Sue Ellen sighed in resignation. JR wasn't going to take no for an answer, she realised as he rang Southfork to organise the delivery of an overnight bag. "What are you going to say to John Ross?" she asked as he hung up the phone. "Teresa is going to tell him I'm with you, helping you with a business problem" he replied. "I'm not sure he'll go for that" she told him. "I don't want him to get any notions about you and I getting back together." "Alright then. I will tell him the truth. He never much cared for the English fella anyway."
She showed him into the spare bedroom of the suite. JR chuckled at the sight of her vast array of shoes, bags and clothes, stored neatly inside. "There's only just room for me" he commented, sitting on the bed to gauge its comfort. "If you don't like it you don't have to stay" she responded. "Oh yes I do, honey. This will be just fine. Say, what do you do about dinner here?"
"I order room-service or alternatively go out. The restaurant downstairs is somewhat corporate, full of businessmen. It feels awkward to go in there as a sole female" she replied. "You mean you get hit on by married men who fancy a little excitement whilst they are away from home?" he replied. "Well you should know the type, JR" she parried, causing him to feel slightly embarrassed. "I know. I was a terrible husband to you but I bet it was much more exciting being with me than him, nonetheless."
Sue Ellen smiled. JR could charm the birds out of the trees when he wanted to, she thought. "I don't want to go out for dinner" she informed him. "I don't want to risk seeing him." She emphasised the word "him" which secretly pleased JR. No residual feelings of regret there he mused as they exited the bedroom and returned to the living room.
"Room- service it is then" he told her. "Before that I wouldn't mind taking a bath. It might relax me and leave me feeling less on edge." JR nodded, opened his briefcase and took out a file. "I'll have a read through these draft contracts then" he told her, settling himself down on the couch as he did so. "JR, what will we do if he just turns up here?" she asked in a nervous tone. "Don't worry about that, sugar, I know exactly how to make sure that doesn't happen."
She turned on her heels and walked into her bedroom, partially closing the door behind her. When he heard the sound of water running JR picked up the telephone again and dialled down to Reception. "Mrs Lockwood must not be disturbed while she is a guest here" he told the receptionist. "Therefore, please make sure that her room number is given to nobody, not even someone claiming to be her husband."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm a little confused. The lady is registered with us as Mrs Sue Ellen Ewing, not Mrs Lockwood. However, your request is noted. No details will be given to anyone. I'll flag the system accordingly right away." JR was thrilled. She's reverted to my name, her true married name, he thought. Granted it might just be because of their son and her not wanting to bear a different surname from him any longer but this was still a major development. "Thank you. Oh, and there's something else. Under no circumstances is there to be any alcohol served to this suite. Understood?" "Certainly, sir. Good evening."
He resumed his reading although the truth was that he was finding it difficult to concentrate. Thoughts of how he might deal with the English man raced through his head. In the morning he would call his private investigator for a progress report and take it from there he determined.
Gazing absent-mindedly around the room his eye fixed on a mirror. The angle at which it was hung permitted a partial view of the interior of Sue Ellen's bedroom. He knew he shouldn't but he continued to stare as she came through from the bathroom, a large towel wrapped around her damp body. He looked away but then was unable to resist. Sue Ellen dropped the towel and began to get dressed. JR knew that it wasn't the gentlemanly thing to do but then rationalised his voyeurism on the ground that they had been married for a number of years and had seen each other unclothed on many occasions. She is still stunning, he thought as he watched her dress.
As she pushed the door fully open and re-entered the room JR quickly pretended to turn his attention back to the documents that he had taken from the file. "Did you enjoy your bath?" he asked her on the pretext of innocence. She nodded her head. Although she had been irritated by his stubbornness earlier the reality was that she had got used to the idea of him staying with her and she quite liked it. It made her feel safe.
Sue Ellen sat down, this time next to him. She had to learn to trust him, she mused as she picked up the room-service menu and handed it to him. She watched as he considered what was on offer although she already knew exactly what he would order. "You've kept to your old perfume" he commented as she leant in closer to inspect the menu. "I like it. No point in changing just for the sake of it" she responded. "You have a good memory, JR." He nodded. "I always loved the way it smelt on you, particularly after an hour or two when it had mellowed. It suits you, darlin." For the briefest of moments, they made eye contact. The temptation to kiss was powerful. However, each resisted, turning their heads away shyly.
"What are you going to have?" she asked him, breaking the awkward silence that had descended upon them. "Tell you what? You order for me" he suggested, knowing that she would make the right choice for him. She smiled as she picked up the telephone. She wasn't quite sure what was happening but, for now, it felt good.
tbc