Dallas, Texas

"They're over there", spotting his brother, sister-in-law, cousin and a mystery blonde at a table across the crowded dance hall, Bobby pointed in the general direction and holding Pam's hand, set off towards the group, weaving through the throng to get to where they were going.

Nearing their destination, the identity of the woman sitting close to Jack became apparent when he called out to greet his family and the four turned around to say hello.

"Jenna?" unable to mask his surprise, he gathered from the way Pam squeezed his hand that he wasn't the only one surprised by his ex-fiancées presence.

"Bobby! Are you following me?" greeting him with a wave and a smile, Jenna slid over in the curved booth to make room for him and Pam to sit down.

"No", laughing uncomfortably, he knew she meant no harm, though that didn't stop him wondering how he kept finding himself in these sort of situations with her. The two prior meetings they'd had he could write off as coincidental, but this was a pre-planned evening and he couldn't believe that between his brother, sister-in-law, cousin and Jenna herself, no one had mentioned a thing to him about ex-fiancée being invited.

Apparently sensing his confusion, Sue Ellen was quick to jump in to provide an explanation. "I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind. Jenna suggested we go out then JR mentioned it to Jack and Jack mentioned it to you".

Considering his sister-in-law's explanation and that Jack's invitation had been casual and last minute, he had to accept that a miscommunication was more likely the cause of the situation than a deliberate attempt to bring him and Jenna back together, though he wouldn't put it past either Jenna or JR to engineer something of that nature.

"Just like a game of telephone", making light of the situation, he laughed and sat down, bringing Pam with him.

Chuckling at his comment, it didn't take more than a few moments for the group to accept the situation and move on, picking up where they'd paused their conversation earlier.

"You really didn't know she was going to be here?" ignoring the conversation everyone else was having, Pam whispered her concerns in his ear.

"No, I didn't", telling her the truth, he empathised with her position but hoped they were on the same page when it came to how to move forward now that they were here.

"I believe you, and as long as she sticks to Jack or any of the other men here tonight I can deal with her being here", confirming she wasn't going to cause trouble if Jenna didn't overstep the line, Pam's comments seemed fair enough to him.

"Good", kissing her hand he said no more about it.

Taking a moment to listen to the conversation the rest of the table was having, he waited until there appeared to be an appropriate place to enter and then seized the opportunity to offer his opinion, enjoying the attention on him for something other than his interaction with Jenna.

Moving easily between topics of conversation, discussions that became even easier after a drink or two, the evening seemed to be on a better path than when it started, especially since despite previous differences, both JR and Jenna appeared to be at least trying to play nice with Pam.

Not long later, hearing the band finishing their current song, Jack made a comment about it being a good time to get out onto the dancefloor, and without hesitation, he asked Jenna to join him, an offer she accepted.

"Darlin'?" holding his hand out to his wife, JR stood and led her out onto the dancefloor, followed by Jack and Jenna, leaving Bobby and Pam to enjoy some time alone together.

Across the room, as the band transitioned from playing back-to-back reasonably fast paced songs to one that was more suited to slow dancing, Jack held onto the pretty lady he'd managed to find himself paired up with again.

"So, where's Richard tonight?" enquiring, he wanted to know where he stood. He wasn't looking for a commitment, but he wasn't looking to step on anyone's toes either. He liked Jenna, but he'd met her beau and knew that while she was openly friendly, she wasn't seriously available.

Shrugging, Jenna seemed uninterested in his question, "somewhere in Arkansas".

"You don't travel with him?" making conversation, he did have a vague interest in her answer; he assumed stability for her daughter had something to do with why she wasn't constantly travelling however with Jenna it was dangerous to make assumptions.

"Sure, if he's going somewhere I can entertain myself while he talks business", responding, her answer painted a different picture to what he had imagined.

"Which this trip isn't?" having never been to Arkansas himself he didn't know what to think.

"Why are we talking about Richard?" frowning, Jenna's tone indicated she was bored with their conversation.

"I was being polite", shaking his head he almost wished he hadn't bothered trying to make conversation with her, she clearly liked to do things on her own terms and only on her own terms.

"You were being nosy", indicating her different perception of his behaviour, he could see where she was coming from; she didn't want to talk about Richard and his continued questions were of no interest to her.

"Sure", straight-faced, he agreed with her comments for the sake of avoiding an argument.

"If you want to talk business with him, call him, don't use me for it", incorrectly assuming his motives again, she made it clear she wasn't there to act as go-between for him and Richard, a task he wasn't actually asking her to perform.

"You don't care?" aware that he'd met Jenna at a business event, he couldn't help but think it served her right if she didn't care about but was forced to talk about the thing that kept her in the lifestyle she had become accustomed to.

"I'm not associated", reminding him she didn't work for Richard's company, he didn't doubt that there was more to it than that.

"And you don't care", stating the obvious, he just wanted her to admit it now, for his own satisfaction.

"I don't think he wants or needs me to care", making her opinion known, she gave him a look that indicated she was fed up with the conversation.

"Point taken", raising his hands in mock surrender, he didn't push that part of their conversation any further.

Giggling at his actions, Jenna seemed to warm up to him again as she sensed they were done talking about parts of her life she didn't want to discuss. "Good, now tell me, did you deliberately forget to tell Bobby I'd be here when you invited him and the new Mrs Ewing?"

Laughing aloud, he found her curiosity amusing, firstly because it was painfully obvious that she still adored Bobby, despite giving up her chance to be his wife years ago, and secondly because he hadn't known her for long but he knew enough about her to know that if presented, she didn't pass up the opportunity to gossip. "Now who's being nosy?"

"Go on, tell me", running her hand over his chest as they danced, she appeared giddy at the thought of being considered a threat to Bobby and Pam's relationship.

Looking at her to gauge how serious she was, he found her hot and cold attitude puzzling and his reaction to her even more confusing. She was attractive, there was no doubt about that, but her need to feel like she could have any man she wanted when she wanted them wasn't particularly appealing. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but it wasn't deliberate. JR was vague in his invitation and being the family man I am, I said yes to the invitation he was extending without asking too many questions".

"Oh, so I was a surprise to you too?" twisting his comment to suit her own agenda, Jenna grinned at him, clearly fishing for a certain answer, showing no sign that just moments ago she'd been frowning and sulking because he dared to talk about her life without her initiating the conversation.

"What do you want to hear? That I was surprised but pleased to see you here tonight? Or that I was looking forward to it?" The reality was, he hadn't known she was joining them until JR mentioned it earlier in the evening, his earlier comment told her that, however, there was no harm in drawing out his answer when she was so clearly looking to hear that he, as well as any other man she set her sights on, desired her.

"Which is the truth?" pouting, her tone told him she'd like both to be true.

"I'll tell you later", letting go of her as the band finished their song and started another, this time more upbeat, he took advantage of the change in atmosphere on the dancefloor; it was no place for a conversation now and she knew it.

"Later?" raising an eyebrow, she looked at him as if to ask if he was insinuating something.

"Yeah", smirking, he knew it wasn't the smartest thing to be thinking about making plans with an unavailable lady, but it sure was fun.

"Ok", holding his gaze, Jenna said nothing more, though her continued playful behaviour gave him an idea of what she was thinking.

Back at the table, Bobby admired his wife they chatted and listened to the music, tearing his attention away from her only when a waitress arrived to clear their empty glasses, asking them whether they needed anything else, which at present they didn't.

Watching as the waitress left them alone again, Pam surprised him with her next comment. "You know, I don't like JR very much but I can't fault his system, it's very efficient".

"Oh?" gathering she meant the table service JR bought in a place that wasn't necessarily set up to provide table service, he wanted to hear her say it aloud before agreeing.

"Mhm, putting his money where his mouth is and tipping generously before the evening begins to guarantee good service", explaining how she saw JR's actions, he couldn't help but laugh out loud at the look she gave him while providing her explanation. Her dislike of her brother-in-law coupled with her surprise admiration of the things he was able to get done made an amusing, but still very pretty picture.

"Did I just hear you admit that having money isn't so bad after all?" grinning as he jokingly called out her previous distaste for anything Ewing money could provide, he wasn't surprised at all when she shook her head and refused to say any more other than "shall we dance?"

Nodding, he knew what he'd prefer if the choice was talking about JR some more or dancing, and with that in mind he stood, took her hand and led her over to the dancefloor.

To be continued…