TITLE: Third Times A Charm

AUTHOR: Clairisant, Brenda, and Suzanne

CLASSIFICATION: AJ/Porter

FEEDBACK: Would love to hear both good and bad feedback but please try to be kind and constructive.

CREDITS: A special thanks to our beta readers, Qupeydoll and Julie.

Chapter 1

Saturday, November 20, 2004

1900 EST

Las Vegas, Nevada

In the restaurant after Clay and Mac had taken off for their wedding night, AJ and Porter sat together sharing the table. Not quite sure how she was feeling about the situation of the two of them being left alone together, AJ asked, "Porter, would you like to dance or would you rather retire to your room?"

"No, I'm not ready to retire for the evening. I would love to dance with you," she replied.

Standing, he pulled out her chair and offered his hand to assist her to her feet. With a smile he led her onto the dance floor. The song that was playing was a romantic ballad that neither of them recognized, but they were enjoying the rhythm. "You dance as smoothly as Clayton does, AJ, for such a large man. Have you ever taken lessons?"

With a soft chuckle he told her, "No, but I was married, and Marcella enjoyed dancing, so I've done a lot of it. And there are all of those formal military affairs I am required to attend as JAG. But it's easy to look like a good dancer when I have such an elegant partner such as yourself."

Blushing, she whispered, "Thank you, AJ. That is the nicest compliment I've had in a long time."

Surprised at this refined lady's blush at such a simple compliment, AJ told her, "Well I'm a bit out of practice at delivering compliments, but if that's the nicest one you have received in a long time, it makes me wonder at the intelligence level of the men you've been dating."

"When I am required to attend formal gatherings, at which it would be inappropriate for me to attend alone, I have a select few escorts I call upon to go with me. However, I haven't dated since my husband's death."

Stunned, AJ said, "But Web…Clay told me his father died in '79! You mean you haven't had a date in twenty-five years?"

Embarrassed she replied, "No, I haven't. You see when I would compare them to my memories of Neville, they all fell so far short that it just seemed like a waste of time."

Smiling tenderly at her, AJ softly said, "It must be wonderful to have memories of someone that intense and marvelous. I wish I'd had a love like that in my life."

"Until you asked me why I hadn't dated, this is the first time tonight that I'd thought about Neville. Being in your arms is very distracting," she said with just the slightest hint of flirtation in her voice.

Grinning at what he thought was her teasing, AJ answered, "And we have only been dancing."

"Well it's still early yet," teased Porter back.

Gallantly AJ responded, "Well, we can dance till dawn if you wish, my dear Porter." After saying this he gave her a sweeping tour of the dance floor.

Feeling a little light headed from the speed of which he danced her around the room, combined with the several glasses of champagne she had had, Porter's mind was a jumble of thoughts. She realized that she actually had been flirting with AJ! And either she had done a bad job of it, because he didn't understand, or he was too much of a gentleman to take advantage of her. But for the first time in twenty-five years she actually wanted to see desire in a man's eyes for her. Being in this man's arms felt better than anything she could remember.

Noticing her cheeks were slightly flushed, AJ suggested that they sit the next dance out. At Porter's nod of agreement, he led her back to the table and asked, "Would you like some more champagne, or can I order something different for you?"

"It would be a shame to let this go to waste," she nodded at the bottle in the ice bucket sitting near their table, "since it is already here," and held out her glass to him.

Pouring the champagne for her, he smiled and thought how lovely she looked in the candlelight. Wondering how she would react to another compliment, he told her, "Your skin is as lustrous as the pearls you have around your neck, Porter."

To be continued….