Title: Identical Opposites
Author: BatGirl
Summary: Alternate Universe.
Rating: PG.
Chapter 1
Well -- it was no Melbourne, but it would do.
Simon Frazier stepped out of the air-conditioned cab with a grimace against the blast of stifling June heat and quickly handed his fare to the driver. Stepping back onto the sidewalk, he shielded his eyes against the sun and took a moment to shrug out of his jacket.
A slight sneer alighted his handsome face as he glaced around the town before him. Oakdale, he thought with a sigh, was definitely no Melbourne -- or Paris, or London, or Monte Carlo. The thought of the other cities caused him to grimace slightly. He'd been all over the world in the last few years, and had met - and bedded - some of the most beautiful and wealthy women their cities had to offer. Yet here he was, in small town America, with nothing to show for it but yet another scam.
Simon grinned. But this one was different, this one was going to be the best one yet. The score from this would net him enough that he'd never have to scout out another mark. He'd be able to go back to his beloved Australia and fulfill his dream.
Simon picked up his bag and started walking before his inner voice could remind him --again -- that he always said that, but that it never managed to be enough. There always seemed to be one more mark, one more score.
Simon shrugged the thought away and quickened his steps on the uneven pavement that lined what he assumed was the main avenue and cast an expert eye around him. The place was actually bigger than he'd thought, but that could work to his advantage too. His grin widened -- hell, there wasn't much he couldn't make work to his advantage.
He was about to cross the street and head towards what looked like a rather large and impressive hotel, when a movement from the small cafe he'd just passed by caught his eye.
On closer look he realized it wasn't a cafe, but one of those trendy coffee house places that seemed littered all over America. And nestled in the window seat of the front of the establishment, was a blonde.
Simon shook his head and told himself to get back to business, but his traitorous body would not oblige. She's just another blonde and we've had dozens of those, he reminded himself. Yes, but she's different, a voice inside his head whispered back. She's not our type, he yelled back then rolled his eyes in disgust. He couldn't believe he was arguing with himself! But it was true enough, the tiny blonde in there balancing a giant cup of coffee in one hand and a book in the other, was nothing like the tall, lithe and buxom blondes he was generally attracted to.
They all wore their air of sophistication and experience like a badge of honor for all the world to see. This girl was just that - a girl. A girl with the face of an angel, but a girl nonetheless.
Just as Simon shook himself mentally and prepared to turn and go, she moved. He watched in awe as she placed her coffee down and stretched her arms above her with a catlike grace. The movement caused her pale blue crop top to ride up even higher against her stomach and Simon gulped at the sight of the expanse of creamy skin it revealed.
"Down boy" he muttered to himself as his fingers itched to touch the gleaming golden hair that swung back softly from her sweet face as she stretched. Just then her eyes opened and he found himself struggling for air. He felt as if the world had slowed along with his breathing and his heart. The wild and insane thought came to him that they would stop altogether if she didn't smile at him and before he had time to question just when it was that his sanity had left him, she did.
Their eyes still locked together, he returned her hesitant smile with one of his own and was rewarded with a smile that lit up not only her already beautiful face, but seemed to wind its way around the twisted corridors of his heart to cast a light where only darkness had previously existed.
He tried reminding himself that he had business to take care of, that he had a mark waiting but he already knew it was useless. He had to meet her.
Simon faltered just inches from the door as he peered inside to see a tall good-looking guy approach the blonde -- his blonde -- with a wide smile. His gaze darkened as he watched her face register shock and surprise before launching herself into the kids arms with an excited squeal.
Simons hands tightened into fists and he resisted against the insane impulse to storm in there and shove the guys perfect white teeth down his throat for daring to touch her and make her smile like that.
"She should always smile like that, but it should be at me." Simon muttered to himself, then shook his head again. Just what the hell was he doing, what was wrong with him? He was in Oakdale for a reason, and it was defintely not to pursue a radiant elfin-like creature that seemed plucked straight from one of books on fairies his mother used to read to him as a child.
The thought of his mother strengthened his resolve, and he turned away from the cafe - and the blonde - without a second look and strode purposefully towards the towering hotel before him.
Once he got checked in, he would make sure to get a feel for the town and do some last minute research before finding his latest mark. Simon smiled tightly... Lily Snyder was not going to know what hit her.
Chapter 2
The sunlight streaming in through the open window of his Penthouse hotel suite was bright and hot.
It's rays were like flickering tongues of fire as they danced across the body of Simon Frazier. Naked save for the crisp white bed linen that covered his long lean legs and stopped short of the muscular planes of his abdomen, he stretched and grimaced against the blinding light.
Smothering an oath, Simon flung aside the lone bedsheet and strode naked across the length of the room to yank the blinds shut.
Another damn sleepless night, he thought with an irritated sigh as he raked his fingers through his dark wavy hair and leaned against the wall to survey his cluttered room. A quick glance at the bedside clock assured him that "night" had ended long ago.
The magazines and newspaper clippings he had poured over until well past two in the morning were still strewn about with careless abandon. But it had not been those, or his about-to-be-put-into-motion plans for one Lily Snider that had kept him tossing and turning.
It had been her.
Simon sighed with frustration, it had been a week since he'd first laid eyes on the elfin-faced blonde and no matter how hard he tried, he hadn't been able to get her out his mind. He'd thought that exhausting himself with facts, figures and the details of his plan would keep her at bay for just one night.
But he'd been wrong.
She'd returned again, coming in silently softly, her long hair gleaming as she flitted gently through the edges of his dreams, her smile soft and sweet as she beckoned to him through the fog. Simon groaned at the memory of his nightly dreams. They always ended the same way. After hours of searching fruitlessly for her, she would suddenly appear and turn towards him, arms outstretched. But just as he would approach her, the mist swirling around her tiny frame would grow dark and stormy, her expression pleading as it enveloped her, leaving him lost and bewildered as she disappeared within it.
The sound of banging startled him from his thoughts and he shook his head quickly to clear away the remanants of the recurring dream. Realizing the sound emanated from the hallway, he scooped up his black jeans he'd discarded from the night before and yanked them on. The sound continued and curious, he opened his own door slightly and peered out into the hallway.
He couldn't see much but he could sure hear a lot. Simon grinned at the machine-gun speed of a breathy female voice as she continued pounding on the door in between alternate pleas to someone inside for help and dire threats of bodily harm if she didn't get it.
The pounding ceased suddenly.
"Please Craig."
Silence.
"I swear, if you don't open this door this instant, you rotten excuse for a brother, I'll...I'll--"
Silence.
"Come on Craig, I'm desperate here."
Simon grin widened at her desolate plea, she did sound desperate and he was never one to turn down a lady in distress. He stepped out behind his door and into the hallway then paused, she also sounded like a loon. But then again, he thought with a slight shrug of his shoulders, maybe an afternoon distraction was just what he needed to get his mind off the mysterious blonde haunting his dreams.
Readying his most charming smile, he headed towards the voice and faltered as he heard a door open and a male voice drawl out, "Well, well, if it isn't my darling sister here for an impromptu visit. As much as I'd love to socialize, I have pressing engagements I must see to. So..."
"So you're going to turn right around and go back inside with me. Because I have a problem, and you, my darling big brother, are going to help me fix it."
Simon peered around the huge potted plant directly in between his suite and the only other one on the floor and watched as a tiny figure sailed past a tall, impeccably tailored man with what seemed to be a permanent smirk etched on his face, who sighed and shook his head.
"Katie, I hope this isn't another of your deluded plans to snare the dull and predictable Holden Snyder."
Simon eyed the closing door with a thoughtful expression. Holden Snyder was the husband of his latest mark and an obstacle he had thought would be difficult to bypass on his way to Lily Snyder. But, thought Simon with a grin, this could be just the break he was looking for.
Simon walked back to his suite feeling lighter and more focused than he had in days. Maybe it was time to meet his neighbor.
To Be Continued ....
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