Joy Ride Continued
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Jack danced a giggling Sarah over by the table where James and Beth were talking; he picked up James' glass and drank from it, then said with a smile and a wink, "Time for the other something else." then danced a giggling Sarah off towards the sliding doors.
James sat there for a moment watching the two depart, cleared his throat, glanced at Beth, cleared his throat, looked at his hands fidgeting on the table for a few moments, the heat he could feel in his face making him wonder just what shade of embarrassment he was before looking up at Beth and clearing his throat, "I ah….I am…that is….I ah….."
She smiled and interrupted him, "I haven't gotten the impression from the short time I've known you James that you are the forward type, in fact just the opposite. So if you will allow me I think I can make this a lot easier for you."
James had totally misunderstood the intent of her words, although he was not aware of it when he answered, that realization would come just moments later. "Yes, I would appreciate that."
Beth stood and took his hand and with a smile said, "Come with me James."
James had actually allowed Beth to pull him up from his chair and lead him several steps towards the sliding doors before it fully dawned on him what her intent was, which was not his intent and was just what he was hoping to avoid, as diplomatically as possible of course since he did like Beth, but avoid just the same. He knew he was nowhere near ready to form a serious relationship just yet, and even though it might not be the same for Beth, for him to be intimate with someone would entail just that, his preference in the matter was even waiting for intimacy of that kind until after a marriage ceremony had been performed. He gently pulled back on the hand Beth held in hers and stopped walking. She turned and gave him a questioning look, "Would you rather do it here by the pool James? It's alright with me if you do. We could use one of the lounge chairs as the floor is a bit uncomfortable."
James had to pause for a moment before saying what he was about to say as his mind stuck for a moment on Beth's statement, a statement that sounded too much like personal experience. He stared down at the floor for a few moments, and shook his head several times to clear it of the images her statement had caused to flash across his mind before he could speak. He unconsciously assumed his hands clasp behind his back stance as he cleared his throat, looked off at the wall on the far side of the room and a bit hesitantly at first began, "I feel I must speak my mind here. You are a fine woman Beth, and one could consider himself to be more than fortunate to be graced by your favors." He glanced over at Beth then returned his gaze to the wall, "However I do not feel I am in any manner what so ever in the proper position in my personal situation at this time to pursue a serious relationship, which is what it would be for myself if I were to…to…"
Beth interrupted him with a bit of humor in her voice, "make love to me?" She was becoming more and more intrigued by this man.
"Yes," James replied still staring at the wall, "I do apologize most sincerely if I had given you the impression that that would be the culmination of our evening." He looked at her then and with a slight smile on his lips and honesty in his tone said, "I do find myself liking you Beth, I would hope we could become friends."
'My God,' Beth thought to herself, 'This is definitely the one man in a million my Mother told me about. All he needs is a shiny suit of armor and a white horse.' Aloud she said, "I would like that James, I would like that very much. Now there is just one thing I would like to do before we call it a night."
"I am at your command….for most things, other than what we just discussed of course." James answered.
"Of course. I think you will find this request a bit easier to accommodate. I do think I would like to dance now." She answered, giving James a smile as she spoke.
"I assure you my previous warning about my dancing abilities was not an exaggeration." James replied, then with an upward quirk of his mouth continued, "If you persist in pursuing this particular activity I refuse to accept any responsibility what so ever for the condition of your feet once I have trod on them numerous times. You were after all, with much grave intensity, warned several times."
"I gladly accept all responsibility for the condition of my feet as I have shamelessly coerced you into dancing with me." Beth replied with a smile as she stepped up to him and placed his hands on either side of her waist, placed hers on his shoulders, leaned into him, and began to sway in time to the music.
James smiled into her hair as he thought to himself, 'This may not be as bad as I had thought as long as I can just stand here and not have to worry about moving my feet.'
They continued to stand there swaying together for some time. Until Jack and Sarah returned, Sarah looking quite flushed and still giggling.
"Now what have we here?" Jack said as he spotted the two, "Why James, you surprise me. From what I've known of you in the past I was under the impression that you weren't in possession of any manner of dancing skills. Last thing I expected was to return and find the two of you engaged in dancing, of course now that I think on it the possibility of finding you engaged in the activity I was expecting is a bit more far fetched, anyway here you are with the bonny lass in your arms and showing some fine moves if you don't mind my saying."
"You surely have somewhere else you could be, and something else you could be doing." James said.
"Oh sure, and was just at that somewhere and engaged in that something," Jack said with a wink at Sarah, "And it's not beyond reason to think I might not be returning to that somewhere and engaging again in that something." He said with another wink at Sarah, "But even I need a break for a while, so you and the bonny lass will just have to put up with me for a little." As he finished he took Sarah by the arm and went over to the patio table James and Beth had been sitting at, pulled Sarah onto his lap as he sat down and poured them each a glass of rum.
Beth heard James sigh and leaned up and whispered in his ear, "He is a bit to put up with at times isn't he. If he wasn't so endearing he would be quite impossible."
"Endearing having the meaning here of exasperating." James snarked in reply.
"I heard that, and don't think I didn't!" Jack called over to them a bit poutily.
To Be Continued
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