Reflections

by evitascarlett

A companion piece to 'Apologize'. Chronicling the lives and love story of Jim and Johanna Beckett through the years. See Authors Note at the beginning of Chapter One for more details! Cover art by LordofKavaka

39. Chapter 39 - One of These Nights

A/N: Thanks for your reviews!

Chapter 39 – One of These Nights

"Sassy; are you still on board for the trip to Atlantic City?" Jeff asked Johanna as she entered the break room late Thursday morning.

"You're damn right I am," she answered as she moved to the counter to refill her coffee cup. "Sharon and I got everything arranged; I can't wait to get out of here."

"I can't believe Roche gave all of us on this floor a three day weekend," Jim commented. "I wonder what's up with that."

"I heard a rumor that he thinks we're rowdy and restless lately," Johanna replied. "That's why anyone who could arrange to have the day off was free to take it. He's hoping we all blow off some steam."

"If we had known that was all it took we would've been rowdy and restless sooner," he remarked as he took a sip of his coffee.

Jeff nodded. "Yeah; we're the young and the restless…looking for that guiding light as the world turns…like sands through the hour glass, these are the days of our lives…and we only have one life to live."

Jim and Johanna regarded him with raised brows. "What?" he asked. "Can't a man be poetic?"

"Only if you're going to do it right," she remarked. "You forgot All My Children and General Hospital in your ode to soap operas."

"I couldn't work them in."

"I knew you were watching soaps on that TV you smuggled into your office," Jim laughed.

"I am not," he replied. "I only brought it in to watch the news."

"Liar," Johanna accused. "When I was in your office the other day the Price is Right was on."

"I like background noise while I work," Jeff said in his own defense. "I can't help it that the news isn't on all day…and I always turn it off when I have clients."

"We weren't speculating about that," Jim replied. "We were saying that you were watching the soaps."

"They're just on; I'm not watching them."

"Uh huh," Johanna said with a knowing gleam in her eye. "Do you have any clients at 12:30 today?"

"No, why?"

"Because I'll be down to watch All My Children," she replied.

"Fine; but you bring your own snack this time," Jeff told her.

"This time?" Jim asked. "Are you saying that the two of you watched All My Children together before?"

"Now, Jim; don't get jealous," Jeff teased. "It was strictly a platonic viewing party. Sassy popped in the other day and asked if she could watch a few minutes of All My Children before heading to court…she also helped herself to my M&Ms but that's okay; I don't mind her visiting to use my TV and eat my candy…that Erica Kane sure is something; I wouldn't mind having her number."

Jim laughed. "Not that you were watching to get a look at her, right?"

"Right. Now weren't we talking about Atlantic City?"

"There's not much to talk about," Johanna replied. "I'm just glad that I was able to rearrange things so I could go."

"And we're going to have nice weather," Jim added. "It's only the end of April but it feels like summer outside."

"And I'm all packed and ready," she stated.

Jeff nodded. "Well since you've deemed my topic of conversation as unimportant and unnecessary; I'll just go back to my office," he said dramatically.

"You don't fool us for a minute," Johanna told him. "You're going back to your office to watch Hollywood Squares."

Jeff smirked at her. "Don't bite the hand that lets you watch All My Children, Sassy."

"I take it back," she grinned.

He laughed as he headed to the door. "Now I've got power over you; this is a good day indeed."

She rolled her eyes as she laughed and turned her attention to Jim. "So you're all packed and ready," he commented, turning toward her as they lingered at the counter.

"That's right; are you?"

"I'll pack tonight…the real question is, did you pack your pink bikini…or the purple one?"

Johanna smiled; her tone dropping an octave. "I bought a new bikini."

"Oh yeah?" he said; shifting closer to her. "What color is it?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," she told him; tapping a finger against his nose.

"And you say you aren't a tease."

She laughed softly. "I can't help it if teasing you is so much fun, honey."

His eyes shone with amusement. "If I guess the color will you tell me if I'm right?"

"Nope."

"What if I guess what color it isn't?"

She shook her head. "You'll just have to wait and see."

"Does that mean you're planning a big reveal of it for me? Are we going to be alone when that happens?"

Johanna laughed. "Don't go getting yourself all worked up, Jim; you still have a long time to wait."

"So you are giving me a private reveal?" he asked hopefully.

"No."

"No?"

"Nope."

He sighed. "I don't think I like this stingy nature of yours."

"You'll get over it," she quipped. "Just think of it as having something to look forward to."

"Oh I'm looking forward to it alright," Jim replied. "I'll pick you up in the morning."

"What time?"

"Seven; be ready…with your bikini on."

"Nice try," Johanna replied. "I'll be ready but the bikini stays hidden."

Jim shook his head at her. "You're cruel and ruthless, sweetheart."

"I have to be with a man like you," she teased. "And now that my work here is done; I better get back to my desk."

"I'll walk with you; I better get back to mine as well."

Johanna hooked her arm through his. "You're not fooling me; I know you're going down to Jeff's office to watch Hollywood Squares before your next appointment."

He grinned. "Guilty as charged."

---

"You always look cute when you wear your hair in a ponytail," Jim said the next morning when Johanna opened her door.

"You think so?" she asked as they gathered up her bags.

"Yeah; you kind of remind me of Gidget," he grinned.

Johanna shot him a look. "Isn't it kind of early for insults?"

"It's not an insult," he declared as they moved into the hallway. "Gidget was cute."

She rolled her eyes while making sure her door locked. "Little girls are cute."

"Big girls can be cute too…when they want to be, Gidget."

"Don't make me hurt you," she replied; a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Fine; if you don't want to be Gidget, I'll call you Barbie…those pink heels you were wearing the other day looked like they could've been stolen out of her closet."

Johanna's jaw dropped. "My shoes don't look like Barbie's!"

"Yes, they do…there's some poor barefoot Barbie out there wondering what happened to her favorite pair of pink heels. You should really give them back."

They stepped onto the elevator and she turned to face him. "You don't need to label them as Barbie shoes just because they're pink."

"If the shoe fits," Jim quipped.

"You just think you're so adorable, don't you?" she asked with a hand on her hip.

"Only because you keep insinuating that I am; and sweetheart; they're definitely Barbie shoes. I kept looking around for your little pink corvette and your sister with the weird name."

"Jackass," she laughed as he dodged her swat. "Barbie's blonde, you know."

"Not all Barbies; Angie has one with brown hair."

"I should've never taught you to pay attention to her toys."

"Don't you just hate when that comes back to bite you in the ass?"

"Shut up."

"Angie calls her dark haired Barbie Jo," he commented as they got off the elevator and left the building.

"She does not."

"Yes, she does!"

Johanna smiled. "That's so sweet."

"How come it's sweet from her and not from me?"

"Because she wasn't picking on my shoes or my ponytail," she answered as they put her bags in the trunk of the car.

"I like your ponytail," Jim said as he followed her to the passenger side of the car. "I keep getting the urge to pull it."

"My brother got that urge one too many times and I punched him in the eye," she remarked as she got into the car.

"The urge is suddenly gone."

"That's what I thought."

Jim rounded the car and got in. He put the key in the ignition but glanced at Johanna. "Do you have your bikini on under that?" he asked; flicking his hand at her pink and white summer dress.

"Don't you worry about what I have on under my dress."

His brow rose. "You don't have anything on under your dress?"

"I didn't say that!"

"It could've been implied."

"You wish," Johanna scoffed. "I assure you that I'm fully clothed, so you just rein in your drooling."

"You better be nice or I'll change your Barbie name," Jim replied as he started the car.

"I wasn't aware that you had given me one…should I be afraid to ask?"

He grinned. "You can be Bikini Barbie."

She smirked at him. "And what are you? Chauffer Ken?"

Jim wrinkled his nose in distaste. "I don't think that suits me. I think I like being Clyde better."

Johanna laughed. "Bonnie and Clyde ride again."

He nodded as he kept his gaze focused on the road. "So far we've been lucky and have evaded arrest."

"Even though you shot that man in Reno," she teased.

Jim shot a quick glance at her. "Don't be quoting anymore Johnny Cash songs to bolster my reputation, Bonnie. I think I've been in enough bar fights for awhile."

Johanna's gaze flicked to the window and passing scenery of the city. "I'm surprised you didn't lose your job after decking Stanley in your latest fight."

"I guess Roche couldn't say anything about it since it didn't happen at work."

"Why did it happen?" she asked; hoping he'd say without meaning to.

"Just one of those things," he replied. "One too many smart remarks; one too many drinks…a fight inevitably breaks out."

She glanced at him. "You weren't drunk when you got to my door."

"Maybe I sobered up fast."

Johanna shook her head. "You might have had a few beers but you weren't drunk, Jim."

"Okay, so I wasn't drunk…it was still one of those things."

She sighed and gave up on knowing the answer…for now. "Who all is coming this weekend?"

"Well there's us; Jeff and Maggie; Sharon and Phil; Zach and Claudia; Sally and Sam Dennison. A few others might come sometime tomorrow, but those are the ones I'm sure of that's going today and staying the whole weekend."

"Our group is plenty; we should have a good time."

"I think we have a good time when it's just us on a trip."

"Yes, we do," she agreed. "But we're not sharing a room."

"I don't see why not."

"Because we're not! I already told you that."

"Well I don't see why we don't just share," he remarked. "We end up staying in one room anyway."

"If we were going alone; I'd consider sharing; but since our friends are going to be there, we're going to have our own rooms. Even Jeff and Maggie are getting separate rooms. Maggie hates how they look at her when they don't see a ring on her finger."

"You women and your need for rings."

"You men and your need for a woman to share your room."

He smiled. "You can't blame me for trying. We live together nicely when we're pretend married."

"Yes, we do…but we're not this time, so just forget it."

"Fine; but I'm changing your name to Uncooperative Barbie."

She laughed. "Good; I'll change yours to Better Luck Next Time Ken."

"That's Clyde to you," he retorted.

"Then you better behave yourself or I'll turn you in; I'm sure there's a poster with your name on it in some post office somewhere."

"Car rides are always fun with you, Jo."

"Well, honey; I do my best to keep you amused. It's one of my priorities in life."

Jim laughed. "It's good to know your priorities are in order."

"Speaking of priorities, what are we going to do first when we get to Atlantic City?"

"Plan A is to park myself in your room and wait for the big reveal," he replied.

"I hope you have a Plan B," Johanna laughed.

"Plan B is to hit the casinos…you're going with me as my good luck charm."

"Does that mean you're splitting the winnings with me?"

Jim pondered that for a moment. "Depends on how good your luck is."

"You just don't want to share," Johanna accused.

"Are you going to share your winnings?"

"I would share with you," she replied with a nod.

"Right," he scoffed.

"Hey; I'm not using you for luck; you're using me."

"Oh; so I have to pay for the usage?"

"I don't like how that sounds," Johanna stated.

"Me neither; sounds like I'd have to change your Barbie name again."

"I'm never going to be able to wear those shoes again, am I?"

"Probably not; but I will buy you a drink or two tonight with my winnings; does that soothe the pain?"

"I suppose that will have to do," she laughed. "But we're going to have to work on your sharing skills."

"Okay; but we're going to have to work on yours too…there are areas that you're stingy in."

"We'll see about that," Johanna stated. "We'll just see."

---

"I don't think it's fair that you had all the luck at the casino today," Johanna declared that evening as she and Jim danced at a nightclub.

He grinned. "I told you that you were my lucky charm."

"How come I wasn't lucky for myself?"

"Who says you weren't lucky?"

"The fifty dollars I lost."

"You could've kept playing; you might have won it back."

Johanna shook her head. "Fifty is my limit."

"You still can't say you weren't lucky; you were standing by me every time I won…and I'm buying your drinks tonight," Jim told her.

"So that constitutes luck for myself?" she laughed.

He nodded. "If you were unlucky; I would've lost too and we'd be begging drinks from Jeff's pool of winnings."

"I guess you have a point there."

"I always have a point; you just don't always agree with it."

'You wouldn't want it any other way," she replied lightly.

"I don't know about that," he laughed. "I'll tell you what's unfair though; I put all of those quarters in that one slot machine and kept losing and then Sally sat down at it and won them all."

Johanna laughed. "You're right; that wasn't fair…and she's going to rub that in your face for at least a week."

"I know; I can hardly wait."

"At least you cleaned up at Blackjack; you did very well."

"Impressed you, did I?" he grinned.

"Always."

"Did I tell you how pretty you look tonight?"

She smiled; amusement in her eyes. "I've been wearing this dress all day."

He shrugged. "I still think you look pretty."

"Thank you; and you look handsome as usual."

"I do my best for you."

She laughed softly as she gazed up at him. "I think you're the most handsome man in this place."

"Now you're just being a flirt," he accused lightly.

"No, I'm not; it's true in my eyes."

"You keep that up and I'll take you home with me," Jim replied.

"What are you going to do with me once you get me there?"

"You name it, it'll be done."

Johanna laughed. "You're going to rub my feet?"

"If that's where you want me to start…I don't have a problem working my way up."

"Sounds interesting."

"You have no idea how interesting it would be."

"Now who's flirting?"

Jim stole a quick kiss from her. "You started it."

"Any excuse will do," she replied. "Let's take a break and see what the others are doing."

"Alright, sweetheart," he said as he hung on to her hand. As they picked their way through the crowd, Jim noticed the change of the song and tugged Johanna towards the corner.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Do you hear that?" Jim murmured as he backed her into the shadowy corner.

'What?"

"The song."

"One of These Nights," she replied.

"It's about you, remember" he stated; his hand sliding around her waist and pulling her against him.

"Is that right?"

"Mhmm," he answered before capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

Her arms wrapped around him, boldness swimming through her veins. "Why is it about me?"

"Because one of these nights I'm going to have you," he remarked; his lips falling against her neck.

She toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck as he unleashed the fiery yearning within her. "What's wrong with tonight?" she murmured.

He pressed her closer, his lips moving against the shell of her ear. "Not tonight, sweetheart."

"Why not?"

"I want it to be when you're least expecting it."

She gave him a flirtatious look. "What if I promised to act surprised?"

"Wouldn't be the same," he answered; his lips touching hers.

"I think you're just afraid that I'll be the one to surprise you," she told him.

Jim shook his head. "You'll be too busy to be handing out surprises."

Johanna laughed softly. "Is that so?"

"That's right."

Her hand slid down his chest. "You must have a lot of plans."

"I was a Boy Scout, remember? They taught me to be prepared."

"They kicked you out of the Boy Scouts."

"Doesn't matter," he grinned. "I'll still be prepared."

Her eyes danced with amusement. "And how much have you had to drink tonight? I think you're tipsy."

"Men don't get tipsy," Jim stated; brushing soft kisses along her jaw.

"Oh? What do they get then?"

"They're either drunk or they're not."

"I don't know about that; I think there must be some middle ground somewhere."

"I'm not near it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," he replied. "I've had just enough but not too much. How about you? I know you get tipsy."

"Well you haven't had to pick me up off the floor yet so I guess I'm doing okay."

Jim held her gaze. "Were you hoping I was drunk so you could use your charm on me and take advantage of me?" he teased.

"You're the one who started this," Johanna remarked as she captured a wandering hand. "Maybe you were hoping to take advantage of me."

"Never," he said with a shake of his head. "I thought maybe we'd take advantage of each other."

"Wouldn't that ruin your surprise element?"

"If we were both drunk enough, it would be a surprise in the morning."

"Wouldn't you rather it be memorable?" she whispered; pressing a kiss against the base of his throat.

"Believe me; it'll be memorable."

Johanna glanced up at him. "You don't keep me around just so you can try to coax me into your bed, do you?"

"Of course not; I like you no matter what we're doing."

She laughed. "If that isn't high praise I don't know what is."

"I meant it in a better way than it sounds."

"You might need to work on that," she teased.

"I'd rather do this," he replied; capturing her lips once more.

"You two do realize you're in public right?" Phil asked; his voice causing them to end their kiss before either one of them was ready.

"What's your point?" Jim asked.

"The point is you shouldn't be carrying on like this; people can see you. Look where you've got your hand."

Jim looked at his hand which had glided up Johanna's side. "It's not touching anything vital yet," he remarked; "And she didn't hit me, so I'm guessing she doesn't mind; do you, Jo?"

"No; I'm use to you being touchy feely."

"We all know she doesn't mind," Phil retorted; "But you ought to save that for behind closed doors."

"Quit looking at us if it bothers you," Johanna told him. "We haven't done anything that everyone else in here isn't doing."

"Except Phil," Jim said with a grin as he looked at her. "Phil's a prude."

"I am not," the other man protested.

"He is," Jim stated. "It was a disease he was born with; when he was born, his mother looked at him and saw that he was wrinkled like a prune and prudish and the only name that she could come up with that would go with those words was 'Phil'. Pruney, Prudish Phil…Phil the Pruney Prude…there's no cure for his illness."

She laughed loudly; Jim's laughter joining hers as Phil glared at them. "I think we should show some decorum."

"You're right, Phil," Jim said, giving Johanna's waist a squeeze. "We should show some decorum, after all, the only reason my mother let me come here for the weekend was because I promised I'd be a good boy."

Johanna laid her head against his chest so that his shirt would muffle her laughter. "I think you two are drunk," their colleague remarked.

"Not yet," Johanna laughed; "But we might have to get drunk after this conversation. Who appointed you as the manners and etiquette police?"

"It's just common propriety."

Jim's eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at Johanna. "Which means that Sharon's going to be leading a very boring life once they tie the knot."

"Poor Sharon," she giggled. "She probably doesn't even realize it."

"You should warn her…while Phil calls my mother to report me. The number is 555-8796; ask for Elizabeth."

"You may as well call my mother too," Johanna added; "555-3985…tell her I'll go to confession the next time I go to church with her."

"That's good to hear," Jim remarked; "That means you plan on being sinful."

"In Phil's mind I already have been; I mean look around; here I am in a bar, letting you kiss me; and there was the matter of your hand…"

He nodded. "It's a shame to see how far you've fallen."

"Well what choice did I have? I enjoy your company and that meant I had to slide down to your level."

Jim laughed and pulled her into a hug. "You're going to pay for that one later."

"It's going to take you that long to think up a punishment?" she asked.

"I'd tell you but then it wouldn't be a surprise."

"You're all about surprises tonight."

"I didn't count on Phil's interference being one of them."

Phil sighed. "Talking to the two of you is like talking to a brick wall at times. I was only trying to alert you to the fact that you might be overstepping the bounds of what's appropriate for public."

Johanna's gaze flicked to Jim. "I wasn't aware that you had stripped me and had your way with me right here in this corner; you're very stealth."

"Apparently too stealth," Jim replied. "It all happened so quietly and without any fanfare that I'm not sure if we enjoyed it or not."

"I give up," Phil muttered.

"If you had any sense; you would've done that awhile ago," Johanna replied. "I can't believe Sharon let you get in my business anyway; I'll have to have a talk with her."

Phil stalked away, muttering something under his breath. "He's too uptight," Jim remarked. "He didn't used to be this bad; what's his problem?"

"I don't know and I don't care. He needs to mind his own business," she responded as she took Jim's hand. "Let's go get something to drink."

---

"What's on the agenda for tomorrow?" Jim asked once they had their drinks.

"The beach," Johanna answered. "I've lost enough money to be done with the casinos; I'm ready to hit the beach and soak up some sun."

He smiled. "It's the unveiling of the new bikini."

"You won't be able to sleep tonight in anticipation of the event, will you?"

"Probably not," Jim replied. "But you could put me out of my misery and give me a special preview tonight."

"You'll just do anything to get me in your room, won't you?"

"I can come to you," he offered with a grin.

Johanna caressed his face. "I have a better idea."

"Oh yeah? What is it?"

"You just wait for me to show up on the beach tomorrow."

"I just changed your name to Cruel Barbie," he told her before taking a sip of his drink.

She nodded. "It has a nice ring to it; you can now be Disappointed Ken."

"You live to torment me, don't you, sweetheart?"

"Only because you live to do the same to me," she replied. "We both experience misery."

"I don't know about that."

"I do," Johanna assured; "That's why I can't end your misery tonight…you have to suffer."

Jim smiled. "I do enjoy a good punishment once in awhile."

She gave him a sassy wink. "I'll keep that in mind."

---

"Why is it that we're here before everyone else?" Jim asked Jeff the next day as they staked out a place on the beach. "I thought that Zach and Claudia had already left."

"You know those two," Jeff replied. "They probably ducked into a secluded spot somewhere. As for why we're here early…for the bikini watching of course."

There was really only one bikini he was interested in seeing…and it hadn't arrived yet. His friend laughed quietly; drawing his attention back to him. "What?"

"You're always so obvious when you're looking for Sassy. Has she been tormenting you with ideas of her bikini?"

"She mentioned that she bought a new one."

Jeff nodded. "The ladies went swimsuit shopping together. Maggie got a yellow one."

"What color did Johanna get?"

"I don't know; I didn't ask."

"Figures," he muttered.

Jeff laughed. "You'll find out soon enough, buddy. Enjoy the surprise."

"If they ever get here."

"They're coming; I can see Maggie. Jo's behind her."

"What's she wearing?"

"Clothes," his friend replied. "The non bikini kind."

"That's disappointing," Jim remarked as the women came into his line of vision. The men fell silent as they neared.

"What's with the sad faces?" Maggie asked with amusement.

"We want bikinis and you came in shorts and shirts," Jeff answered.

"You poor abused boys," Johanna quipped as she took her towels from her bag.

"You women live to torture us," Jeff remarked.

"We have to get our kicks somehow," Maggie replied as she took off her shirt and shorts; revealing her new yellow bikini.

"Very nice," her boyfriend said in appreciation. "Wear that all the time."

"You wish," she laughed.

Johanna laid out her towels next to Jim and sat down her tote bag. He smirked as he took in the sight of her snug white shorts…that lived up to their name by being very short, he noticed. "Are those shorts or is that part of your new bikini?" he asked.

Johanna kicked off her flip flops and shot him a playful glare. "They're called shorts for a reason, you know."

"Those are more like barely there shorts."

"Are you complaining?" Jeff asked as Maggie settled down next to him.

"No, I'm not complaining," he laughed. "I appreciate the extended view of her legs."

"You do have beautiful legs, Sassy," Jeff remarked. "They're in the highest class…along with Maggie's of course."

"Nice save, Romeo," Maggie teased.

"Well since you don't like my shorts," Johanna said as she gave Jim a saucy look; "I'll just take them off so they don't offend you anymore.

"Maggie, Jim's dream just came true; Sassy's going to strip for him," his friend stated with amusement.

"Be quiet, Jeff; let him enjoy the moment," Maggie replied; shooting Johanna a knowing glance. She knew her friend was pushing the limits of teasing and tempting the man she loved…she just hoped Jim would survive it.

Jim watched with interest as Johanna caught hold of the material of her shirt and pulled it up over her head; revealing an emerald green bikini top. She dropped the shirt to the side with a graceful flourish, a sassy smile on her lips. He swallowed hard as she unbuttoned her shorts and wiggled out of them, revealing the matching emerald colored bikini bottoms that had those tempting little ties he had been fond of on her swimsuit from the summer before. He studied her with undisclosed interest as she stood before him; he was pretty sure that bikini was the slightest bit skimpier than last year's offerings…he highly approved.

"How do you like my new color?" Johanna asked.

"It's amazing," he murmured.

"You think so?"

"Oh yeah; it's incredible, I love it."

"I'm so glad you like it," she said as she sat down on her towel and grabbed her sunglasses from her bag and slipped them on. "I thought about you when I picked it out."

"Did you?" he asked; his eyes still drinking in the sight of her as she reached back into her bag and took out a bottle of suntan lotion.

"Uh huh; do you want to do my back?"

"What?" Jim asked; shaking off the host of thoughts that had been running through his mind.

"Do you want to put this on my back?" Johanna asked; shaking the bottle of lotion at him.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah; I don't want to burn…you don't want me to burn, do you?"

"Of course not," he replied as he snatched the bottle from her.

She laid down on her stomach as he opened the bottle. "Make sure you re-tie those ties tightly," she commented.

Jim glanced at the strings that tied her top across her back. "You want me to untie your…"

"Yes; just make sure it's tight when you retie it."

His mouth went dry; the thought of untying the strings of her top felt so intimate…and enticing. "Is this a trick? Are you going to sit up and slap me as soon as I touch those strings?"

"No," she laughed. "I just want to make sure you get my whole back…I know how you fret about me having tan lines."

He reached out and tugged the bow; the strings of her bikini top coming undone, leaving her back bare. He had to fight the temptation to drag his lips down the column of her spine in a series of hot kisses. It was tempting…so very tempting.

"Are you going to do it or not?" Johanna asked; her tone carrying the air of lightness.

"Do what?"

"Put the suntan lotion on my back before I burn?"

Jeff chuckled. "Are you breathing, Jim?"

"Shut up," he retorted as he squeezed some lotion into his hand.

Jeff continued to laugh. "Sassy, you should've seen the look on his face when you asked him if he was going to do it or not…he was thinking of a whole list of things he'd like to do with you."

"Is that true, Jim?" Johanna teased.

"My thoughts were pure," he replied; slathering the glob of cool lotion against her warm skin, making her flinch.

"You could've warmed that up a little," she remarked.

"Jim's warm enough," Jeff commented. "He might have to take a dip in that cold ocean…because his thoughts weren't pure at all."

"No one asked you," Jim replied while he rubbed the lotion into her upper back.

"Leave him alone," Maggie said as she dug in her bag for her magazine. "He needs all of his concentration right now…he can't forget that they're in public."

He ignored the comments and focused on his task until he heard Zach's voice. "Jim, you finally got her out of her top, congratulations."

"I am not out of my top," Johanna protested. "It's still in place where it matters."

"It's close enough to make Jim's day," Zach laughed.

His girlfriend, Claudia, swatted him with her towel. "Don't ruin his moment; he's probably been waiting a long time for this."

"You all need to mind your own business," Jim replied as he hooked a finger beneath one strap and lowered it from Johanna's shoulder so he could spread the lotion across her skin.

"Don't you think you worked the top half of her back enough?" Jeff asked after a few minutes. "She has more skin, you know."

"She felt tense; I was working the knots out of her back," he stated. "She doesn't seem to mind."

"I greatly appreciate it," Johanna said, her tone a mixture of contentment and amusement.

"If you're giving out massages, you can do me next," Maggie stated. "I've got suntan lotion too."

"Hey," Jeff protested. "No one's allowed to rub anything on you but me."

"Then you should get to it," Jim goaded; "Or I'll put her on my schedule."

"I think Sassy's already booked up your schedule," his best friend answered as he picked up Maggie's bottle of lotion and got to work.

"What's going on here?" Sharon asked as she and Phil approached the group.

"Jim got lucky," Zach quipped.

Sharon stooped down by Johanna's head. "You do know that he has your top untied, right?"

"Yeah; I told him to."

"You told him to?!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"I trust him."

"You haven't been to the bar already, have you?"

A slight smirk curved Johanna's lips upwards. "No; but if he wants to buy me a drink later, I'll let him."

"Count on it," Jim stated as he rubbed the lotion across her lower back as Sharon got to her feet.

"Where's Sally and Sam?" Jeff asked as Phil and Sharon picked a spot.

"They'll be along," Phil answered. "They're getting drinks."

Jim finished rubbing the lotion into Johanna's back and his fingers fumbled with the ties of her top as he pulled them across her back and tied them as tightly as possible.

"All finished?" she asked.

"You're covered."

"You may as well get the backs of my legs while you're back there," Johanna told him.

He stared at her for a moment. "Is this the moment where I get slapped?"

"I assure you that I have no plans of slapping you today."

"Personally, I think she's trying to kill you," Jeff commented.

"The thought has crossed my mind," Jim remarked as he began to smooth the glob of lotion against her skin. He had a feeling that she knew what she was doing to him, letting him touch so much so innocently. He wasn't sure what to make of this behavior…but he'd be lying if he said he didn't like it.

When he finished, he shifted closer to her head, rubbing lotion onto her arm without being asked. "I don't know what game you're playing," he murmured softly in her ear.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He scoffed. "What are you trying to do here, Jo?"

"I'm trying not to burn."

"Are you sure about that?"

"If I wanted to burn, I wouldn't put the lotion on."

"I think we both know that's not what I'm talking about."

A slight smirk tipped the corners of her mouth upward. "What; are you starting to burn? Do you want me to put some lotion on you?"

"You're playing dirty," he accused with a soft laugh.

"I don't see how."

"You know how…and if we were alone, you'd pay for it."

"You think so?" she asked as she turned onto her side and propped herself up on her elbow to face him.

His gaze slipped from her face and moved down her body to admire the picture she made. "My eyes are up here," she told him; her hand brushing against his leg.

"I know where they are…you know you don't want me looking at them."

"Now who said that?"

His eyes flicked back to her face. "You want me to take in the whole picture."

"If that's what you want to believe."

"It's what I know," Jim replied, dragging a finger along her leg as she sat up. "You're playing games today, sweetheart. Games have consequences, you know?"

Johanna shrugged a shoulder. "I'm not afraid…are you?"

"What would I be afraid of?" he asked with a quiet laugh.

"You tell me," she replied as she picked up her bottle of suntan lotion and finished her legs.

Jim was quiet for a moment. "Are you getting at something?"

"Just making conversation," she answered. "Is there something you want to get at?"

He grinned and she knew exactly where his mind had gone. "Besides me," she said, smacking his arm.

"Not that I know of; but I think you probably know that my brain cells might be a little scattered at the moment."

"They're not scattered; I know exactly where they are."

Jim smirked. "Right where you planned for them to be."

"And you say I have a suspicious nature."

"Are you two done with your rub down?" Jeff asked; finally managing to catch their attention. "Sam and Sally brought a volleyball; the net's free; we're going to play. It's men against women; are you two in?"

"I'm in," Johanna answered. "What about you, Jim?"

"Oh I'm definitely in," he told her as he got to his feet and held out his hand to her to help her up.

She allowed her hand to linger in his, a sassy smile gracing her lips. "Now you'll be able to accuse me of playing a game."

"Smart ass," he replied; the smile on his lips taking the edge of the sentiment.

"You know you like it," she whispered saucily.

The smile clung to his lips; he did like it…and one of these days he was going to win her game.

---

"Look at this," Jeff said as the women assembled on one side of the net. "Maggie's in yellow, Jo's in green, Claudia's in red, Sally's in pink…it would be my dream bikini rainbow if Sharon wasn't spoiling the effect in that black one piece."

The secretary smirked at him. "I couldn't find a bikini I liked."

Johanna glanced at her. "What are you talking about? You bought that pretty sky blue one when I bought this one."

"Phil said it was too revealing."

"Who cares what Phil thinks?" she replied.

"Excuse me," Phil stated.

Johanna ignored him and continued to address her friend. "It's your body; you can dress it how you want. You loved that bikini, you looked great in it."

"It wasn't worth the argument," Sharon remarked.

"Sharon; if he's going to start trying to control you, then you should probably start re-thinking the possibility of marriage."

"Why don't you mind your own business?" Phil remarked. "At least someone wants to marry her, unlike you."

Jim stuck his foot out just as Phil moved; tripping him and sending him face first into the sand. "Did you fall, Phil?" he asked as everyone laughed.

Phil got to his feet in a huff. "You just live to fight her battles, don't you? Just like with…"

"Are we going to play or not?" Jeff interrupted; knowing that Phil was about to spill the beans about Jim's bar fight with Stanley.

"Yeah; let's get on with this," Zach added. "The sooner you girls lose, the sooner we can console you."

"We're not going to lose," Claudia remarked.

"We'll see about that," the men stated in unison.

"Does everyone know the rules of volleyball?" Sam asked.

"Yes."

"No cheating," Jeff stated; "Unless absolutely necessary. Sassy, you serve first."

Zach tossed the ball over the net to Johanna and everyone took their places. Johanna served the ball; it flew over the net and promptly smacked Phil in the face.

Sharon burst into a fit of giggles as Johanna tried to stifle her laughter and failed. "Sorry, Phil," she called out.

"No, you're not," he answered.

"Okay, I'm not. Do I get a point for that or a do-over?"

"I'd give her a point," Jim announced.

"Me too," Zach agreed.

Jeff nodded. "Okay, Sassy; we're going to let that one count. The score is now one to zero."

The game progressed; the competitiveness reaching new levels as the women bumped the score in their favor up to ten to seven. Maggie shot Jeff a teasing grin. "You know you're losing, right?"

He smiled. "That's a matter of opinion, Muffin."

"Muffin?" Johanna asked as she glanced at her friend.

"Don't ask," Maggie replied with a shake of her head.

Jim laughed, his gaze darting to Jeff. "If you call her Muffin; what does she call you?"

"She calls me God," he answered.

"I do not!" Maggie exclaimed as she got ready to serve the ball.

"That's what you were calling me the other night," he remarked with a wicked grin; the statement causing her serve to go awry, the ball smacking into the net.

"You're going to pay for that," his girlfriend announced as she kicked the ball under the net to him.

Jeff laughed. "The church of Campbell is open all night for your spiritual needs."

"That sounds like a church that the police need to investigate," Johanna commented.

Jim chuckled as he glanced at his friend. "Your grandmother always does say that you have an eternal glow about you…guess she never realized it's because you're a holy man."

"I try to keep it under wraps," Jeff remarked.

"You're going to be under something alright," Maggie told him.

"Now, Muffin; is that anyway to talk in front of Phil? He's sensitive about these things. You can talk dirty later."

"I wasn't talking dirty…I was referring to the pile of sand you'll be under tonight when I bury you."

"You're just mad because you lost your point," he stated.

"Serve the damn ball," Sharon yelled.

"What's the matter, Sharon?" Jim asked. "Doesn't Phil have a name for you?"

"I'm not answering that…I do know that you call Johanna sweetheart."

"Everyone knows that," Jeff scoffed. "We're just not sure what Sassy calls Jim."

"What do you call him, Jo?" Sally asked.

"Who said I call him anything?" she replied.

"You do," Sharon stated. "I can tell. What is it, Jim? What does she call you?"

"What do you call Phil?" he asked; avoiding the question.

"And please don't say King," Jeff quipped.

Sharon snorted. "He wishes."

"Hey," her fiancé called out.

"I just call him mine," the secretary stated; eliciting groans from her friends.

"We still haven't gotten an answer about what Johanna calls Jim," Claudia reminded them.

"Come on, Jim," Sam goaded; "We'll only laugh a little."

"It's not for me to tell," Jim replied. "It's Johanna's word; it's up to her who knows."

Jeff grinned as he eyed Johanna. "I'm not serving the ball until I know what you call him."

Johanna sighed. "I suppose on occasion I might have called him honey."

"Honey?" Jeff said with a laugh as he looked at Jim. "Well I guess that's fitting."

'Why?" he asked.

"Because honey is sticky…and you like to be stuck right to her…usually at the lips from what the rumors are."

"Serve the ball, Jeff."

"Wait," Johanna said; her gaze shifting back to Maggie. "We still don't know what Jeff's called."

"It depends on what day it is," Maggie answered. "Some days he's doofus."

"And the others?" Jim asked.

"Go ahead and tell them, Mags…tell about how you call me Stud."

"Well that explains his inflated ego," Zach quipped. "Now can we get back to the game?"

"Yes, lets," Maggie agreed.

After the women claimed victory in the volleyball game, Jeff had the notion to divide up into mixed teams. "Maggie, Jim, Jo, Sharon and I will be a team," he stated. "The rest of you will be on the other team."

"I'm glad you explained that," Sam cracked. "We might not have figured it out otherwise."

"Watch it Dennison or we'll let Sassy hit you with the ball like she did Phil."

"Why does Sharon get to be on your team?" Phil asked.

"Because we don't want to take her away from her best friend," Jeff answered. "Besides, it'll do her good to come out of the darkness and into the light."

"She's my fiancée."

"It's just a game, Phil," Sharon remarked as she ducked beneath the net with Johanna and Maggie.

"Yeah, Phil; lighten up," Jim told him. "She doesn't have to be on your team."

"He just doesn't want to be beaten by his fiancée two times in a row," Johanna commented.

"Who says you're going to win?" Phil asked.

"We do," Jim declared.

"Not without a fight," Zach stated as he served the ball.

The new division of teams brought about a different level of competition among them; the score remaining close and at times tied. As Johanna stood waiting for Sam to make up his mind about how to serve the ball, she felt a hand brush across her backside. She jerked around, her hand swinging forward to wham the culprit. Jim jumped back from her, dodging her slap.

"What are you doing!" she exclaimed.

"I was brushing the sand off of you," he answered.

"A likely story," Johanna said as the volleyball bounced off Jim's head and then fell to the sand.

"Hey!" Jeff yelled as he retrieved the ball. "Play grab ass with Sassy later; you're costing us the game."

"I was just brushing the sand off of her."

"You just had to touch it didn't you," Sharon teased. "There it was, right there in front of you, taunting you, tempting you, and you just had to do it, had to get your hands on it."

"First of all, I only had one hand on it," Jim replied; "And I didn't have to; I just didn't want her to be uncomfortable with all of that sand on her."

"Who said I was uncomfortable?" Johanna asked as she shot him a teasing smirk. "I think Sharon's right; you just wanted to touch the merchandise."

"What did you expect, Jo?" Zach called out. "You let him get you out of your top; of course he's going to try to get you out of the bottoms as well."

"It wasn't like that," Jim laughed.

"And I wasn't out of my top," Johanna protested.

"The day's still young," Zach replied. "One wayward serve and any one of you girls might give us a show."

Maggie shook her head. "I had a feeling that the only reason we were playing this game was so you bunch of Bozos could watch us jump around in our bathing suits."

"It's not the only reason," Jeff stated; "But it does make us feel like winners even when we lose."

"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves," Claudia remarked.

"You wouldn't have known for sure if it wasn't for Jim reaching out and grabbing a handful of Sassy," Jeff announced.

"I did not grab her," Jim declared. "I brushed her off…if I was going to grab her, I'd do it when she's standing there wiggling."

"I wasn't wiggling!"

"You wiggle," Jim said with a nod. "You've been doing it on purpose."

"I have not wiggled."

"Liar," he laughed. "You've been doing it to tempt me; you wanted me to touch."

"I didn't want any such thing."

"Everybody that believes that, stand on your head," Zach yelled.

"Jackass!" Johanna yelled.

"Okay," Jeff said; holding up his hands; "As team captain, I will solve this issue," he said as he walked toward his friends. "Jim, Sassy's backside is posing a distraction to you, so you take my place."

"I'm fine here," he replied.

"No," Jeff said with a shake of his head. "You can't be trusted. Now you move."

"I don't think this is fair," Jim remarked as they traded places.

"Hey, it's not like I blame you; she does have a cute little behind here," he said giving Johanna a pat on her backside; which made her smack his shoulder in response. "Easy, Sassy," he yelped. "It's your own fault for putting it out there and tempting Jim; next time we play volleyball, you have to wear jeans."

"Maggie," Johanna called to her friend. "Would you be offended if I hurt him?"

"Nope, go ahead."

"I love you too, Muffin!" Jeff said as he took the place Jim vacated.

"Can we play now?" Sally asked.

"What's the matter, Sally?" Jim asked. "Hasn't Dennison brushed the sand off of you yet?"

"We do our brushing in private," his secretary yelled back.

"I knew your intentions weren't pure," Johanna quipped.

"You know you liked it," Jim said as he turned his head to give her a grin; the ball flying past him.

"Damn it, Jim!" Jeff yelled. "You're killing us! You could've had that."

"You shouldn't have put him in the front," Sharon replied.

"You're right; Jim, trade places with Sharon."

"Again?"

His friend nodded. "Until you learn not to let Johanna distract you, you must be punished."

"That could take awhile to learn."

"Yeah…but it might keep the rest of us from losing this game."

Johanna laughed and turned to look back at Jim, but Jeff poked her. "Don't look at him! You two can giggle and grope after the game."

"You just hate to lose, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes! So stop making me do it," he remarked.

Despite their efforts; they lost the game and Jeff gave his friends semi-playful glares. "The blame lies with both of you," he claimed; "But most of it goes to Sassy since it's her ass that did the distracting and made us lose."

"I'd apologize for that but I'm not sure I'm sorry," she replied.

"See, I knew you did it on purpose," Jim responded.

"I didn't do anything!'

"You know you kept wiggling."

Jeff sighed. "Let's just say that Jo's a wiggler and you're a grabber and call it even."

"Fine," they said in unison.

"I'm hitting the pool," Sally remarked as they all gathered their stuff. "Anyone joining me?"

"Sounds good to me," Sharon stated. "Jo?"

"Yeah; I'll be there."

"Me too," Maggie and Claudia both answered.

"Well if you're all going; we may as well go too," Zach stated.

"Oh of course," Claudia said as she gave him a grin. "You all have to turn up like bad pennies."

As the others headed up the beach in front of them, Jim slipped his arm around Johanna's waist. "Looking for more sand?" she asked.

He smirked at her and tickled her side. "No; I got it all."

She squirmed as she laughed. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

Her arm slipped around him, a comfortable silence falling between them. He felt her hand dip below his waist and he eyed her as he felt a brush across his backside. "Just brushing off the sand," she said innocently; a teasing smile on her lips as her gaze met his.

Jim laughed. "You've just been waiting for a chance to get your hands on me again, haven't you?"

"You wish."

"Apparently my wish has come true," he said lightly; his hand curling around her hip, keeping her close to his side as he kissed her temple.

Jeff had glanced back at them and upon seeing them, he looked to Maggie. "They need to go lock themselves in a room."

"For at least a week," she agreed.

---

That evening, Johanna looked out over the low wall at the ocean as it glittered in the moonlight. She could hear the music of the party around the hotel pool in the background, and a soft, warm breeze swept around her, ruffling her hair. She felt peaceful, a feeling that was more than welcome after the heavy case load she had been carrying for the last few weeks. A small vacation was just what she had been needing. She was absorbed in her little world as she stood in the shadows at the side of the hotel. She didn't hear footsteps approaching her, but as someone came close to her back, she tensed, a small tremor of fear sliding down her spine.

"It's just me," Jim said quietly; his voice close to her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Johanna released the breath she had been holding and relaxed, allowing herself to lean back against his chest as her arms dropped away from the top of the wall. Her hands moved to rest against his arms, his skin warm against her fingertips. Her peaceful moment that had seemed so perfect now seemed so greatly improved.

"What are you doing over here by yourself?" he asked.

"I got bored," she answered. "Everyone seems to be drifting off to do their own thing, so I figured I may as well wonder off."

"What were you thinking about?" he inquired. "You didn't hear me say your name."

"Sorry," she replied, tilting her head a bit to gently bump against his face. "I was just thinking about how pretty the water looks in the moonlight. It sparkles like it's full of diamonds. Isn't it beautiful?"

"It's not as beautiful as you," he admitted; pressing a kiss against her hair, imagining the blush that was most likely spreading across her cheeks.

Her head ducked shyly. "I don't know about that."

"I do," Jim said with gentle conviction.

"That's sweet of you," she murmured.

"I thought maybe you were pining away for the office and Stanley's harassment," he said lightly.

Her laughter caught on the breeze and filled the air around them. "Oh yes, I just cried into my pillow last night because I missed those stacks of paperwork and being called any number of names as I walk down the hallway."

"I knew you were devastated to be dragged away from it all," Jim jested.

"I'm not nearly as devastated as you are," Johanna teased. "I know how badly you miss your buddy Charles Patterson."

He laughed, his fingers seeking out that ticklish spot on her side. She squirmed, giggling as she begged him to stop.

"Take it back," he told her; his voice laced with amusement.

"I take it back!" she said breathlessly and his fingers ceased their torment as he chuckled quietly.

Jim gazed out at the moonlit water that had so captivated her, remembering how playful they had been together on the beach and in the pool as he enjoyed the feel of her as she remained in his arms. Every moment spent with her that day had been a moment he cherished.

"Is Stanley still giving you a hard time?" he asked; unsure if she had embellished her comment to be playful or if there was still a problem.

"No; not really," she answered; her hand caressing the bare skin of his forearm. "We're mainly back to snide looks now."

"Good; he better keep his mouth shut," Jim remarked; he wouldn't have a problem punching him in it again if need be. "I want you to tell me if gives you any more problems."

Johanna turned in his embrace so that she could face him. "Why?" she asked softly. "So you can hit him again?"

"That has nothing to do with it," he murmured.

"When are you going to tell me what happened in the bar that night?" she asked; her fingers tracing the faint outline of the small bruise on his cheek that was almost gone.

"It was nothing, sweetheart."

"He had to have said something that upset you pretty badly to lose control like that."

He breathed deeply; no one could make him lose control like Johanna; but he wasn't going to tell her what Stanley had said about her that led to the fight. She didn't need to hear that garbage. "It doesn't matter what was said; all that matters is that he won't say it again."

"Was it about me?" she asked.

"Why would it be about you?"

She smiled softly. "Why else would you keep it from me? And why else would you want to know if he's causing any more trouble?"

He gave her a grin. "Maybe I want to be your knight in shining armor."

"You're always my knight in shining armor," Johanna murmured. "Instead of a white horse you have a blue Camaro but it works out just the same."

Jim didn't know why, but that statement took his breath away for a moment as he looked into her green eyes that held so much warmth and affection. Words deserted him and the only appropriate reaction he could conjure up was to capture her lips in a tender kiss.

Her hands slowly slid up his arms until finally they settled upon his shoulders. Their kiss ended and his forehead fell against hers for a long quiet moment until their gazes locked once more; the air electrifying around them as it always did when they danced too close to the flame. The music in background changed and 'One of These Nights' floated upon the air. Johanna licked her lips, remembering that just the night before he had reminded her that he always thought of her when he heard that song. Boldness swam through her and she touched her fingertips to his jaw as she leaned in and initiated another kiss.

She was killing him today, Jim thought as their kiss became deeper and more heated. First she had tormented him in those little white short shorts...the ones she had on now as a matter of fact; and then that emerald green bikini that had driven him crazy. He wouldn't be forgetting the sight of her in that any time soon, nor how she had teased him by asking him to untie her top and rub suntan lotion on her back. There had been those moments in the pool too; when they had been playful and she had wrapped her legs around his waist like the little tease that she was. She was flirting with him mercilessly this weekend and they both knew it.

Desire burned between them as kiss after kiss ignited sparks too powerful to ignore. They either had to stop...or not, Jim reasoned. He wanted her; wanted her so badly he could hardly think straight. He was so tired of fighting it, of walking away when things were at a fever pitch. He just had to know how it would feel; how incredible it could be. He just needed this night with her. Would it change things? Could they go on like they did when they merely shared a kiss or a steamier encounter? He didn't know, and as his hand slipped beneath the hem of her top to settle against the small of her back, he didn't care. If she was willing they could have tonight and figure out the rest tomorrow. He couldn't fight the need or the desire for her tonight and truth be told, he wasn't sure he wanted to even if he could.

Jim pulled away from her, stepping in the direction of the back entrance and he held her questioning gaze as he held out his hand towards her, silently asking her to join him inside.

Johanna stared at the hand he offered for a moment, a hundred different feelings swirling within her. She knew that if she took his hand she'd be going up to his room to go to bed with him...and she was at war with herself. She wanted to spend the night with him; wanted to feel the depths of that fire that was between them but there was fear. What if it ruined everything? What if it changed things...worse, what if it didn't? Would she just be a fling to him? Should she really go against her rule about no one night stands? Desire coiled within her; longing choking her, daring her to give in, to just throw caution to the wind and have what she wanted. She loved him so it couldn't be wrong, and besides there would be plenty of time to worry tomorrow. She couldn't say no this time…she didn't want to say no…she just couldn't turn him down tonight. She just had to take the chance this time. Her hand rose from her side, slipping cautiously into his as she held his gaze, a hint of a smile curving her lips upward. He returned the gesture, tugging gently at her hand, beckoning her to follow him to the door.

---

In Jim's room, reality of what she was about to do began to set in. Were they really going to do this? She couldn't deny wanting it but there were those pesky second thoughts in her mind as he reached for her. His lips met hers, his kiss searing as he held her. Should she stop them before this got out of hand? Was one night worth risking everything? Johanna pushed those thoughts away. She wasn't supposed to worry until tomorrow. Tonight she was supposed to have what she wanted. She was supposed to revel in the feel of being his for a little while. She was supposed to let go of her inhibitions. She could do all of those things, Johanna reasoned as he continued to kiss her with a sense of passionate purpose; but new worries sprung up. Would he still think she was beautiful once she had nothing to conceal her? Would she live up to his expectations? Would she be what he wanted? She wasn't the type of girl who slept around…what if she was less experienced than the women he was used to?

Jim could sense the change in her demeanor. She wasn't as relaxed as she had been outside and he thought that maybe she had changed her mind and it was alright if she had. He wouldn't pressure her, he'd respect her wishes and they could go back outside or anywhere else she wanted to go. He broke their kiss, pulling back enough to look into her eyes.

"Are you sure you want this, Jo?" he asked quietly.

Johanna gazed into his warm blue eyes, seeing understanding lying in their depths if her answer was no. Somehow that made up her mind. She caressed his face, her nerves turning into anticipation. "Yes," she whispered. "I want this...I want you."

"You're sure?" he asked once more; holding back the urge to kiss her again until he was certain.

"I'm sure."

Jim gave in to the need to kiss her again, but this time he kept it gentle; tenderness overriding the passion. Maybe he had been moving too quickly for her, he thought. Maybe she liked things to be slow, and really there was no reason to rush. If they were going to cross this line then he wanted to do it right. He wanted to treat her the way she deserved to be treated. He wanted to make her feel special and beautiful. He wanted her to feel loved...because he did love her even if he couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud just yet.

This was better, Johanna thought. He had dialed back the intensity and now she could relax and enjoy it like she usually did. She just needed that natural buildup to resume now that she had gotten her nerves under control.

He didn't know how long they had stood there, locked in each other's arms but he was ready to move forward and she was responding enough again that he felt like he could take the risk. His hands slipped beneath her blue cotton shirt, moving slowly against her smooth skin. Relief filled him when she didn't shy away or ask him to stop. His lips moved from hers, trailing along her face and down the column of her throat as her own hands began to move over him. He took hold of the material of her shirt, letting her know that he wanted it gone.

To his surprise she raised her arms with no coaxing and he pulled it up and over her head, allowing it to drop to the floor as her fingers reached for the buttons of his shirt. He had half expected to find her green bikini top when he stripped away her shirt but instead his fingertips fell against soft, white lace. Her hands were inside his shirt now, moving over his chest slowly in her quest to reach his shoulders, her lips grazing his skin along the way. He wondered if she had any idea what she was capable of doing to him with the simplest of touches and kisses; because it took all of his self control not to increase the speed of their encounter as she slipped his shirt off of him.

His mouth found that sensitive spot on her neck, making her melt against him. Why had she ever thought about saying no to this, she wondered; feeling his hands caressing her as he took liberties he didn't always allow himself to take. Her hands slid against his back, craving more as time stood still. Jim's fingers tangled in her hair as he recaptured her lips in a kiss that only fueled the fire.

Jim pulled back enough to look into her eyes, which had darkened with desire; wanting confirmation that she was ready to move forward. She gave a subtle nod and he pulled back the covers of the bed before scooping her up in his arms, making her laugh softly as her arms looped around his neck. He grinned at her. "Fairy tales princesses always have to be swept off their feet," he murmured.

"You're very good at living up to those fairy tale images in my mind," Johanna whispered before she brushed a kiss to his lips. He laid her down and she reached for him; pulling him to her, allowing his weight to settle against her. Her thoughts were beginning to scatter as his lips followed the fiery path his hands were making as he moved down her body. His knuckles grazed against her stomach as he unbuttoned her shorts; anticipation building within her. She reached for his belt, fumbling with the buckle as his hands slipped inside the waist of her shorts, tugging at them until she lifted her hips enough to allow him to slide them off of her, revealing to him another scrap of white lace. He moved away from her long enough to discard her shorts and his pants, tossing both garments to floor to join their shirts and then he settled into bed beside her. He reached for her once again, reminding himself of the things he wanted to make her feel and he forced himself to show restraint instead of rushing forward. He showed her all the tenderness that he could muster as that passion boiled between them. She began to squirm against him; wanting and needing more.

He picked up on her cues and his fingers reached for the clasp of her bra; more than ready to divest her of her remaining garments. He had taken hold of the clasp and was about to unhook it when the phone rang, startling them. They were both breathless as they pulled apart and her eyes flicked open to gaze at him.

Jim seemed to be conflicted as the phone continued to ring; but then he moved back over her. "Ignore it," he whispered before kissing her.

Johanna tried. She tried so very hard to concentrate on his kisses and touches and not the phone that wouldn't cease ringing. He sensed and felt her distraction and he eased away from her; brushing one more kiss against her lips to let her know that he wasn't upset with her for being unable to ignore the phone. He was, however, going to kill whoever was on the other end of that offending device; he thought to himself as he sat up at the edge of the bed and reached for it.

"Hello," Jim said; his tone a bit gruff as he answered the phone. His best friend's voice sounded across the line and irritation welled up within him. "What the hell do you want, Jeff?" he asked, cutting the man off.

Johanna remained silent as she watched Jim's face as he listened to the answer. "What do you mean you're in jail!" he exclaimed.

Her eyes widened and she pushed herself up on her elbow in hopes of being able to hear some of Jeff's end of the conversation but she couldn't make out what he was saying.

"You've got to be kidding me," Jim said after what had been a long pause to listen to Jeff's explanation. "Where's Maggie?" he asked; his unoccupied hand falling against Johanna's hip, his thumb caressing the smooth skin exposed above the lace that his hand rested against; hating what he knew his friend was going to ask of him. Sure enough, the request to be bailed out came in the next statement.

"Now?" he asked as he looked longingly at Johanna.

She gave him a soft smile, her hand gliding gently up his arm. "Fine," he conceded roughly after listening to his friend's plea. "I'll get you out, where's the station?"

Jim shook his head as he held Johanna's gaze while listening to Jeff ask how he should know where it was. "Well I assumed that since you had been given a police escort to it that you might have some idea of where it's located," he retorted; causing his companion to clamp a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

He listened once again and then nodded as he spoke. "Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can."

He hung up the phone and turned back to Johanna, taking in the sight of her propped up on one elbow, half dressed and her hair tousled from his hands running through it and he felt a moment of hatred for his best friend. He ought to just let him in jail.

"So what did Jeff do?" Johanna asked.

"He got into a fight with some guy at that club he and Maggie went to. Apparently the guy kept making passes at Maggie and snide remarks to Jeff. Maggie told him to let it go and that they could just go somewhere else but by then he had a few drinks and was ready to fight. The police were called and both Jeff and the other guy were arrested."

"Where's Maggie now?" she questioned.

"She's mad that he wouldn't leave when she wanted so this could've all been avoided. She told him that she was coming back to the hotel and that he could find someone else to bail him out because she wasn't."

She gave a short laugh. "He just had to go and behave like a jackass, didn't he?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, and it was bad enough he ruined his and Maggie's evening...he didn't have to ruin ours too."

Johanna sat up and looped her arms around his neck, brushing a kiss against his lips. "It's okay," she whispered.

It was far from okay; Jim thought as he buried his hand in her hair and pulled her back for a more passionate kiss. It didn't take much to bring back that spark and within moments he was laying her back down and shifting over her; but she broke their kiss and put a hand against his chest.

"You told Jeff that you were coming to bail him out."

"I told him I'd be there as soon as I could," Jim replied. "That could an hour from now, or tomorrow morning."

"Jim," she chastened lightly as she laughed.

"Come on, Jo," he said; a grin on his lips. "A night in jail might be good for him."

She giggled. "I don't know about that; Jeff seems like the type that might cry if he has to stay in jail...or is he already crying?"

Jim laughed, leaning his head against the shoulder that he had been kissing. "No, he isn't crying yet...I might cry though if you're really going to make me go and get him right now."

"You told him you would," she said once again. "If you don't show up until morning, you'll have to tell him why."

He gave her a mischievous look. "Is that your way of saying that you don't want me to brag?"

She swatted his chest. "I do have a reputation to uphold," she teased.

"I just want to tarnish it a little," he jested. "You won't mind by the time it's done."

"Awful sure of yourself aren't you, Mr. Beckett?"

"Sweetheart, I couldn't be more sure," he commented as he returned his attention to her neck. Any night spent with her couldn't be anything less than incredible, he thought to himself.

"It shouldn't take long," she replied; trying to ignore the sensations he was unleashing once again.

"Don't bet on it," he stated. "I intend to take my time with you."

"I meant the bail," she said, giving him a small shove.

He pulled back and looked down at her. "You're going to make me go, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't be able to look him in the eye tomorrow if you wait."

Jim sighed heavily, he knew when he was beat and she was far too distracted now to get back to where they were. "If I punch him, will you come bail me out?"

Johanna laughed. "Yes; but if I'm going to be acting as your lawyer, I advise you to do it off of police property."

"I'll keep that in mind, Sweetheart," he said; stealing another kiss before moving off the bed to fetch his clothes and redress.

She pulled the sheet up over her as she watched him, feeling the ache of their lost moment settle in. Jim felt her eyes on him and he moved back to her; his own feelings of longing at the surface. He cupped her face and kissed her softly.

"Don't leave," he whispered. "Wait for me."

She nodded, wanting nothing more than to spend whatever was left of the night with him. "I promise," she said softly; drawing him back for one more kiss.

He forced himself away from her, tossing her a regretful look as he moved towards the door.

Johanna sighed when he was gone; it figured the one night she'd decide to throw caution to the wind would be the night that would get interrupted. She spotted one of his shirts lying over the back of the chair and she got out of bed and slipped it on, feeling cold. She fastened a few of the buttons and then picked her own clothes up off the floor and laid them on the chair before she turned on the television and turned off the light. An hour passed, and then two, and finally the day caught up with her and she drifted off, breathing in his scent as the television played in the background.

---

"Thanks, Jim," Jeff stated as they made their way across the parking lot in search of Jim's car. "I owe you one."

Jim scoffed. "You owe me one alright." It had taken far longer to bail Jeff out than he had intended and he feared that Johanna might think that he was regretting what they had been doing and was avoiding his return to his room.

"What are you mad about?" Jeff asked. "Were you asleep when I called?"

"No," he answered; but he didn't elaborate.

"Then what's the problem? It can't be what I did, you would've done the same thing if someone had been hassling Sassy and don't deny it."

"I don't deny it."

"Maybe I should've called Sassy, she probably wouldn't be as surly as you," Jeff said lightly.

"She thinks you behaved like a jackass," Jim said without thought.

Jeff laughed. "I guess that shouldn't surprise me. She'll probably tell me to my face when she sees me," he said; not at all bothered by the thought as he knew that she counted him among her closest friends; but then a thought occurred to him. "Wait a minute, how does Sassy know what happened?"

Jim said nothing; knowing that he had already blown it with his last remark.

His friend's mind worked furiously. "Was she with you when I called?"

"Of course not," Jim said; quickly thinking up a lie. "I ran into her in the hallway."

Jeff regarded him with a raised brow as they paused at the back of the car. "Really? You think you can feed me a lie like that and I'll believe it?"

"Fine, she was with me. We were watching a movie."

Jeff laughed. "That's a lie too."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because if you and Johanna were really watching a movie, you would've just said so in the first place...so what was really going on? Did the two of you hear everyone talking about how you needed to get a room and decided to take the advice?"

"No one was saying that."

"Yes they were," he laughed. "You've been all over each other all weekend."

It was hard to deny that, Jim thought; especially when he had stripped her out of her clothes just hours before.

"I'm sorry," Jeff said. "If I had known that you and Jo were...occupied, I would've called someone else. You could've told me you were busy. I would've understood."

"What was I supposed to say when you asked what I was busy doing?" Jim asked. "Was I supposed to tell you that I was about sleep with her while she was right there listening?"

"Of course not, you could've just...alluded to it."

Jim shook his head. "Don't tell her that you know."

"I won't," he promised. "I wouldn't embarrass her like that. Is she waiting for you?"

"She's supposed to be."

"Then you better get back to her," Jeff said as he rounded the car to the passenger side.

---

Jim shoved the key into the door as anticipation built inside him. Maybe they could recapture their moment and get back to where they had been before Jeff interrupted. As he swung open the door, his hopes were all but dashed. She was still there...but she appeared to be sound asleep; the glow of the television illuminating her as she laid beneath the covers. He sighed and dropped his key on the dresser; a part of him hoping that the sound would wake her. She didn't flinch. Jim got ready for bed and then slipped in beside her; gently sliding the remote out from under her hand and clicking off the TV. He laid it on the nightstand and then brushed the hair back from her face before pulling her into his arms.

Maybe he could wake her; subtly of course, he thought to himself; brushing his lips against her temple and down the line of her jaw; allowing his hands to caress her. She had snagged one of his shirts to sleep in, he realized as his hand slipped between the buttons she had left open and grazed against her stomach. She stirred, and his feeling of anticipation returned. "Jo," he whispered in her ear. "I'm back."

"Good," she murmured; her hand fisting his t-shirt as she burrowed into his chest. "I'm cold."

He laughed softly. "You need me to keep you warm?"

She nodded against his chest, and he took that as a cue to be a bit bolder with his touches but she didn't respond as she had earlier. Instead, she shifted a bit; making herself comfortable in his embrace; throwing one of her legs over his. "I borrowed your shirt," Johanna mumbled sleepily.

"That's alright, sweetheart; you look better in it than I do," he replied; pressing a kiss to her head; desperately trying to think of a way to wake her up enough to recapture their moment.

"Jim?"

"What?" he asked; hoping her words would revive the evening.

"Can you turn the TV back on?"

He frowned in the darkness; all hope was lost now for sure. "You want the TV on?" he asked; his tone conveying his disappointment.

"Yeah," she answered. "But if it'll bother you; I'll be fine without it."

He grabbed the remote and clicked the television back on. "It's not a problem," he told her; running a soothing hand over her back. A missed opportunity was the problem, he thought as her breathing evened out once more; sleep having claimed her again. He sighed; better luck next time.

---

When Johanna woke up the next morning, Jim's chest was pressed against her back and his arm was warm and heavy as it laid across her, holding her to him in a tight embrace. She blinked against the sunlight streaming into the room and sighed. The memory of the night before rolled through her mind; there was disappointment at their missed opportunity...and worry about what things would be like between them when he woke. They had pushed that boundary line further than ever before...she couldn't help but wonder if things would've been different between them that morning if their night had gone as planned...would it be different even though it hadn't. Wouldn't the fact that she had been ready to cross that line with him tell him something? Only time would tell, she supposed. There was a part of her that was hoping he might want to talk about it...about moving their relationship along...into something more committed. Butterflies fluttered in Johanna's stomach. It would be nice if he was ready to move on to that type of relationship but she shouldn't be counting her chickens before they were hatched.

There was, of course, a very good chance that nothing would change...that nothing significant would be said. It would be just as much her fault as his...because if he didn't start the conversation; she wasn't going to either. Not here...not when they were in such close quarters with their friends and would be heading back to the city that evening. They'd be back at work tomorrow...she wouldn't want to create awkwardness between them...especially since he was driving her home. She sighed again; maybe she should just slip out and go back to her own room.

Johanna tried to sit up but the arm around her tightened. "Stay in bed for a little while longer," Jim murmured sleepily as he tried to snuggle closer to her. She smiled slightly and laid still, her hand finding his. His fingers curled around hers and his breathing evened out once more. She tried to go back to sleep but couldn't; her mind was too full for that. How many times were they going to do this before it meant moving on? Of course nothing had been said yet...why did she get herself into these messes?

She moved to sit up once again and he huffed in sleepy annoyance. "What are you doing? We agreed to stay in bed."

"I didn't agree to that," she replied softly.

"Sure you did," he murmured; his hand leaving hers and slipping inside the open material of her shirt and caressing her stomach. The movement sent a jolt of desire through her but she squashed the urge to turn in his arms and kiss him. It wouldn't take much to reignite that spark from the night before.

Johanna carefully lifted his arm off her and slipped out of the bed. "Where are you going, sweetheart?"

"Bathroom," she answered.

He nodded and she gave a short laugh of amusement. "Thanks for giving me permission."

He grinned. "Anything for you."

If only that was true, she thought to herself as she moved into the bathroom and shut the door; but maybe she was being unfair...people didn't have important conversations as soon as they woke up. There wasn't even any promise of an important conversation. "Get it together," she whispered to herself. They hadn't actually crossed the line...it might not count in his mind that she was willing to when they hadn't. Frustrated filled her veins and she turned on the water at the sink and splashed some on her face. She needed to go home.

Jim laid in bed; dozing lightly as he awaited Johanna's return. He was still disappointed that he hadn't been able to coax her back to where they had been when he had gotten back to the room. 'Damn Jeff,' he thought to himself. He was going to get him for this. Johanna moved back into the room and he cracked his eyes open; getting a better glimpse of her in his shirt. She was always a beautiful sight to behold...but he'd like for her to come back to bed. Better yet; he'd really like to pick up from where they left off but he knew that the moment was lost...but he could try anyway.

"Come back to bed, Jo," he said; raising the covers in invitation.

She shook her head. "It's our last day here; we should enjoy it."

"That's what I'm trying to do; you're not cooperating."

"You want to sleep the day away?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Unless you have something else in mind."

"I do," Johanna stated.

Jim's brow rose. "Yeah?"

"Yeah; I'm going to change my clothes and go look for a seashell."

"You have a lot of seashells from North Carolina."

"That doesn't mean I can't have one from New Jersey."

"Wouldn't you rather stay with me?"

She smiled softly. "What did you have in mind?"

There were so many things he wanted to say but suddenly he wasn't sure about voicing any of them. "Whatever you want," he said instead.

More disappointment filled her. "I want a sea shell."

"You and your seashells," he replied.

"Me and a lot of things," she muttered as she grabbed her shorts from the chair.

"That's a nice dance you do to get into those," Jim commented as he watched her wiggle into her shorts.

"I'm glad it amuses you," Johanna answered; her tone somewhat flat. It was obvious that they weren't going to talk about anything. She thought about bringing it up herself but she couldn't help but feel like this wasn't the place for it. Maybe they'd talk about it at home…or maybe they wouldn't, a traitorous voice whispered as she unbuttoned the shirt she had borrowed.

"Are you okay, Jo?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked; slipping out of his shirt and picking up her own.

"I don't know," he replied as he sat up on the side of the bed. "You seem off."

She pulled her shirt on and shook her head. "I'm fine; I just don't want to spend my day locked in a room."

"I wasn't going to force you to stay."

She didn't doubt that; after all, the mood from the night before had faded, which made staying pointless. At least that's what she was sure he was thinking. Johanna moved across the room in search of her sandals; spotting them near the dresser.

"Johanna?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry I was gone so long last night."

"I don't care about that," she answered; checking her pockets for her room key and coming up empty.

"You don't?"

"No."

"I cared," he told her; a little hurt by her statement.

"Why?"

"Because…we were having a nice evening and then it got ruined."

That wasn't exactly the sentiment she had been looking for. Sure he was disappointed that they didn't do what they had planned, so was she…but apparently it didn't mean as much to him as it had to her. She conjured up a small smile. "It's all right; nice times are a dime a dozen."

Jim looked at her in confusion. "Johanna, if you're mad at me, tell me why and I'll apologize."

"I'm not mad," she told him as she searched the floor for her key.

"You seem like it."

"Well it's morning! I haven't had any caffeine yet, I'm getting a headache and I can't find my damn key."

Jim got up and walked to the chair; shoving his hand down along side the cushion. He pulled out her key and held it up for her.

"Thanks," Johanna said as she snatched it from his hand.

"You should consider going back to bed," he told her as she headed for the door. "I think you need another hour."

"Sorry," she remarked.

Something wasn't right, Jim thought to himself. He had done something that he wasn't aware of…which made it harder to make up for. "Are you still riding home with me?" he asked.

"Yeah; I was planning on it, why? Has something changed?" she asked; a subtle note in her voice that he missed.

"No; nothing's changed, Jo."

Her heart stung; nothing had changed…nothing was going to change, not by his hand…not today. It was going to have to be her…she just had to get up her nerve to do it in the very near future. "I'll pack before I head down to the beach; I'll be ready to leave whenever you say the word."

"Do you want to wait awhile before you go to the beach; I could go with you."

She managed another smile for him. "No; I have to get there early…I know you; you're going back to bed as soon as I leave. Besides; I think I want to go on my own."

"But if you go alone, what am I supposed to do today?" Jim asked.

Her smile was more genuine this time. "Well, I have a feeling little Jeff Campbell will need someone to play with today; maybe you two boys can go out and hopefully not get arrested."

Jim smirked at her. "I said I was sorry…can't we go do something later? Why do you have to go be alone?"

"I have some things to figure out, Jim."

"Again?"

"That's how women are, honey; we're always trying to figure things out…nine times out of ten, it's men we're trying to figure out; which probably explains why I have so many headaches."

He gave her a smile; his blue eyes lighting up in amusement and it made her heart warm with affection…and she didn't really want to feel affection at the moment. "I could say something about that," he commented; "But I don't think I should."

Johanna nodded. "Then I'll adjust my assessment of your intelligence."

He laughed. "Can you be in a better mood for the drive home?"

"I'll try but I make no promises."

He moved toward her, his hands reaching out to cradle her waist. Her body betrayed her by shifting closer to him; her heart fluttering and anticipation coursing through her veins. Her eyes closed against her will as he dipped his head and brushed a feather light kiss against her lips. "Have fun, sweetheart. Be careful."

"I promise," she murmured as she opened the door and stepped into the hallway. She blew out a breath as she headed for her room. She must've been crazy the night before. It was a good thing they had gotten interrupted.

---

Johanna stepped into the hallway once more an hour and a half later, her packing finished and her tote bag slung over her shoulder. "Where are you going?" Maggie asked as she stepped out of the room next to hers.

"Down to the beach; I thought I'd look for a seashell…maybe find a quiet spot to sit for awhile. Do you want to come along?"

Maggie smiled. "If you don't mind having company."

"I don't mind."

"Let me grab my bag," her friend said as she opened the door of her room again and stepped inside. She returned a moment later with her own tote bag slung over her shoulder. "Should we grab some drinks to take with us?"

"I wouldn't mind getting a soda to take along. I need some caffeine and I'm not in the mood for coffee."

"Yeah; it gets old," Maggie agreed as they headed down the hallway. "We'll grab some sodas and get the hell out of here."

Johanna laughed; "You sound as anxious to get out as I am."

She nodded; "That's because I had to listen to Jeff begging at my door last night. Another guest complained; they made him go back to his room."

"He was just a magnet for trouble last night, wasn't he?"

"You know it," Maggie agreed. "I'm not looking forward to the repeat."

---

Jim and Jeff walked along the shore line; their gazes scanning the people on the beach. "Do you see them?" Jim asked.

"No; but Sally said they were headed to the beach together; so they have to be here somewhere."

"Maybe they're further down the beach; maybe they wanted to be away from the crowd."

"They would be sneaky like that," Jeff remarked.

"Have you talked to Maggie at all since you got back last night?" Jim asked.

His friend scoffed. "I tried but she wouldn't let me in her room. I begged her to let me in but she wouldn't. Someone from the front desk came up and made me go back to my own room; they said there were complaints about the noise."

Jim laughed. "Guess you should've shared a room; maybe you could've gotten in then."

"Please; I would've ended up sleeping in the hallway or in my car."

"Maybe she's had time to cool off, now."

"I hope so. It wasn't my fault. I only did what any man would do; what's so hard to understand about that?"

"You know how women are," Jim replied. "They only understand the rules they make up and the things they give you permission to do."

"That's true," his friend said with a nod; "And we're supposed to understand and follow all of their rules and guidelines…and they have enough of them to fill ten books; but they don't have to understand us. I think they just like to see us beg."

"I'm going to have to agree with you on that. They love being begged; probably almost as much as they love to tease us with what we want."

"Yeah; you're right…and I'm starting to see why they use dog analogies all the time…that's how they see us. We're the puppies they brought home from the pound…with the thought in mind that we can be trained and redeemed."

Jim nodded. "Before we know it we'll be getting hit with rolled up newspapers."

"Maggie hit me with a rolled up People magazine last week."

"See," he said; "We're the dogs and they're the trainers…and they can have us put down anytime they want."

Jeff laughed. "We're the dogs and yet they do all the barking."

Jim chuckled. "Yeah; don't do that, don't say that, don't hit him, don't put your hand there…"

"Don't wrinkle my dress, don't mess up my hair, don't smudge my make up," Jeff added; "I'll be ready in a minute…"

"Don't ignore me, are you even listening, don't argue with me, don't look at her…"

"Carry my bags, buy me a drink, take me to a movie, drive me to my mother's…"

"Pay attention, take me here, take me there, not tonight…"

"I have a headache, you never call, pick up your clothes, use a coaster."

"Buy me flowers, fix my sink, hold my stuff," Jim laughed.

Jeff shook his head. "And all the things we named are only half of it. Why didn't our fathers warn us?"

"Because they wanted us to suffer like they do."

"So what went wrong with you and Sassy? You haven't said anything about it so clearly something went sour. Didn't it turn out as good as you thought it would?"

"I wouldn't know how good it was; nothing happened."

"Why not!" Jeff exclaimed. "What did you do? Did you rush her?"

"No, I didn't rush her!"

"Then how did you blow it?"

"I didn't blow it; you did!"

"Me?!"

"Yes, you! You and your need for bail money."

"Didn't she wait for you?"

"Yeah, but she was asleep when I got there."

Jeff glanced at him. "Why didn't you wake her? I would've made loud noises."

"I did make noise; I tried to get her awake enough…but it wasn't happening. She was no longer interested. All she wanted to do was sleep."

"Huh; guess she's one of those girl's you can't let idle for long. Maggie's like that too…if you don't grab the moment, it's gone…and it's hard to get back sometimes. What about this morning…anything? Did you try?"

"She didn't want anything to do with me this morning."

"Why?"

"I don't know…everything was fine and then this morning, it wasn't."

"What did she say? You asked, didn't you?"

"Of course I asked. She said nothing was wrong; she said she was getting a headache."

Jeff groaned. "Woman excuse number one; what the hell do they do; teach them that line in kindergarten? I've had to learn the difference between Maggie's real headaches and her fake ones…because if she has as many headaches as she claims at times; she'd probably need a brain surgeon to go in there and take a look. I finally figured out that when it's real, she wants to be cuddled and coddled; when it's fake, she wants me to go home. We need damn decoder rings to figure them out at times."

"Yeah; that would help a lot; it might tell me what the problem was. Everything was fine. She woke up enough to know I was back; she stayed…I don't feel like I pressured her about anything. She said she was heading for the beach; I told her I'd go with her and she said she wanted to be alone; that she had stuff to figure out…and then Sally said she went with Maggie…so apparently she didn't want to be alone at all; she just didn't want to be with me."

Jeff shook his head. "It doesn't make much sense…but she's a woman, so you know, there's that."

Jim gave a short laugh. "That still doesn't help."

"I know, but I'm not sure what the problem is. The two of you have been all over each other all weekend so there's no denying that she wanted something to happen…maybe she feels like she came on too strong?"

"It was my idea to go upstairs."

"She's mad about you leaving?"

"She told me to go; I was going to make you wait. She said she wouldn't be able to look you in the eye."

"Hmm…well, Jim; this might be the rare occasion when it's her and not you. Some women get…you know…kind of shy, when sex comes into the picture. Maybe she just has to do whatever it is women do to justify what they were going to do in the first place…that's what they do, isn't it?"

"Beats the hell out of me," Jim said with a sigh. "I guess we'll just see how it plays out."

"If there's a problem, she'll tell you when she's ready; try not to worry too much."

That was easier said than done, he thought to himself as they continued their search.

---

After Johanna and Maggie had collected their seashells, they spread out their towels on a deserted area of the beach. They sat side by side in silence for a few minutes; listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the squawking of the seagulls overhead.

"So what happened with Jeff last night?" Johanna asked. "I only know the basics."

Maggie gave a short laugh as she brushed back a lock of her dirty blonde hair. "We went to this nightclub and this guy kept trying to get me to dance with him and sit with him, you know the drill. I kept giving him the brush off and Jeff was telling him to leave us alone. The guy apparently liked tormenting Jeff because he kept coming back, saying he was a better man than the one I was with; that I'd have more fun with him, and so on. Jeff's getting madder and madder. I tell him "let's leave and go somewhere else". He refuses; saying if anyone is leaving it will be the other guy. They keep taking shots at each other; I keep begging Jeff to leave. He won't budge."

"Of course not," Johanna laughed. "Leaving hurts their ego."

"Isn't that the truth? So next thing I know, fists are flying and the cops are there; arresting both of them. Jeff's telling me to follow behind the police and bail him out. I took his car keys and told him no. I told him he wouldn't listen and leave when I wanted to so he could just go sit in jail and think about it."

"I would've liked to have seen the look on his face," Johanna said with a laugh.

"It was priceless; that's for sure. So obviously he called Jim to bail him out and then he sits outside my door half the night saying 'Baby, please, let me in. I'm sorry. I only did it for you. Please forgive me. My time in jail has made me a changed man."

Johanna's laughter filled the air. "Like he did hard time in prison."

Maggie nodded. "Those few hours just about did him in; the poor soul. Someone called downstairs and complained so he had to go back to his own room or get booted out of the hotel."

She shook her head. "He just doesn't learn, does he?"

"No, he doesn't. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. Fighting at the club last night and then a few weeks ago, him and Jim had that bar room brawl with Stanley and Steve...and I still don't know what the hell that was about because neither one of them are talking."

Johanna took a sip from her soda. "I think it was about me."

"Why?"

"Because I had my own falling out with Stanley that week; remember, he let me call that witness, even though he knew she was going to recant her statement...because she told him she was. He blew our whole case just to make me look like a fool...and then he had to humiliate me in the office with the news. Jim was furious about it...and Jim is the one who threw the first punch at Stanley from what I heard...and then I guess Steve jumped in and Jeff took him on. They came to my door at midnight wanting band-aids...and probably to hide from the cops. Neither one of them would say what was said that started the whole thing; they have their code of silence going on about it. I just know it was about me...I can tell from how he was acting. If it wasn't about me or you, they wouldn't have a problem telling us what it was about."

Maggie raked a hand through her hair. "That's true; and since Jim threw the first punch; it probably was about you...we all know how much Stanley adores you."

She smirked. "The bastard."

"I don't know why Roche keeps him around."

"He's probably his illegitimate son."

Maggie laughed. "I hadn't thought of that...that would explain a lot."

Johanna grinned. "Yeah it would; wouldn't it?"

Silence fell between them for a moment and then Maggie spoke once more. "I love Jeff with all of my heart but he exasperates me sometimes."

"I know the feeling," she remarked.

"He thinks saying I love you will justify anything he does. It's not always that simple."

"At least he says it," Johanna said quietly.

Her friend eyed her. "Uh oh; did something happen between you and Jim?"

She smiled slightly. "That's kind of a yes and no answer."

Maggie's brow rose. "What does that mean?"

"It's a long story," she sighed.

"I've got time; let's have it."

Johanna took the last sip of her soda and then told Maggie everything about the night before and how she was left feeling that morning.

When she finished; Maggie gave her a sympathetic smile. "Jo; you're just going to have to bite the bullet."

"I know," she murmured. "I can't today though...it feels like I need..."

"To let this weekend fade into the past a little?"

"Yeah; I know it sounds like an excuse but I feel like things are too raw right now...even though he's oblivious to it," she scoffed.

"That's how men are; they go through life oblivious to everything. All they need is a hot meal, clean clothes, a ball game to watch and bitch about and a woman in their bed at night and their lives are merry and bright."

Johanna laughed. "Why can't our lives be that easy?"

Maggie grinned. "Because we're the ones that have to cook the hot meal, wash their clothes, listen to the bitching and be the warm body in their bed...praising them for just the right amount of time afterwards and making sure we tell them that they're the best we ever had and our minds were blown so they'll roll over and go to sleep happy."

Johanna shook with laughter. "You know there is a lot of truth in that."

"Of course there is. We have to take care of them in every way possible or they stumble around like lost little puppies who still aren't entirely housebroken."

"The argument could be made that they're always not entirely housebroken no matter what."

"True," Maggie said with a nod. "You just have to get them to the point where the accidents are few and far between. As you can tell, I may have to send Jeff to obedience school."

"Or send him home to his mother."

"Oh that would be worse," she commented. "Now don't get me wrong, I like Mrs. Campbell; but she'd wait on him hand and foot if he said the word. Like after that accident. There I am at his bedside, and he's asking his mommy to make him soup; of course she agrees to and tells him she'll come over and do his laundry and clean his apartment and do his shopping while he rests. I'm left standing there thinking 'what the hell am I here for?' I swear; he's his mama's boy up one side and down the other. It's sweet in a way, and in another I can't help thinking good lord, it's going to take years to get him trained right."

"Could be worse; it could be Jim's mother. We're not even dating and she hates my guts...seriously...I would be afraid to shut my eyes around her."

Maggie laughed. "I heard that she's uh… a little high strung, to say the least."

"Yeah," she laughed; "That's saying the least. Oh my God, she's awful. She called me a slut and everything else she can think of. She thinks I'm a gold digger...out to rob her little boy and lead him into sin."

"She sounds lovely."

"She's a real peach."

"Why do you keep letting things go on this way between you and Jim, Jo? What are you afraid of?"

She shrugged. "Getting hurt...rejection...it's hard to change when you've gotten comfortable."

"That's why you're supposed to do something about it before it gets to that point," Maggie said with a soft smile.

"I know; but it isn't easy."

"Especially when you've been hurt before?"

Johanna nodded. "I guess it's made me gun shy."

"The past can't hurt you anymore, Jo. It's over and done with. Jim isn't the person who hurt you...I'm sure he's a much better person than the man who hurt you."

"Jim's ten times the man he was...but that doesn't mean it can't go down in flames."

"We all take that risk," Maggie told her; "You know that. I think you're ready to go for it."

"I know...I am ready to have more; I'm just not sure Jim is."

"Well...we know he's ready for the sex," Maggie quipped.

Johanna laughed. "I've gotten the message about that."

"They're always ready for that," her friend stated. "It's everything else we have to lead them to."

"How long were you with Jeff before he said that he loved you?"

"A few months," she answered. "But I'm the one who said it first. I didn't really mean to; it just slipped out one night while we were walking in that little park near my apartment."

Johanna smiled. "Is that the night he said it too?"

"Yeah; it was one of those moments that was just right."

"I wonder if I'll ever have one of those moments."

"Of course you will; you just have to be your bold, sassy self and sit him down and say 'look jackass; I love you and you know you love me and if you want to sleep with me, then we're going to be in an official, committed relationship; so get over whatever your issues are and get with the program, because I have spoken."

"Oh yeah; I can really say that, Maggie!" she laughed.

"Sure you can; you know you want to."

"Yeah, I would but it might take some of the romance out of it."

"He won't mind; you can recapture it in bed...just don't forget the praise at the end; that will ease any pain he suffered while you were laying down the law."

"The best mind blowing experience ever," Johanna quipped.

Maggie nodded. "They love that."

"What do we get out of it?" Johanna couldn't help but ask. "I don't recall receiving praise too often."

"Well of course not; you know they do all the work in their minds."

"If they only knew," she scoffed.

Maggie laughed. "But we love them anyway."

"Yeah, we do...I don't know why but we do."

"It's because we're gluttons for punishment," Maggie remarked. "But they are nice to sleep next to at night...and they do have their good points."

"They do," Johanna agreed; "And it is nice to be with him at night...I'd like to be with him at night more often."

"Then do something about it, Jo. It might be a little scary to have that talk but you can do it. You do tougher things at work every day."

"I am going to do something about it," she replied. "I just need a few days to get it all sorted out. I want us to be in a good place when I broach that conversation."

"That's understandable," Maggie replied. "There's nothing wrong with taking time to prepare. He loves you; we all know it...he just needs a shove. You have to be the one to push him in the right direction. He might resist a little because that's how men are when they've gotten comfortable with the status quo. Just keep talking to him; telling him what you want and need. Jim's never been able to deny you anything, Jo; he'll give in."

"I wish I could be as sure of that as you," she murmured.

"Just trust me," Maggie told her. "It'll be okay."

Johanna smiled and bumped her shoulder with hers. "Thanks."

"No problem; this is what we do."

They heard a distant murmur of voices and then they saw Jeff and Jim making their way down the beach. A grin broke across Jeff's face as he spotted them. "Look, Jim; mermaids!"

"Oh lord," Maggie muttered. "They've found us."

Johanna laughed softly. "And they'll act like it was an accident; they weren't looking for us at all."

"Of course they weren't," her friend agreed.

"Ladies," Jeff said as they drew closer. "What a surprise."

"I just bet it was," Maggie called back.

"Hey; we were just out for a stroll...you know, since we were abandoned by our favorite gorgeous, warm hearted women," he replied.

Johanna smirked. "There's nothing like the smell of sea air and suck ups."

"Be nice, Sassy."

"I thought you wanted to be alone," Jim spoke up as his gaze met Johanna's.

"I didn't say that specifically; I said I wanted to go on my own...which meant that I didn't want to go with you."

"You said you had stuff to figure out," he reminded her.

"I figured it out with Maggie."

"Why couldn't you figure it out with me?"

"I didn't want to," she answered. "You wouldn't understand; it's woman stuff."

Jim and Jeff glanced at each other. "They came all the way out here to talk about underwire and their periods," Jeff commented. "Does that sound right to you, Jim?"

"No; I think it sounds very suspicious."

His friend nodded. "I sense man bashing."

"There's always man bashing," Jim agreed.

"That's funny, because I'm getting the feeling there was woman bashing on your little buddy stroll," Maggie commented.

Jeff laid his hand against his heart. "Never."

"A likely story," Johanna replied.

"Can we join you or not?" Jim asked.

"Oh I guess so," she told him. "After all; you did all of that work to find us."

"We weren't looking for you."

Johanna eyed him. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"It would be nice if you did."

"Maybe we're not feeling nice," Maggie replied.

"That's why we're glad we ran into you," Jeff stated as he sat down next to her. "We're going to sweeten you girls back up."

Johanna glanced at Maggie as Jim settled in at her side. "Should we be afraid?"

Her friend nodded. "Very."

---

That evening, Jim stood inside Johanna's door as she kicked off her shoes and threw her mail on the coffee table. "Are you going to sit down?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Do you have everything?"

"Yes; I have everything," she said as she eyed him with confusion. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure about that? You didn't say much on the way home."

"I thought maybe that was what you wanted."

"Why?"

"I don't know; you don't seem to want me around today."

"That's not true."

"I think it is."

"Of course you do; you've been mad ever since you saw me on the beach with Maggie."

"I wasn't mad…I was disappointed."

Johanna looked at him incredulously. "Disappointed about what? I don't have to justify myself to you about how I spend my time. Maggie's my friend and if I want to go on a walk with her, I will. You don't own me."

"I didn't say I did," he remarked; taken back by the accusation. "I know you're free to spend your time with who you want. I know you have friends besides me. I was disappointed that you lied to me."

Her eyes widened. "How did I lie to you?!"

"You said you needed to be alone…that you had things to figure out."

"I did intend to be alone but I ran into Maggie in the hallway and ended up inviting her along. It wasn't an insult to you, Jim. You know, sometimes a woman just wants the company of other women."

"I know that! The point is you could've just said so. You didn't have to act the way you did."

She laughed. "And you don't need to be acting the way you are right now. What's the big deal?"

"I thought collecting seashells was one of our things!"

"You don't even like collecting seashells!" she exclaimed.

"I never said that."

"You don't have to; it shows. You only went with me in North Carolina because you felt guilty when I was going to go alone. You gave no indication of wanting to go today."

"I said I'd go if you waited."

"I didn't want to wait."

"You never do."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing."

She sighed. "Jim, I waited for you last night…I can't help it that I fell asleep in the process."

"I didn't say anything about that. I know you can't help it."

"It seemed like you were implying otherwise."

"I wasn't."

Johanna put her hands on her hips as she studied him. "The next time you mention my mood swings; I'm going to bring up this one of yours you've been having all day."

"You're the one who started it; look at how you were acting this morning."

"Forgive me for not being a morning person; you'd think it wouldn't be a surprise to you by now."

"That wasn't your normal morning behavior, Johanna. You were mad about something and you won't tell me what it is; and then you tell me that you have things to figure out and you won't tell me what that's about either; will you?"

Johanna raked a hand through her hair. "Yeah; I will tell you about it; but not today."

"Why not?"

"Because you're not in the right mood to listen."

"I'll listen," he said gruffly. "I always listen."

"You'll listen; but not the way I want you to," she replied as she moved toward him and looped her arms around his neck. "Now let's stop this. We said we weren't going to have any more of these stupid little fights, remember?"

"We said we'd try."

"We're failing at the moment."

"I'm sorry," Jim muttered.

She smiled and then gently caught his lips in a kiss. His arms went around her and she could feel the tension melting from his body. The kiss lingered and turned into another; and she felt his hand slipping beneath the hem of her shirt. She didn't want him to get the idea that she was willing to recapture the moment of the night before…because she wasn't; not now that she made up her mind to take a few days and then broach that important conversation.

Johanna broke their kiss and then gently pulled away; taking a step back from him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"We're done talking?" he asked.

"For tonight…unless there's something you want to say," she said somewhat hopefully.

Jim shook his head. "I can't say anything when you won't tell me what's going on with you today."

"It was just something I had to straighten out with myself. I'll tell you about it when you're in a better mood."

Worry filled his eyes; he just couldn't shake the feeling that he had done something to upset the balance. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," she replied; silently adding 'yet' to the statement. "It's nothing bad."

He managed a smile for her. "Alright, if you say so. Do you want me to drive you to work tomorrow?"

"Don't I always want to ride to work with you?"

"Just checking."

"There's no need to worry, Jim. I'm fine."

He nodded and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight," she replied as he opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

Johanna closed and locked the door and then leaned back against it. She hoped Jim would be receptive when the time came to have that discussion they needed to have. She hoped that she wouldn't lose her nerve, that it would all work out…but only time would tell.

A/N: It's all going to blow up in the next chapter…we're at that moment ;)