“What do you mean Dave?”

“Is she worth all this trouble you’re going to go through?” Dave questioned again. He wasn’t sure that Randy realized all that he was going to have to go through just to keep Tania out of harms way. Hell, knowing the way that Shane and Adam both worked Randy would have to become a full time babysitter.

Randy paused for a moment. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing knowing what Adam’s like.”

“Just as long as you know Randy. If you get started and then give up on Tania all of a sudden, you’re going to get hurt yourself. If Tania’s such a friend, just make sure you know what you’re getting into.”

“Believe me, I do.”

Shaking his head, Dave let a smile of his own show. “If I didn’t know any better Randy, I’d say that you were smitten with her. Just trying to keep Adam and Shane away because you want her.”

“I like her Dave, just not in that way. She’s not my type…far from it.” That spark wasn’t there. He was sure if you had asked Tania the same question her answer would be almost identical. You couldn’t deny it when there was no chemistry there. “Besides, I’m still trying to get that date with Trish.”

“Stupid crushes.” Dave muttered, with a roll of his eyes. He still couldn’t believe that Randy hadn’t gotten over his little thing for the Women’s champ. “She wants a real man, not a silly boy like you.”

“Would you like me to kick your ass now or later?”

“Take a number buddy, I’m sure there are quite a few people ahead of you. Something to do with me being in Evolution or something of that sort…” Dave tried to act as though he wasn’t sure, trying hard to remember some obscure point. He had to dodge yet another forearm that Randy sent his way. “Joking! Are we still going clubbing tonight?”

“Yeah, about that. I won’t be able to make it.”

Dave cocked an eyebrow up. “What do you mean? What could be more important?”

“I promised Tania if she went out there and sang that I’d buy her dinner. Anything to not make me look like such an ass in front of the bosses. And since she went out there…”

“You owe her dinner. I forgot about that.”

Randy chuckled. “Lil’s voice getting any better?”

“Course not. She won’t stop talking and things are only getting worse for her.” Dave sighed. He knew that in the end it would be him having to listen to her bitch about it. “I’d love to duck tape her mouth shut…but I’d probably be sleeping on the floor for the next few weeks.”

“I’m sure there are other ways you could get her to shut up.” Randy chuckled, giving Dave a slight nudge. Lord knew how many make out sessions he had walked in on between those two. “You’re a smart man.” “I’ll shut you up. Speaking of which, where is Tania?”

Randy was confused. “How did you get from ‘shut up’ to Tania?”

“Not really sure.”

“She’s with Shane. They are going to watch the match from his locker room.”

Dave looked at Randy with shock. All the effort he was going through to protect Tania, and he willingly left her alone with Shane in his locker room. “Are you stupid?”

“Nothing will happen…right?”

---

“Much better.” Tania laughed, making her way back into the locker room. Her smile was met by a similar one from Shane. “Did I miss anything interesting.”

“Oh sure, if you think commercials are interesting.”

Tania frowned. “Actually, some of them are. What? Now you think I’m stupid for watching commercials.”

“I didn’t say that!”

She couldn’t help but erupt into laughter. “Never said you did. Relax would ya? I’m just teasing you.” Flopping back down on the couch next to him, she pulled her knees up under her body. “For what it’s worth, thank you.”

“For what?”

“Letting my sing the anthem. Despite how reluctant I was at first…I really did enjoy it. I think it was the crowd that got to me the most over anything else. I hate being in front of people. I guess I just feel that they are judging me all the time.” Tania sighed with admission. She could remember back in high school she would always find ways out of doing presentations in front of the class for that exact reason.

“I hate to be the one to tell you this, but when you’re out there singing like you were they do judge. Everything we do in this business that makes it in front of the camera is being judged.”

He had Tania’s interest now. “And that doesn’t bother you? Knowing that if you screw up out there, everyone is going to be talking about it. That somewhere, right now, people could be having a conversation about how much Shane McMahon sucks?”

“Way to deflate my ego there Tania.”

“I’m just saying.”

Shane sighed. “I try not to think about it that way. I like thinking along the lines of the fact that somewhere out there someone wants a piece of my hot body. Some woman is going to bed dreaming about me.”

Tania rolled her eyes. “Well gee, doesn’t that make things all the more easier on me.”

“You telling me that I can’t classify you as one of them.”

“You’re a funny man Shane. Always looking on the bright side of things. Something that a girl would like.” Tania pointed out, though it was a little off topic. She couldn’t help it. He seemed to have a laid back kind of aura to him.

“Does that mean you could like me?” Shane questioned, his arm stretching out along the top of the couch once again.

Tania’s mouth curled up in the corner. “It would depend.”

“On what?”

“First of all, I don’t know you very well do I? For all I know the Shane McMahon I see now and the real you could be totally different people.”

“Forgive me.” Shane apologized. “I sometimes forget to mention that I’m a crazy psycho killer who traps women in his basement on weekends. Can you forgive me?”

Tania laughed at the stupidity of the man in front of her. She wondered if he even realized that half of his jokes weren’t coming across as even being funny. Not that she could say anything, at least the man was trying. “Hell, I don’t even know if you’re a good kisser Mr. McMahon. I mean, if you can’t kiss then it would be stupid for me to even waste my time.”

“Is that so?” Shane inquired, more amused than anything as he shifted closer to where Tania was sitting. “Wouldn’t that be a shame.”

“A damn shame. I mean, look at all the hot guys walking around here…and I could have my pick of any one.” Tania chuckled, suddenly letting go. She knew damn well that Shane was hitting on her. On the same token, she was flirting right back despite what she wanted herself to believe.

“I’m not sure about anyone…”

Tania was growing more curious with each word that passed his lips. “And why is that?”

Closing the gap, all Shane could do was smile as his lips descended down upon hers.

>>