Author Note: I am so glad everyone (mostly) liked the last chapter….the evening continues……

*

Chapter 14 – Tied Score

"… Do you plan on scoring any more points this evening?" he asked.

"Oh yeah…a couple more at least."

Bartender Jackie stepped back in and got Eric talking about himself which seemed to make the dinner less anxious for him. All of his inner-geekness came out and she found it charming. Jackie totally understood his Star Wars analogies and didn't condemn him for it. He seemed to need to talk a lot. This guy had a lot of built up anxiety!

"Oh, I didn't tell you this. It's ironic and funny at the same time."

"What's that?" she asked.

"Remember I told you that Laurie had to get a job? Well, she did but you'll never guess where."

"I was going to say strip club but that would be a little obvious."

Eric grinned. "She convinced Hyde to hire her at Grooves."

Jackie snorted and laughed. "That must be hell for both of them." Perfect salt for the pepper. "What does she sell?"

Eric laughed, "CD's."

Jackie frowned, "Don't you buy those from a bank?"

"Yeah, I thought so too but they're ordering them by the box load. Hyde's making a profit so it must be something else. He would never work hard to make money…"

"You're right there. It must be some conspiracy he overturned. "She whispered theatrically. Eric chuckled, "Let's not talk about them. I mean it's my sister and all.

"I know. I kicked her ass – not pretty"

"Oh yeah…you did! That was good too."

Jackie laughed. "So, would you like to dance again and I won't press so close?" Eric's ears turned red. "Oh stop. That was a one time event. It won't happen again. I'm in total control."

Jackie stood up and put a hand on her hip. "Oh please, you can't handle this much hotness."

Eric scooted his chair back. "Is this a challenge Missy?"

She stepped into his personal space. "Can you handle it?" she asked boldly.

"Oh, I can handle it" He said confidently. "I just don't think you're ready for the Forman."

He took her hand and led her back out to the dance floor and whipped her up against his chest. Damn, he was good! He took her hand and back stepped before twirling her out. When he spun her back, he skimmed his hands over her arms, barely touching her soft skin but giving her shivers nevertheless. They swayed to the music and Eric allowed himself to enjoy the texture of the dress beneath his fingers and the silky strands of her hair that fell down her bare back. When he felt her tremble under his fingers he knew she was affected too.

At the moment, it appeared that Eric had the upper hand in this dance! He gave her an unexpected little dip and she gasped. "Score for the Forman?"

"Don't drop me!" she squealed. Her hair was nearly touching the floor and he brought her back up. "We're even."

Jackie laid her head against his shoulder and just melted against him. "We're even. But the game's not over Forman." Eric rested his chin on the top of her sweet smelling hair. "Is it ever?"

She smiled – it would be tonight!

*

The bill had been paid and Eric was walking her to her car. It seemed to have gotten colder and a light snow was beginning to fall. "I had a nice time." She said as she wrapped her hand around his elbow. Eric smiled, despite the "game" he really liked dancing with Jackie and dinner was great. Jackie's Mustang was parked not to far from Eric's Honda. He stopped by the driver's side. "Let me unlock the door for you."

She smiled, "Aren't you sweet?" She handed him the keys and opened her coat, the trench was hard to drive in. In an unexpected move, Eric slid one hand to the back of her neck and tangled his fingers in her soft chestnut hair. Jackie looked up a little puzzled.

He leaned in, his lips meshing tenderly against hers. Touching…then not touching, his hand cupping her cheek - he could feel her hands pressing against his chest. Those lips felt so good and her mouth was wet and hot and tasted like sweet ice tea. He slid a hand into her coat and pressed against her naked back, pulling her close. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she rose up on tiptoes to return his kiss, her chest pressing tight against him and he knew. He just knew. They were both lost in the moment.

In time, Jackie had planned to be the kisser and not the kissee but Eric's mouth was magical and he was doing wicked and wonderful things to her lips. Her heart was racing a thousand beats a minute and she could feel herself getting shy – this was closer than she ever allowed anyone to get in a long time.

"Eric." She murmured against his lips. "Eric - stop." He pulled away taking a deep breath. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but this wasn't it. He looked at her dark eyes her soft mouth.

"I-I think we're even now. Let's not take this where we shouldn't." she whispered.

He smiled softly having found the chink in her armor. "Jackie, I wouldn't hurt you. I would never do anything to…" She touched his cheek. "I know. I just feel like we're rushing into something."

Snowflakes were landing on her dark hair and lashes. Eric brushed them away, "I understand. Let's get you home and we can talk later."

She smiled her thanks and slid into the Mustang. Eric pressed his palm to the car window and then waved goodbye. She started the car, turned the heater on full blast and drove off. Eric put his hands in his pockets and watched her drive off until her tail lights faded in the distance.

*

When Jackie got home she was shaking. She played with matches and didn't expect to start a fire so soon. She knew better than that yet she kept playing the game. Now she didn't know what to do. That kiss by the car was a wake up call. She had purposely avoided dating for situations just like that. But this was Eric and he was the least threatening people in the world.

Fortunately her condo was nice and warm and she was glad to be home. She kicked off her heels and shed the dress walking into the bathroom. A hot shower was in order to clear her head.

*

Eric opened the door to his apartment and collapsed in a nearby chair. What a night! No, what a strange day! He smiled at the memory of the Jingle Bell Rock angel and how the office was in a delirious uproar. Jackie was pretty clever, he'd give her that.

But the dress she wore! God she looked gorgeous and stunning and he noticed that he got approving head nods from other men who saw them dancing. He never felt as alive as when he was holding her in his arms on that dance floor. The unexpected good night kiss. He hadn't planned that – it just happened. Eric walked to the bathroom. A cold shower was in order to clear his head.

*

Jackie took Brooke and Betsy to breakfast the next morning. The snow had stopped and it was a beautiful sunny day. Betsy loved chocolate happy face pancakes and Brooke loved getting out of the house! Over coffee Brooke decided to cut through the polite chitchat.

"What happened? You aren't all happy and excited like I anticipated. You are….introverted which is weird for you."

Jackie sighed, "I screwed up. I tried to keep the night all fun and games but damn, I didn't expect Forman to be so passionate."

Brooke's eyes widened. "I've never heard of Eric and passion in the same sentence - Details!"

Reluctantly, Jackie told her best friend about the goodnight kiss and how it confused her. "I totally lost control of the date. This was about me tying up the score and he gave me this heart stopping kiss…I fled."

Brooke chucked. "Jackie's scared."

Jackie frowned, "No I'm not."

"Yes you are. You like your life in this neat tidy little package where you control everyone and everything around you and I totally admire that. But Jackie, you are a spontaneous woman. Relax and let someone else surprise you for a change. You might find you enjoy it."

Jackie wasn't as sure. "That hasn't worked well for me in the past."

Brooke took a bite of pancake. "The past is the past. I think we're talking about your future. So what's wrong with a little rendezvous with Eric Forman? I mean, I've see the way he looks at you."

"What do you mean?"

Brooke grinned. "He's interested. He's definitely interested in…your brain. Girl, you're pretty, you know it, and you don't have to flaunt it. Maybe the dress was overkill and he couldn't help himself. That's what I'm hoping my dress does for Michael. Isn't that why you wore it? Be honest with yourself."

Jackie hated it when Brooke was right. "Okay maybe the dress was too much but…."

"No buts. Let him in. He's already seen your weaknesses – and don't forget you helped him get his promotion. You're already messing with his head. Give the guy a break. You might enjoy the attention. Invite him to your house for dinner."

"Oh man, you are tough. I've already adjusted my work schedule three times in the last couple of months and Rafe was about to pitch a fit!"

Brooke was not about to be sold a sob story. "Rafe knows how valuable you are to the club – he'll work around your schedule. Isn't being friends about trusting people? Michael and Fez are friends with Eric and maybe we should get together at your place sometime. In fact, that's a great idea! I can leave Betsy at Casey's apartment and we could barbecue. You have that huge garage."

"Are you nuts? Barbecue in the snow?"

Brooke grinned, "No, it's perfect. No one would expect it and we can run into your house when we get cold. You got two bedrooms upstairs if Michael passes out. We'll do kebobs! C'mon Jackie this is a great idea. I'll help you decorate for Christmas and you can make some of those hockey puck cookies of yours."

Brooke's idea did have some merit. She told Eric not to judge her by how she lived or where she worked….and it would be nice to entertain…."How is it that I can never win a conversation with you?"

"Because I have a child and I get lots of practice."

Betsy added, "Mommy wins!" Jackie tweaked her god-daughters nose. "That's right Bets, your mommy always wins."

*

"So what am I supposed to do? You dated her."

"Dude, I dated the teenage version. Adult Jackie is too hot! Well, Brooke is WAY hotter – I have to say that – but you're on your own here."

"Kelso, I came to you for advice. You're not a big help here."

"Well EXCUSE me if you didn't get to second base dude. But I will let you in on a little secret."

Eric sat back against Kelso's sofa. "Kelso you can never keep a secret. It's not in your DNA."

Kelso shrugged, "Well….I did go off road in her Jeep and let me tell you it was great! But now she won't let me drive it again. …Something about me and a tree and a winch. I don't know. But do you want to know or not?"

Eric grinned – Kelso was a lovable goof. "Yes, tell me your secret and then I'll tell you mine."

Kelso's eyes got big. "No, your secret first! I'll bet it's better than mine." He leaned forward eager to hear and Eric had to laugh.

"Laurie moved back in with my folks."

"NO!" Kelso nearly shouted. "She took my innocence and said it was all fun and sweaty but only messed around with me when there was nothing on TV."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Give me a break. You guys messed around until you were caught and you were hardly innocent."

He grinned, "Yeah I was trying to be an actor there. Just keep her away from Brooke! I don't want the two of them talking."

"She's working with Hyde."

"BURN!"

"How is that a burn? She's working." Eric was confused on this issue.

"Hyde never works. Laurie doesn't work. It's a burn on Grooves…wait…maybe…I don't know. Do you want to know my secret or what?"

Eric smiled, "What's your big secret Kelso." Michael Kelso took special delight in being the keeper of knowledge. He had been in bed when Jackie called Brooke and invited his family – without him – to breakfast. Brooke better bring back a happy face pancake!

"Brooke and Jackie are talking about you right now."

"Is it good?" Eric hoped it was. Kelso shrugged. "I guess so. If Jackie dumped your ass they wouldn't have nothing to talk about. Hey, I heard about the angel. That was awesome. I wish someone would do that at my job."

Eric admitted it was pretty cool now that he thought about it. "She's a pretty clever girl."

"Oh, you'd never guess what she did for me and Brooke's fifth wedding anniversary. We were having dinner at Tex-Mex Sam's for dinner and a mariachi band came over and played. I got to wear the sombrero and I looked smoking hot!" Kelso got up and grabbed a picture off the mantle. Brooke had been draped in a colorful blanket and Kelso was holding a guitar and grinning wide for the camera.

"That's a nice picture. She did that for you?"

Kelso put the picture back. "Yeah, she's always doing nice stuff. She visits the VA home once a month to see the old widows and make them cookies. Bear's cousin broke her hip. That old woman calls me Makkapitew. I can't even pronounce it."

"Was that an Indian curse word?" Eric laughed.

"Dude, that's my Indian name. It means He has large teeth. And I do! Bear's a cool dude. Just don't make him mad."

Eric was kind of pleased that Brooke and Jackie were talking about him. This was an interesting turn of events. He tried to call her last night and she didn't answer and he didn't leave a message. The ball was in her court.

*