A/N: Here's the next installment. Sorry it took so long...it seems like every time I sat down to write something else came up including writer's block. Ugh. Anyway, hope you guys like it. As always drop me a review let me know. As for the usual needed disclaimers - I don't own the characters (just borrowing) and I don't own the lyrics to I'm Just Talking About Tonight or the singer of the song Toby Keith
Chapter 11 – I'm Just Talking about Tonight
I'm not talking about locking down forever baby
That would be too demanding
I'm just talking about two lonely people who might
Reach a little understanding
Hey I'm not talking about knocking out heaven
With whether we're wrong or we're right
I'm not talking about hooking up and hanging out
I'm just talking about tonight
Carrie walked into Willie Ray's Bar and Grill stopping near the front entrance to scan the crowd. The low lights and neon beer signs mixed with cigarette smoke to give off a hazy view. The place was half filled with customers seated at tables or booths scattered around the room. A few sat on stools at the bar nursing their drinks making conversations with the person next to them. In the corner behind the small dance floor there was a stage with instruments from the band scheduled to play later on that night.
Running a hand through her hair to fluff it out Carrie tugged at the hem of her flowered shirt and smoothed out her short black skirt before walking to the corner where Sawyer and another man were sitting.
"Well, hey there, Red," Sawyer greeted as he put out a cigarette butt in the ash tray, "Thought you might have changed your mind."
"Had to work a little late, sorry." Carrie sat down in the chair between the two men.
"Carrie, this is Lionel, but you can call him 'Slats'," Sawyer motioned to the waitress for another round.
"Slats?" Carrie smiled at the man who extended his hand and shook hers.
"Long story," he told her. "And not worth the punch line." Slats was an older man, Carrie put his age around 50, with dark graying hair pulled into a pony tail. His dark eyes appeared small, almost almond shaped, and his nose large – almost too big for his face – having been broken several times over the years. He looked to be about 250lbs and spoke with a slight accent betraying his east coast origin.
"So, have you guys been here long?" Carrie reached over and took a cigarette from Sawyer's pack ignoring the look he gave her.
"Just about an hour or so." Sawyer slid the lighter over to the young woman already looking forward to the evening in her company.
The waitress arrived with a fresh round of drinks for the table. She placed a bottle of beer in front of each along with a shot of tequila. Carrie felt herself flinch remembering the last time she drank tequila with Sawyer.
"What's wrong, Red?" Sawyer handed her a slice of lime. "Nothing like the hair of the dog that bit 'ya."
"Yeah, well, that dog gave me a pretty good hangover last time." She took a swig of her beer.
"Oh come on." He picked up the shot glass and held it up to her. "What's a little bit of pain when you're having fun?" He teased.
Carrie felt herself being drawn in by Sawyer's playful smile. 'Damn those dimples' she thought to herself. 'They're gonna get me in trouble. I just know it.'
Picking up the salt shaker she sprinkled some on her hand then proceeded to do the shot. The tequila burned going down and Carrie puckered her face as she sucked on the slice of lime. Sawyer chuckled as he and Slats picked up their shot glasses and downed the liquor.
"So, Slats, you work with Sawyer?" Carrie asked sweetly.
"Yup, we're on the same crew." The older man replied.
"Slats, here, does drywall and roofing." Sawyer told her. "Even lost a finger on a roofing job."
Carrie turned from Sawyer to Slats, her face displaying a look of disbelief. "He's kidding, right?"
Slats shook his head and held up his left hand to show the young lady how 2/3 of his ring finger was missing.
"Oh my god," Carrie reached over and lightly touched his wrist. "How did that happen?"
"I was laying down some new roofing paper when I lost my footing and started to slide down. I reached out and tried to grab hold of something and caught my wedding ring on a nail…" he explained.
"Ow, ow." Carrie waved her hand at him to get him to stop his story. She was already visualizing the rest of the accident and didn't need more details. "That's awful."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Hurt like hell, but can't say I really miss it much these days. Got rid of the wife a little while after I got rid of the ring." He joked.
Carrie gave him a small smile as she took another sip of her beer, not sure what to think of the older man.
A few minutes later Slats downed the rest of his beer and announced that it was time for him to leave.
"So, how about that dinner you promised me?" Carrie leaned in towards Sawyer smiling, glad to be alone with him.
"Sure thing." He reached over to the menus on the table against the wall and handed one to the young woman. "The cheese steak sandwich is pretty good."
Carrie took the menu slowly surprised by his comment. She was definitely not expecting to have dinner at the bar. "We're eating here?" she remarked.
"Sure, why not?" Sawyer replied. "We can stick around and do a little more two-stepping.'
Though disappointed that they weren't going to a restaurant Carrie did get excited with Sawyer's promise of more dancing since the last time had been a lot of fun.
"So, "Sawyer started as he squeezed ketchup onto his fries. "How's Freckles? Junior giving her any problems?"
"She's still getting hit with morning sickness and she seems tired all the time, but other than that she's okay." Carrie took a bit of her cheese steak sandwich. "Still trying to get adjusted to the idea of motherhood, I guess."
"Is she still refusin' to tell Doc about the baby?"
"Ah-huh, I tried to talk to her about it some more, but she was pretty adamant and then she just shut down."
"Yeah," Sawyer chuckled, "Freckles can be pretty pig-headed when she wants to."
"So, I'm learning."
"Ah Red, don't worry…her bark is usually worse than her bite." Sawyer gave her a dimpled smile.
"You two seem to get along pretty well." Carrie commented as she tried digging for more information on Sawyer.
"Being stuck on a desert island you get to know a person." He replied
non-chilantly.
"Really? You two ever…?" Carrie's voice trailed off as she tried to get courage to ask the question that had been on her mind since she met the handsome man.
"Ever what, sweetheart?" Sawyer asked playing dumb.
Carrie blushed. "You know, did you and she ever…"
"What? Look for coconuts together?" he teased.
Carrie shot him a look. "Ha ha." She took a swig of her beer. "Did you guys ever get involved?"
"Oh, you mean hot jungle sex?" Sawyer flashed her another dimpled smile as the young woman blushed again. 'Gotta admire Red's spunk for asking' he thought. "Freckles and me? Nah, she was too busy chasing after Doctor Kildare, going off on their little adventures."
"So, it was always her and Jack?" Carrie took another bite of her sandwich. Sawyer was right, these were actually pretty good.
He nodded. "Pretty much. Hell, even when they were fighting they couldn't stay away from each other." He replied. "I guess some girls just like the heroic type."
Carrie laughed. "So, what's he like? I mean, really like?"
"Jack?"
"Yes Jack," Carrie said exasperatedly. "I mean, I read stories about all you guys after the rescue, but you always wonder if they're really accurate or media hype."
"Jack Shepard is Jack Shepard." Sawyer replied shoving a french fry in his mouth. "Pretty much what they said."
"So he was the leader of the group then?"
"For the most part, I guess the rest thought of him as that anyway."
"You didn't?"
Lighting up a cigarette Sawyer took a long drag. "Sweetheart, for a big part of the time on that rock I thought he was a jackass and he…well, I wasn't his favorite either." He replied truthfully.
"Really, why's that?" Carrie was intrigued.
"Freckles said something about two alpha males in the same pack…" he shook his head. "I just think we didn't like each other."
"And now?"
"We got past it." He stated with a tone in his voice that told Carrie he wasn't in the mood to expand on his answer.
Carrie nodded. "Well, from what the others were saying, he seems like a great guy, always risking his life for others." She saw Sawyer shrug his shoulders. "And very cute too!" she added watching for his reaction.
The Southerner looked up at her and smirked. "I never was one for tall, dark and brooding myself."
"Really? Too bad," Carrie remarked playfully. "I can definitely see what Kate sees in him. I mean all that and a successful doctor to boot."
Sawyer shook his head. 'What was it with women and doctors anyway?' he thought to himself. First Freckles and now Carrie was gushing over Jack. He signaled to the waitress for another round of beers. "As much as I just love sitting here singing the praises of the good doctor…" He gestured towards the dance floor where the band was already setting up. "Looks like we're about ready for another lesson."
Carrie smiled as Sawyer as the waitress placed another beer and a shot of tequila in front of her. "Hey, Sawyer." She picked up the shot glass.
"Yeah, Red?"
"If I forget to tell you later on, I'm sorry about stepping on your feet." She licked the salt on her hand and downed the liquor with Sawyer doing the same. A few minutes later the music started up and the couple stepped out onto the floor.
"Okay, Red, keep your eyes focused on me. Don't look at your feet or you'll end up tripping yourself up." Sawyer instructed over the music. He was holding Carrie firmly in his arms, one hand resting on her waist and the other clasping her hand up in the air. "Remember quick, quick, slow." The band was playing a slow song and Carrie was attempting to master the waltz. Heck who was she kidding she was just trying to keep from crossing her feet in front of each other and falling on the dance floor. But Sawyer has a good hold on her and he was expertly guiding her around the floor and Carrie soon found herself following the beat and able to keep her feet going in the right order.
'Quick, quick, slooow' She repeated the phase in her head and they continued dancing. 'Quick, quick, slooow…quick, quick…hey, I think I got it.' She thought to herself as she looked down to her feet. ' Quick…' Suddenly she felt her foot come into contact with Sawyer's boot and her whole rhythm got thrown off and she felt herself and Sawyer stumble. Looking up at him Carrie couldn't help but giggle. "Sorry."
"I told you not to look down at your feet." He told her grabbing her hand again. "Keep your eye on the cowboy, Red." He whispered in her ear. "Let me lead you."
"Into what?" Carrie giggled. The tequila shots were starting to kick in. "Trouble?"
Sawyer pulled back and smirked. "It's only trouble if you're not having fun."
Carrie stumbled again as the song started to come to an end. "Oh really? I don't know about that."
Sawyer placed a hand on her lower back and started guiding her back to their table. "I think we need a little break, seems we've worked up a thirst."
Carrie nodded as she sat down. "Okay, but no more shots."
"Aw come on Red, one more ain't gonna hurt you." He encouraged her. "They help with the dancing lesson."
"Are you kidding me?" She replied. "How many times have I stepped on your feet so far?"
"Yeah, but that ain't got nothin' to do with the tequila." He threw back his shot and let the liquor burn down his throat before taking the slice of lime between his lips and sucking on it. He watched as Carrie did the same a moment later. He thought back to the first night they went drinking together and how Carrie managed to keep up with him. 'She must have woken up with a hell of a headache judging from mine.' He thought admitting that he had over indulged in drinking in hopes of getting past Kate's news.
He spent most the that night silently trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was expecting Jack's baby, not to mention the fact that she wasn't with Jack. After watching Kate fall for Jack on the island and then start to plan her life with him after the rescue and her legal problems were behind her, he found it unbelievable that not only had she willingly walked away from Jack but now refusing to tell him he was going to be a father. It just didn't make sense.
"Hey, cowboy, how about another lesson?" Carrie's voice broke into his thoughts.
Shaking off those thoughts he looked up at the smiling young woman who was holding out her hand to him. Flashing his dimples he took a quick drink of his beer before taking her hand and leading her back out to the dance floor.
(Later that evening)
Carrie's head was swirling a little as she followed Sawyer into the living room of his apartment. Throwing his car keys on a small table he gestured towards the small blue couch. "Have a seat. I'll be right back." He told her before disappearing into another room.
Carrie looked around and noticed how the apartment was plainly furnished. A basic blue couch and a matching fabric chair along with a TV set on a small stand in the corner made up the room. The coffee table in front of the couch had a pile of mail and a couple of paperback books along with a pair of reading glasses sitting next to them. 'Wow, Sawyer wears glasses. How cute.' She thought to herself and let out a small giggle. Picking up one of the magazines she started to flip through the pages but found it hard to concentrate on the words – her head spinning from all of the earlier activities.
"Hey Red, "Sawyer came walking back in the room "You thirsty?" he handed her a bottle of beer.
"Oh no, "she waved him off. "I think if I have another I'll fall asleep on you."
Sitting down next to her Sawyer flashed her a smile. "Well, we can't have that now, can we?" he purred taking her hand in his and kissing the tips of each finger causing her to giggle again.
She shook her head. "That would be a bad thing 'cause then what would you do?"
Leaning in Sawyer planted a kiss along her jaw. He heard her moan softly and smiled to himself as he pulled her closer to him. Carrie closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side as he continued kissing and sucking her neck. Reaching her hands up along his shoulders to his head she weaved her fingers through his blonde hair trying to pull him in even closer. His hand made its way down to her waist gently. Caressing her side he could feel Carrie shiver at his touch. Moaning his name she met his lips in a fevered kiss letting his tongue explore her mouth. They continued kissing for another couple of minutes before Sawyer finally broke it off.
"I think we need to get more comfortable darlin' " he stood and pulled her up to him crushing her in another kiss. Carrie snaked her arms around his neck and Sawyers hands reached behind her and his fingers expertly unzipped her skirt and pushed it down her hips. With little thought Carrie stepped out of the skirt and kicked it to the side.
Sawyer brought his lips up to her ear and whispered seductively, "Gotta tell you Red I'm likin' the pink thong."
Carrie blushed. "Well, just wait 'til you see the matching bra." She teased.
Never one to turn away from an interesting offer from a beautiful woman he reached down and in one smooth move pulled her shirt up and over her head throwing in behind him. Standing back a bit he smirked then reached up and hooked a finger on her bra strap. "Lace looks good on you." Swiftly he reached behind and undid the strap and pulled the bra off throwing it next to the shirt. "Looks better on the floor tho' " he joked as he brought his lips back up to hers.
Carrie blushed and pulled back from the kiss. "You're bad." She told him.
"You don't know the half of it." He teased as he pushed her backwards into the bedroom.
TBC
Upcoming chapter: Two words - Kate and Jack……
