimented, and I have to be careful, but I can eat what I want now." At her look towards the glass and bowl he continued. "But I'm always pretty healthy. I just feel better when I know what I'm putting in my body, it's just a habit at this point."

Kelsey nodded, sipping her smoothie. The ice cream container, which was nearly empty anyway, sat on the coffee table, forgotten. She nodded toward the TV. "I didn't mean to interrupt your evening. What were you going to watch? I mean, can I stay and watch with you?" She felt awkward, for some reason.

"Sure," he replied cheerfully. "I'll even let you choose. What do you like?"

So they scrolled through the movies. Jack stopped on Saturn Landscape, Kelsey's last movie, but kept going when Kelsey rolled her eyes at him. They finally agreed on Despicable Me, which both of them had seen before, of course. So they sat together and ate and watched and laughed, and Kelsey, who had not had a nap that day, eventually sagged onto Jack's shoulder and closed her eyes.

Jack didn't know she was asleep until he said something to her and she didn't respond. He jiggled his shoulder and still nothing. He lifted his head to look at her, and saw that her eyes were closed. He gently lowered her head to his leg, and she stretched out without opening her eyes. He wondered what Toby would say if he knew that he, Jack LaGuardia, had Kelsey Carlisle sleeping practically in his lap.

He'd probably ask for photographic proof, first off.

The thought made him laugh. And for some reason, the idea of this young woman, this girl, really, world famous, pursued by the press, feeing relaxed enough in his presence to fall asleep, the way a baby animal would drowse in your lap, totally confident, was touching to him.

The movie ended and Kelsey hadn't stirred. Jack could feel her warm, steady breaths on his leg as she slumbered, and he stroked her hair away from her face. He looked around, and finally pulled a pillow over and slid it under her head as he rose. Then he covered her with a blanket and went to bed.