Chapter 7 – The Birthday Girl
Three days before her birthday, Johanna sat in a café with her mother and sister; trying not to look at her watch every time Colleen mentioned her wedding. She sighed quietly, she had agreed to meet them for lunch because she still felt somewhat badly that Colleen had picked up on the fact that she had been trying to avoid her. There were also those subtle comments from her mother that suggested that she too had picked up on the distance that she had so quietly had been trying to create. So much for Jim and Jeff's advice, she thought to herself. Of course she couldn't blame them for the failure of the stay away as much as possible plan; they just didn't realize how formidable her family was.
She sipped her iced tea and allowed the conversation about music for the reception to go in one ear and out the other as she plotted another strategy. Avoidance didn't work so she'd have to put in her appearances. She could do that, she just had to have a certain level of detachment while doing so. All she had to do to survive her mother and Colleen's planning and concern for her love life was to learn to smile and nod in the appropriate places, offer a compliment or a suggestion when required and then fade into the background as much as possible until it was time to leave, which brought about the best angle of the plan she thought. Appearances would have to have time limits. Today for instance, she had made it clear that she could only stay until one and then she had to head back to her office for a meeting with a client that was scheduled for later in the afternoon. Work day appearances might best fit her plan, as work did afford her a lot of excuses. Yes, this was shaping up to be a good strategy. Surely it couldn't go wrong like the one her friends had suggested.
"Johanna," her mother said; drawing her attention back to the conversation. "What do you want me to cook for you for your birthday?"
"Damn," she thought, she had been hoping to avoid this conversation as she hadn't informed her mother about Jim's request to take her to dinner. She made a mental note that she needed to develop a strategy for avoiding unwanted topics of conversation as well.
"Mom, I…already have dinner plans for my birthday, maybe we could have lunch together instead?" she answered; unable to come up with an excuse that would steer her away from the truth. Maybe she'd get lucky and she wouldn't dig. She almost scoffed, who was she kidding, her mother was going to be all over this.
"What plans?" her mother demanded to know.
She thought quickly, maybe she could avoid bringing up Jim's name. "I'm having dinner with a friend."
"But you know I always make dinner for you kids on your birthdays," Naomi exclaimed. "Why would you go and make other plans?"
"Well you hadn't mentioned my birthday," Johanna replied. "With the exception of telling me that it was coming and that I wasn't getting any younger."
"I don't have to mention it," Naomi said dismissively; "It's a given; surely you didn't think I had forgotten it, did you?"
"No, I didn't think you had forgotten…but since you hadn't specifically said anything, I figured that you were probably busy with other things."
"I am never too busy for you," her mother retorted.
"I think that's her way of saying I'm monopolizing your time," Colleen stated. "As if I wouldn't take a backseat in favor of celebrating her birthday."
Johanna rolled her eyes. "I didn't say that at all, Colleen."
"But you meant it."
"You read into things entirely too much lately," she told her sister. "It's not like I don't think that Mom has a life outside of your wedding plans." Although there were times when she wondered if Naomi remembered how to function without thoughts of flowers and wedding dresses filling her mind.
"Whatever the case may be," Naomi said, jumping back into the conversation; "I had planned on dinner as I always have."
"We can have lunch together," Johanna replied.
"Why can't you have lunch with your friend?" her mother retorted; birthdays were her territory and she didn't like getting poached.
"Because I want to have dinner with him like he asked me to," she responded with exasperation.
"Him?" Naomi asked; her demeanor changing as her eyes lit up and her radar went off.
"Oh," Colleen said with a grin. "I get it; Jo's ditching us for a man."
"Don't get excited," Johanna warned.
"Who is he?" Naomi asked; her tone implying that she was no longer vexed about her plans getting the shaft. "Anyone I know…or have met recently?"
"I bet it's Jim," Colleen said with amusement and when her sister blushed she laughed. "It is, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, if you must know," Johanna stated as she shifted her hand and glanced at her watch.
"It's not one yet," Naomi stated, "So don't even think about it."
"Think about what?" her daughter asked; pretending to be innocent of the thought of fleeing.
"You know what; Don't think I haven't noticed you keeping an eye on the time."
"Well I can't be late getting back to work."
"You won't be," her mother assured. "Colleen has Paul's car, we'll give you a ride back to your office, so don't worry."
"Wonderful," Johanna said; a touch of sarcasm coloring her tone.
Her sister grinned at her. "We know that you're eager to get away from us, Jo; so we made sure we could stick to you for as long as possible."
"I'm not eager to get away from you," she replied…although it was a lie in some respects…like now.
"When did these dinner plans come about?" Naomi inquired; her eyes still gleaming with the knowledge.
"He asked me when we took me home after the gala," she answered knowing that it wouldn't do her any good to withhold the information.
"That's wonderful!" her mother exclaimed. "See, I told you there was something there."
"Mother, it's not like that," she said lightly, but there was an edge of warning in her tone.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Naomi inquired; ignoring the term she hated because she knew that her daughter had thrown it out there to try and take her off balance and off subject.
"Probably because I knew you'd take it the wrong way."
"I don't think it's fair that Mom has gotten to meet him and I haven't," Colleen interjected. "I did introduce Paul to you before I introduced him to Mom."
Johanna glanced at her sister. "I figured I got to meet Paul first because you were using me as practice for when you took him home to Mom."
"That's not true," Colleen replied. "I came to you first because you're my sister and that's what sisters do."
"I apologize; I didn't realize I was breaking the code. Please forgive me and take comfort in the fact that Mom only met him because she was there at the time."
"He's very nice," Naomi told Colleen. "And he's very smitten with your sister."
"He is not!" Johanna exclaimed.
"He is," her mother argued.
"I think it's mutual," Colleen laughed.
"It's most definitely mutual," Naomi affirmed. "You should see them together, you can see sparks flying."
"I hate this," Johanna mumbled as she picked up her glass and took a long sip, regretting the fact that she hadn't ordered wine.
"I knew she had it bad for him," her sister teased. "Now she just needs to do something about it."
"Do you know what you need to do, Colleen?" Johanna asked with a smirk.
Her sister grinned. "I'm sure I can imagine."
"Can you?"
She laughed. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm getting the message."
"Good," Johanna said as she gave her attention to her mother. "So are you okay with me bailing on our usual dinner?"
"Of course, darling," she said happily. "You go with your young man and have a nice time."
"He's not mine," Johanna remarked.
"He is," Naomi replied. "He just doesn't know it yet."
She rubbed a hand over her face, silently counting to ten and then she let it go as she exhaled slowly. A quick glance at her watch showed she had 10 minutes to go…and then the car ride…God help her.
"So is it settled then?" Johanna asked. "Are we having lunch together for my birthday? Just the three of us?"
"Isn't your father invited?" Naomi inquired.
"Why spoil the party?" she replied; causing Colleen to laugh as she nodded in agreement.
"Johanna," her mother sighed.
"Just the three of us, Mom. I just want it to be us; that way I stand the chance of having a nice time."
Naomi relented. "Alright, dear, just the three of us."
"And we should have lunch together the day after," Colleen added. "That way we can get the details."
Johanna shook her head. "And that, ladies, is where I draw the line. There will be no lunch the following day for the sole purpose of trying to pry things out of me that you'll both twist and turn into things they're not. Now the offer is lunch on my birthday and that is it, do we have a deal?"
Naomi smiled and patted her hand. "It's a deal…I'll just call you instead."
She sighed as she looked at her mother; she just never could win against her…but now at least she knew to expect the phone call…and she could always not answer it and just say that she hadn't been home, her mother would be none the wiser. She smiled; another strategy of avoidance to add to her repertoire.
"Can I ask you a question?" Jeff asked as he and Jim walked along the busy city sidewalks.
"You just did," Jim replied as he continued to look in store windows.
His friend smirked. "You know, you're not nearly as funny without the other half of your comedy team."
Jim laughed. "What do you want to know?"
"Why are we window shopping on our lunch break?"
"Because I need to find a birthday gift for Johanna."
"And I had to tag along, because?" Jeff asked.
"Because I don't know what to get her and I'm hoping you'll have some suggestions."
Jeff grinned. "I bet I know what she'd like."
"What?" Jim asked hopefully.
"She'd probably like for you to get your act together and admit that you have a thing for her so that the two of you can be together."
"Don't be an ass."
"Me?" Jeff asked. "You're the one being an ass by pretending that you don't have feelings for her…in fact, that probably makes you a dumb ass."
Jim smirked. "And have you told Maggie that you love her?"
"No; but I'm not going around classifying her as just my friend either."
"Then you shouldn't talk; you're no better which makes you an ass too."
Jeff smirked. "Are you admitting something with that statement?"
"I didn't admit to anything."
"You didn't deny it either."
"Just because I didn't come right out and deny it doesn't mean I admit it," Jim remarked.
"Come on, Jim; you may as well admit that there's something there in regards to her."
He was quiet for a moment as he weighed how to answer that remark. "I'm attracted to her," he finally stated as his chosen admission.
Jeff shook his head. "Oh like that's a newsflash. Everyone knows you're attracted to her and that she's attracted to you. I also know that on at least one occasion, you taste tested her lip gloss."
"Shut up," he laughed.
His best friend was far from finished and his trademark grin remained in place. "I have a feeling that there's been more than one occasion where there's been lip to lip combat."
"Maybe there has been," Jim stated; his admission surprising his friend.
"And you didn't share this with me? That's not fair, Jim; I tell you about all of my occasions. Just how many times has this happened?"
Jim shrugged. "I don't know."
"It's happened that many times that you've lost count?" Jeff asked as he studied him somewhat intently.
"Counting isn't usually on my mind at the time."
His best friend was quiet for a minute; his expression turning somewhat serious. "Are the two of you together and just not telling anyone because you don't want to put up with any flack at work or something?"
"No, we're not together; and if we were I'd still tell you even if we weren't telling other people."
The air of seriousness remained as Jeff looked at him. "So what are you doing, Jim? Are you leading her on? Because that's cruel, you know, and Sassy deserves better than that."
"I'm not leading her on," he retorted. "It just happens sometimes."
"But you know she has to feel something for you to let it keep happening."
Jim looked him in the eye. "Johanna and I are fine with things the way they are. Sometimes we kiss but it doesn't change anything. If she was bothered by it or wanted something more, I'm sure she'd say so but she doesn't. We don't talk about it. We just let it happen and then go on like we always do."
"And how long do you think that's going to last?" Jeff asked. "How long do you think you and Johanna can keep playing this game? Eventually it's going to get out of hand."
"And just what do you mean by that?" Jim asked sharply.
"It means that eventually things are going to go too far and the two of you are going to end up in bed together and there isn't going to be any going back. Once that line is crossed it can't be undone and if you bail on her afterwards, you'll hurt her…because I don't care if she doesn't say anything about this little dance the two of you are doing, it doesn't change the fact that she has feelings for you and she doesn't deserve to get hurt just because you think you can have your cake and eat it too."
"First of all," Jim said tersely; "We have self control. It's not like we're teenagers. And secondly, when did you get so high and mighty? I know you, and I know your history with women and you shouldn't be throwing stones."
"I'm not being high and mighty," Jeff remarked. "I'm just looking out for Sassy. I always wanted a baby sister but instead I got stuck with an older brother and a younger brother, neither of which give a damn about me for the most part and of course the feeling is mutual; but now I have Sassy and even though I'm not her brother by blood, I feel like I am and I take that brotherly responsibility seriously. I don't want you hurting her."
"I would never hurt Johanna," Jim stated; a touch of anger coloring his tone. "How can you even suggest that I would? Do you think I don't care about her? I do, you know, she means a lot to me. I'd do anything for her and she knows that."
"Does she? Does she know that you care about her as much as you say you do?"
"Of course she does! And what the hell do you mean, 'the way I say I do', are you calling me a liar?"
Jeff shook his head. "No, I'm not calling you a liar; I'm just trying to make you see what's right in front of your face. I tell you these things for your own good, Jim; you've always been a better brother to me than the ones I have and I want you to be happy and I think that Johanna makes you happy…but I also feel the need to tell you that if you hurt her I'll have to kick your ass. With that said, after I'm through kicking your ass, you'll still be my best friend and I'll consider helping you win her back if you're properly remorseful for what you did."
Some of his anger abated and he couldn't help but laugh lightly at his friend's comment. "That's good of you."
"That's the kind of guy I am," Jeff grinned.
"So you tell me," Jim replied.
"Hey man, someone has to promote me; no one else is going to do it."
"You've got that right."
Jeff cast a sidelong glance at his friend. "Your support overwhelms me sometimes."
Jim shrugged; mischief in his eyes. "That's the kind of guy I am."
"Sassy deserves so much better than you; and yet the poor girl is delusional enough to actually seem like she wants you."
"I'm not even going to acknowledge that comment," Jim replied.
They walked in silence for a few moments until Jim paused in front of a window belonging to a small jewelry store. "What about that?" he asked; his eye caught by a dainty silver bracelet that had a small amethyst butterfly charm dangling from it.
"You're going to buy her jewelry?" Jeff asked; that gleam returning to his eyes.
"What's wrong with that?"
The other man shrugged. "Oh, I don't know; doesn't it strike you as a 'girlfriend' type of gift? I mean you claim to be just friends after all."
Jim shot him a look. "Jewelry is a gift for all women; not just girlfriends."
"Whatever you want to tell yourself, buddy."
"Do you think she'll like the bracelet or not?" Jim asked; ignoring the amusement in Jeff's tone.
"I'm sure she'd love it, there's something about it that just seems like her."
Jim nodded; a smile coming to his lips as he studied the bracelet. It did seem like it should belong to Johanna; and he couldn't help but think of her as he looked at the small charm. She was graceful and beautiful like a butterfly but of course he couldn't voice that thought aloud. Jeff would have a field day with that. He pushed through the door of the store and made the purchase and when he stepped back outside and met his friend's eyes; he regretted bringing him along.
"What now?" he questioned.
"Where are you taking her?" Jeff asked.
"I'm taking her out for dinner. I told you that."
"Yes; but you didn't say where."
"There's a reason for that."
"What?"
Jim looked him in the eye. "I don't want you or anyone else showing up at the same restaurant, pretending that it's a coincidence just so you can spy on us."
Jeff nodded. "Okay, I get it. First date nerves. You don't want anyone to witness it if you screw it up."
"This is not a date," Jim stated.
Jeff laughed. "What do you call it then?"
"It's called I'm taking my friend out for dinner for her birthday."
"Yeah, well, even though you're 'just taking your friend out to dinner', maybe you should still buy her some flowers too."
"I plan on it."
"Good, and don't forget to kiss her goodnight."
Jim decided to throw his friend for a loop. "I plan on that too."
Jeff grinned mischievously. "Let's see, flowers, a gift, dinner, and a kiss goodnight. This sounds like a date to me."
"But it's not," Jim remarked; although now that he thought about it; it did kind of seem like a date. He hurriedly pushed that thought out of his mind. He was better off not thinking about it.
After lunch; Johanna bumped into Jim as she entered the break room to fill her coffee cup.
"Sorry," she said lightly as he took hold of her to steady her.
"That's alright," he replied. "Feel free to run into me anytime."
"Better you than someone else," she remarked.
"That's right; I should always be your first choice if you need to run into someone," he teased. "What were you in a hurry for?"
"Caffeine eases headaches," Johanna replied; "And I'm afraid lunch gave me one."
"How did that happen?"
"I ate with my mother and sister."
He nodded in understanding. "That'll do it; but just think, it could've been worse. You could've been in my place; I had lunch with Jeff."
"I'll trade you next time," she laughed.
"No thanks," he chuckled. "I'm glad I ran into you. I'm going to be in court the next few days and I might not see much of you but wanted to let you know that I'll pick you up at 7:30 on your birthday if that's alright with you."
Johanna nodded. "That's fine. I'll be ready."
Jim smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too," she replied softly.
The evening of her birthday; Johanna stood before her closet and debated about what to wear as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her bed was already littered with discarded dresses that had been tossed aside with the thoughts 'too much', 'too casual' and just 'not right' attached to each one. She sighed; should this really be so difficult? Finally her hand landed on a dress that she had bought several weeks before and she took it from the rack and looked it over. It was a simple dress of soft velour, deep purple in color with a scoop neckline. The short nylon sleeves were decorated with small, beaded lace flowers. It would show her off without being too snug or too obvious and the hem would land just slightly above her knee. Relief filled her; it would suit her needs just fine for the evening.
With her decision made, she hung the dress on the closet door and turned her attention to her extensive shoe collection and searched it until she found a pair of matching heels. She then dug through the decorative box that housed her evening bags and came up with a clutch that would go well with her dress. With a glance at the clock on her nightstand; Johanna frowned. She needed to get a move on if she wanted to be ready on time. She hurriedly put the discarded dresses back into the closet and then she changed into her dress and sat down at her vanity to do her makeup.
There was a small tremor in her hand as she swiped mascara across her lashes; reminding her of the nervous flutters in her stomach. There was nothing to be nervous about, she told herself. It was only dinner with Jim. She had had dinner with Jim plenty of times; lunch too...but somehow, this dinner seemed different. It felt like a date.
"It's not a date," she reminded herself as she selected her lipstick. It's just dinner with a friend...whom she seemed to be kissing on a frequent basis lately; and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't hoping to kiss him tonight. Kissing, however, really would make it seem like a date. "But it isn't," she said aloud as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite convince herself of that fact and she wasn't sure why. Was it because they kissed occasionally and that in doing so, she was always left with the longing to do it again? With the exception of the title of 'friend' there was no exact classification of what exactly they were to each other...but sometimes it felt like they were something more than what they claimed and that sent another ripple of nervousness through her. She knew that he cared about her; he made that clear in a hundred different ways and she cared about him too; but was the depth of those feelings changing? Or had they already changed and she was just slow at catching on?
There was something about being with Jim that made her feel different than she did with anyone else. She was comfortable with him; she loved to be around him. She missed him when he was gone or if they somehow managed to go a day or two without speaking. She liked how it felt when her hand slipped into his. She liked how his scent lingered on her clothes after an embrace...and how good it felt to have been wrapped in his arms. She loved his sense of humor and how he made her laugh. She liked feeling those sparks that flew between them and feel of his fingertips against her skin when things turned from friendly to heated. That shiver his touch could elicit was cherished as was his kiss.
She loved his smile; his laugh; his handsomeness; and his goodness. She was touched that he had made himself her self appointed knight in shining armor; that his mission always seemed to be to see her happy, secure and safe. A smile touched her lips as she curled her hair; she liked how he always seemed to manage to get his fingers in her hair; either to tuck an errant strand behind her ear, or in the heat of the moment. She liked when they spent time together outside of work, especially if it was in the privacy of her home or his. She enjoyed it when he would come in and stay awhile when he brought her home from one place or another...and she was always sad to see him leave...she always wanted him to stay.
What would it be like if he did? What would it be like if they stepped across that line and stayed there? There was a part of her that would like to find out and yet fear was there. She wouldn't be able to bear losing him if it crashed and burned...but she just couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be his. That thought brought back her original question about the depth of her feelings for him. You could love your friends, Johanna reasoned; and she did love them...but was her feelings for Jim dipping into the romantic side of love? A little voice in the back of her mind whispered, "You know the answer to that," and she slammed on the breaks.
"Stop it!" she exclaimed as she looked into the mirror. "Just stop. You're being ridiculous."
She shouldn't be thinking about these things right now. There was no point in it anyway. Things were fine as they were. What was wrong with her? An invitation to dinner and she was all wound up and analyzing herself.
"It's just dinner," she said aloud once again. "It's not a date and nothing has changed."
Except now she was talking to herself...which only went to prove that she was crazy. This was all her mother's fault. Damn her. She just had to keep doling out those lectures about finding a man and settling down before she got much older. It was no wonder her mind was going places it had no business going. She shook the thoughts away. She wasn't going to do this to herself tonight. Tonight she was going to have a nice time with her friend...who she might be falling for.
Johanna smacked her hand against her forehead. "Stop it," she demanded once again; trying harder to change her train of thought. She really needed to stay away from her mother for awhile. The thought had no sooner entered her mind when a knock sounded at the door. She had just put the last pin in her hair but she had yet to put her stuff in her purse or slip on her shoes. She had daydreamed too long and now she was running late.
Johanna hurried to the door and unlocked it; swinging it open to reveal Jim on the other side. He smiled at her as his gaze raked over her for a moment; taking in the way she looked in her dress. She always knew how to take his breath away.
"Happy Birthday," he said as he stepped inside and kissed her cheek before handing her the bouquet of roses he had in his hand.
"Thank you," she replied; a soft smile gracing her lips as she brought the flowers closer to inhale their scent. "They're beautiful."
"You're beautiful," he said sincerely.
She murmured a shy "thank you" once again and then gave him a sheepish smile. "I'm almost ready. I just need to get my shoes and my purse."
Jim could see that she felt badly for not being ready and he quickly set about putting her at ease. "That's not a problem, Jo."
"I'm sorry," she said anyway. "I took too long deciding what to wear."
"What woman doesn't?" he laughed; earning himself an amused smirk and an eye roll.
"Shouldn't you be nice since it's my birthday?"
He grinned. "I brought you flowers, didn't I?"
"And that's going to be the extent of your niceness?"
"Of course not. I'm also being nice about the fact that you're not ready yet; which I don't mind at all seeing as how you spent that time fussing over what to wear for me. Good choice by the way," he added as he admired once more.
"Don't flatter yourself," she laughed as she walked off towards the kitchen to put her flowers in water.
"Oh come on, admit it," he teased as he followed her. "You know you wanted to look good for me."
"Not at all," she remarked. "I might run into a nice young man while we're out and I want to make sure I make a good impression; if only for my mother's sake."
"I hate to disappoint your mother but I'm the only nice young man you're getting tonight."
She shot him a sassy look. "Well I guess you're better than nothing."
Jim laughed. "You could do worse."
"And I have," she freely admitted as she completed her task. "I just need to put my shoes on and get my purse. I'll just be a few minutes; I promise."
"That's fine, sweetheart," he answered; more than content to wait for her.
Her heart flipped. That was more thing she could add to the list. She loved that little term of endearment that he bestowed upon her in private...a little more than she should.
Johanna smiled as they were seated at a table at an upscale restaurant. This place was a big step up from the fast food places and small diners that they usually frequented, she thought; which once again made this seem like a date. She quickly pushed that thought away and focused on her surroundings; the deep red table cloths and the linen napkins; white candlesticks in silver holders, their flames dancing brightly as soft music played in the background. After looking over their menus, they placed their orders and she raised a brow as he ordered champagne.
"What?" Jim said as he caught her look.
"Champagne?"
Her colleague shrugged. "What's a celebration without champagne?"
"You don't have to spend so much on me."
"You're worth every penny and I don't want to have this discussion again when I give you your gift."
"I thought this dinner was my gift," Johanna answered.
He shook his head. "No; this doesn't count as a gift. I bought you something," he said; and seeing a certain phrase forming on her lips, he added, "Don't say it, Jo."
She smiled softly and allowed the topic to drop. "How did it go in court today?" she asked after the waiter filled their glasses.
"It went well, but let's not talk about work."
"Why not?"
"Because tonight is about you," Jim answered as he picked up his glass and gestured for her to do the same. "Here's to you, I hope this year will be a good one for you and that you'll have all the happiness you want. Happy Birthday."
"Thank you; that was very sweet," she murmured as she clinked her glass against his and then took a sip.
He smiled at her after he had taken a sip of his own drink and added, "And you don't look a day over sixteen."
She laughed. "Are you trying to get me to go home with you with that line?"
Jim chuckled. "It depends, did it work?"
Johanna thought about it for a moment, an amused smirk touching her lips. "I might have been briefly tempted in that moment of flattery...which is most certainly untrue."
"Not in my eyes," he replied; and the way he said it, she could almost believe it and it made her feel beautiful for a moment.
"So if we're not talking about work; what are we talking about?" she asked.
"You."
"Me?" she laughed. "You'll soon be bored with that topic."
"I have never been bored with you," Jim remarked.
"You'll change your mind," she stated as she picked up her glass for another sip. "You'll beg me to talk about work."
"I doubt that; but if you want to make sure it stays interesting, maybe we should play twenty questions."
"You say that like you already have questions in mind," Johanna responded.
"What can I say, Jo? You fascinate me. There's always a question about you lingering in my mind."
"Should I be afraid of that knowledge?" she teased.
"I guess there's only one way to find out," he laughed.
"Fine," Johanna said with an amused grin. "Give it your best shot."
"Alright; question one, who convinced you that you're boring?"
"A lot of people," she answered. "Next question."
"You're not going to give me answers like that for all of the questions, are you?"
"I guess we'll find out."
"Okay, question two; do I know any of the people referred to in question one?"
She couldn't help but laugh; he never could let her off the hook easily. "Technically, that would be question three."
"How do you figure?"
"You asked me if I'd be answering all of the questions in the same manner; so technically, you asked me a question."
"That doesn't count, Johanna."
She shrugged and smiled indulgently. "Okay, it's your show; we'll play by your rules."
"That's better," he replied lightly; "And question two is still on the table."
"You might know one or two of them."
"I had that feeling. Do you want to give me any names?"
"No," Johanna answered; "And I'm counting that as a question."
He smirked at her. "Who do you get your strictness from?"
"As much as I hate to admit it; probably my father."
He'd like to know more about her relationship with her father but he didn't press the issue. They put their game on hold for a few minutes as the waiter brought their food but after the first few bites, Jim glanced at her hands and posed a new question. "Why are your fingernails always painted red?"
She glanced at him. "They're not always red."
"I'm pretty sure they are."
"The answer is simple. I'm surprised you haven't figured out that red is my favorite color."
She was right; the answer was simple and it should've been obvious. Maybe he wasn't as attentive to detail as he had thought. He didn't like the idea of that though so he quickly brushed that thought aside and changed topics. "How was your lunch with your mother and sister?" Jim inquired.
Johanna laughed softly. "At the bottom of the question barrel already?"
"Not at all," he answered. "I'm just saving some of my better ones for later and I was just curious about it."
"Lunch was fine. I give them both an 'A' for effort at trying to behave themselves."
His eyes were kind as he glanced at her. "But they didn't exactly succeed?"
"No; not completely, although Colleen did somehow manage to refrain from talking about her wedding…that was probably killing her but at least she did it."
"Well that's good, isn't it?"
"It was fine," she said once again; unwilling to divulge the fact that she had dodged questions about him and their plans for the evening the entire time. "Have you thought of a better question yet?"
Jim got the hint that she didn't really want to discuss it and moved on. "Let's see…do you have a favorite birthday memory?"
Johanna laughed softly and nodded, the memory filling her mind. "When I was a kid, I was always envious of the kids that had birthdays in the summer. They always had pool parties and I wanted one too. My birthdays were usually snow days and my parties were canceled more often than not."
"Snow can be fun," Jim commented. "Although I guess it is disappointing when it cancels your parties."
"Yeah, it is. The year I turned nine, my Dad had taken my brother to visit our uncle so it was just Mom, Colleen and I, and of course it started snowing the day before my birthday and was still pouring down when I woke up the next morning. The party was off. Needless to say but I was upset. Sometime in the afternoon, my mom told me and Colleen to go up to our room and play and that we weren't to come downstairs until she came to get us. She had a surprise for me."
Jim smiled as he watched her face as she recalled the occasion, seeing that it was a memory that she held dear.
"It seemed like we waited forever," Johanna remembered. "Finally after a couple of hours, she came back upstairs and she had our swimsuits with her and she told us to hurry and put them on and then come downstairs. I didn't know what to think of it," she laughed; "But I didn't waste any time."
He chuckled. "I bet you were brimming with excitement."
"Oh I was," she admitted. "Colleen and I went running downstairs and we went into the kitchen and find that she had shoved the table up against the wall and had braved the snowstorm to drag the kiddy pool in from the garage. She cranked up the heat in the house, filled up the pool and had the record player going. She looked at me and smiled and said "Here's that pool party you always wanted. Surprise!" It wasn't the party I had dreamed of but it was perfect," Johanna said wistfully. "Mom put those little umbrellas in our glasses of Kool-Aid and she had brought in our kid sized lawn chairs. She let Colleen and I gorge ourselves on cake and ice cream all day and we danced and laughed and splashed in that pool until evening. We had so much fun...I think it was the best birthday I ever had growing up."
Jim smiled; he could just imagine her as a young girl, having the time of her life at a makeshift pool party. "I'm glad you got your dream party. Your mother must have a wonderful imagination to come up with that idea."
"She does, she can make anything special; especially if it's to keep one of us from being disappointed."
There was a question that formed in his mind as she had told her story but he had tried to refrain from asking it. The thought, however, wouldn't let him alone and he put it before her. "Did it bother you that your father wasn't there for your birthday?"
"No," she answered without hesitation. "As long as I had my mother and sister, I was fine."
"Did he at least call you?"
"No," Johanna replied; "But I had gifts and Mom said they were from both of them."
He couldn't fathom having that type of relationship with a parent at that young age. "It didn't bother you at all?"
Her smile was patient and understanding. "Birthdays are my mother's domain; she made them special regardless of who was there and who wasn't. By that age I already knew where I stood with my father and as terrible as it sounds, his absences were...a relief at times."
"Would I be correct in assuming that he didn't call you today?"
Johanna nodded. "If it makes you feel any better, he did sign my card himself this year."
"That was good of him," Jim remarked; a hint of disdain in his voice.
"Don't worry about it. It hurts sometimes but overall I'm used to it and it doesn't really matter."
But it did matter, Jim thought to himself. The problem was he didn't know how to fix it for her.
She sensed that the thought she had spoken troubled him and she smiled at him as she nudged his foot with her own. "Next question?" she asked. "I think you're up to seven now."
He laughed, taking her cue to lighten up the conversation. "I should've known you'd be keeping count."
His colleague grinned. "Someone has to keep you in line and make you play by the rules, Jim."
"You can try, sweetheart. You can try."
After dinner, Jim and Johanna set off with no set destination in mind and eventually ended up at a small, intimate nightclub. As they sat at their table, nursing their drinks, Jim caught her eye and said, "I guess I should give you your present."
"Only if you want to," she replied. "Because you know you didn't..."
"Jo," he said in light warning. "I wanted to get you something and you're accepting it, remember?"
"You're kind of bossy tonight," she teased.
"I must be picking that habit up from you," he replied as he took the small box from his pocket and slid it across the table to her.
She picked it up and opened it; a wide smile spreading across her face as she glimpsed the silver bracelet and its amethyst butterfly charm. "It's beautiful, Jim."
"You like it?" he asked; wanting to be sure of his choice.
"I love it," she confirmed as she lifted it from the box. "It's my birthstone. I don't have any jewelry that's my birthstone."
"Really?" he asked; his own smile growing.
Johanna nodded as she held her wrist out towards him. "Hook it for me, please."
His smile remained in place as he fumbled with the small clasp in the task to fasten it to her dainty wrist. He watched her as she admired it and ran her fingertips across it.
"It goes well with your dress," Jim remarked. "I did a good job."
Johanna laughed; affection shining brightly in her eyes. 'Why don't you just pat yourself on the back?"
A mischievous grin touched his lips. "I'd rather let you reward me for it."
"Who said I was going to do that?" she asked slyly.
He shrugged. "Well I figured you might out of gratitude but it could've just been wishful thinking."
She eyed him for a moment before shifting so that she could lean across the small table and press a kiss against his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Anything for you," he uttered; his thoughts momentarily muddled by her nearness and the soft scent of her perfume.
"Anything?"
"Just name it."
"Dance with me?" Johanna replied.
"I'd love to," he responded as he slid out of the booth and took her hand.
The song was changing as they stepped onto the dance floor and as he pulled her close, the opening notes of 'Best of My Love' filled the air. A warm smile spread across her face and her eyes sparkled as her gaze locked upon Jim's.
"How do you like that," he said; "They're playing our song."
"You remembered," she replied softly.
"How could I forget? After we danced to it, it followed us everywhere we went."
"It was a good night," she remarked; a quiet wistfulness in her voice as she recalled their first kiss.
He nodded in agreement; his thoughts also on that kiss they had shared while that song had played on. "One of the best."
"You know, this is one of my favorite songs," Johanna told him.
Jim smiled. "I'm fond of it too."
"Are you?"
"Yes," he admitted quietly as he gazed into those beautiful eyes he loved so much. How could he not be fond of that song...or the woman in his arms? "I always think of you when I hear it."
She ducked her head in a moment of shyness but then brought her gaze back to his face. "It always makes me think of you too."
"Then I guess it's only fitting that we claim it as ours."
"Especially since it always seems to find us," Johanna added.
"I guess it's just meant to be," Jim stated; a small part of him wondering if it was something more than just then and that song that was meant to be.
Johanna was wondering the same thing as the mood between them changed; that special magic of that deeper connection between them making itself known and felt. She didn't have time to ponder it long as his lips touched hers; gently at first, wiping away her thoughts. Upon finding no resistance to the gesture, he captured her lips once again, kissing her with a sense of tender longing as their song played on.
On the other side of the nightclub, Colleen McKenzie sat at a table with her fiancé. While she sipped her Cosmo, she realized that his attention was directed at something on the dance floor. "What are you looking at, Paul?"
"That woman looks like Johanna," he answered.
"Which one?" she asked as she slid her chair closer so that she'd have a better vantage point.
"The one being kissed," he laughed.
Colleen zeroed in on the couple on the dance floor that was sharing a kiss and from what she could tell; the woman in question did look like her sister. She was on the edge of her seat as she waited for the enamored duo to part to give her a better look at who the participants were. Had she just been handed the opportunity of catching a glimpse of Johanna and her colleague that she obviously had a thing for? God she hoped so, she thought with a smile as the couple finally parted. Colleen studied her intently and her smile grew into a grin.
"That is Jo!" she exclaimed in a hushed voice as she gripped Paul's hand in excitement. "She was going out with her 'friend' Jim tonight... just a friend my ass," she laughed. "She is so busted."
"You're not going to tell her that you saw that, are you?" Paul asked.
"You better believe it; and as soon as they go back to their table, I'm going over there and meet this guy."
"You shouldn't do that," her fiancé advised.
"Why not?"
"Because you'll be invading her privacy."
Colleen waved a hand dismissively. "Oh I am not, and besides, she'd do it to me. It's all a part of being sisters. She wouldn't expect anything less of me."
"She might get mad."
Colleen laughed. "That's part of the fun and it won't last long. She always forgives me."
Paul sighed, when his fiancée got an idea in her head it was hard to shake loose and he didn't think it would be wise of her to provoke Johanna's temper. All he had heard lately was how she felt like her sister was ignoring her and pushing her away. He doubted that ambushing her would help matters.
"They're going back to their table," Colleen announced. "Are you coming with me?"
"No," he answered. "Jo's going to be my sister-in-law for the rest of my life and I'm not going to intrude on her evening and have her hate me."
"Oh fine," she said as she rose from her chair. "I'll go alone."
Colleen strode across the bar with purpose, pasting a smile on her face as she went and when she got to the table, she plopped down next to her sister before Johanna could even register her appearance.
"Hey, Jo," her sister said brightly.
Johanna's eyes widened as she looked at the person who had sat down beside her in the booth. Hints of panic and mild annoyance warred within her. She just couldn't seem to escape her family lately. "What are you doing here?" she said lightly as she forced a strained smile to her lips.
"Oh Paul and I decided to stop in for a drink...and I saw you out on the dance floor," Colleen said casually; taking some pride in the fact that her sister blanched at the statement. "And I thought I'd come over and wish you a Happy Birthday."
Johanna gave a short laugh, her fake smile still in place. "You already wished me a happy birthday when we had lunch together today."
Colleen smiled. "There's no law that says I can't tell you twice; is there?"
"No," her sister replied tightly; "But I suppose it might seem somewhat redundant."
"I have no problem with redundancy," she replied as she turned her attention to the man sitting across from them. "Hi, I'm Colleen," she said with a smile as she held out her hand to him. "I'm Johanna's sister."
Jim grinned and accepted her hand. He'd had a feeling that the woman who had joined them was Johanna's sister. Who else could make Johanna squirm so much with just a few words? "It's nice to meet you, Colleen. I'm Jim, I've heard a lot about you."
"Really?" Colleen asked; "Because I haven't heard nearly enough about you."
Johanna closed her eyes and bit her lip to keep from swearing.
"I'm afraid my sister isn't always big on sharing," Colleen went on.
"Well that's hard to believe. She's told me all about you."
"Have you?" she asked as she looked at her sister.
Johanna smiled but there was little amusement in it. "Oh I've told him some things about you, but I think I may have forgotten to mention that at home we just call you 'Bug'."
Jim laughed. "Bug, huh."
Colleen smirked at her sister. "Yes, I'm afraid our brother disgraced me with that name."
"For obvious reasons," Johanna added as she looked to Jim.
He smiled at her as he held her gaze, hoping to soothe her as he could see how her sister's presence had put her off balance. He studied them as they sat side by side; Colleen had their mother's light brown hair and blue eyes; and she appeared to be an inch or two taller than Johanna. The only physical resemblance he could really see between them was the way they smiled, the curve of their chins and the structure of their hands. There were other types of resemblance however, Jim thought to himself, and even if they didn't look much like each other, they seemed to share the same energy. He noticed that they both sat the same way; their hands folded in the same manner as they rested atop the table. Colleen's eyes were just as expressive as Johanna's, and he could tell that she was greatly enjoying the fact that she had ambushed her sister. He had a feeling that Johanna would make her pay for that sometime in the near future.
"So, are you having a nice birthday?" Colleen asked.
"I was," Johanna replied; "But then this pest showed up."
"Really? I didn't see Frankie anywhere," her sister replied; ignoring the fact that the jab had been thrown at her.
"I wasn't talking about Frankie."
"Well I know you can't be talking about me," Colleen remarked.
"Don't be too sure," Johanna quipped.
Colleen turned her attention back to Jim and grinned; her blue eyes dancing with mischief. "Jo just talks about you all the time."
"She exaggerates," Johanna remarked.
Jim kept his focus on Colleen. "I thought you said she didn't share much."
"Oh she talks; she just doesn't share much in the way of good details. I've been wanting to meet you but she's been keeping you from me."
"There's a reason for that," the elder McKenzie sister proclaimed.
"What is it?" Colleen questioned.
"The embarrassment," she replied. "I don't want my friends to know that I'm related to a crazy person."
The younger woman laughed; "The real reason is because she has a cr...Ow!" she exclaimed.
"Oh was that your foot?" Johanna asked innocently. "I'm so sorry."
Jim chuckled as Colleen shot her big sister a glare. "Try acting like it."
"Where's Paul?" Johanna asked; trying desperately to keep her sister's attention off of Jim.
"Over there," she answered gesturing to the table across the room. "He wouldn't come with me; he's afraid of making you angry."
Johanna glanced to Jim. "My future brother-in-law is very intelligent. We're hoping that will rub off on Colleen over the course of their marriage."
"Very funny, Sissy."
Jim reached for his drink, deliberately brushing his fingers against Johanna's in hopes of putting her at ease. He could handle a mischievous baby sister; he had one of his own and he knew how they could be.
"Paul looks lonely," Johanna remarked. "Maybe you should go back to him."
"You're just trying to get rid of me."
"I can't imagine why."
Colleen grinned. "Okay, I get it; you don't like having unexpected visitors while you're on a date; but I'm your sister so that should be the exception."
"This isn't a date."
She laughed and looked to the man her sister was clearly smitten with. "It's a date isn't it? You can tell me the truth."
"It's not," he told her.
"Wow," Colleen said; "You're both into denial; this has the makings of a perfect match. Mom's right, you are cute together."
Jim couldn't help but laugh as Johanna's cheeks reddened. "I hate you so much right now," she told her sister.
"You better watch," Jim said to the younger McKenzie; "You might find yourself without a maid of honor."
"Oh she's been threatening that for months," the young woman responded. "I don't take her seriously. Mom will make her do it."
"She's all grown up; your mother can't make her do a damn thing."
"Don't be so sure."
"Maybe you're the one who shouldn't be so sure," Johanna replied. "It wouldn't take much to make me change my mind about being in your wedding...or even coming to it at all."
"You wouldn't do that to me."
"Colleen, you have no idea how close you've been coming to that the last few weeks."
She sighed and looked at her sister's colleague. "All I did was offer to find her a date for the wedding. Is that so horrible?"
"Yes," he stated without hesitation. "I met the last guy you set her up with and not only was he an idiot; he wasn't good enough for her so I think she shows good judgment in not wanting any more of your suggestions."
Colleen smirked. "That wouldn't happen to be jealousy about seeing her with another man, would it?"
"Colleen!" Johanna stated. "It's time for you to go back to Paul. Now you can either go on your own or I can knock you there. Which do you prefer?"
Colleen sensed that she had teased her sister enough for the night and decided to quit while she was ahead. "Alright, Jo; I'll go and let you get back to your evening. It was nice meeting you," she said to Jim.
"It was nice to meet you too, Colleen."
She smiled warmly and then kissed her sister's cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow, Sissy."
"Thanks for the warning," Johanna replied. "Tell Paul to keep you on a leash the next time he takes you out in public."
She laughed lightly; not at all bothered by her sister's sarcasm. "Goodnight," she told them as she slid out of the booth and headed back for her own table.
"I am so sorry," Johanna stated after she took a long sip of her drink.
"Don't worry about it," Jim told her as he took her hand. "Relatives show up at unexpected times. No harm done."
That was easy for him to say, Johanna thought, he didn't have to eat dinner with her tormenting sister on Sunday, along with the rest of the family.
"Hey," Jim said; bumping her foot with his. "This is your night, don't let it bother you. We can go somewhere else if you're bothered by her being over there."
"You wouldn't think that was petty?"
"No," he said as he took her hand. "I want you to be happy tonight and if your sister is going to make you uncomfortable, then I want to take you somewhere else where you can get back to enjoying yourself. How about a movie?"
She smiled; warmth spreading through her at his kindness and willingness to make her happy and comfortable. "That sounds great."
After the movie, they returned to Johanna's apartment. Jim followed her inside and sat down next to her on the sofa as they finished their discussion about the movie they had seen. They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a moment and Johanna's thoughts were pulled back to the nightclub and her sister's surprise appearance. He hadn't seemed bothered by it but she still felt the need to apologize once again.
"I'm sorry about Colleen showing up tonight," Johanna stated. "She's always been like that; I suppose it's partly my fault. I always let her get away with following me around when we were kids. I guess she never learned about boundaries."
Jim shook his head. "Don't worry about it; my siblings would've done the same thing and besides, it was fun."
"Fun for you maybe," she retorted lightly.
He laughed. "Well think of it this way; now that I've met her I'll really be able to visualize her role in the stories you tell."
"I guess that can be the one positive thing about her appearance tonight; now you'll know that I'm not exaggerating."
"It wasn't so bad, she has a lot of spirit like you do and it's easy to tell that she loves you."
"Thanks; make me feel even guiltier," Johanna replied.
He looked at her with confusion. "What do you feel guilty about?"
"She caught on to the fact that I was avoiding her...so much for the stay away plan," she said; shooting him a glance to remind him that she hadn't forgotten that he was the one who had suggested it.
Jim chuckled. "I just gave you the idea; I didn't tell you to get caught while doing it."
She gave his shoulder a shove as she smirked at him. "I figured with her brain being fogged with wedding mania that she wouldn't be very perceptive to my subtle attempts to evade her."
"I guess you were wrong."
"I guess so. I do love her...even though she drives me crazy lately."
"I know you do," he replied; and then his eyes sparkled with mischief. "And I'm sure she's already called your mother and gave her a full report on her sighting of us."
Johanna nodded. "I'm sure of that too, that's why I won't be answering the phone tomorrow...in fact I might have to come and visit you just to hide."
"Mothers," he sighed; "They're always driving us into hiding. Come on over and hide with me all you want."
She giggled. "Yeah, we do always seem to be hiding from them...or at least I am anyway. Is your pact with Andrew still on?"
He nodded. "It's a good thing too; my mother has picked someone out for me."
"Oh really?" she asked; her tone conveying amusement. "Do I need to get a dress for your wedding too?"
Jim laughed. "Don't get out your credit card, Sassy; hell will freeze over before I marry Helen Crawford."
Her eyes danced with merriment. "What's wrong with Helen Crawford?"
"What isn't wrong with her?" he remarked.
She burst into laughter. "That bad?"
"She has no personality," he exclaimed; "And she's as cold as a winter in Antarctica. I swear you expect to see penguins following after her."
Johanna was shaking with laughter as she looked at him. "Wow your Mom really knows how to pick them."
"That's another problem with Helen; she's a little too much like my mother."
"Well I guess that explains why she has your mother's recommendation," Johanna replied lightly.
"Don't get me wrong," Jim said; "I love my mother but I'll be damned if I want to be married to someone like her."
"Where did she find her at?"
"She lives across the street from her."
Johanna gave a short laugh as she struggled to be composed. "Oh, I'm getting the picture here, she wants you to marry Helen and move in across the street so she can have her little boy close to home."
He couldn't help but laugh with her. "I've got two words for her; Not Happening."
She continued to giggle and he smiled as he watched her. He loved being the person to make her laugh or smile.
"What are we going to do with our mothers, Jim?" she asked; amusement lacing her tone.
"Have them put away. I'm sure we can convince a judge that they're crazy and a menace to society...namely us."
"It might not be as easy as you think," Johanna replied. "I think my mother could scare a judge into siding with her if she started yelling in Italian."
"Your mother speaks Italian?"
"Yeah. She loves to slide it into guilt trips."
"It's always nice when a guilt trip can be a cultural experience."
"I hadn't thought of it that way."
He looked her in the eye; curiosity brimming within him. "What about you, Jo? Can you speak Italian?"
"I'm not as good at it as my mother, but I can manage it and I can understand it pretty well if it's spoken to me."
Jim grinned. "Let me here you say something in Italian."
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know what to say," she replied.
"What do you usually say when you speak it?"
"I usually only speak it in regards to the guilt trip from Mom, so usually I'm saying that I know she wants me to be happy and that I love her."
"So tell me how you tell her you love her."
Say the words 'I love you' in Italian to Jim? She could feel her cheeks warm at the thought of it. She just couldn't do that; especially in light of the thoughts she had been having earlier in the evening.
"No parlano Italiano," she said instead. "That's something I say to my mother."
He smiled. "Let's hear some more."
Johanna rolled her eyes. "You're not going to be happy until I do this, are you?"
"Nope, and you don't want me to be unhappy, do you?"
"Oh of course not," Johanna said with a smirk. "Voglio che tu sia felice." (I want you to be happy).
"That's more like it," he stated. "Keep going."
"Do you even know what I said?"
"Not a clue, but I don't mind, go on."
"Grazie per stasera." (Thank you for tonight).
Jim smiled, he had a feeling he was enjoying the sound of her speaking a different language a little more than he should.
"More?" Johanna asked as he said nothing.
"Yes."
"Why?" she laughed.
"You sound sexy," he told her; the words slipping from his lips before he could stop them.
She dipped her head as she blushed furiously. "I do not!"
He couldn't take it back, and he wouldn't even if he could. "Yes you do. You should speak Italian to me more often."
"You wouldn't know what I was saying."
"Doesn't matter, I'd still listen."
"Would you?"
"Count on it."
Johanna studied him for a second; a small feeling of boldness growing within her at the knowledge that she could say something to him that he wouldn't understand.
He watched her as she considered her next phrase, and he took note of the fact that a hint of a seductive smile graced her lips which only intrigued him more.
"Hai intenzione di baciarmi?" (Are you going to kiss me?)
"See," he said; his tone low as he leaned toward her without thought. "That was very sexy."
"Maybe you're just easily impressed," she remarked; her tone almost a whisper.
"Maybe you're more impressive than you think you are," he countered.
"I doubt..." she began to say but her words were cut off by his kiss which felt much more charged than the one they had shared earlier.
She gave in without hesitation; a feeling of longing building up within her as she felt the warmth and weight of his hand on her leg; moving upwards in a lazy caress. He forced his fingertips to stop as they bumped against the hem of her dress but they lingered there, drawing small circles against the thin material of the sheer hose that covered her legs.
As always, they broke apart only when the need for oxygen forced them to, and they took the opportunity in those tension filled seconds of silence to gauge each other's reactions and to make sure the advances were wanted. Slowly, Johanna leaned back towards him; taking the initiative to instigate the next kiss. He allowed her to have control over the kiss which she deepened; some hidden meaning lingering in the depths among with the passion and the tenderness that she seemed to be evoking as she dragged out every second of it. He reveled in it and pulled her closer as he tried to ignore the urge to take things further.
After awhile of indulgence they broke apart once again and he looked into her eyes; Jeff's warning about going too far and hurting her pushed forward in his mind. In bothered him in some ways that his friend thought that he would be so careless with Johanna and cause her pain. He'd never do that. He cared about her and she knew that…didn't she? "You know that I care about you, don't you, Jo?" he asked; his voice quiet and serious.
A hint of confusion flickered in her eyes, a slight smile on her lips as she nodded. "Yeah, of course I do. Why?"
He smiled; that tension he felt easing a bit. "I just wanted to make sure that you knew that; because I do care about you."
Johanna wasn't sure what had brought this on or where it might be headed but it felt somewhat strange to her. "Is something wrong?" she asked him; wondering if he had been keeping something from her or if he was worried about something and wanted to be sure that she knew that she meant something to him.
"No; nothing's wrong," Jim assured. "I just wanted to make sure you knew…because if you didn't, then I've been doing something wrong."
She knew his tells when he was lying and she saw none of them which put her at ease. She laughed softly and leaned towards him, wrapping him in an embrace that he didn't hesitate to return.
"I know," she said once again; "And so far you haven't done anything wrong."
"So far?" he chuckled.
"Well the future remains to be seen. You might push a wrong button one day and make me mad…and then I'll have to make you regret it and believe me; I can if I want to."
"Oh I don't doubt that at all," he responded as he released her. "I can just imagine what you're going to do to Colleen for her little visit tonight."
"Mark my words; Colleen will pay, if there's one thing I've learned throughout my life, it's to keep an arsenal of material against my siblings for times of blackmail and revenge."
Jim grinned. "I really do have to introduce you to Madelyn. The two of you would get along so well with your shared plights of marriage minded mothers and an arsenal of revenge against your siblings."
Johanna laughed. "You keep telling me that you're going to introduce me to your sister but you show no signs of doing it…and now that you've met mine, I think it's only fair that I meet yours."
"You will," he promised. "I'll arrange it."
She smirked; a hint of disbelief in her eyes as she gave a slight nod.
"I promise," he laughed.
"I guess we'll see about that," Johanna replied.
He was tempted to kiss that amused little smile off of her face but he held back in light of that reminder that was still lingering in his mind. "I should go," he said quietly; even though leaving was the last thing he wanted to do.
She didn't want him to go and she bit into her lip to keep from voicing that thought aloud. There was something in the way they had kissed and something about the thoughts she had been having earlier that evening that made it seem like they were teetering on the edge of the invisible line. Tonight, it felt like it wouldn't take much convincing for her to follow him to the other side of that line. He seemed to be mulling something over as well and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing as he had yet to move.
Finally, Jim rose from his place, feeling like he had two choices. He could stay for as long as she allowed and see where things went but that would come with the risk of living up to Jeff's prediction. He didn't want to take that chance and so he chose option two, which was to leave even though that choice didn't feel entirely right either. There was always a part of him that hated to say goodnight to her...he had the feeling that part of him was his heart. Johanna followed him, her hand slipping into his as they approached the door.
"At the risk of sounding redundant," Jim said; "I hope you had a nice birthday."
"I only mind redundancy when it's being used for nosiness," she replied with a smile.
"Promise me that when you punish Colleen, that you'll tell me all about it."
"I promise; as for my birthday, it was wonderful. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," he told her. "I'm just glad that you let me share it with you...and that I could make you happy for a little while."
She couldn't resist the urge to touch him and she caressed his face; her fingertips pausing to lay against his cheek as she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "You always make me happy, Jim," she whispered.
"It's mutual," he replied before pulling her back for one last sweet kiss. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Johanna said as they parted. She locked the door behind him, her heart feeling somewhat heavy despite the warmth that he brought to it. Maybe one day it would be different…maybe one day they wouldn't say goodnight…maybe one day he'd stay.