Bet My Heart • •

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

As far as Denny was concerned the relationships they had in the past should just stay there. If they had gone well, Lexi wouldn’t have been single when Denver met her. He would have helped her dial the number back in the park that day to tell him to come get her, she’d been hit in the head. But she had been single, and Denny had gotten to put his years of studying and hands on experience to good use. “You figure it out and we’ll throw a party,” Denny said chuckling. “And we’ll even make it a holiday!” he added, teasing. The room was quickly filling with both of their peers. His from the hospital and hers from previous parties like these. Denny hadn’t known what to expect for an event like this. The biggest formal event he’d ever gone to was probably prom a million years ago. “I don’t believe that at all,” he said, brushing it off. He didn’t know what happened when she was a child, but whatever it was, she didn’t deserve it and he wanted more than anything to make it right. He was willing to take the time to make it right.

Denny had a strong protective sense about him. It wouldn’t go over well if someone were to take a jab at anyone he cared about. He’d done it before with friends in Corner Brook, and his sister; he would take on anyone with words or fists if something was said about Lexi. He grinned, rolling his eyes. “I’ll make a note and put it on the refrigerator as soon as we get home,” he promised, leaning in a little closer so only Lexi would be able to hear his words. This was Denver’s first black tie affair. He didn’t know what was expected but as far as he could tell, it meant he was spending a few hours standing around, sipping at expensive champagne, nibbling on tiny snacks on silver trays, talking about things nobody truly cared about and dancing. He was alright with the drink, the food wasn’t exactly his thing, and he could fake a conversation well enough. The dancing he would have to see about. He could move well enough, but only a trip around the dance floor would prove if he could manage it.

Going to these events with Lexi was the least he could do when he knew it was a miracle for him to get the time off with all the crazy shifts at the hospital. It took a lot to get her graduation day off and then this night; though technically he hadn’t had the days off, just switched up a couple hours and went in earlier than he needed to be in. Denny didn’t have much pull, but he was a hard worker and he did all the paperwork and everything he was supposed to when half the other doctors would leave it all until the very last minute. With his boss knowing all that, when Denver needed a couple hours here or there, he could get them since he always made the time up. The only reason he’d gotten tonight off was because he went in earlier that day. “I’d be happy to do it,” he insisted, grinning down into her pretty brown eyes hidden away behind the mask. He knew it wouldn’t be possible for him to go to every event or do things every time Lexi asked, but for the time being, he had some sway to get a shift switched or the night off entirely without worrying about needing to make it up; something that had yet to happen because he needed the hours.

Denver grinned wickedly. “I try,” he said, twirling Lexi about the dance floor. He didn’t get many chances to put his knowledge to good use; not that it mattered. He didn’t like having to be on like that. It was easier to act like people assumed he was like whenever he was around certain people and just let them assume he was some stupid fool. It didn’t exactly look good on his part, but it was a hell of a lot easier than trying to explain things. With Lexi it wasn’t like that, but he also didn’t feel the need to use big words and sound all intelligent when they were sitting on the couch watching a movie or out to dinner. He could be himself, the hockey loving, good old Canadian boy and not the educated doctor. Denny chuckled, holding Lexi a little tighter against him. “You’re not so bad yourself, Lex,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to the side of her head, just above her ear. Denny felt Lexi deflate almost at the sound of her name. It made him want to hold her close and slip away from the ball. A second after the deflate, Lexi’s entire demeanour shifted and Denny finally saw the fake smile she joked about. “I’m here,” he whispered, squeezing her hand back. “If you need an out, just let me know,” he said just before the older woman stepped up to them.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 856
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

After she had hit her head and Denny had come to her rescue, she never expected that she’d see him again after they parted ways. Really, sending him that spontaneous text when she was out at Rockefeller had been one of her best choices because now she was standing here with a handsome man who never failed to make her smile; that was enough for her. She laughed warmly and then folded her arms, trying to glare up at Denver, but probably failing since she was still fighting bouts of giggles. “Now you’re just teasing me. Who knew you could be so mean?”

[/color] She shook her head and pretended to look hurt. “You’d be surprised at how bitchy most of the people in this room can be.”[/color] She said with a shrug. Lexi didn’t let them bother her anymore, but the memories still existed and not many of them were pleasant.

She was a different girl now and knew better than to worry about reputations. She was happy and they could not ruin that for her. Lexi raised her eyebrow as her ears detected the very subtle use of the word ‘we’. A smile twitched at her lips and she stepped closer. “I think that’s a very good idea.”[/color] She replied in a soft whisper, her eyes meeting his with a subtle look as she reached out for his hand, wanting to feel his fingers twined with hers again.

Lexi understood that Denver sometimes worked long hours and couldn’t exactly drop everything just to spend time with her. That was why she chose to make the most of the time they did manage to steal together and would drop in the hospital from time to time to bring Denny his favourite coffee; it was her way of offering her support and reminding him that she was there if he needed her. She didn’t mind if a bad day left him needing to kidnap her. Right now, she wasn’t working and she was just getting used to being a college graduate and most of her days she spent weighing up her options now. “You say that now…”[/color] She joked, though she really was grateful for his offer. No doubt her father would want to see him again at some point after tonight and there would probably be more invitations to fancy events once the end of summer hit.

Normally, Lexi was sitting at a table by this point, delicately sipping a drink and talking to the few people she could actually stand to be around at these events. She was never one of the first to be dancing around the room and she rarely stood out from the crowd, playing quite the wallflower. She ought to have known that people would seek her out sooner if she wasn’t hiding behind a cocktail glass somewhere. Still, she did wish that she could’ve spent a little longer just dancing with Denny before she was called away from the moment. She let out a small laugh and looked up at her boyfriend with a real smile dancing on her lips. “I should be the one saying that to you!”[/color] She felt a little more relaxed now and was ready for when the woman greeted her properly no more than a second later.

The woman was the mother of one of the boys who used to make Lexi’s life hell when she was younger, though it wasn’t something that ever came up in conversation. Instead, she asked about Denver, asked about graduation and at every opportunity slipped some boastful fact about her own children into the exchange. Speaking to her opened the floodgates though, and two more women soon sauntered over to try and get some juicy gossip from the youngest Ryanne. Following that, came her mother and sisters who were less annoying, but still felt like they had to get to know Denver a little more. Eventually, Lexi found a moment to excuse them both, snatching up two champagne flutes from one of the waiters and almost knocking hers back before remembering where she was. “Now I need an out.”[/color] She said, her head spinning from receiving the attention that she hated. Glancing around to make sure people were occupied with talking and dancing, Lexi took Denny’s hand and pulled him towards the door they had entered by. “Come on.”[/color] A mischievous smile crossed her face and she led her boyfriend out into the entrance hall, past the main door and then glanced around again, before hitching her skirt and hopping over the red rope that blocked off the staircase leading to the rest of the building.

Quickly, and with the knowledge of someone who had done this twenty times before, Lexi guided Denny up two flights and into a small library that held a lot of the old records for the building and the families who had played a part in its history. She had spent a curious few hours in here reading when the weather stopped her from taking her normal escape route. The weather was on her side tonight and she turned the key in a locked door behind a large bookcase and pushed it open, revealing a much narrower and less ornate set of stairs. “You are the only person I’ve ever brought up here before.”[/color] She told Denny, stealing a quick kiss from him before grinning and tugging him up the stairs, opening the door at the top. It led to a wonderful rooftop garden that Lexi had been hiding in since she was twelve. Potted plants, “overgrown” flowerbeds and even a small water-trough feature filled the space before offering them a wonderful view of the New York skyline. She had lived in the city her whole life, but she still loved seeing this view; it was only made better by the soft music travelling up from the ball below. After a second, she bit her lip and took her mask off, turning back to see Denver’s reaction. “How’s this for an escape plan?”[/color] She asked moving to be closer to him again.
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• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 1,023!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! She got carried away because of the garden >.> <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

Denver never thought he would find a girl he actually liked being around for more than five minutes at a time in such a random way. Seeing Lexi get hit was painful for him, but it was probably one the best days of his life so far. He hadn’t expected that day when he took Duke out for his walk that he was going to find a girl he could fall too easily for. She was cute, funny and smart, even with the bump to the head impairing her a little bit. The next best day, though? The day he got that text from Lexi. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since he’d played doctor and knight in the park. She had been a constant thought and if she hadn’t texted him for a lunch date, he’d been very tempted to use his credentials for personal gain and check out her chart for her phone number. It was a terrible use of power, but it was one he had also been willing to use, even just that one time. Denny grinned wickedly, “You always knew,” he said lightly, teasing. Den looked around the room casually, taking in all the people he and Lexi were surrounded by. There were plenty of newcomers since they’d arrived, and probably would still be plenty. “I’ll take your word for it, Lex,” he said, turning his attention back to his girlfriend.

Denver’s eyes darkened at the prospect of bringing Lexi home with him. He’d wanted to play the perfect gentleman with her father around, but they both knew he wasn’t. Good old Canadian boy he may be, he was still a man and was insanely attracted to the gorgeous woman standing next to him. “Good,” he said, squeezing her fingers lightly once she slipped them into his hand. Being with Lexi made him happy, and it made him a little bit like a caveman. He kind of liked the little bit of the possessive feelings he had. He saw the way guys looked at Lexi when they were out, and though he was a decent enough looking guy himself, they looked at him as if wondering what he was doing with her.

It was a little crazy right now, to find the time to be with Lexi with his residency schedule but he was making it work. Whenever he had free time, he would text her and make plans. Whenever she had free time, she would stop at his office and surprise him. It didn’t matter if they were together for five minutes or five hours, they made the best of the time they could steal away. Denny hadn’t enjoyed his time off more than he did now. And when he got the chance, he wanted to ask Lexi to go back to Corner Brook with him to meet his mom and Sarah. Lexi already had his sister’s approval; the teen couldn’t stop gushing about the girl who was quickly stealing her big brother’s heart. And he spoke so much about Lexi to his mother, he was pretty sure the older woman was about ready to cut her ears off so she wouldn’t have to listen to him any longer. “As long as I can get the time off at least,” he corrected, remembering those pesky hours. He couldn’t wait until he was finished and had semi regular office hours to deal with and not these rollercoaster ones.

Denny waved way Lexi’s remark as the woman approached them. Though he was kind of wishing he had put a little more weight into Lexi’s words. He knew these women though; maybe not the ones specifically standing in front of the new couple, but the idea of them. He had known women like them in Corner Brook, and a few parents of his patients were like that. He could understand wanting to boast a well-deserved accomplishment your child made, but to boast about arrogant and utterly useless things was a trait he just couldn’t get behind. Denver smiled, nodded and answered any and all questions directed at him, though there weren’t many thankfully. Until Lexi’s sister and mother came around. There were a few more directed at him then, but he was alright with that; it came with the territory of dating her youngest daughter and their baby sister. He could cope with these questions, but he didn’t have to for long. Lexi was pretty quick to shoo them away and leave the couple alone once again. Den took one of the flutes from Lexi’s hand before she took his in her now empty one and followed her wherever it was the pretty brunette was leading him. “I’m dating a rule breaker, nice,” he said, teasing as he hopped over the velvet rope himself.

Two flights up, the couple walked into a library. At first he’d thought this was where she was taking him, but then she opened a door he hadn’t seen at first and then he realized there was more to this escape plan of Lexi’s. “I feel special,” he said against her lips before ascending the stairs and following her through the thick door at the top. He was shocked that such a place existed in the city he’d come to love. He had expected a spectacular view, to which he was not disappointed, but he hadn’t expected the surprise rainforest like garden that surrounded them. It was the perfect little Zen garden. “It’s perfect,” he said, wrapping his free arm around Lexi’s waist and pulling her right against him, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. He just wanted a minute alone with Lexi, to be able to kiss her like this without being watched or judged.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 962
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

If there was one thing Lexi had to say about Denny it was that he bought the best out in her. He also brought that red hue to her cheeks on a regularly basis, but he made Lexi feel as though she could take on the world. That day in the park she had felt pretty low and honestly thought that nothing could shift her from that rut and then Denny had appeared with Duke and had cheered her up like it was the easiest thing in the world to do. There were a number of reasons she hadn’t been able to shift him from her thoughts and that was pretty high on the list. She had never really believed that any guy would come into her life and make her feel the way Denny did. For too long she had been disappointed by shallow guys or men who wanted her to be something she wasn’t; she had been slightly disillusioned and then Denver walked on into her life and restored her faith in all things romantic! Sighing jokingly, Lexi folded her arms and shook her head. “I was conned by a devilishly handsome doctor and his dog.”

[/color] She said, her lips quirking upwards into the typical sort of smile Denver always brought out in her.

A rosy hue gently flooded her cheeks as she caught a glimpse of the look in Denver’s eyes. She felt the butterflies come to life in her stomach and bit her lip, reminding herself that her family and childhood acquaintances were in the room, as well as Denver’s peers. Tonight of all nights she had to play the polite, innocent Ryanne daughter and not let her own feelings and temptations get the better of her….all easier said than done, in Lexi’s opinion. To keep herself in check she turned her head away from him, pretending to scope out the room, when in reality she was resisting the urge to kiss him like she would normally do when it was just the two of them. She let out a soft giggle and then turned back to look at her boyfriend, teasing him slightly with her words. “Ah, so that’s the excuse you’re going to give me then, is it?”[/color] She joked, though she understood completely that he wouldn’t always be able to accompany her. Smiling affectionately, she squeezed his hand and shook her head lightly. “You know it’s fine.”[/color] Lexi had survived these events solo for most of her life and she could handle them again. Hopefully, on the nights Denver couldn’t come with her, there would be a chance to stop off at his after the events. She wasn’t the kind of girl though who had to see her boyfriend so many times a week or who would throw some sort of fit at cancelled plans or rejected date nights. Lexi understood and while she did miss being with Denver during his busier weeks, it wasn’t like she felt the need to corner him and demand attention from him. They made the most of the time they had and even if it was a few days of phone calls and silly texts rather than kisses and being curled up together on a couch, it was more than enough to keep a smile on the face of the petite New Yorker.

It wasn’t like she was breaking the law or doing something destructive, but Lexi still got that strange mischievous feeling every time she hopped that scarlet rope. It made her feel like a teenager again, remembering the many years she had been doing this for, but with Denver at her side it seemed all that more adventurous. Mainly because her father was still in the ballroom and would eventually notice their absence. Lexi had their story arranged for that though and knew that her old doorman friend would come and tell her when suspicions were beginning to show. Chuckling, she pulled Denver closer and looked up at him with a flirtatious twinkle in her dark eyes. “I never said I was a good girl.”[/color] She laughed, enjoying herself far too much right now.

Lexi was glad then Denny liked her little hideaway from these events. Oscar, the doorman, had brought her up here when she was younger and he had heard some of her “friends” bullying her. Lexi had sat in a corner, trying to avoid it all and he had shown her this and told her that she could sneak off to here or the library whenever she needed to and he would cover for her. It had been her haven more times than she cared to mention at these events. Grinning when he pulled her close, Lexi smiled into the kiss. Her free hand came to rest on his chest and she sighed contently, relieved to be alone with him for a little bit. “No, that is a perfect escape.”[/color] She whispered against his lips before kissing him lightly again. Glancing around, her eyes fell on a bench almost hidden in trees and led him over to it, sitting down and crossing her legs. Lexi was intending to enjoy this break from being around everyone in the ballroom. “Thanks again for coming tonight. You’re amazing.”[/color] She told Denny sincerely before turning into his side and resting her head on his shoulder. She knew he’d think she was repeating herself, but it really did mean a lot to her that he was here with her and that he hadn’t ran for the hills at the mention of meeting her dad. She bit her lip softly, her thoughts moving away from what was happening downstairs in the elegantly decorated room. “So, back to yours later?”[/color] She asked quietly, shyly glancing up at her boyfriend. Though she knew it had been subtly decided with an exchange of looks and a few choice words, she wanted to hear it.
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• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 966!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

“I would give Duke a little more credit than the doctor,” he said, chuckling. He had a romantic streak in him, but Denny hadn’t really found anyone in New York he wanted to spoil like that. At least, not until he’d found Lexi in the park. “He’s the brains of the operation, I’m just the looks,” he joked, always trying to make Lexi laugh. Denny’s laughter only filled him more when she turned away from him to look around the room; avoiding looking at him. It was nice to know he’d gotten to her with the simple word. There had been other girls, and one guy but none of them had made him feel the way Lexi did. None of them had ever been able to make his heart beat faster whenever they called, texted or were standing in front of him. Lexi did that to Denver. It made him happy, it made him nervous. “I know it’s fine, you keep telling me it’s fine. But if I can, I want to. Someone has to keep you from going insane at the hands of these people,” he said lightly, teasing her. From the stories she had told him about these fundraisers, the women were even more catty than usual.

Denver wasn’t a needy, clingy man. He didn’t need to see Lexi every day, ten times a day, though he wouldn’t turn it down either. With the hours he worked, he would take what he could get. The aspiring doctor could make do with phone calls and texts messages on the days when he couldn’t see his beautiful girlfriend. It would be great if he didn’t have to rain check on date nights, or he could come home and she was sitting on the couch channel surfing for something to catch her eye, maybe reading a book with Duke so sound asleep across her feet.

Denny knew that Lexi had done this Houdini act more than a few times, but this was the first time he’d been there. And he was pretty sure the equation wouldn’t work out to their advantage if Mr. Ryanne finally realized they were missing from the festivities downstairs. “I don’t remember that either,” he said back, laughing at her enjoyment of this escape as they made their way up the old steps. Denny hadn’t really had a reason to go hiding away when he’d been growing up. If there was a situation where he needed to get away, he took his dirt bike into the forest and hung around in there somewhere. His neighbourhood was right on the edge of town, near enough to the mountain to snowboard and the forest to hide and the parking area to see the man in the mountain. Denny had lost count how many times he’d found himself sitting twenty feet above the native man’s head on the cliff, talking to him; especially when he didn’t think there was anyone he knew he could talk to.

His city had grown, being the second biggest in the province, if he wasn’t mistaken. It had been quite some time since he’d been back home and even more time since he’d cared what the city ranked in size. This oasis was Lexi’s forest. Denny kissed Lexi back, grinning against her lips. “Keep this up and we’ll never make it back downstairs while the party’s on,” he warned, playfully, taking a seat next to her on the hidden bench. He didn’t mind though, he was there for Lexi and no one else. He wasn’t a special member of the hospital with major responsibilities. He was a kid’s doctor, still trying to specialize in the sickest of sick kids. “It’s nothing, really,” he said, sipping at the flute of champagne. Denny wrapped his arm around Lexi holding her closer to his side. Denver tilted his head to press a kiss to the side of her head. “Only if you want to, Lex,” he said honestly, just above her ear. He wasn’t that guy; he wouldn’t just assume or do anything Lexi wasn’t ready for. He wanted this to be her decision.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 686
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

Lexi couldn’t help but to laugh and shake her head. “Are you sure about that? I would’ve said that Duke was the looks and the brains.”

[/color] She teased, grinning up at her boyfriend. “I’m sure he only keeps you around for the opposable thumbs.”[/color] She added, still unable to stop grinning at the idea that their first chance meeting was some elaborate set up at the paws of the English Mastiff. Lexi never thought she’d be laughing at the events of that day, but Denver had changed all of that and he had a way of making her smile and joke around like no one else. Most of the people in the room would have raised an eyebrow and shared a whisper at some of their random conversations or jokes, but Lexi honestly didn’t care. She was crazy about the handsome doctor by her side and no one else could change that. “I do only have a finite amount of sanity left; mainly because you steal it all from me.”[/color] She teased, poking at his sides in a playful fashion.

Before tonight she had been the shy girl in the corner at these events and now that she wasn’t sitting and delicately sipping at a drink, people seemed to glance over more often. That could also be because she was laughing and acting a lot more playful that the etiquette for these events suggested. Denver just brought all of that out in her though. He gave her a chance to be herself, talk about silly things and he didn’t care when she got caught up in something she was passionate about and went on a long spiel about it. In the past Lexi had been encouraged to hold all of that back and be someone she wasn’t wholly happy being, but this was really the first time in a long time that she truly believed someone liked being with her for all of those aspects. It was nerve wracking at times, exciting at others and she was falling harder than logic cared for whenever Denver was on her mind; which was a hell of a lot of the time.

Away from the prying eyes and the curious glances of the ballroom, Lexi felt totally at ease once more. She didn’t have to live up to anything while they were out here and she didn’t have to remind herself to keep in line or worry about if her father was looking over at them. It was a welcome break from all of that and although she knew they couldn’t spend all night hiding out here among the bushes and trees, Lexi did long for at least a few minutes where nothing else mattered. She chuckled and bit her lip, sipping from her flute. “Are you complaining?”[/color] She asked him, raising her eyebrow before kissing his cheek. She knew that Denver really didn’t mind coming tonight, but Lexi was struggling to find the words to explain how much it meant to her. No one had ever come with her or even wanted to be her date at these fundraisers and yet Denny had not only come along, but he had met her family and managed to put up with the awkward questions thrown his way. “It’s everything to me.”[/color] She said sincerely, meeting his eyes and smiling softly. He was the first person who had really had a chance to see the lifestyle Lexi was raised into and understand that it wasn’t who she was. She really couldn’t find the words to explain it to him without rambling on and sounding silly. The butterflies returned to her stomach with his words and she turned to face him, her fingers trailing up and down his chest. Her dark eyes met his and she bit her lip as she smiled. “I want to.”[/color] She said quietly but firmly before she pressed her lips to his, reaffirming her words with a warm kiss.
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• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 664!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

Denny rolled his eyes at Lexi, smirking. “Oh, goody, I’m dating a clown,” he said, then, “Someone has to feed him.” He shrugged lightly as if this whole elaborate tale were true. Denver was glad that Lexi was laughing about the day they met. At the time, he hadn’t thought it was going to be possible even with him trying to make her laugh that day. It had seemed like life’s drama had just been too much for the pretty brunette to cope with. But now, she was laughing, teasing and joking about that day. Even Denver had to admit the events of that day were pretty funny. “I need to get my sanity from somewhere,” he teased. Though if he were being honestly, those few moments he stole with Lexi gave him the sanity he needed to see some of his more worse off patients. Denver loved kids, had always wanted some of his one in the distant future, though it broke his heart to see those kids stuck in a hospital bed, unable to be outside playing sports or with friends. Those little girls couldn’t tell their school crushes how they felt; those boys couldn’t steal their first kisses. It always made Denver laugh and smile when he could discharge a patient and told each one of them to continue fighting for the life they won back.

Those days when he couldn’t avoid a sad shift at the hospital, Denver called Lexi and if she could clear it, spent time with her. Being around her took away all his worries about work, all the fear he held in his heart knowing there were just some lives he couldn’t save. Just being with her made him see all the good things there were to look forward to in life. And it gave him things to talk about to the young girls on the ward, annoyed and upset that they can’t get their usual high school drama fixes. If solving someone else’s issues was how they were going to cope with being in the hospital, he was happy to help with planning dates, asking questions like “Would Lexi like that idea?” and silly little things to keep them occupied.

Now that there weren’t so many sets of eyes on the new couple, Denver could breathe a little easier. He was used to having people looking at him, watching him because of all the sports he played, but when he didn’t have the helmet or anything to hide behind, it was a little uncomfortable. He didn’t know how Lexi did it a dozen times a year. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Never,” He said, holding her closer to his side. These events were a part of Lexi’s life. And despite feeling a little out of place having all those eyes on him and his girlfriend, he would continue to attend these things with her, because he knew how much it meant to her for him to be there. Denver hoped Lexi would agree to spend the night at his place after this fundraiser. He’d been planning a special evening for some time, but he’d never really known how to go about inviting her over. And he didn’t want to pressure her if she wasn’t ready. Grinning against Lexi’s lips, Denver blindly set his flute down behind him before wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her onto his lap. “Good, I’m glad,” he said, breaking the kiss for only a second, just long enough to utter those words.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 588
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

“I don’t wear that much make-up.”

[/color] She said with a pout, pretending just for a second to be offended by his claims. The pros had actually outweighed the cons that day, despite how the young brunette had felt at the time. Still, a milkshake down her front, a fight with Chelsea and then a bump to the head had worked out to bring Denver and Duke into her life. Without all of that crap happening to her first, she never would have met the handsome doctor standing with her and she would probably have come alone tonight to the fundraiser. Plus, the day had given them a rather comical and somewhat surreal answer for the “so, how did you meet?” question that Lexi had found herself answering far too many times recently.

Denver’s bad days always put her daily complaints and qualms into perspective and really made Lexi see how lucky she was just to be healthy and not stuck in a hospital bed or sick at home all the time. She knew that she’d never fully understand what Denny saw every time he went to work, but she hoped that she could always bring a smile out of him when he was recovering from a rough day. She did try her best and anything that she had planned for the days when her phone rang and on the other end was a less than happy boyfriend, could always wait until tomorrow.

Lexi had already rested her flute on the arm of the bench, but now it sat forgotten. She let out a small squeal when he moved her to his lap, but just chuckled, returning the kiss with a little more fervour. She shifted her position to get more comfortable and to get closer to Denny, finding the practical reason for a dress with a thigh high slit; it allowed her freedom in the slim fit dress to move her legs either side of his as her arms came up around his shoulders to hold him that little bit closer. She had forgotten where they were entirely now, lost in the kiss and her feelings for the gorgeous Canadian. It was only the click of the door handle that broke through the daze she was in to remind her that they were supposed to be somewhere else. “Miss Ryanne?” She groaned at the sound of her name, reluctantly pulling away from Denver breathlessly. She recognised the voice immediately as Oscar’s. “Yeah, I’m up here.”[/color] She had to give the doorman credit, for he didn’t try to seek her out, probably knowing that she hadn’t come out her alone tonight. “Your father is looking for you. I told him you had stepped outside for some air.” She called out her thanks and then heard the click again as the door shut once more. Laughing, Lexi rested her forehead against Denny’s, really not wanting to move from where she was. “I guess we need to go and make small talk again.”[/color] She whispered, meeting his eyes before she pushed herself back to her feet, fixing her dress along the way. “If we go and see what my dad wants then we could probably make an excuse to leave early? I know this whole thing is pretty overwhelming for you and I do feel a ‘headache’ of my own coming on.”[/color] She suggested with a coy smile. Lexi rarely stayed until the end normally anyway and there would only be an hour or so left once her dad finished chatting. A big part of her just wanted to curl up with Denny, and that was hardly ballroom etiquette!
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 656!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

Denver wanted to throw back his head and laugh but he held himself in check. They weren’t alone and teasing each other playfully in private. They were at a party being hosted by Lexi’s family; they had to play it proper. Instead, Denny rolled his eyes, chuckling at the adorable pouty face his girlfriend was making. “You don’t need it either. Not like the Barbie’s here,” he said, eyes wandering to look around at all the fake people surrounding them. Denver couldn’t understand why women thought they needed all that make-up. He didn’t think they needed to cake on all that junk to make themselves look better. They were already pretty girls. Their meeting was pretty hilarious as first impressions go. How many people out there could say they met the way Lexi and Denver had? It was an interesting story to tell at the very least.

Denny was very lucky he had Lexi in his life. Before her, he had to deal with everything he saw at work through video games and calls home to his ma. She didn’t understand half the time what he was talking about but she listened and gave him her opinion whenever she thought she had a good grasp on what her son was ranting about. He knew half the things he was saying to Lexi, she didn’t quite understand but it was all the same to have a willing ear to curl up next to on the couch with a movie playing in the background and a bowl of popcorn to share. It didn’t matter if she didn’t exactly get what he was saying, she was there and she always made him feel better. That was exactly what he needed after some of those days on the ward.

Denver laughed against Lexi’s soft lips, pleased that he’d caught her off guard. He adjusted his hands when she moved so he could hold her closer and keep her from falling. Never before had he been happy the evening called for formal wear and Lexi had an adventure side to her style. It was a shame their kiss was cut short. Denny felt like he could have stayed up there in the hidden garden until it was time to leave. But of course, Lexi’s family were the ones hosting this event and if any of the Ryanne’s went missing for too long, someone was bound to notice. Denver nodded, not trusting his own voice at the moment to be able to make a sound other than a growl. Denver reached blindly for the flute of champagne he’d barely touched before setting down and swallowed the contents in one gulp. “I have to work in the morning,” he said, grinning. It was a total and complete lie. His boss had given him the next day off, thinking Denver would drink his weight in alcohol and need the time to recuperate. The older man didn’t know that Denver didn’t drink a lot when he wasn’t completely comfortable in his surroundings. If it came down to it, he wanted to have a fairly clear head to be able to make an escape. Standing Denver adjusted his jacket and stole another quick kiss from Lexi before following her back downstairs and into the ballroom.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 545
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

Lexi almost didn’t care about the people around them if she laughed a little too loudly. She was having a good time and gossips weren’t about to ruin that for her. None of that drama mattered to her and they only needed to glance at her to see that. “Anyone would think you were trying to charm me, Doctor Sawyer.”

[/color] She said, ignoring the pale blush this time. Lexi still wore her subtle make-up and probably would for many years to come, but unless she was dolling up for a nightclub or Halloween, she avoided the heavier stuff and the false eyelashes. Still, the day she had met Denny, her make-up had already been marred with tears and so she had just wiped it all away; that alone helped her to avoid worrying whenever they went on a date, though she did still like to look nice for her boyfriend.

Lexi’s medical knowledge only went as far as what she had experienced herself and the one time her dad had broken his leg. Most of the time, listening to Denver, she felt like she was trying to decipher a foreign language, but she knew that just sitting close and letting him verbally get it out of his system could work wonders alone. She had found that out for herself during those extensive years of therapy. Once it was out there she could offer some simple opinion and curl up in his arms, finding some way to take his mind off of it and usually leading them into another of their silly conversations about someone in the movie or Duke’s antics or just something that really only the pair of them would understand. She might not be the greatest person for him to turn to with hospital troubles, but when she could bring a smile to his handsome face she felt like she had done something right and knew she could go to it again the next time something happened.

She knew that they couldn’t stay in the haven of the secret garden all night, but Lexi did wish that they had had just a little more time to themselves before someone grew suspicious. It was the first time her dad had met Denver though, so the Ryanne patriarch had probably been stealing glances all night to make sure that no line had been crossed and that his little girl was safe with the young doctor. Her eyebrows furrowed at his remark for a second, having a short moment of confusion. “I thought you had tomorrow – oh, wait, never mind; I got it now. Let’s forget I just did that. It was that kiss.”[/color] She said laughing, quickly finding an excuse for the delay her brain had catching up with the present.

Back in the ballroom, she sought out her dad and quickly told him that they had been on the front steps getting some air away from the crowds. He bought it easily enough and turned to chat to Denver about pretty much everything, getting to know the doctor who had stolen his youngest daughter’s heart. Lexi lingered close by, chatting casually with the rest of her immediate family until she heard her dad starting to excuse himself again. “Oh, hey, dad? We’re going to head off now. My head is pounding and Denny has to work in the morning.”[/color] She said, catching him before he turned his attention to someone else in a suit. After a few short goodbyes amongst them all, Lexi gave them a final wave and pulled Denver out of the building altogether, smiling. “And we’re free again.”[/color] She gave him a quick kiss and then found where the town car had parked up for the evening, climbing in and giving the familiar driver the instructions to head back to Denver’s.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 639!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

Denver chuckled, shaking his head. He wasn’t used to these party things and since he wasn’t aware of the proper etiquette, he really didn’t care if he was being too loud, to overly flirtatious. He was quickly falling for the brunette he was with. He wasn’t about to hide those feelings with polite smiles and proper topics of conversation. “They wouldn’t be wrong,” he said simply enough. He wouldn’t deny it if he were to be confronted by it though he didn’t think telling Lexi would be a wise choice at the moment. She’d just graduated and had the summer to have her fun before life finally took over. He wanted her to enjoy her time. And it was very selfish of him, because if he did say something and she didn’t feel the same way, he’d been very hurt. So for right now at least, he figured it would be wise to keep it all to himself. Denny felt bad blurting everything out to Lexi whenever he had a particularly bad day at work, but she was compassionate and let him rant it out even though he was pretty sure she had next to no clue what he was saying. That was alright with him, he honestly just needed to get it all out and it was probably better that she didn’t know all the finer details of his work so she wouldn’t get as upset as he was about certain things.

Denver grinned, holding back his laughter at Lexi’s confused expression. Lexi hadn’t been the only one to lose her mind for a minute there. Denny was just lucky he’d claimed his wits about him just a little bit quicker to make the joke in the first place instead of just staring and sucking in air. Thankfully, by the time they entered the ballroom again, Denny’s breathing was back down to as close to normal as it was probably going to get that night. He saw the questions and casual interrogation coming when they were surrounded by Lexi’s family, but he didn’t mind giving her father what he wanted; answers. He could have done without her sister’s glances but he was quickly falling for the youngest Ryanne and whether her sisters made comments or not had no effect on him; though he would have gladly done without the ‘casual’ glances. Quickly enough it seemed, Lexi’s father was excusing himself and Denny was breathing a sigh of relief at the casual interrogation going well. He apologized for having to leave so early when his girlfriend mentioned this to her family but followed Lexi out without hesitation.

In the car, Denver pulled Lexi against his side, holding her closely. “I am so glad to be away from there,” he said, chuckling into the side of her head before pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. He didn’t look out the window the entire drive until the town car pulled up in front of his building and he had to do a double take to make sure that yes it was his building and yes, Lexi was going upstairs with him. “We’re here,” he said, opening the door and stepping out before turning around and helping Lexi from the backseat. He shut the door before walking with Lexi into the lobby of his building and over to the elevator bay, waving a quick hello to the doorman security guy. Once the doors opened on his floor, Denver pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door when they got there. As if he knew Lexi was going to be there, Duke’s head perked up from his living room pillow bed before he stood, tail wagging and made a beeline right for Lexi. “What a flirt,” Denver said, grinning as he shut the door and locked it up for the night before tossing his keys into the bowl along with his wallet and the mask he’d worn that night, glad to be rid of the thing.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 665
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

Despite the comments from her sisters, nothing could ruin Lexi’s mood tonight. Besides, if she really wanted to get her own back on them she had more dirt on them than they cared to know about. Being the quiet and mousy sibling had meant that she could listen in undetected quite a bit when they were younger and an arsenal of ammunition had been stored for if someone ever crossed the line Chelsea was treading finely on. She didn’t worry about things like that though when Denny was around; the man was having quite the effect on her heart and she had to admit that it was both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

Lexi chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder as the car merged with the rest of the New York traffic. “It doesn’t really get much better, I’m afraid. At least you didn’t trip over your outfit and get a mouthful of the carpet.”

[/color] It had happened to Lexi once when she was sixteen and even now someone would try to bring it up if they saw her alone and felt the need to strike up a conversation. Even after growing up with the people in that room and knowing most of them for as long as she could remember, Lexi still never felt completely comfortable around them and probably never would. She could play the part and act it well enough, but she always let out a sigh of relief once she was away from those people, more than glad to get back to what her life was really about. As the car got closer to Denny’s place, Lexi felt the butterflies appear in her stomach, but she wasn’t nervous. Excited seemed too strong a word too, but the feeling still lingered, growing stronger when Denny helped her out of the car.

Upstairs, Lexi had to grin when Duke came over to greet her. Carefully she crouched down to scratch behind his ears and give the gorgeous creature the attention she thought he deserved. “Hm, and I wonder where he gets that from?”[/color] She joked, peeking up at Denver before straightening up again, placing her mask and clutch on the side table out of the way. Chuckling, she turned back to her boyfriend and reached up to trail a finger along his jawline before softly pressing her lips to his and grinning some more. “I believe you have a note to put on the refrigerator.”[/color] She teased, before kissing him again. Now that they were away from curious eyes and prying questions for the night, Lexi just wanted to enjoy their night together and she soon found it easy enough to simply forget about everything else.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

THE NEXT MORNING…

[/color]

When Lexi opened her brown eyes, she found herself still comfortably curled into Denver’s side. As the fog lifted from her mind, she smiled and looked up at the sleeping doctor. She so badly wanted to stay there, snuggled up against him and lose herself in blissful sleep once more, but once her eyes were open Lexi usually found it impossible to drift back off again. Still, waking up next to Denver was something she could quite easily get used to; a thought which brought a delicate blush to her cheeks. Slowly and carefully, so as not to disturb him, she slipped out from the sheets, snatching up his shirt to throw on before she tip-toed silently from the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Lexi found her clutch and then made her way to the bathroom, washing the remains of her stale make-up away before popping out the contact lenses that really should’ve come out the night before. Once they were switched for the glasses she always carried with her, just in case, Lexi made her way to the kitchen, stopping only to play with Duke for a minute. Finding the mugs with ease, she took a moment to study his coffee maker before making them both a morning cup of coffee, which she took back to the bedroom. Smiling softly and after closing the door over with her hip, Lexi moved to put Denny’s coffee on his side and then, after making sure to spill none of her own when she set it down, slipped her legs back under the sheets, shuffling close to Denny’s side again. “Good morning.”

[/color] She whispered, kissing his cheek lightly.
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• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 732!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

Denny didn’t know where he’d be right now if he hadn’t met Lexi; probably still here at this fundraiser but for a very different reason. He might have just been introduced to the young Ryanne daughter, or maybe they never crossed paths and Denny spent his time in the hospital with those kids. But he had met Lexi in the park that day and he knew his life would be different ever since. She brought something out in him and Den liked who he was when she was around. He was calmer, less worried about work and though he still worried about those kids, Lexi was able to keep his attention. He was thankful when they finally said their farewells, got into the limo and returned back to his apartment. He hadn’t done much prep for this since he hadn’t be sure Lexi would agree to spending the night with him. But he had set out some of the candles Sarah bought the last time she’d visited. “He did learn from the best,” he remarked, teasingly. Denny grinned against Lexi’s lips, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her close against him. “In the morning,” he said, lifting her off her feet.

The young doctor could feel himself lifting from the fog of sleep but he wasn’t there quite yet, still stuck between dreaming and waking. It took until he felt the mattress lift and the bedroom door to close to realize he wasn’t dreaming anymore. It had all been reality, and Lexi slipped out. He opened one eye to look around the room but saw the only thing missing was his shirt. Grinning, Den let his head fall back against the pillow. He would get up in a minute or two. He must have fallen back to sleep though, because the next thing he remembered was feeling the mattress dip again. His green eyes opened a sliver at the kiss, turning his head to see the pretty brunette in his arms. “Best wake up ever. Good morning,” he said, bringing his arm over to run down her side. She looked so wide awake and adorable in those glasses that he had to lean over and plant a quick kiss to the tip of her nose. “Is that coffee I smell?” he asked, finally noticing the smell of his usual wakeup call and sitting up. “What do you want for breakfast?” he asked, wrapping his arms around Lexi again and holding her closer.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 414
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3

[Lexi Piper Ryanne]

Lexi didn’t dare think about how her life might be now if she hadn’t had met Denny that day in the park. She usually wasn’t the kind of girl to strike up a conversation with a total stranger, regardless of the situation, but that day was unique. She had been in no state to run off and she had a feeling that the handsome doctor who came to her rescue wouldn’t have let her, even if she tried. Plus, after a horrible day all she had wanted was something or someone to take her mind off it and he had done the trick perfectly. Denver had done so much more than that though and he probably didn’t realise it. Lexi was completely out of her shell around him and she knew that he didn’t judge her if she went on some historical babble from time to time about something she saw on TV or what she read in a book. Being herself was kind of new to her and she liked the person that she was and hated that she had believed she had to hide it for all that time.

The petite brunette already couldn’t stop smiling and she’d only been awake for about twenty minutes. Her jaw was starting to ache from the happy mood she was in. Lexi couldn’t remember a time when she had started the day feeling so blissful. “I know what you mean.”

[/color] She grinned, blushing lightly as she bit her lip to try and hide the grin. There was something perfectly right about this scene right now and she didn’t want to move from the bed or Denver’s arms, even with life continuing outside the apartment. “What kind of girlfriend would I be if it wasn’t?”[/color] She joked, gently leaning over him to pass him the mug she had made for him. She snuggled back into his arms and rested her head on his chest, sighing contently. Musing for a long moment, Lexi ran her fingers up and down Denny’s forearm before turning slightly to look up at him. “Pancakes sound perfect right about now.”[/color] She said, smiling sweetly before reaching for her own coffee and sipping delicately from the mug, careful not to burn her tongue. “I can make them, if you like?”[/color] She offered, not minding at all. She didn’t have anywhere to be today or anything to do, so Lexi wasn’t in a rush to move, so long as that was okay with Denny; she didn’t want to occupy his day off if he had errands to run or things that needed his attention.
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• • •

TAGGED! Denny!
WORDS! 471!
OUTFIT! Masquerade!
LYRICS! Look At Me - - - Carrie Underwood
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Denver Gage Sawyer]

If every morning started out like this, Denny was going to be missing a lot of early shifts at work; he could already see it. It was just too nice waking up next to Lexi with the warm sun beating in through the window. Lightly, Denny brushed his thumb over Lexi’s bottom lip. “Stop that, I want to see that smile,” he said grinning as he leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. Grinning, Denny tasted the coffee and prayed it didn’t turn out like his had the first time he’d used it. That time had almost turned him from the wonderful substance completely, for life. “A terrible one, I may have needed to end this relationship over no coffee,” he teased, taking another sip of the hot drink. It was good, not that he was surprised by that. Lexi having a secret talent of figuring out that stupid coffee contraption Sarah bought on the first try was just another little thing Denny adored about the pretty brunette in his arms.

Pancakes really did sound good. And Denny really wanted to cook for Lexi. He hadn’t gotten the chance to yet. His culinary talents weren’t much. He could make a decent enough dinner to impress but he used to make Sarah breakfast all the time in high school for Sarah. He’d learned plenty of recipes and tricks. And his pancakes were far better than his take on any dinner meal. He shook his head, setting his coffee mug down again. “No, you don’t. You made coffee,” he said, moving from the bed, though he hardly wanted to. His stomach was starting a low rumble though, telling him to get on putting that meal together. “You get to sit around, maybe get some flour thrown in your face if you try to help,” he said casually, though he was being serious. He wanted her to relax, something he didn’t think she did all that often but now that school was finished for her, he wanted her to do just that. He held his hand out, pulling Lexi up and against him the second her hand slipped into his. Wrapping his arms around Lexi’s waist, he moved to the kitchen, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. He didn’t worry about taking Duke out that morning since he paid a couple kids in the building to walk him when he couldn’t. And since he didn’t know what the morning after that party, he’d made sure someone took care of walking the sweet, overgrown lapdog. “Now,” he said, turning around and pulling Lexi against him once they were in the kitchen, “Do you want chocolate chips?” he asked, punctuating each word with little kisses.

Tag || Lexi!
Words || 458
Clothes || Picture Perfect
Music || Every Time I Look at You by Luke Bryan
Notes || <3