Chapter 55

"Billie, you ready?"

She rolled her eyes. In a surprising contrast it was Billie who had been waiting on John. She had changed some time ago, wearing a blue dress she'd brought from home considering it was one her nicer garments. Her hair was set and waved, lipstick applied, and still John wasn't ready. Billie went to Jane's apartment and picked up the things for the kitten- food, bowls, boxes, toys and brushes. With all the supplies Billie had to wonder what would have happened had she declined taking in the cat. She didn't have to think too hard about that; there was no way she would have tossed the cat out, and it was proven that John knew this too.

She held the little cat and played with him, tickling his soft fur and cuddling him. Already she was forming a bond with the animal that would grow to become very strong. As fun as it was, Billie began to grow restless. John had made such a fuss over the evening he planned and he was making them late. When Billie finally heard him calling for her she rose, storming over to where he was with the kitten in her arms. At the sight of John she almost cowered, lowering the cat to the floor.

He wore a dark suit, a white shirt with an equally dark tie. He was clean shaven, his hair swept back and off his face. Billie had never seen him so dressed up or as gorgeous. Actually, he was gorgeous in almost every state he was in, but seeing him like this was a new experience. John looked over at her and for a moment she couldn't remember whether she was supposed to inhale or exhale. His cheekbones looked extra poised, his skin warm and dreamy, and his eyes. They were black as coal and simmering.

John continued to examine himself in the mirror, Billie slipping in the room with him. She smoothly moved behind him, her hands sliding against the tailored jacket that covered his back. He felt her touch, sudden but gentle, and it eased his muscles. As he looked at his reflection in the mirror he noticed her hands, pale against his dark suit, sneak around to his waist. Billie then put her head on his shoulder, her nose nuzzling his neck and his cheek. His skin was freshly shaved and as luxurious as velvet. His aftershave was a mix of sweetness and musk, a scent that she breathed in deeply, it easing her like a warm bath. John's eyes closed, he smiling and leaning into her.

"You clean up nice," she whispered, her voice sensual.

"Yeah?" his tone was husky, mirroring her own. His eyes fluttered open as Billie kept her hands on him but moved her body in front of his. He smirked. "What about when I'm dirty?"

The corners of her lips twitched into a smirk of her own. "Can't we just stay home?"

She arched up and kissed his lips, puckering lightly, giving him wisps of sultry kisses he yearned to capture. He met one of her attempts completely, drawing her into a deeper kiss that lasted some moments. Finally, he remembered the time and place and stalled. "Don't tempt me," he uttered, his lips still against hers, he parting from her completely after a breath. He began to walk away, knowing she was still standing there, defeated, and gave her a wink to lighten the moment.

- - -

The entire Dillinger gang and their girlfriends sat around a table covered in white linen, topped with excessive silverware and lit candles. The men of the gang were more comfortable and more inclined to eat with their fingers and drink beer out of a bottle, but they visited fine establishments simply because they could. They didn't really know when or how to use the eating utensils but who was going to stop them? If anyone did complain, who wouldn't be silenced with a few dollar bills? They were untouchable; they knew it, and they acted like it.

Billie was glad she hadn't fought John too much about going out. She was having a great time. Everyone really was making her feel special; even Mairy was staying quiet and refraining from pelting Billie with any snide comments. She had never had a birthday quite like this- gangsters and extravagance galore.

Naturally she sat next to John, he keeping and arm around her waist or a hand on her knee almost at all times. The entrees had been ordered and there were glasses of wine on the table, even one for Billie. Next to her, on the side where John wasn't, Jane gave Billie an eager look. Lightly she touched her shoulder and produced a package wrapped in brown paper.

"Happy birthday, Billie," she smiled and apologized for the meager wrapping. "...it's all I could find on short notice..."

So overcome that she was receiving any gift at all Billie hardly paid any mind to the wrapping paper. She gave an excited glance to John, almost proud of her friendship with Jane. He smiled back, happy for her and grateful for Jane's hospitality. Under the paper was a book, a cook book, and Billie giggled when she saw it. Upon flipping through it she realized it was full of lined paper, like a journal, and the book was really to store recipes. Some of the pages were already filled.

"Now we can keep track of our experiments," Jane explained. "I put in some you might want to try yourself."

It was a thoughtful gift and Billie was warmed by it, however simple. Jane was just as eager to be her friend, something Billie took with great appreciation. It could have been strange or difficult for them to be friendly, having many years of difference in age, but they had enough in common. Billie thanked the woman profusely. Pete, who was on the other side of the table and had consumed more than one drink already, raised his glass.

"Let's have a toast!" he called out, more or less looking for an excuse to drink a little more. "To Billie!"

The girl blushed as all the men reached for their glasses, hoisting them toward her. John's arm was felt around her shoulders, drawing her near. "To Billie," he smiled, leaning in to peck her lips while murmurs of the toast echoed around the table. When they parted Billie was beyond expressible emotion, soaking in the attention. Her eyes fluttered around the table, they landing on Mairy who wasn't frowning quite as sternly as usual. Their eyes stayed together a moment, Mairy puffing a cigarette between her lips.

Finally, and as if it were against her better judgment, she blew out of breath of smoke and uttered, "Happy birthday, kid."

It was the nicest thing she had ever heard the woman say.

Out of the corner of her eye Billie noticed John turned toward her. She looked over in time to be captured in a twinkling stare. He leaned forward at the same time he picked up a dessert menu and fanned it out in front of them, creating a barrier. Behind the menu John kissed her, they smiling, continuing the affection until a little scrap of bread flew over the wall and hit their faces, laughter filling the table.