Chapter 3

The annoying beep of an alarm woke Joe from his sleep. It took him a few moments to put the events of the night before together in his head as Selena began to raise her head. The two were still cuddled together, much like they had fallen asleep.

Selena turned to her back and looked at the ceiling, causing Joe to move back a bit.

"I really did this last night, didn't I?" Selena said, half smiling, half raising an eyebrow to herself.

Joe didn't answer her.

"It only goes to show you that if you want something bad enough, you have to be aggressive to make your position known." She said as she turned her head to look at Joe, who intently stared at the beauty in his bed.

"You made that point last night, I've been beat up over it enough. I'm ashamed of myself for being so stupid and so full of self-pity. I didn't realize how bad I had gotten." Joe said, not wanting to hear the obvious any more.

Selena smiled at him, and took the hand at her side and brought it to her lips and kissed it.

"If you keep the balls in this relationship, it won't come up again. I just hope you realized how frustrated I was. There I was, dumped, and I never got a chance." She said.

"I'm really sorry. I guess I worried about myself and what others might think. I never took you into the equation." He said.

"Well, I had that alarm on for a reason, I have a class in 90 minutes. I have to get to my dorm, shower, dress and get my books."

"You aren't going home?"

"No, my parents think my roommate picked me up last night. With my scholarship I have to live on campus, but I'm home a lot, obviously."

"They wouldn't question her picking you up in the middle of the night?"

"No, she works nights at Toy r' Us as a re-stocker and picks me up a lot on her way home, so my Dad hasn't got to bring me over."

"Selena, can I see you tonight? Can I get you after class?"

Selena smiled at him.

"Of course, I would like that. What do you want to do?"

"I could make you dinner and we could watch the market wrap up on CNN."

"Now there's a date I would be hard pressed to pass on." She said giggling, "Actually, it sounds good. I have to be in early."

"Now if you could do me a favor Joe. I'm lying here under the covers in a t-shirt and panties. Do you think you could leave the room so I could get dressed? It was dark when I got in here, but walking around in underwear, even with the t-shirt, is a little familiar for us at this stage."

"No problem," Joe said as he bounced out of bed. "I understand. I'll get dressed as well to bring you to school."

"You don't have to do that, I can get a bus down at the next corner." Selena said.

"I'm not asking you if you want a ride, I'm bringing you over. Assertive enough?" Joe said smiling at her.

"Point taken, Joe. I'll be out in a minute."

After Joe dropped her at her dorm he went about his normal daily business of a little phone trading, getting after hours telexes and fax from the closed overseas markets and watching the ticker. He didn't really need to do all of this everyday, but he was obsessed. To him, it was like watching sports.

None of his friends, and especially the women he had in his life, had an interest in his passion, so when Selena seemed mildly interested he was excited. When he saw she understood much of what he did he was ecstatic.

On that afternoon Joe picked her up at her dorm and began to head to his house.

"We'll have to stop at my parents house. You probably should just drop me and I'll walk up to your place. My Dad never approves of any guy I see, and you would be out of the question. I shouldn't be long." Selena told him.

"I can wait in the car." Joe offered,

"You don't understand. My father would be out there in a second to give you the third degree and send you on your way.' She said.

"Besides my age, what else would he have a problem with? I am a clean cut, drug free, well liked member of my community." Joe asked.

Selena sat back into her seat as they pulled in front of her house.

"Joe, do you have a penis?" she asked.

"Obviously," he chuckled.

"Well, then he won't like you. He wants his daughter to date men only once, and then be on their way. He prefers them not to have genitalia. I'm only exaggerating a little. If he knew I slept in your bed last night, despite the fact nothing happened, he would have you arrested." Selena said, making her point and then opening the car door. "I'll be up within the hour, OK?" she aid as she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.

Joe drove away and laughed to himself that he might be as protective if he had a daughter as cute, smart and attractive as she.

Just 40 minutes later, as he added some final touches to his sauce, he heard his intercom buzz.

He pressed the talk button. "I'm busy in the kitchen, come in through the garage, OK?"

Thirty seconds later he heard the elevator motor whirr and he turned to greet her as the door opened.

She was about to scold him for taking her for granted on day two of their exploratory relationship when she saw he was aproned and up to his elbows in Chef duties.