Author's note: It has been my pleasure to be your host. :-) And now for the conclusion of FINE AND FUN!
"Don't You Change…
Some walk by night
Some fly by day…
Moonlighting strangers
Who just met on the way…"
FINE AND FUN
from the Moonlighting, an Alternate Universe series
Chapter Four:
…Fun!
That night David sat on his trunk near the front door. He continuously stopped bouncing his knee whenever he realized he was doing it again and kept checking his watch. He was dressed like he was going to a bar, a nice one. He had to remind himself not to worry about what Maddie would think of his appearance. It was his turn. He was the judge tonight. Whatever he did was fine—er, fun.
He raised up a little when he heard the sound of a car pull up outside. Two cars judging by the echoing sound of engines. He was already at the door by the time someone knocked but his face froze at the sight on the other side.
"Hello, Mr. Addison," said Bert Viola with a self-satisfied, knowing smile.
"Ah…" David came out on the step, forcing Bert back a little, and looked left and right. Then his eyes focused on two cars. "Bert, what are you doing here?" he said faintly, his eyes glued to the scarlet red 1985 Trans Am, only a year old and shiny as a new nickel.
"Do you like my new car, sir?" The shorter man looked like he was about to burst with glee.
"Hi, Mr. Addison!" called Miss DiPesto, waving enthusiastically from the driver's side of her own vehicle, a modest Beetle.
David finally tore his eyes away from the sleek car. "Miss DiPesto." He waved back uncertainly and turned to stare at Bert.
"Sir, is it not a lovely night for a drive—with an even lovelier woman?"
"Bert. What is going on?"
Still grinning, Bert presented him with a thick white business envelope and dangled keys in front of his face. "My instructions are simply to give you this envelope and these keys. "
David slowly took both from him.
"Have a very good night, sir." And with that Bert spun on his heel and walked to the Beetle where he and Miss DiPesto argued about who would drive. Grumbling, he stalked to the passenger side when Miss DiPesto won and with another merry wave and a 'Have a great night, Mr. Addison!' she pulled away with a screech of tires, Bert's shouts of alarm and scolding heard all the way down the street until they turned the corner.
David looked down at the objects in his hands and the car parked in front of his door, his wide eyes hopping back and forth like a Looney Toons cartoon character. He twirled the keys around on a finger then used one to open the envelope. Inside was one sheet of pink perfumed note paper…and money. Instructions were written in neat cursive handwriting.
'For a fun evening, pick me up at seven o'clock and take me to Dinardo's Famous Steaks. Afterwards we're getting Mesmerize(d).' ~~Maddie
That's it. That's all the note said. But the car! Wow. It was definitely a rental, but when Maddie went big, she went really big. He walked around it and whistled low, feeling the pump of blood through his veins. His feelings about this date or evening out or settling a bet or whatever were like a swinging pendulum. But at least he wasn't bored!
He went back in and grabbed his leather jacket. A thought made him pause and he smirked to himself, heading for his bedroom. When he slid into the driver's seat of the sleek red beauty, he leaned back, luxuriating. He flipped down the visor mirror and grinned, looking at the two silver ear cuffs on the right ear. Yeah, yeah, right side kinda indicated he might be looking for a boyfriend but it wasn't a strict rule. It was more of a casual guideline. Besides, he'd been approached by super friendly men before while wearing no earrings, so... Anyway, Maddie would be looking at his right side in the car and he wanted her to get the full effect of his appearance. He flipped the visor back up and turned the ignition.
"Ohhh, yeahhhh..."
Honestly, if all Maddie did this evening was send him this car, he was satisfied that she knew how to do fun like he defined fun! He gunned the motor before taking off with his own screech of tires. He wouldn't tell her that though, not until the end of the night. He'd like it more if he could tell her in the morning—after breakfast. Ah, well…a guy could dream, couldn't he? And some dreams came true after all. He should know. He persuaded a sexy ex-model to work with him in a low-budget, or rather no budget, private investigation business that didn't really do a whole lot of business—which wasn't for want of enthusiasm.
As he burned rubber on the road like he was in an episode of Miami Vice, all he knew for certain right then was, he had that Cinder-fella feeling back again and this warm summer night was full of so many possibilities…
~~l~u~n~a~r~~
Maddie waited on her couch. She wouldn't look at herself in a mirror for the hundredth time. She knew what she'd see and it would make her feel like chickening out. She did however fiddle around inside her purse for…whatever. She just needed something to do with her hands while her thoughts were on repeat. She wasn't sure what possessed her to buy this dress. No, that wasn't true. About a year ago she'd had a strange dream about David and his ex-wife before Maddie ran off and followed him to New York for his ex-brother-in-law's funeral. She never examined too closely why she went and then she let the passage of time do the rest. The whole dream was one big musical about David working in a New York bar, meeting a jezebel and marrying her with less than happy results. At the end Maddie danced into the bar in a short blue sleeveless dress to put a smile back on a jilted David's face with quite an energetic kiss. Such a dream must have been brought on by the spicy Chinese food she remembered having that night. Anyway, in Bergdorf Goodman's she'd found a dress almost exactly like the one in the dream. It accentuated the blue of her eyes which was her favorite fashion trick, hugged her shape, and showed off her legs with a hemline much higher than she could recall wearing in recent years. She also had a matching light shawl and blue sandals that could be certified as ankle-breaking stilettos if the heels were any higher, which meant the flatter matching blue shoes in her bag were a necessity if she was going to dance.
Although she made all the plans Maddie had firm beliefs about which sex should do what during an evening out. Women's lib was great but she wasn't about to pick a man up to go out socially on a Saturday night. It just wouldn't feel right, bet or no bet. She smiled to herself thinking that David would hardly mind the arrangements she'd made because of this. He'd be pleased from the start and that would give her a high 'starting score' which should set the tone for the rest of the night. At this point all she had to do was sit with her legs crossed and smile all night.
Knowing David Addison however, he wouldn't let it be that easy for her, and perhaps it shouldn't. He put together a fine evening at a moment's notice and in her opinion she hadn't exactly been the most easy-going date. At least she hadn't treated him like she did at work.
Maddie frowned. Where had that thought come from? What was wrong with the way she treated David at work? After all, her demeanor was always—mostly—professional, as it should be, while David…well, he was King of the Wobblies, which explained her treatment of him at work and everywhere else.
The sound of a very sleek motor came from outside and after a minute her doorbell chimed. To her chagrin, her heart leaped into her throat—déjà vu!—but she walked casually to the door, using every modeling trick she knew to appear perfectly serene and poised even when she felt the opposite. She opened it and they both stared at each other, frozen in their respective spots.
David was…well, he looked very handsome in a…'Big Man on Mulberry Street' kind of way, emphasis on the street. Unconsciously Maddie parted her lips. Actually David looked very handsome period. And benignly dangerous—if danger could be benign, that is. She tried to smile naturally.
"Hello, David." She blushed because of his obvious approval when he gave her a slow leisurely once-over, a half smile creeping up one side of his face.
"Hi." He produced a bunch of fresh flowers, so fresh they looked like they'd just been ripped from the ground.
"Thank you," she said, wondering why her voice was approaching Marilyn Monroe-level breathlessness. She cleared her throat delicately. "Come in while I put these in water."
David breathed out a sigh as quietly as he could, watching her walk away. Good Golly Miss Molly! Known 'round here as Miss Maddie! ~Where did she get that dress?~ She should wear it every day! He loved seeing her bare shoulders and arms and legs...and everything. There was no curve of hers left untouched by that dress and his hands were jealous as hell.
She returned, put on her shawl and said, "I hope what I'm wearing is okay. Where are we going?"
Okay, so she wanted to play the part and he certainly didn't mind. Just the opposite, in fact.
"I thought we'd stop by Dinardo's Famous Steaks before hitting the floor at Mesmerize. How's that sound?"
She nodded agreeably. "Sounds great."
"Okay, then! Shall we?"
David enjoyed Maddie's skillful stroll in those high heels. He'd always been impressed by women who could pull that off without looking like they were balancing themselves on a tightrope. He jogged to the passenger side to help her in with chivalrous flourish. He took off his jacket and tossed it in the back where it would stay for the rest of the night. When he slid into the drivers seat Maddie took in the earrings, the biceps, the whole white t-shirt Brando effect. She caught herself staring and looked straight ahead instead.
During the ride they were quiet, an anticipatory tension in the silence.
Maddie was the one who broke it with a touch of humor. "Nice ride."
"Yeah. And I thank…my lucky stars for it. It was very cool of my lucky stars to do this." He turned away with a gentle smile. "And I'll be grateful forever."
"I'm sure the lucky stars are simply glad you're enjoying it. That's gratitude enough."
David reached over and took her hand from her lap to raise it to his lips for a brief kiss.
"Thank you," he said quietly. She only smiled.
At Dinardo's David seated Maddie as a waiter hovered nearby after placing menus on the table.
"Hi, I'm Adam. I'll be your waiter tonight. Let me tell you about our specials…And while you're thinking about that. Can I start you off with something to drink?"
Maddie almost ordered her tried and true, but paused and looked at David. "What are you drinking?"
"Well…I'm in the mood for a Guinness Stout."
"I'll have one too," she said decisively.
David stopped himself from asking her if she was sure. As far as he knew Maddie had never consumed beer in her life and he couldn't imagine her liking it, but that wasn't supposed to be his concern tonight. His only job tonight was to be himself and assess her rendition of fun.
"Great! I'll be right back," said Adam.
They studied their menus. Maddie already knew what David was going to order. This was a steak-lovers restaurant and he was absolutely a steak man. He probably wanted the porterhouse, but he'd settle for prime rib because he wouldn't want to 'waste her money.' She felt it in her bones and decided to pave the way for him not to worry about it.
"I heard the porterhouse steak was very good here. Have you ever had it?"
"Ah…yeah, a while back."
"I'm going to try it. How about you?"
David couldn't believe it. Dinardo's was also known for their seafood and Maddie was crazy about eating anything that swam.
He chuckled. "I'll think I'll join you."
They ate their identical meals in what appeared on the outside as a companionable silence but each of them was having wordy conversations in their own heads, not with each other.
David felt weirdly tongue-tied and awkward. He was not being his relaxed smooth-talking self on a weekend date. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Maddie looked as stunningly beautiful as she ever had and then some. Maybe it was that he was afraid to break the spell of them not arguing about anything—or the spell of her genuine smiles lighting up her baby blues. It was hard to look into them without certain feelings heating up.
~Your feelings?~
[Certain feelings, yeah. So?], he answered himself defensively.
~Do tell. What feelings? You won't talk to her and you're looking like an idiot, which means this night is a bust, so you might as well talk to me!~
[Hey, pal. The night ain't no bust, not pour moi! She's the one on the hook to provide a fun night. All I gotta do is sit back. And who are you anyway?]
~I'm the non-stupid part of you. And if you think you can fool me into believing that drivel you just said then you don't know me. I know what you want.~
[Shut up.] David grit his teeth in warning to…himself. He didn't notice Maddie looking at him quizzically because he was looking down at his plate.
~I can't. These are *your* thoughts. You want what you've always wanted since this woman walked into your life but so far you haven't had the *guts* to go get it…"
"David!"
He jerked his head up. "What?!" And knocked his beer all over the table.
~Smooth, man. *Real* smooth…"
"[Suck my big one,]" he muttered. Maddie's eyes narrowed and he realized he spoke aloud and blushed, actually blushed. Jeezus. "Sorry." He began to frantically wipe the table off with the 10,000 napkins Adam left for them.
Maddie shook her head and put her forkful of apple pie down to take a sip of her Irish liqueur coffee.
"David."
He stopped mid-wipe. "Huh?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No, why would you think that?"
She sighed. So far the evening hadn't been that much fun. They ate in silence which was awkward. She did enjoy the Guinness Stout though. Anyway, she herself hadn't helped the situation and she was supposed to be the fun master tonight. She couldn't salvage things now since dinner was basically over. She'd make up for it at Mesmerize; she'd have some help there. She also needed to loosen up a little. David was following her lead, which meant she was about as dull as dish water right now.
"You okay, Maddie? Look, I'm sorry about the spill and my little slip of the tongue."
"Oh no! That's not—I'm fine." She forced a smile. "And soon I'll be fun." She winked and he blinked. "You'll see." She put a big forkful in her mouth. It was the best apple pie she'd had in a long time and she wiped her mouth delicately. "I feel the need to dance some of these calories off. Shall we go?"
David cleared his throat. "Waiter! Check please…"
~~l~u~n~a~r~~
They arrived at Mesmerize about 9pm. It was a cavernous place with soft lighting reflected on all the shiny surfaces. And while many patrons were there tonight, the layout of the place gave the feeling of roominess. David went to take Maddie's shawl from her shoulders to give to the coat-check girl but she demurred. You never knew when a place would get chilly and she wasn't exactly sure how much David wanted to dance. It was thin enough to fold and tuck into her purse. She found out he had quite a social circle here and was popular with the ladies. Maddie tried not to think about that last part because it gave her a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach which was ridiculous. Instead, she concentrated on the welcome feel of his hand casually resting on her lower back to guide her further into the room. Of course they didn't get far before he was recognized even under an area with low lighting.
"It's the Add-Man!" called Pete from the bar and several people there made a commotion, greeting David.
"Looks like you're the MVP around here," Maddie said teasingly. She noticed that he looked charmingly embarrassed about it. Him. David Addison, Jr. Embarrassed by his own magnetic pull on people. This was a revelation.
He briefly exchanged words with Pete and introduced Maddie to everyone. Of course Maddie and Pete and 'everyone' pretended they were meeting for the first time. Then David led Maddie to a cosy table in a corner. It was the only cosy corner table left and the only reason they got it was that the couple who was just there vacated the seats to continue their heated argument elsewhere.
"Hope they take all that bad karma with them," David muttered wryly.
Maddie reached across the table and patted his arm. "Don't worry. We're impenetrable against that kind of thing."
David chuckled, enjoying this side of her. "Are we? I hadn't noticed but that's good to know."
The Temptations "My Girl" was playing over the sound system…
They looked at each other for several long moments until a waitress came over, popping gum. "Can I get y'all something to drink?" She peered at David. "Dave, it's you! How you doin', honey?"
"Doing good, Shirl. You?"
"Great—now that you're here to liven up the place." She glanced good-humoredly at Maddie. "You're sittin' with a real live ace here, sugar. Hold on to this one."
To David's complete surprise, Maddie wore a Mona Lisa-type smile and said, "I'll try." He chuckled again delightedly, glad she couldn't see the blush he felt heating up his face. He didn't know what had gotten into his lady boss, but he prayed it would stay! And what was up with him...man-blushing tonight?
"So—drinks?" asked Shirl.
Maddie tilted her head, studying David, then broke out with another smile. "Do you have Seagram's wine coolers?"
"Do we ever! What flavor you want, sugar?"
"The original."
"You got it. How about you, Dave?"
He laughed a little, shaking his head. "The same. Thanks, Shirl."
"Don't mention it!"
When she left, David leaned forward on the table and motioned to the space beside Maddie. "It's kinda loud in here for talking across tables. May I?"
She nodded, smile still in place.
David felt like he was in an episode of the Twilight Zone where he was entering an alternate better reality. No, more like Fantasy Island! He eased beside her, not wanting to disturb whatever was happening. They sat closer than two co-workers just working on a bet would, but she didn't turn away, her expression open, welcoming in a non-flirty way, with the possibility of becoming flirty lingering in the air.
David looked down at the table, tapping his fingers lightly. He wasn't supposed to be nervous. This was fun. Maddie was being fun. He loosened the leash on his natural impulses where she was concerned just a little more—and carefully put his arm around the back of her chair, angling his upper body towards her.
And still she didn't move or change expression.
He leaned further towards her ear, bringing them almost cheek to cheek. "How's this? You okay?"
"Uh huh."
Shirl brought their drinks and grinned widely without saying anything when she saw Dave making moves on the pretty blonde lady who looked familiar. This one was no giggling ninny like a lot of the women who threw themselves at him. Shirl studied them covertly as she laid napkins down. The classy duchess looked friendly enough, and Dave could brighten anyone's gray day. They were an interesting match. He seemed smitten anyway.
Maddie sipped her Seagram's, blindly watching Shirl walk away while intensely aware of David's closeness. He was smiling at her and she turned and smiled back, even in the dim light able to see the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. She hid her reaction to his thumb brushing softly over her bare shoulder by taking a few mini-gulps of the mild beverage.
The Delfonics "La La Means I Love You" came over the speakers and David cleared his throat, giving her a softened version of his lopsided smile as he stood up. "Would you like to dance?"
She hesitated. "One moment." She changed her shoes and put her hand in his. He took her slowly into the midst of the crowded floor and pulled her into a respectable waltz position, moving her gently to the rhythm. Maddie looked around and saw that all the women had their arms around their partners' necks and the men had theirs around the women's waists—the slow drag clinch. So, when in Rome….
Maddie discreetly took a deep breath and moved into the 'slow dance' position and David followed her lead, his pulse speeding up. They kept their gazes averted. The next song was Smokey Robinson's "Ooo, Baby, Baby" and the lights were dimmed on the dance floor even more and David held her a little closer, a little tighter. Maddie didn't feel his breath against her. Was he holding it? Well, since she had gone this far….
She felt David jerk ever so slightly when she readjusted her hold on him and rested her head against his shoulder, her lips a breath away from the column of his neck. David hoped she couldn't hear him swallow. If this was a dream he never wanted to wake up. Maddie had initiated The Clinch and then a closer Clinch. Oddly, in this moment he felt vulnerable. This is the kind of interaction that said two people were beginning a courtship that could lead to things. Good things. Special things. Sexy things….
That stupid little voice in his said, "Love things?," which he ignored. Or rather wished he could ignore. Because if he was honest something major changed for him the first time he hurt her and she slapped him. No, no, he wasn't into BDSM. It was just that, although he hid it like most of his true feelings, it unexpectedly hurt him when he hurt her. He felt like that every time he knew he hurt her, even when he was angry with her and in the heat of the moment thought she deserved what he said. And then there were the fleeting times when she was sweet to him and then his head and the rest of him felt full of her sugar.
Now there was this moment. And all bets seemed to be off. All because of a little dancing. Wow.
They danced all night until Maddie's feet hurt even in her spare lower-heeled shoes. Fast songs, slow songs, all doo wop sensuality. And she flirted with him and touched him and he did the same back. She was glad he couldn't see how much she blushed even while reaching for him. In between dances when they had to rest they made easy small talk that was more of an excuse to remain physically close, ostensibly in order to hear each other over the music. And Maddie didn't analyze anything.
It was perfect.
Now as she melted against the headrest in the Trans Am, blinking drowsily to the purr of the engine, she thought the only thing that was missing was a kiss. She was disappointed that he hadn't tried. She thought she felt him kiss her hair once but if so, he must not have meant for her to notice. In fact, just before they left and she was still all smiles, he suddenly became reserved and now it was starting to bother her. She opened her eyes to the patter of raindrops on the windows and glanced at David who was staring straight ahead. He hadn't said a word since they left Mesmerize. Maddie's lips twisted slightly before she turned away again.
David had so many words bubbling under the surface of his strained silence. Every step of the way tonight he worried so much about saying or doing something to ruin what was happening between them that right now he was doing exactly that. He could feel it. The bald truth was, he wanted her. Now. He wanted Maddie. This wasn't new but he'd kept the feeling contained because up until this moment he'd been damn sure there was nothing that he could do about it. But now? Maybe it was still 'nothing doing' but he felt like a live wire. He wanted to begin something real between them. The difference in their personalities was staggering sometimes but damned if they didn't fit like a lock and key once they laid their weapons down and enjoyed each other's company. It was a revelation of what could be. But here he was not talking to her and they were getting close to home. The walls would go up with talk about bets and challenges while they retreated to their defensive corners again after having come so close to something so much better.
David glanced out of the corner of his eye when Maddie took what sounded like a shaky breath and put on this bright but phony smile, completely unlike all the others she'd given him tonight. The retreat had begun.
"Well, admit it. I gave you a very fun night, didn't I?" Then she gave him a tolerant, condescending look. "I guess the King of the Wobblies can report back that the blonde beast—" David's head whipped around, "Well, isn't that what you all call me? Anyway, you can tell the faithful serfs—well, faithful to you anyway—that I'm not all claws. And you did okay too, by the way. So no more silly bets and challenges, Addison. We're done….Hey!" she yelped as he swerved the car to the curb and parked with jerky movements. They were seven blocks away from her house.
"David, why have we stopped here? Why do you look like that? What's wrong with you?"
"Maddie."
"I don't like the way you're looking. Is this because my night was just as much fun as yours was fine? Maybe yours was a little finer, okay? Are you happy?" But her voice died on the last syllable, fading into shallow breathing as she recognized the thick tension permeating the car.
David could convey so much with a look. Tell everyone to beware when David Addison finally stopped talking and just looked at you—like now. He unbuckled his seatbelt and pushed his seat back as far as it could go. Maddie's heart beat against her breastbone, audibly in her opinion, from the heat emanating from that look. With a sudden fluid motion he freed her from her seatbelt as well, hauled her across his lap and tunneled his hands in her hair for a firm but gentle grip. He kissed her, smothering the sound she made. She twisted as much as she could from her sideways position to press her front to his. Maddie held his face, opened her mouth and returned every exploring lick, slide and caress of his tongue. The brief experience she had before of the way he kissed was nothing, nothing, compared to this! It was a wild, rhythmic, thorough tasting that went on and on and on...She felt herself becoming tight and ripe for the taking, his taking, only him...
"Maddie...!" he muttered against her, wrapping his arms around her to run his hands over her back and waist, his fingers playing up and down the bare space between her shoulder blades. She gave a soft gasp, half disappointed, half welcoming the extra oxygen when David broke their marathon liplock to go no further than sucking a slow path of kisses across her cheek and down the column of her neck, past her collarbone... She gasped and arched to give him full access.
"David!" she said breathlessly.
"god, yes!..." His words were smothered high against her breast where he took a gentle nip, making her jerk and cry out. David did not know where he got the strength to pull back between kisses and move her carefully over to the passenger seat but it was apparently a success by the dazed, disappointed look on Maddie's face but she said nothing. He had to stop looking at her sexily disheveled hair, lips made plump from his kiss, the rise and fall of her breasts, or he'd be on her again in seconds. What she did to him, good god!
Leaning back he blew out a harsh breath and rubbed hands over his face. "Maddie, I—" He didn't believe the next words he intended to say, but here they were… "Can we talk?" He was hoarse and cleared his throat. "I—need to talk to you."
She was still looking somewhat out-of-it. "Talk to me?"
He was uncertain of how she would take it when he said, "Now. I mean, at your place."
She looked away from him. "Sure. At my place? Sure. Fine."
"Fine."
"Good."
"Good."
Lacking heat the exchange sounded flat to his ears, unlike when they were ending an argument before giving each other a mutual silent treatment.
Maybe he should have kept on kissing her—kept on kissing the woman that he…that he….
~Ya think? Dope!~
They drove the rest of the way in silence and soon he was standing in the middle of her living room watching her lock the door. When she turned to face him they just stared at each other until Maddie asked him if he wanted something to drink.
"Fine. Good," he said absently. "Wait, I mean no. Can we—?" He gestured towards her couch.
Maddie sat, actually wanting something to drink, something strong. During the brief awkward drive she distractedly thought that by the time they got to the house whatever this was would dissipate. They'd kissed before and nothing came of it. Right? They met each other's challenges and got carried away in the playacting.
Right?
David watched her with that inscrutable gaze of his, something faintly inviting in it. He sighed, moving closer to her, reached for her hand and looked back up at her with a small smile. He looked so cute.
Wrong! Maddie answered her own inner question. But what now?...
"Maddie, tonight wasn't just about the bet." She saw a tick in his cheek, but his soft smile remained in place. "Was it?"
Her nerves were taut. "You first. Since you—brought it up."
"That kiss, Maddie…." He let the words hang there, watching her.
She looked down, nodding shyly. "Yeah. That kiss…."
"Look, I had a great time tonight. A great time. Better than any time I can remember since—you walked into City of Angels." He looked down, smoothing her hand firmly between his. "And I knew then that I finally met my kind of angel." His soft gaze warmed her face. "You."
She gave him a small smile and didn't say anything for a moment but she didn't pull away. "That is sweet, David. But...we've been a certain way with each other all this time. And now after tonight, all that's changed?"
Her heart fluttered when he pressed a kiss against her knuckles, pinning her with a look of raw longing which disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by a wry smile. "Oh, I think a better word is 'evolved.' No! We've—grown. You know boys and their growth spurts."
Maddie tilted her head. "Is this growth spurt the lasting kind, or will things shrink back to normal tomorrow—with everything disappearing into the void of 'let's-pretend-it-never-happened'?"
"I'm definitely gonna go with door number one."
"You are? I'm not sure."
"Well," he began softly, leaning close. "How about this?" And kissed her again, gently exploring.
Maddie responded but not fully like before. He pulled back only far enough for her to breathe, watching. Waiting…
They sat that way for several heartbeats until Maddie shook her head helplessly and kissed him back fervently. David silently mouthed an exultant 'Yes!' as he swallowed his name on her lips. She clutched at him desperately, pulling him over her, leaning back haphazardly against the couch pillows.
After long moments of bliss, David's consciousness began to swim to the surface of an ocean of sensation. Self-control sent a lifeboat and he grabbed it. Maddie was still going strong with her breaststroke but he tried to slow their kisses down. He felt all this from basically just kissing her? Heaven help him!
"Maddie." Her name came out on a strangled note and he struggled to think straight.
"Yeah?" She didn't sound any better, her voice muffled against his neck, her hands moving all over his back and shoulders, hugging him close. He was dying with the pleasure, his emotions strung out tautly. When he attempted to put an inch or two of air between them, she smiled mischievously and squeezed his ass-ets, making him jerk with a gruff laugh. David carefully sat up and took her with him.
Eyes bright with humor and desire barely held in check, he cupped her cheek, stroking with his thumb. She pushed into his palm, kissing him.
"Maddie," he sighed.
"That is my name." He heard laughter in her voice. She started to kiss his neck again. "Do you…have something...else to…say?"
"Baby, please. I don't want to go too fast," he whispered, his hands motionless on her upper arms.
She stopped. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, believe it or not, I want to talk about this. Us. I want to get some things clear."
Maddie sat all the way back and ran a hand through her hair. "I thought everything was pretty clear a second ago."
David was trying to find the right words or at least avoid the wrong ones. He remembered moments in their shared past when it seemed like they weren't going to fight but instead move onto more companionable ground, when somehow, some way, he'd say something to trigger her doubts and she'd shut down on him like a falling guillotine blade. Then it would be months before such a moment would happen again. This had been much more than a moment but Maddie could balk at any time, any second, and he wouldn't see it coming. However, fortune favored the bold and he'd never been that with her, not like now. He had to run fast and hard with it to reach the goal.
"This is what I want to make perfectly clear." He looked at her then. "I want a chance with you, Maddie."
She sat up straighter, not saying anything as she looked at him with a focused but unreadable expression. David wasn't sure that boded well, but what the hell, he'd go for broke like he did for everything he really wanted.
"I want us to date. I want to court you."
"Sooo…not as a challenge or a bet, not as opponents?"
He leaned to toward her, his eyes vividly green. "Oh definitely not opponents, no bets, and the only challenge would be, who would kiss whom first every day."
"Every day. I see."
Maddie stood up and began to pace slowly in front of him. He hoped to god she wasn't putting up any barriers to the idea in that blonde noggin.
"Talk to me, lady. I'm hanging on a ledge and it's getting cold out here alone."
"Oh, you're hardly alone." She sat on a chair directly opposite him. Way over there. Hmmmmm….
She smiled in a flustered way. "David, change doesn't happen overnight."
"A minute ago on this couch I thought it already had."
"You sound—annoyed."
"I'm not. I just don't want you to shut me out because you don't think it could work, that we could work."
"Come on, David. You have to admit that we are fundamentally different people."
He rolled his eyes wearily. "Oh my god."
"What?"
He ran frustrated fingers through his hair.
"Maddie honey, every person on the planet is fundamentally different from every other person on the planet. But we got more going for us than differences, a lot more."
"We argue, David. All the time. We scream and argue and slam doors. I don't do that and I don't want to do that with men that I'm—seeing."
David blew out a breath. "Maybe…we've been doing all that since day one because we haven't been seeing each other. Okay? And if we do see each other, we won't do all that anymore—much."
She looked as if she didn't quite buy that but wasn't discounting it altogether. He got up.
"What are you doing?"
He came and hunkered down in front of her.
"I need this back." He took her hand and started fondling it and Maddie could feel things fluttering inside. "Hey look. Real talk? Maddie Hayes, I've been gone on you ever since I first met you. Y'know, when you tried to fire me while looking at me like I was gum under your shoe? Now, coming from another woman that would turn me off. Should have turned me off. I know because it's happened before."
"What? Who?"
"Uh-uh, that's another story—one I might share with a woman I'm seeing—maybe."
"Oh really now?"
"Well, really then—maybe."
"No, no…" Maddie stood up again and so did he. "This is what we do. There's always an edge. Someone I'm with…I—" She gestured with her hands. "—I want to be comfortable. I don't want to be always on the lookout for a verbal dig or attack, or getting tricked or goaded into something. It's stressful. David, we're stressful together. I'm not saying we don't work well together, on cases, because we do. In fact—Blue Moon wouldn't exist without you."
"Maddie—thanks. But the stress part, it doesn't have to be like that, is what I'm trying to tell you!" He shook his head, sighing, and moved near to rub her folded arms. "It doesn't have to be like that, Maddie," he whispered pleadingly. "Give us a chance. Any risk would be worth it to me." He dipped his head, trying to get her to look up. "Wouldn't it be worth it to you? Because I think we'd be absolutely, the lord's lovin' truth, spectacular together. I can see it now! We'd make the front covers of Newsweek and Time magazine, and Oprah would have us on for a two-hour primetime special to tell America—and the world—how good lovin' is done."
Maddie laughed a little, mildly exasperated at his exuberant gesticulations while she was on the edge of indecision. "We'd have to show how 'being-in-the-same-room-together-without-the-clash-of-the-Titans' is done, before showing good anything else. And another thing, I wouldn't be in this for casual giggles and laughs."
"Well, whaddaya know, we have even more in common. I'm not in this for just that either." He was smiling widely.
"David…" she dragged his name out, uncertainty dripping from both syllables. He pulled her back down to the couch.
"Come're. Now look. We'll take it slooww, nice and slow, but with steady forward motion. I know what we've been doing for two years but now we know we can do something else, something different, and still be us but happier. I see a win-win here, lady, because I'll tell you something else….Even with all the knock out/drag outs, intended puns and below the belt right hooks, I look forward to being with you every day. And whenever I go out and meet some other woman—" At this Maddie's gaze chilled but she stayed focused on his words. "—Yeah, see that look? How do you think I feel every time you go out with one of your Mr. Success people, guys you choose who are always nothing like me?"
"David, how was I supposed-?" He held up a hand.
"We digress. I was just saying, that whenever I'm with some one else, I can't remember a time since you and I met that I didn't wish she was you. So I'd come back to work and sometimes pick fights with the cute girl in class to get her attention and get her to talk to me, or even shout at me…because I was sure she'd laugh in my face if I told her how I really felt about her."
When his voice cracked on the last word, Maddie's chest flooded with warmth and she said in a small voice, "Well, that girl was—certainly eager to engage with you because…she didn't know if she let this boy in, whether she'd get hurt and feel like a fool. So…insults and door slamming seemed safer?"
She ended the statement like a question, distracted and unnerved by David's intense stare.
"Yeah." He sounded equally distracted. "So, um…if I'm able to get reservations for McCormick and Shmick's next Saturday…would you go out with me again?"
Maddie bit her bottom lip, thinking. She looked so sweet and adorable doing it that he wanted to scoop her up in an endless kiss right then, but hearing her answer was too important for what would be an all-consuming sidetrack!
"Well…I have a date already for Saturday—"
Now David was the one who was chilled, feeling frozen in place.
"—but I could…cancel it?" Inwardly Maddie cringed. Why was she turning her statements into questions now?
And he loved her question! "You could? Oh! Yes, you definitely could! In fact, you positively should. Absolutely no question about it, if you wanna know what I think.
She gave him a wry glance. "I guess I do. But if I cancel this other date, what if you can't get reservations?" She smiled. "I get hungry on Saturday nights."
The biggest, happiest grin she'd ever seen on his face slowly spread across it. "I'll surprise you, Maddie Hayes."
Her eyelids lowered. "You already have. How about another surprise right now?"
"Ahhh, let me see…" He pretended to think hard about what he could do, then snapped his fingers. "I got it! You ready?"
She leaned back against the cushions and raised her arms behind her head in a come-hither pose. "Mm-hmmm.
When he moved over her, she wrapped them sensually around him….
~l~u~n~a~r~
The next morning David stood in front of the mirror, staring critically at his reflection, smoothing his hair and turning this way and that. Finally he stood straight and still and with a frustrated sound started the grooming dance routine all over again. He was really losing it. Hadn't been this wound up with anticipation since that fateful rainy afternoon with Tess back in high school. He ended up getting a wife and an extreme case of low self-esteem out of that deal. He started whistling an upbeat tune, grabbed his car keys and was out the door.
It was another hot day in LA. Weren't they all? It was too bad the Bimmer's a/c, which he just had fixed, was only halfway working now. It hurt to take that beautiful Trans Am back to the rental place Maddie got it from early that morning. But the Bimmer held a lot of good memories of time spent with his lady boss. He was definitely taking it back to the mechanic today. Couldn't have Maddie sweating in the car.
[David looks at the audience with a saucy grin.] "No, I'm not going to say it! I am not!"
At a traffic light David shrugged clumsily out of his suit jacket, tossed in the passenger seat and loosened his tie. ~Why'd he even bother with all that primping before?~ He was able to roll down his window too before the guy behind him honked a second time. He waved apologetically and took off with a screech of tires, one hand on the wheel and the other hanging casually outside.
Whew! That was better. Now he could think. Actually he hadn't stopped thinking since leaving Maddie last night. No, he didn't try to stay. He didn't try to press his advantage to get into her bed. That's not what he wanted…
[The audience collectively raises an eyebrow.]
Ahhhhh…Okay, yes, that's absolutely positively exactly what he wanted, but he wanted so much more.
First, he wanted Maddie as close to 'tied-up' body and soul as he could get her. He wanted her to fully commit. To him. And he was crazy because it was too damn soon. Sure, they definitely crossed a threshold, and sure, Maddie was definitely receptive to moving forward with it. But a couple of soul-stirring kisses with her on the couch late in the night guaranteed nothing with Madolyn Hayes in the cold light of day.
The thought suddenly made him feel a little queasy. Then a guy raced past him in a lamborghini, the dust it blew up making David cough and grab the wheel with both hands. There had been a blonde on the passenger's side who resembled Maddie as far as he could tell, more of an impression of Maddie really. In the cold—or rather hot—light of a summer morning it would certainly be in character for Maddie to completely change her mind and give him the cold shoulder. Nobody could freeze off a guy's manhood like her. She liked order, control, predictability—all qualities he had to struggle with when situations called for him to have them. And let's face it, she was used to rubbing shoulders with men of status. He could see it now. She'd be with him and then see some guy in a lamborghini and then suddenly realize she wanted a guy like that after all, a Mr. Success, no matter how David made her feel. And oh yes, he knew how he made her feel! If it was only half as deep as what he felt for her, then he might have a chance. Because he didn't know what the hell he was going to do if she said 'no' now after he practically laid his heart out on a plate for her, knife and fork included.
~l~u~n~a~r~
It was 9:15am and Maddie was pacing in her office. He wasn't in yet. He didn't call after he left her last night. Well, she guessed there was no absolute need for him to do so. After all, the plan was to talk again in the morning. His plan in fact. She was surprised he didn't try to stay. David Addison was indeed an unpredictable man. He could be too crude for words, he believed in God, he could be childish, he didn't smoke, he was principled in many ways and good with children and the elderly. He was the direct opposite of a workaholic. He was also scared to death of squirrels and mice but not snakes or tarantulas, —all of which they'd had to deal with on a particularly wacky case that he talked her into last year. He didn't have the one-track mind she often accused him of having. His mind often operated on multiple tracks simultaneously. Could she deal with his mercurial nature on an intimate level?
"Ms. Hayes!"
Maddie jumped and turned a disapproving gaze to her receptionist. "Please don't sneak up and shout like that, Miss DiPesto."
Agnes pulled the earbuds of her Walkman out. "Oh. I'm sorry, Ms. Hayes. Bert made a music tape for me and wouldn't leave me alone until I listened to it. I just wanted to tell you that Mr. Addison was here."
"Here?"
Agnes shook her head vigorously, noticing a strange expression cross Maddie's face. Was that a deer-caught-in-headlights look or something else?
"Mr. Addison is here? I didn't see him."
"Well…not here in this office. Here in his office. I thought you'd like to know."
"I mean...I didn't hear him. When did he get in?"
"Oh, about fifteen minutes ago. I was on the phone with a potential client who wanted to talk about how I answer the phone. He wanted to hear all my different greetings. Mr. Addison came in while I was on the fifth one. I still had a lot more but I thought I was spending too much time on the phone with someone who didn't seem like he was going to use our services and then he asked me what I was wearing, so I—"
"I see."
Agnes watched Maddie turn slowly and sit back at her desk, steepling her fingers.
"Ms. Hayes?"
"Yes, well—" Maddie started shuffling the papers on her desk. "Is there anything else, Miss DiPesto?"
Agnes knew what that question meant. "No, Ms Hayes," she said and left her employer to brood in peace.
Afterward, Maddie caught herself staring at the same sentence on a page for a full two minutes.
~l~u~n~a~r~
David was finally ready. He tugged at his suit jacket one more time. No more stalling! He could do this. He'd lay it on the line again, the morning-after, and see if she was still with him—if the warm, loving, sexy Maddie who smiled and laughed and touched him last night still existed. Or had the other one taken over? He fiddled with his special occasion cuff links. No, no way. He wouldn't think like that. He was going to go get his woman, that's what he was going to do! Yeah…
He took a couple swigs of his chocolate milk, rinsed his mouth out, making sure he didn't get any stains or wet spots on his best work suit and strolled out the door with the LA Times under his arm.
"I'm goin' in. If I don't make it back, send this home to my family in Philly," he said to Agnes, tossing the paper down and saluting her.
She returned the gesture with an encouraging smile. "Will do, Mr. Addison."
The Wobblies were staring at him with great interest.
Just before touching the closed office door, he said with slight censure, "Don't you all have some work to do?"
They shook their heads silently.
"Find some—now."
There was a shocked pause and then suddenly a lot of motion—people returning to their desks, files being pulled, computers being booted up, and notes being transcribed.
That was for Maddie.
David glanced back at Agnes and Bert who was behind the desk with her, both staring at him in surprise. He winked.
He took a moment to discreetly get himself together and put on his game face. Then again, did he even have a face designated for what was about to happen behind this door? Because he had no clue. ~Come on, Add Man. Whatever happens, you'll stuff your guts back in and land light on your feet like you always do. Sometimes worse for wear, but you always bounce back…~
Bunk it. He rapped on the door and walked in to find her reclining on her couch which was a novelty.
"Heeyyy—Madolyn." He closed the door.
She sighed and slowly sat up in a decidedly non-business-like position with one bare stockinged foot tucked under her thigh, her arm propped on the back of the couch, cheek resting on a fist, watching him.
"Hey yourself." He was looking especially good in his suit this morning.
He walked over and gestured to the spot next to her. "May I?"
She scooted over and resumed her pose while he made himself comfortable.
"So," he began.
"So." She was smiling a little.
Might as well plunge in because she obviously wasn't going to.
"Did you think about last night and what we talked about?"
Maddie sat up a little straighter. "I thought you were going to do most of the talking today."
David wasn't in the mood for dodging replies. "Well, I thought we were going to talk today openly and honestly. Without our usual snark and dialogue gymnastics."
"David, who's being snarky? You were the one who wanted to talk so why don't you start it?"
He stared into her blue eyes, not cold, not hot, not even warm or cool, just—room temperature blue eyes. And David wasn't having that. They'd gone beyond that.
"Okay, let's recap. Maddie, I'm attracted to your body and your mind and I've been wanting to date you since we first met. Can I take you out this Saturday?"
"Sure."
David was taken unawares and looked it when she slipped on her shoes and stood up with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Now…I'm sure we've both got cases to review."
He quickly regained his equilibrium. "Hold it."
She stopped midstride and turned around somewhat reluctantly.
"Maddie honey, I need a little more than that."
She frowned. "A little more than what?"
"Maddie."
"What, David? What is it?"
" 'What is it?' Let me get straight to the point."
Hands in his pockets, he walked slowly towards her and she resisted the impulse to sit at her desk, effectively putting a large piece of polished wood between them.
He didn't touch her but he was further into her personal space than he needed to be while not quite close enough to do anything else without the movement being awkward.
"I want you to tell me how you feel about me," he demanded softly. "What do you feel for me, Maddie? Do you want this as much as I do?" He wanted to close the distance between them but again this was too important. "Do you want me?"
Maddie stood still, hoping he would continue talking so that she wouldn't have to. But instead he did what he did best—among other things—and that was to stare right back, letting an uncomfortable silence stretch into eternity.
"Are we talking about sex?"
"No, we are not."
"Then David, my agreeing to go out with you told you how I felt. I am—agreeable."
"Agreeable?"
"Yes, agreeable."
"That's not quite the same as 'wanting' though, is it? I'm telling you that I feel something special for you, Maddie. Do you feel more than agreeability for me? I need to know before we move on to something mundane like work or chit-chat about the weather. Because it seems to me like I'm the only one whose belly is exposed here. And I'm not agreeable with that."
"I'm hearing some derision in your tone and word choice and I don't appreciate it. You want a declaration of undying devotion before we even start dating? I can't give you that. What I can give you is a 'yes' to going out with you—which I just did. That's what I feel for you."
"I see," he said in a clipped tone. His eyes turned to green frost. "So for you there's just 'okay, sure' and 'undying devotion?' Nothing in between, huh? I realize dating is a beginning for most people, but we've been what we've been for a long time. So yes, we are at that point where this question is relevant and a direct answer is necessary. I can be fearless when it comes to matters of the heart, Maddie—like right now. That being the case, I deserve someone equally fearless. I'm accepting nothing less. So Maddie Hayes—do you want me?"
Maddie closed her eyes and breathed in slowly and deeply before opening them again. With a flash of irritation she turned her back to him, hands on her hips, then arms folded, tapping her foot and muttering to herself. He stood there, waiting her out. She interlocked fingers behind her head and exhaled harshly, walking in a circle. She turned back to him just as suddenly and looked him in the eyes like her life depended on what she found there. He swore she must have stared him down for a good three minutes, which felt like ten. And still he stood there, saying nothing, expressionless, waiting her out. Something in the air shifted and looking back at her was like watching a volcano, silent for hundreds of years, slowly building in strength, volume and energy when suddenly ocean blue was filled with exasperated surrender and warmth and…
"Yes, alright! Yes! I am attracted to you, David Addison! I care for you and about you. I want to date you. I want you! I do and I have—for some time now despite that fact that we—"
"Stop while you're ahead! Com'ere, baby."
David pulled her into an exuberrant kiss, touching her everywhere with his mouth, his hands, unable to get enough and Maddie was with him all the way. Somehow their amorous wrestling match made it back to the couch without them tumbling to the floor.
He pulled back a little to whisper with a tremor he couldn't hide, "I don't only want you." He squeezed his eyes shut then opened them, took a breath, then let go completely. "I love you, Maddie. I think I've loved you since the first time we danced."
There was wonder in her blue gaze. The moments of silence stretched out as they held each other. David didn't mind because he was happy to tell her that. No matter what. He was relieved that he finally said it, that she finally knew it.
"And you picked my pocket," she teased him, a hitch in her voice.
Then it finally came…
"Oh David," she breathed, eyes mistily twinkling. "I think I love you too. I—I know I love you too." She cupped his cheek. "I fought it but I knew it deep down all this time. Now you know it too. I love you, David."
He swallowed and raised his eyes silently to the heavens.
She sniffled a little. "Broken record time because I can't help it. David, you know how we are, how you are, how I am. How are we going to do this?"
He brushed strands of hair from her face fondly. "Oh my doubting Thomasina. We're just going to do it, Maddie. We'll meet in the middle and negotiate the rest. Now, we're still gonna have arguments that rhyme and some good ol' snark. I mean, we wouldn't be us without that, right? Our viewing audience would say we've become OOC characterizations otherwise, which is the kiss of death for us in TV Land, not to mention Fanfic World—(Maddie shuddered)—but don't worry, the edges'll be smoothed over, no blood drawn. Yeah, we're different but we're the kind of different that fits. Anyway, like the songs always say, I'll love you for the rest of my life, Madolyn Hayes. And you can take this mini-speech to the bank."
Maddie looked at him dreamily and thought to herself ~Oh what the hell. Take a chance, Maddie! For once in your life, take a chance on loving a good man and letting him love you even if the packaging doesn't fit your preconceived notions…because David Addison is so *very* worth it.~
She smiled at him saucily. "Ok, mister, let's do it. But we won't be arguing too much."
"No?"
"Not as long as we're doing enough of something else." She winked.
David laughed delightedly. "I'm gonna love you so good! You'll see."
"I think I am seeing, partner. Finally. And now I think you should kiss me."
His eyes turned a deep forest green. "Not even Einstein could think up anything better than that!"
They sank down further into the cushions. Maddie arched and sighed, holding him tight as he bit her neck gently, his firm grip on her hips holding her flush against him.
"Maddie…Maddie, I won't get tired of saying it," he whispered. "I love you, sweetness. I love you…"
"I won't get tired of hearing it," she whispered back. "I love you too….But we're still not taking the Will Lessing case."
They laughed while they kissed. Then there was an insistent knocking at the door.
"Mr. Addison! Ms. Hayes! I just want to let you know that I am going to kill a toad named MacGillicuddy!"
"Oh yeah, mug head?! Well, I'm going to crush a fly named Viola first!"
"What?!"
"You heard me!"
"Stay away from Agnes, reptile!"
"Lighten up, Francis! You don't have your name stamped on it, do ya?!"
There was a scuffling and bumping on the door as if two grown men were trying to push each other. The Wobblies were all chatting excitedly at once and Agnes could be heard angrily scolding them over the din.
David and Maddie pressed their foreheads together. David groaned and Maddie giggled, stroking his back.
"You want to handle that, Wobbly King?"
He groaned even more dramatically, making her laugh outright.
"I'm gonna kill them for this!"
They sat up reluctantly, the scuffling against the door increasing.
"How about I make it worth your while?" Maddie said. "Take care of that and I'll be waiting here patiently to kiss you senseless."
["Mr. Addison! Ms. Hayes!..."]
He kissed her fingers. "I'll take it. And how about I throw in a pre-date, mini-date tonight? I know a place where they have the best cheeseburgers and fries on the west coast! And pretty good fish sandwiches too, for those of us who are into that sort of thing. You can even lay some encyclopedia facts about the Han Dynasty on me."
["Ms. Hayes! Mr. Addison!...Ouch!..."]
Maddie reclined against the pillows and grinned. "Sounds like an even trade to me."
David leaned over and gave her a swift kiss. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
"Be back in this office in five minutes, Addison."
"You're the boss, my lovely lady boss. Bet I'll see you in two!"
~l~u~n~a~r~
THE END...OF A STARRY BEGINNING!