Sharon noticed that the closer they got to the wedding venue, the more tense and quiet Andy became. She hated that he was nervous about his own daughter's wedding. It was a time to celebrate and be joyful, but Andy looked like he might throw up. His son was walking her down the aisle, and she knew that weighed on Andy a little too. But she reminded him over dinner that it was one step at a time in rebuilding the relationship with both of his children, and an invite to the wedding was a great start. His ex-wife would also be there, and Andy was worried about her making a scene.
He parked the car and let out a shaky breath.
She patted his knee and smiled at him, trying to reassure him. As she pulled her hand away, he grabbed it and gave it a squeeze.
"Sharon…I just want to say thanks again…"
Looking into his deep brown eyes and seeing them filled with uncertainty and fear made her heart ache for him. She squeezed his hand back.
"It's going to be great, Andy. You'll see. Ready?"
He nodded and got out of the car and walked over to open her door. She loved that he was a gentleman, and she was very aware of her hand in his as he helped her out of the car. It was surprising to her that she was disappointed when he released her hand after she was out of the car. What in the hell was wrong with her? Had she really been that lonely, that a simple act of his hand in hers had ignited a small flame of want within her?
You're only his friend! You're here as a buffer! She reminded herself. She was his boss, and she was his friend, and anything more than that was a dangerous and stupid idea, and she knew it. The problem was that she kept forgetting it.
The wedding was beautiful. Sharon watched as Andy teared up when he saw his daughter walk down the aisle, and she felt a small lump form in her own throat at seeing his emotion. She was happy for him, and happy that he was getting this chance to see his daughter on one of the most important days of her life.
She was also very aware of the fact that his ex-wife spent the biggest part of the ceremony glaring at Andy with so much contempt that it nearly took Sharon's breath away. It boggled her mind, really – she would rather spend her time during the ceremony shooting daggers at her child's father rather than watch every second of her only daughter's wedding? What sense did that make? Sharon shook her head and when Andy shot her a quizzical look, she just smiled at him and moved a little closer. She was very aware that his ex-wife's face turned one shade darker, and Andy's arm along the back of Sharon's chair didn't help. Now Sharon was just being bad, but if Andy was none the wiser, what did it hurt?
Sharon's eyes nearly welled up again when Andy's daughter hugged him in the receiving line after the wedding. Like Andy, she was tall, and she was gorgeous. Her dress was a strapless ivory color, and she was glowing with happiness. She held onto her father for a while, and Sharon noticed that he was whispering something in her ear that made her smile. After they broke apart, and Andy moved onto the groom, it was Sharon's turn with the bride.
Sharon introduced herself as Andy's friend, and figured a simple handshake would suffice.
Andy's daughter skipped the handshake and hugged her. The action made Sharon's heart melt a little.
"Thank you…" his daughter whispered to her as she looked at her father chatting amicably with her new husband. She had a sneaking suspicion that this Sharon was the main reason her father had showed up to her wedding. And she wanted her father there, despite the fact that her mother claimed that he had tried sobriety before and failed, and would more than likely show up drunk and cause a scene. He was trying, and while it was scary for her, his daughter was beginning to believe in his sobriety, and she found herself wanting to know him. She had always felt like a part of her was missing while she was growing up, and her father coming back into her life felt like the missing piece of the puzzle she had spent so many years in counseling trying to find.
"You look wonderful." Sharon said to her with a smile. She moved on so the bride could greet her other guests, and she couldn't help but notice that Andy was glowing when she finally made it to him.
"Doesn't she look beautiful?" he murmured. Sharon nodded and patted his arm. She could hear the dinner music of the reception start up right around the corner. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, she took his hand and tried to ignore the heat that surged through her when his eyes flashed to hers. She smiled at him.
"Let's go find our seats. I'll also be cashing in on that dance you owe me later."
"Yes, ma'am." He gave a mock salute as her followed her into the reception.
It happened while they were standing by bar, waiting to order drinks from the bartender. Andy's ex-wife sauntered up right next to them at the bar just as the bartender turned to them. Before Andy or Sharon could say anything, his ex-wife put in her order.
"I'll have a glass of merlot. And he…" She jerked her head in Andy's direction, "will have a Jack Daniels and Coke on the rocks, isn't that your usual favorite, darling?" She sneered at him.
Sharon felt Andy's body go rigid next to her.
"I'll have a club soda, please. Thank you." Andy said to the bartender through gritted teeth.
"And what will the lovely lady have?" His ex-wife asked disdainfully.
"I'll have the same." Sharon smiled at the bartender before turning her smile to Andy's ex-wife. She held out her hand and tried to be cordial to this awful woman who had just taken it upon herself to order an alcoholic beverage for a recovering alcoholic.
Andy's ex-wife ignored Sharon's outstretched hand.
"So. After all these years, Andy, you choose today of all days to be a father. And how sweet, you've brought a date. She must be rather desperate, if she's with you. Are you desperate, honey?" the woman turned her sneer towards Sharon, and for a brief moment, Sharon was glad that she was not armed.
There were many awful responses that raced through Sharon's head, but they were at a wedding and Sharon could tell when she was being baited.
"Dammit, I was invited…" Andy's voice was starting to rise. The bartender came over and set the club sodas and the glass of merlot in front of them. Sharon grabbed the club sodas and turned her back on Andy's ex-wife, ignoring her completely. She focused on Andy until she managed to catch his eyes.
"Let's go, Andy." Sharon nodded her head at him and mouthed "ignore her".
With a piercing look thrown her way, Andy turned away from his ex-wife and followed Sharon back to their table.
"I am…so sorry, Sharon. That was so disrespectful, and I can't believe…" He was fumbling on his words, and Sharon quieted him by placing a hand on his arm.
"It's okay, Andy. I'm not upset. Really."
"I know I should ignore her, but she just pushes my buttons and pisses me off to no end…" She rubbed his arm as she sympathized with him. Sharon knew all about ex-spouses that pissed you off to no end. She had one of those herself.
Their attention was drawn to the dance floor with the DJ's announcement of the bride and groom's first dance as husband and wife.
Sharon watched Andy's face as he watched his daughter's first dance with her new husband. His daughter looked so happy and so in love, and her new husband seemed very attentive. She couldn't quite read his face. It looked like a cross between genuine happiness, and…regret? Sharon wasn't sure, but Andy was watching his daughter intently. She wished she knew what he was thinking.
After their dance was over, he turned his attention back to Sharon. She smiled at him and he gave her a small shrug.
"Makes you think, you know?" He said to her. And she knew exactly what he was saying – Andy was thinking about all the time missed, and all the events of her life he missed out on.
"Andy…" she started, but she was cut off by the DJ.
"Ladies and gentlemen, before we get started with dinner, we have just one more special dance. Is there an Andy Flynn here?" The DJ looked out over the crowd. Andy froze next to Sharon. Sharon couldn't help but notice that his ex-wife froze in her seat, as well.
"Andy Flynn?" The DJ called again. Sharon turned towards him and before she could stop herself, she gently placed her hand on his cheek and nodded at him. She didn't know if it was the magnitude of the situation or the look that passed between them that sent a shiver through her.
Andy slowly turned towards the dance floor and saw his daughter waiting for him. He stood up on wobbly legs and the crowd began to clap as he made his way to the dance floor.
As the music began to play and he took his child into his arms, Andy tried to choke back the emotion that threatened to flood through him.
"Don't cry, daddy…" she said through her own tears.
Hearing her call him daddy caused his tears to spill over onto her bare shoulder. Sharon smiled as she watched him hastily wipe them from her shoulder during their dance while his daughter smiled.
Sharon had no doubt that his ex-wife was fuming, but she didn't even bother to pay attention to that shrew of a woman, because that would require her to take her eyes off of this absolutely wonderful moment between a father and his daughter. Sharon watched the exchange of so much during their dance.
Love. Laughter. Genuine happiness. And, Sharon hoped, the beginnings of forgiveness. Her heart swelled for him.
He looked so handsome out there on the dance floor with his daughter, and they turned to the photographer at the end of their dance. It was an absolutely beautiful picture.
Andy kissed his daughter's cheek before she made her way to the head table for dinner. He seemed almost dazed as he sat down next to Sharon. She looked at him closely, and he turned to her. She could still see the emotion reflected in his eyes.
"That was…" his voice hitched, and he shook his head. He was struggling to find the words.
But it didn't need to be explained, as it was a perfect moment for him all in itself, without explanation. Sharon could see that he was struggling to prevent his emotions from taking him over again, so she just squeezed his hand and quietly waited for him to gather himself. This time, he didn't pull his hand away.
Dinner passed without incident, and Sharon secretly smiled at the fact that the father/daughter dance had seemed to shut his ex-wife up. She didn't have much to say now, and the nasty looks towards their table had stopped.
Andy sat back after dinner and watched Sharon as she carried on a conversation with another guest at their table.
Her head tilted back as she laughed at something, and he watched her hand aimlessly trail a path down the graceful column of her neck. How she had unknowingly teased him with her neck. How many times had he imagined kissing her there? The candle light from the lit candles on the table danced across her face in the dimly lit room, and he was sure that she had never looked more beautiful.
Andy grabbed her empty glass and headed back to the bar for refills. As he leaned against the bar and tapped his foot impatiently, he heard the soft music begin to play, signaling the end of dinner. He watched as couples began to move to the dance floor, and suddenly, something made him turn in the direction of their table.
She was staring at him intently, and when their eyes met, her head tilted and a soft smile played across her lips. He stepped away from the bar and she stood up from the table. They stared at each other from across the room, and then he slowly started to move toward her.
Andy had seen it in the movies, this magnetic force that pulled people towards each other. To any watchful eyes in the room, it was just the father of the bride and His Friend Sharon, meeting up on the dance floor. Andy was grateful in the guise of it all because it allowed him to touch her, as he had longed to do all night.
When they came together, her hand found his shoulder and his hand found hers. His other hand rested on her hip, and they began to move.
As he gazed at her, he could feel something passing between them. He focused on her emerald green eyes as his hand moved to brush a piece of her hair behind her ear.
Her jaw clenched when his arm circled her waist and pulled her to him, closing the distance between them.
His hand splayed across her lower back, and he nosed her hair away from her ear. He felt the shudder run through her, and he was holding her so closely that he could smell the faint smell of her perfume on the sensitive spot of her neck. Her glossy hair was soft when he touched it, and he longed to run his fingers through the thickness of it.
Her chest was pressed against his, and he felt her exhale as her hands circled his middle and ran up the length of his muscular back. She wondered what it would be like, to feel his skin underneath her fingertips. She tried to shake away the thought, but her mind was foggy with desire for him.
As they danced, he noticed how her body fit perfectly into his, and her head fit perfectly below his chin. He felt her breath on his neck, and he closed his eyes and reveled in holding her as they swayed to the music.
The smell of his cologne and being this close to him was intoxicating to her.
Sharon knew it was wrong, but she wanted him. She tried to control the conflicting emotions swirling around inside of her, but she was failing. The heat between them was palpable, and they were both in danger of getting swept away in it.
The song ended, yet he held her for another brief moment. He regretfully broke apart from her, and he couldn't exactly read her face when he looked down at her. For one horrible moment he thought that he had overstepped boundaries, but she gently smiled at him and he relaxed.
The reception started to wind down, and Andy and Sharon said their goodbyes to Andy's daughter and his new son-in-law. Promises of dinner soon were made, and his daughter just assumed Sharon was part of the plan. Sharon didn't bother to correct her, and when the younger woman hugged her and thanked her again, Sharon was taken again by her warmth and loveliness.
When the chilly evening air hit her bare arms, Sharon shuddered. She felt his hands on her shoulders as he draped his suit jacket over her. She smiled up at him and wrapped herself in its warmth. It smelled of Andy, and she found it comforting.
The drive back to her condo was quiet as Sharon looked out the window at the passing lights of the city. Andy studied her from the corner of his eye. He hoped that she wasn't regretting agreeing to go to the wedding with him. Maybe he came on too strong. He didn't mean to come on at all. It just…happened. He got wrapped up in holding her on that dance floor that everyone and everything just seemed to disappear, and they weren't the Captain and the Lieutenant who had departmental politics and rules to worry about. They were Andy and Sharon, and they were dangerously close to falling headlong into the electric attraction that had developed between them. He was cursing himself.
Provenza was right. He was an idiot.
He parked in front of her condo and she rested her head on the headrest as she turned to look at him.
"I had a really great time, Andy. Thank you again for inviting me." She smiled at him.
"Me, too..." He grinned at her before getting out of the car to open her door.
He took her hand again and helped her from the car. She shrugged out of his jacket and he tossed it on the passenger seat behind her. Before her could say anything, she rocked up on her toes and pressed a light kiss onto his cheek. He inhaled sharply. It was killing him to have her this close to him for the second time in one night, and his resolve to be good was quickly crumbling.
Her face was close to his, and her eyes were burning into him. As his mouth angled to capture hers, she closed her eyes.
As he moved to kiss her, Sharon's phone chirped loudly once and then again in her purse. Andy paused and she dropped her head away from him. His hands rested on her shoulders and he felt her sigh heavily as she reached into her purse and checked her phone.
"Rusty..." she explained with a sheepish grin. He gently squeezed her shoulders before she stepped awkwardly away from him. She was feeling more conflicted now that before, but she was suddenly feeling fear as well.
It was clear that they were dangerously close to crossing the line, and she feared losing him as a friend if that happened. She needed his friendship and their great dynamic at work, and if she took that leap, it might break something between them that couldn't be fixed if it didn't work out.
She stepped back another step, and he felt his chest constrict and the sudden change he was seeing in her. She was closing herself off to him, and he knew that the moment between them was lost.
"Goodnight, Andy..." she whispered. He thought he could see unshed tears glassing her eyes.
"Goodnight, Sharon…" he said as she turned from him and he watched her walk through the double doors of her condo complex. He watched her round the corner and look back at him with a small wave, and then she was gone.