Checking her make up one final time, Amber let out a sigh as she pondered the evening ahead of her. She had been persuaded by Izzy to join her and Brian at Tequila Jack's in Long Beach for dinner. Any other time this would have been something Amber looked forward to. Tequila Jack's served great mexican food and sat right on the waterfront. She and Izzy had had some fun times there in the past.

However, Amber couldn't help but feel that tonight would be memorable for all the wrong reasons. When Izzy had tentatively mentioned that Matt would also be joining them, Amber's heart had sunk. She really wasn't sure if she was going to be able to spend another second in that man's company. However, in the name of trying to show willing, Amber had managed to refrain from backing out.

Let's face facts here, Amber. It was actually the lure of those warm caramel eyes and unbelievabley cute dimples that ensured you were going to go.

Amber frowned at the voice of her conscience, not appreciating the fact that it was telling the truth. In spite of Matt's incredibley annoying nature at times, Amber found herself hopelessly attracted to him. Whilst she completely understood why Izzy was so attracted to Brian, there was something about the ruggedness of Matt, combined with the way he carried himself and exuded a confidence she had never witnessed in a man before that drew her to him. All of that mixed with the way his eyes lit up with the warmth of his smile, Amber was finding it a lethal combination. It was just a shame he insisted on behaving like a complete ass each time they saw one another.

"Ambs, I was wond...wow!"

Izzy stood in the doorway of Amber's room, a small smirk on her lips.

"You know, for someone who looked horrified at the thought of spending time with Matt again tonight, we have certainly made an effort," Izzy stated, her tone one of amusement.

Amber glanced at her reflection. The black studded tunic top emphasised her figure to it's fullest, her skinny jeans a perfect fit, topped off with heels that made her legs appear longer, her long brown hair teased slighty. Amber felt her cheeks flush a little, realising just how obvious it looked that she had indeed dressed to impress.

"I..well....it's not because...UGH!"

"Amber, you like him, that's nothing to be ashamed of. He's a really lovely chap, when he's not blustering his way through the day," Izzy told her softly.

"Yeah I know," Amber murmured in reply. "Anyway, what were you saying a minute ago?"

Izzy looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Oh! Yes, I remember. When Brian called earlier, we got to talking about stuff, and I wondered if it was ok with you if he stayed over tonight."

Amber's blue eyes widened at Izzy's words.

"Oh my! I hadn't realised you guys were thinking about..."

"Oh lord no!" Izzy cried, "that's not why I want him to stay! We were just talking and both said it would be nice if we didn't have to say goodbye at the end of the night...." Izzy's voice trailed off, her head hung in slight embarrasment.

"You two really are too sweet and cute for your own good, do you know that?" Amber giggled. "Iz, I really don't have a problem with him staying. But do you really think you're going to be able to stay in the same bed as someone like Brian and not even be a little tempted?"

"I...I managed it with Tom, I mean...we were together months before...."

"Izzy, as cute as Tom was, let's face it, he was no Brian."

"I'll be fine, really," Izzy replied, sounding as though she was trying to convince herself of the fact. "I can do this, really I can," she added, wandering back to her own room.

Amber couldn't help but laugh at her friend's dilema.

"I'll have my earplugs at the ready, just incase! Just give me enough warning to get the things in first though!"

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

"So, we're clear on this right?" Brian asked, putting his Escalade into park outside Tequila Jack's.

Matt nodded, staring out of the windshield, his fingers nervously tapping out a rhythm on his knee.

"Absolutely. Keep the conversation light, be polite and if I feel the urge to say something dumb...keep my fucking mouth shut."

"Good man. And you're sure you're ok to get a cab home, because I don't mind dropping you off if need be, and I don't mean because I've had to drag your sorry ass out of there due to your inability to keep your knucklehead comments to yourself," Brian stated with a hint of warning to his voice.

"I love how you have faith in me dude, much appreciated," Matt growled as they headed towards the restaurant.

Weaving their way through the crowd in search of the bar, Matt straightened the collar on his black shirt and smoothed down his pants a little. Brian glanced at him with a grin.

"Sweetie, you look beautiful. Quit fussing," he assured him, chuckling.

"Fuck you Haner!" Matt hissed, trying to remain calm as Amber and Izzy came into view, sitting at the bar.

Matt watched Brian approach Izzy, his ease at being able to walk up to her and kiss her hello without a care in the world making him feel a little inadequate. He stood back a little, unsure as to what to do. The sight of an empty spot at the bar next to the stool on which Amber was sat seemed inviting. Matt motioned to the bar tender.

"What's everyone drinking?" he asked quietly.

"I'll just have a coke dude," Brian answered, Izzy asking for the same.

"Amber?"

Matt swallowed hard as she turned to face him, her blue eyes sparkling, inspite of the look of trepidation that seemed to cloud over her beautiful features.

"I'll have a Cadillac Margarita please," she replied softly, trying to avert her gaze, yet somehow not quite managing it.

"Are they any good?" Matt asked.

"Sure. Here, try this."

Amber offered Matt her glass to sample the tequila and Grand Marnier mix, her eyes never leaving his. Matt licked his lips, savouring the taste as he handed back the drink.

"That's pretty good...two of those," he told the bar tender.

"Matt..seriously...have a beer and quit kissing ass," Brian teased, earning a slap on the arm from Izzy.

"Ow! Baby, I was only joking," he mumbled, slipping a muscular arm round her shoulders, placing a gentle kiss in her shiny red hair.

Once more Matt felt a little out of his depth as conversation flowed easily between the other three, leaving him on the outside somewhat. Glancing at his watch, he saw they only had ten minutes before they were due to be seated. Sighing and taking a long slow sip of his drink, Matt wondered if any of them would actually notice if he disappeared. He should have known this would be a mistake.

"For someone who normally has a lot to say, you're awfully quiet."

Matt looked up at the voice, smiling lightly at Amber, who had turned on her stool so she faced him more directly.

"After the way I've been towards you, I'd have thought you would have prefered that," he stated with a grin.

"Well, I figure that seeings as we're all here...we may as well attempt to try and get along" Amber replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I was surprised you agreed to even come," Matt admitted "cos if I'd been on the recieving end of some of the shit I've pulled, I'd have thought twice about even being near me."

"Oh believe me, I did think about staying home,I'm not sure if my ass can take being dropped on much more," Amber laughed softly.

"So you won't be offended if I don't hold your chair out for you tonight then."

"I'd say it's a given that I'd prefer it if you didn't," Amber teased.

Matt just grinned, showing off his dimples. Maybe tonight wasn't going to be so bad after all.

Half hour into their meal, conversation was at a high, and Izzy and Brian couldn't stop grinning at the way their two friends finally seemed to be getting along. It certainly made the evening more enjoyable.Matt had been the perfect gentleman, just as Izzy had always suspected he could be, and Amber was certainly enjoying the attention he seemed to be lavishing on her. Brian reached for Izzy's hand under the table, lacing his fingers through hers, his lips grazing her ear as he leant into her.

"Was Amber ok with me staying tonight?" he murmured.

"Mmhmm. She thought she'd be funny and asked that we give her enough warning if she needs to use her earplugs," Izzy answered with a grin.

Brian pulled away slightly, an amused look on his handsome face.

"She does know that's not why I'm staying doesn't she?"

"Of course!" Izzy laughed. "Besides, Amber knows me well enough to know how I am when it comes to that," she added shyly.

Brian gazed at Izzy, reaching and stroking her cheek gently. He wasn't used to a woman who wanted to take her time, and the effect Izzy was having on him was refreshing. Brian couldn't remember the last time sleeping with someone hadn't been at the forefront of his mind. It wasn't that he didn't want Izzy in that way, it was that now he had found someone that was teaching him that being with someone wasn't just about the physical side. Brian had never known that just spending time with another person could be as fulfilling. He reminded himself to thank Zacky for dragging him along to the museum that day, because if it hadn't of been for that, Brian knew he wouldn't feel as blessed as he did right then.

"Aww, look at you two!" Amber cooed from the other side of the table.

"Where'd Matt go?" Brian asked as he spotted the empty seat next to her.

"Bathroom. Although he seems to have been gone a while."

"I'll go check on him, make sure he hasn't gotten caught up with someone," Brian offered, rising from his seat.

"No, it's ok. I'll go," Amber stated, already out of her seat and heading inside.

Walking into the bar area, Amber strained to see over the sea of heads that filled the floor in search of Matt. It didn't take long for her to spot him hunched over the bar, head bowed. Frowning and wondering just what could have possibly caused Matt to not return to the table, Amber edged her way through the mass of bodies congregated around her. Amber sighed at the sight of several shots of tequila lined up on the bar in front of Matt.

"Matt, is everything ok?" she asked softly, laying a gentle hand on his muscular bicep.

Matt downed a shot, slamming the empty glass back on the bar before answering.

"Everything was going great, til I saw that," he murmured, nodding his head towards the end of the bar.

Amber looked over to where Matt had indicated, seeing a young woman sitting there with whom Amber presumed was her boyfriend.

"Am I missing something?" she enquired.

Matt sighed deeply.

"That's Val," he told her quietly.

"Oh," Amber mouthed, not quite sure what to do.

Izzy had filled her in briefly on what had happened between Matt and Val, but that didn't make knowing how to handle the situation any easier.

"Oh? Do you even realise who the fuck Val is?" Matt hissed harshly.

Amber pulled her hand away from Matt's arm, his outburst catching her offguard.

"I'll leave you to wallow in your self-pity," Amber stated, starting to walk away.

"Amber..wait!"

Amber felt Matt take her hand, causing her to turn back and face him. Enveloping his large hand around hers, Matt led her away from the bar and the person responsible for the sudden change in his mood, out to the front of the restaurant. People standing around looked at them as Matt walked with purpose, trying to find a quiet spot for he and Amber to talk.

"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for in there" he apologised, taking Amber's other hand in his.

"I don't know what you know about Val and I, but we were together a lot of years, since we were teenagers," Matt started.

"Izzy told me a little, only what Brian had told her I think," Amber replied, finding the feel of her hands in Matt's strangely comforting.

"I always believed that in Val, I had found the only person I could ever want to be with, and that she felt the same about me. I never imagined myself being with anyone else. So when she told me we were over, that she wanted space and the freedom of not being in a relationship, I was crushed. The thought of a life without Val just didn't seem possible. And then when I heard she had started seeing someone new literally weeks after she told me all that...well I think that hurt more than the lies she fucking fed me when she left."

Matt's hazel eyes searched Amber's blue ones for a sign that she was following him, all the while his thumbs rubbing gentle circles on the back of her hands.

" I swore that day that I would close myself off, because if I didn't get involved with someone, then I couldn't get hurt again. But you see, a few weeks ago, I was at the beach with my friends, and some chick turned up with Brian's new girl...and I have to admit, she was pretty easy on the eye. But because I'd always been with Val, I am completely clueless when it comes to flirting, letting someone know I like them...and so I just behaved like a complete dumbass every time I saw this amazing beautiful woman...who I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I dropped her on her ass in the ocean."

"Matt..what are..."

Matt placed a silencing finger on Amber's lips.

"That in there...me trying to drown my sorrows, it wasn't because I saw Val and wanted her, it was because I saw her and all I could think was that it was going to ruin the great evening I'm having with this girl, who for some strange reason has actually given me the oppurtunity to show her that there's more to me than the fuckwit she's witnessed so far."

"Well, it does have to be said that I quite like the Matt I see now......." Amber stopped as Matt pulled her in a little closer to him.

"If you slap me for this, I'll totally understand," he murmured before pressing his full lips against hers.

Amber reached up, her hands resting on his broad chest, sighing as the kiss ended.

"I'm guessing that was ok," Matt chuckled.

"Mmhmm," Amber replied, unable to put words together.

Matt stroked her cheek.

"I can't promise anything too serious too quick, but I'd really like for us to maybe see each other again...and again...and maybe again...." his lips soon found hers once more.

"I think I could go with that," Amber whispered against his lips, making a mental note to thank Brian for being so damn persistant.