A/N: Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter 43- The Heart Wants What It Wants -Part 4
As Sharon entered the office, she saw that Johanna's door was already open and that soil of their plant was damp, indicating that he had already been watered that morning. She put her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk and then moved toward the inner office, wondering how early Johanna had gotten to work. Her friend was already working at her desk; her head down, her dark hair shielding her face from view. "Good morning," Sharon said softly; as if speaking in her normal tone would somehow increase her best friend's anguish.
"Morning," Johanna replied quietly.
"Are you okay?" she asked her.
Johanna glanced up at her and forced a smile to her lips. "I'm fine."
She didn't fool her for a moment; she could see the hints of redness that lingered in her eyes that told of a night spent crying. She could also detect the dark shadows beneath her eyes that she hadn't sufficiently covered with her makeup. Sharon gave her a small smile. "No, you're not."
Johanna drew in a breath and expelled in a soft sigh. "I will be, just give me a few hours."
"Did you sleep at all?"
She shook her head. "Not really; I had too much on my mind...and I kept thinking about what he was probably doing and who it was with and I just couldn't make it go away."
Sharon gave a nod of understanding. "Maybe he didn't though...maybe he didn't cross that line."
"I can't say anything if he did," Johanna replied. "I don't have a claim on him; he's free to do as he pleases."
"That doesn't make it feel any better," Sharon commented.
"I'll get over it...at least I know I tried."
"You might want to touch up your makeup under your eyes. The shadows are coming through; you probably don't want your clients to notice."
Johanna nodded and opened the bottom drawer of her desk and took out her purse. She pulled out her makeup bag and got to work under Sharon's watchful eye. "I guess I didn't really have it together this morning...or I just didn't really care."
"I'm not judging," her friend replied. "What time did you get here."
"Seven...I figured I may as well be productive in one area of my life."
Sharon smiled; "I'm going to allow you to wallow until ten minutes before your first appointment of the day and then I expect you to snap out of it and get back to the business of being your usual sassy self."
Johanna's smile was more genuine this time. "Sounds like a good deal."
"I thought so too," Sharon replied; "And I hope you haven't given up the fight for him."
She shook her head. "I don't think I could give up that fight until he looks me in the face and tells me there isn't a chance in hell of him ever wanting a real relationship with me."
"I don't see that happening. What are your plans for the gala?"
"I don't know; I don't want to go alone but no one has asked me yet...and I guess if no one does, then I'll just stay home."
"We can't have that," Sharon remarked. "We'll find someone for you. You can't let that dress go to waste."
"That would be a shame," she replied as she closed her compact. "How do I look now?"
"Much better; is there anything I can get you before I start on the morning work?"
Johanna picked up her coffee mug. "Well, since you'll probably be heading to the break room for your own coffee; I could use a refill...I'd rather avoid as much of the office as possible today."
Sharon nodded and took the mug. "Understood; I'll be back in a few minutes."
Johanna leaned back in her chair and closed her tired eyes; it was going to be a long day.
Jim and Jeff stepped off the elevator together and they both drifted to Jim's office as Jeff gave him the pep talk for the day. "Now remember, you're not going to bother Jo this morning, she's probably hurt and angry and seeing you isn't going to make that any better. Give her a break from your face."
"I am," Jim promised as he unlocked the door.
"If you do happen to run into her, be nice. Don't push anything; don't argue with her, just keep it simple. Remember, you're working your way back into her good graces so that you can take her to the gala like you planned," Jeff coached.
"I know; I just hope all of this can be accomplished in a few days; the gala is Saturday."
"We'll make it work; today you give space; tomorrow you butter her up."
Jim laughed. "Because I'm so good at that?"
His friend grinned. "You will be if you keep your cool and stick with the plan. You have to show her that you're making a concentrated effort to get back in her life. That means no lunch dates with Melanie, no more Callie sitting on your lap. Getting even doesn't work, it just makes it worse; you have to change the game."
"I've got it," Jim assured. "I can do this."
"God I hope so," Jeff commented as he moved back to the door; "Because I don't know how many plans I can think up."
"Hopefully we won't have to find out," he remarked before he moved to his desk. He wanted things to get back to normal…and normal meant having Johanna in his life. He just had to win her over.
Mid morning, Sharon was in the break room getting herself and Johanna fresh cups of coffee. She couldn't help eavesdropping on the conversation going on across the room between Charles Patterson and Adam.
"So, who did you snag for the gala?" Adam was asking.
"No one yet," Charles replied. "There's a few choices to consider…I don't really want a repeat; if you know what I mean."
Sharon rolled her eyes as Adam chuckled. Charles thought he was such a prize and he wasn't; at least not a first place kind of prize. Maybe a consolation prize for an un-choosy runner-up.
"What's the matter, Charles; have you gone through them all already?" Adam replied. "Usually you're bragging by now about who you've picked up."
"I know," he replied; "But the selection of new, unattached women is running low."
A light bulb went off in Sharon's head. She knew someone who needed a date…it might not be the date of her dreams, but it would be a date. She turned toward the men and caught their attention. "Johanna doesn't have a date yet," she announced; baiting the hook for her friend.
A smirk spread across Charles's lips. "She's not going with Jim?"
"Of course not."
His brow rose. "They're still on the outs?"
"Very," Sharon answered. "They're so out that she might've lowered her standards a little. You might stand a chance."
Charles grinned; the idea of sticking it to his adversary was highly appealing; as was getting his hands on the thus far elusive, somewhat snobby, Johanna McKenzie…even if it was just for an evening. "You really think she'd accept the invitation?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I'd say you have a good chance…she did mention that she'd like to have someone to go with."
"Maybe I'll just go on down there to her office and ask her how she'd like to spend the evening with someone who knows how to show a woman a good time."
Sharon forced herself not to roll her eyes and bought herself some time. "Wait an hour; she's in with a client right now."
Charles nodded. "Alright; tell her I'll be stopping by later to speak to her about something important."
She smiled and picked up the two cups of coffee. "I'll tell her."
Sharon left the room, thinking about how Johanna was probably going to kill her but she had her best interests at heart. She did say she wanted a date. Charles would be an attention grabbing date, to say the least. She moved into the office; sitting her coffee down on the desk and then knocking on the closed inner door. Johanna called her to come in, and she slipped in quietly and delivered her coffee while she read over the documents her client had brought for her to examine. Sharon closed the door behind her on her way back out and took her seat at her own desk. She had her own work to do and she put a piece of paper in the typewriter and began to type but it was hard to stay focused. She needed to talk to Johanna before Charles showed up.
After what felt like forever, her best friend and her client stepped out of the office. Sharon quickly scheduled the woman's next appointment and sent her on her way. "Jo, I need to talk to you," she said; stopping her friend in her tracks.
"What's wrong?" Johanna asked as she moved back to Sharon's desk.
"You know how you said you wanted a date for the gala?"
"Yeah."
"I think I got you one."
Johanna's eyes lit up with interest. "Who?"
Sharon swiveled in her chair a little. "Charles Patterson."
Johanna stared at her for a moment and then burst into laughter. "No, really; who is it?"
"I'm serious," the secretary replied.
Her laughter faded. "You set me up with the octopus?"
"He needed a date," Sharon remarked. "I know you can handle him; I still remember that time we went to that frat party and I saw you knee that guy that got overly zealous with you…I bet he doesn't have kids. Not to mention that you're really good at slapping faces…well, we both are when you get down to it."
Johanna nodded. "You're right, I can take care of myself…but Charles? I don't know if I can stand him for a whole evening."
"You don't have to spend every minute with him; dance with every man who asks; have a good time."
"I don't know, Sharon…I mean I'm all for the dancing with anyone who asks and having a good time; God knows I need one…but Charles?"
"You can say no," Sharon replied. "He's coming to ask you soon. Act surprised; I was just supposed to tell you that he'd be stopping by to speak to you about something important. I know he's a jackass…but as he mentioned in the break room before I jumped in the conversation; the pickings around here are getting thin. Just about every guy we know is taken in one way or another; most of the ones who aren't are too old for you. Daniel is out of the question and Adam is too afraid of his own shadow. It's only one date; it's not like you have to go out with him again; and you sure as hell don't have to do anything with him. It's just a suggestion; feel free to turn him down."
She sighed; she wasn't sure turning down what could possibly be her only offer was a good idea. "Jim hates him," she murmured.
Sharon smiled. "I know; consider it a bonus."
"I don't know…"
"Melanie's your worst enemy," her friend reminded her; "And he went to lunch with her…and it wasn't the first time he's done that when mad at you."
"That's true," she said; a flicker of temper stirring to life.
"And let's not forget that last night he had Callie on his lap, mere hours after kissing you in an elevator."
"Oh I haven't forgotten."
"Could be a golden opportunity; but it's up to you. This is your ballgame, Jo; play it however you want."
Johanna bit her lip as she contemplated the choices. Her mother's advice rang in her ears; especially the bit about picking the right man to inspire the right kind of anger. Jim hated Charles…if anything would get his attention, it would be that. If seeing her with Charles didn't inspire him to change his way of thinking, nothing would. This could be her ace card. She didn't have time to discuss it further with Sharon as Charles stepped into the office.
"Johanna," Charles said; a cocky grin on his lips as he looked her up and down. "Did Sharon tell you that I have something to discuss with you?"
She bit back at least three comments and forced a slight smile to her lips. "Yes; but she didn't say what it was about. What do you need, Charles?"
"It's something we both need," he remarked.
"Oh?"
"The gala is this weekend; how about going with me?" Charles asked. "You'll have a good time, I guarantee it."
She doubted it but she didn't have a long list of dates to choose from. None of her lunch date companions seemed like an option. "I was under the impression that you didn't think much of me, Charles," she replied; knowing she had to play this just right.
"Now I never said anything like that. Sure, you irritate me sometimes but I get it, you're afraid you'll want me."
Johanna shot a glance at Sharon and her secretary gave her a discreet shrug and mouthed, 'sorry'. She gave a short laugh. "That fear doesn't keep me up at night, Charles."
"I just like to tease you," he went on. "Surely you don't hold teasing against a man, do you?"
"Of course not."
"So, how about it? Do you want to go with me to the gala?"
Johanna couldn't believe she was going to do this…but desperate times called for desperate measures. "I'd love to," she told him with a smile.
"Great," Charles replied. "I have to get to court but I'll talk to you later about the details."
"That'll be fine," she replied. "You know where to find me."
He gave her a wink and then left the office. "I just sold my soul to the devil," she whispered to Sharon.
Her friend shook her head. "Nah; you didn't sell it…you're just renting it out for a few hours. It'll be fine…this is just the move you need. This will definitely get his attention."
"I hope so, because if it doesn't; I'm going to take that as my sign that he really doesn't care and that he doesn't want more."
"Have faith," Sharon told her.
She nodded. "Faith and my slapping hand ready if my date gets too funny."
"That too," Sharon quipped. "Don't worry; everything will be fine."
Johanna hoped that was true and that she hadn't just made a mistake.
Later that afternoon, Sharon was stepping into the break room once again, this time her mission was for cold sodas instead of coffee. She smiled as she spotted her fiancé lingering in the room with Jeff and she made a beeline to him, her errand put on hold. She stole a quick kiss from Phil and smiled as he pulled her into a quick hug. "How's your day going?" he asked.
"Good so far; how did you do in court?"
"I won," he grinned. "I'll take you out to dinner tonight to celebrate."
"That sounds great but I'm going to be about an hour late getting off work; Jo has a last minute meeting and she needs me here."
"That's fine," Phil told her. "I can wait."
"Hey, Ethel," Jeff said, meeting her eye. "Where's Lucy? I haven't seen her around all day."
"She's in her office," Sharon replied. "She has a busy schedule today."
"We thought maybe she was avoiding Jim again," Phil commented.
She was but they didn't need to know that, Sharon thought to herself. "No, she's just busy. Is Jim hiding from her? I haven't seen him making any treks down the hallway today."
Jeff shook his head. "He's just laying low. He knows he messed up last night so he's giving Jo a day free of seeing his face. We thought she probably needed and deserved a brief cooling off period before he runs into her again."
The secretary eyed him. "You're plotting with him now?"
"Well I have to," he replied. "Someone has to get him off the wrong road and onto the right. With any luck at all; we'll all be laughing about this at the gala."
Sharon laughed. "I doubt that."
"That reminds me," Phil spoke up; "I hear the self proclaimed ladies man, Charles Patterson is still on the prowl for a date for the gala."
"Oh he's got a date now," Sharon announced. "He got one just a few hours ago."
Jeff grinned. "Who's the unfortunate soul? I'll send a sympathy card."
She smiled. "Johanna."
Phil and Jeff burst into laughter. "Yeah right," Jeff said. "Who is it?"
"It's Johanna," she insisted.
Jeff shook his head; the reality setting in as Sharon's features remained serious. "No, no, no."
"Yes, yes, yes," she replied.
"Oh God," Phil remarked.
"Sharon, please tell me you're joking," Jeff begged.
"It's no joke; she said she'd love to go with him."
"No, she wouldn't! She doesn't even like him!"
"She can learn."
"She doesn't want to learn that!"
"Hey, she wanted a date, Charles asked, she accepted. End of story."
"Oh my God," Phil muttered again.
"This is so not good," Jeff said as he paced and reached into his pocket for his Rolaids. "Do you know what the headline is going to read when Jim finds out? It's going to say, 'Attorney goes on rampage; charges pending'. You have to talk her out of this. Do not let her go with Charles!"
Sharon laughed. "Johanna is a grown woman; she can go out with whoever she wants, I can't stop her. She doesn't want to go the gala alone and Charles is the only man with enough guts to ask her. The rest of them seem to be afraid of Jim."
"With good reason," Jeff replied. "He's going to blow a gasket."
"That's his problem," she remarked. "Jo's a single woman; she has every right to accept a date when she's asked."
"That's true in theory…but Jim was under the impression that maybe if he apologized for last night, that they could go to the gala as planned."
"There was no plan for them to go to the gala," Sharon stated. "Jo told me they talked about the gala but that he hadn't asked her. She also said it wouldn't matter now if he had since they're on the outs."
Jeff popped another Rolaid and looked up at the ceiling. "Lord, this is your buddy Jeff Campbell. I try not to call on you too often, seeing as how you blessed me with great looks, above average intelligence, a loving mother, and a gorgeous girlfriend that only tells me no once in awhile. You've been good to me…but Lord, you need to have some mercy on us…because things are looking bleak down here. Jim and Sassy are killing me; you've just got to do something. Make her call this thing off…or at the very least, make sure there isn't anyone selling guns out of the trunk of their car on Jim's way home because he might buy one. We need divine intervention…or for the gala to be canceled; whichever you can swing. Help me out here; I'm running out of Rolaids, Sassy's lost her mind and Jim…well, you know how he is. Trap them on the elevator…they can't keep their hands off each other for too long; if you keep them stuck long enough, all of our problems will be over."
"Jeff!" Sharon exclaimed.
"What?" he asked. "God is the only one who can help us now, Sharon. I suggest you start praying too…and if you think that I believe for a minute that you aren't somehow involved in this debacle, you're crazy."
"Jo makes her own decisions; and I better get her soda and get back to her. See you later."
Sharon grabbed the two sodas and left the room, leaving Jeff and Phil behind. "This isn't going to be good," Phil commented, breaking the silence. "He must not know yet…I imagine I would've heard the explosion."
"He doesn't know," Jeff replied. "As his best friend, I'm going to have to be the one to tell him…"
"I don't envy you that job," Phil said. "Do you want me to come along?"
Jeff shook his head. "No; you have an important job to do."
"What's that?"
"You give me time to get down there and then you pull the fire alarm and get this building evacuated…it might be the only way to keep him from hurting somebody. Make sure Jo gets out…hide her in your car."
Phil laughed. "I don't think that will be enough."
Jeff sighed. "Probably not…I guess I better go break the news before someone else does. We sure as hell don't want Sally telling him; she wouldn't break it to him gently. She'd throw a file while she did it."
"Good luck," Phil told him.
Jeff took a breath and headed for the door. He'd just go get it over with…Jim wouldn't kill the messenger…he'd just kill Charles…which would give Johanna time to head for the border, he thought to himself.
Jeff gave a nod to Sally before he stepped into the inner office and pulled the door shut behind him. Jim was pulling a law book from the shelf and Jeff couldn't help but wonder if he'd throw it once he heard what he had to say.
"What's wrong with you?" Jim asked as he studied his friend. "You look like you're part of a funeral party."
He felt like there could be a funeral involved but he didn't mention that for now. "Sit down, I've got some bad news and it's going to hurt."
Jim smirked; the line was used in a song he heard on the radio that morning. "What's this, The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia?"
"No; but there's a good possibility that it's the night the lights go out in Manhattan," Jeff replied. "Sit down."
Jim sat down. "Alright, what's this about? If you're here to tell me that Callie's spreading lies about last night, I'm not surprised and hopefully Johanna will use her common sense and not believe the majority of them."
"It's not that."
"Then what?"
Jeff paced. "Brace yourself, Jim…you're not going to like this."
"Spit it out, Jeff!"
"Johanna's going to the gala with Charles Patterson."
Silence filled the air and Jeff counted the seconds in his head as Jim stared at him. He shoved his hands in his pocket and jingled the change from lunch that he had. "That's just some rumor that someone made up," Jim finally stated as he tapped a pencil on the desk.
He shook his head. "It's true."
"It can't be."
"It is, I got it straight from the horse's mouth."
"Charles?"
"No; Sharon told me. She was there when he asked her…and she accepted."
Jim snapped the pencil in half, rage filling him. "She wouldn't!"
"Oh but she did," Jeff replied. "It happened this morning."
Jim surged to his feet. "I'm going to wring her neck!"
"Now, Jim; remember that you love her. You can't wring the neck of the woman you love."
"Are you sure about that?" he asked. "Because I think at the moment I could do it!"
"No, you couldn't; she'd cry, you'd crumble…go back to thinking about those other thoughts about her. The ones where anger could be worked out in a more mutually enjoyable way."
"Fine; I'll keep thinking those thoughts…and I'll kill Charles! Nobody will miss him any way."
"Calm down," Jeff said as Jim stalked the room, anger radiating from his body.
"Don't tell me to calm down! What the hell possessed her? She doesn't like him anymore than I do!"
"Sharon said she wanted a date and he was the only one who asked."
"What about me!" Jim exclaimed. "I was going to take her!"
"Sassy said you didn't ask her."
"We talked about it!"
"But did you ask?"
"No; I assumed she knew that it was a done deal; it always is!"
"It's not this year," Jeff replied. "And even if you had asked, it would've been null and void considering your current situation."
"Why would she do this!" he asked as he continued to pace.
"Because she doesn't want to go alone and every other man in the building who's unattached is too chicken to ask her…and there's probably a tiny bit of revenge for you going out with Melanie…and having Callie in your lap last night. She wasn't just going to pretend that didn't happen; especially when she was waving the white flag and offering the olive branch…which you turned down!"
"I know! I heard this lecture last night; we don't need to go through it again."
"Hey, I was just answering the question," Jeff told him.
"She won't go through with it…she's too good for him. She won't do it."
"I think she might."
Jim shook his head. "She won't…I'm going to have a word with her about it."
"Unless you're going to her to confess your undying love, I wouldn't do that. Every time you go down there to have a word with her, it's always the wrong word. Let this ride for the day, you're too mad right now and she's got a full schedule. She's even working late. Cool off before you talk to her about it."
Jim glanced at him. "Do you know how long it would take me to cool off from this?"
Jeff shrugged. "I'm going to guess about six months and three days."
"She won't do it," he stated once again. "She won't…she's too good for him. She knows it, he knows it, we all know it."
"Agreed; but she doesn't want to go alone."
"Then she'll go with me," he stated. "She's not going with Charles."
"Jim; do not go in there and issue demands like that in that tone of voice. She'll just be all the more determined if you do."
"What am I supposed to do, Jeff? Act like it's fine? Maybe I should take Melanie and see how she likes that!"
"No!" Jeff said sternly. "That is out of the question. When we talked last night, you said you weren't going to go down that road anymore. Your rush to get even is what keeps this going. You do that and it'll be an even bigger disaster. Do not ask Melanie, don't ask Callie…don't ask anyone. If you have to bring someone, bring your sister."
Jim shot him a look. "Like I'm really going to do that."
"Then show up alone; then you'll be available to drive her home when her date crashes and burns. She's not going to have a good time with Charles…she'll be looking for a way home. You can swoop in and save her, take her home, comfort her…without putting your lips on her without permission…have a nice meaningful talk…if you do that right, you might get lip permission…if you do it extremely right, she might let you spend the night."
"I won't ask anyone to go with me," Jim declared.
"But you're going to indulge in some form of dumbness despite my best intentions?" Jeff asked.
"I'm just going to talk to her after work…in her office, far from the elevator. I won't touch her, I won't kiss her; I'm just going to talk to her."
"Calmly," his friend stated.
He nodded. "Calmly…I'll calmly talk her out of being crazy…if that's possible."
"You should get all of those negative thoughts out before you see her; you don't want one sneaking in and screwing things up for you."
"I'll be fine," Jim promised.
"And Charles?" Jeff asked.
"He might have an accident…what kind of accident is up for debate."
Jeff gave a nod. "Make sure it's convincing."
"Oh it will be," Jim promised. "This isn't going to happen."
Jim stewed over the news of Johanna's date for the rest of the day but he wisely stayed in his office. He didn't want to tempt fate and he figured that if he stepped outside the door, he'd run into a gloating Charles Patterson…and then he'd have to hurt him. That would most likely result in the loss of his job and he didn't want that. He'd have to hurt Charles outside of work…and he'd enjoy every minute of it. Jim allowed those thoughts to sweep through his mind, bringing a small smile to his lips as he imagined slamming a fist into Charles's face. That would be very satisfying, he thought, but he pushed the notion aside in favor of rehearsing what to say to Johanna. After a few minutes his mental rehearsal was abandoned. It wouldn't do any good, rehearsed lines always deserted him when the moment came.
He bided his time, staying at his desk after the close of business so he could catch Johanna after her meeting. He was proud of the dent he managed to put in his stack of paperwork and he felt rewarded when he finally saw Sharon and Phil heading down the hallway to the elevator. "Stay calm," Jim told himself as he left the office and marched down the hallway. "Stay calm, don't yell, don't demand, don't shake her, don't kiss her." It would be the best course of action and yet anger still simmered in his veins as he neared her door.
'Calm,' he told himself once more as he stormed into her office. Johanna was standing at her desk, packing up her briefcase and she glanced up in surprise at the intrusion. Seeing that it was Jim, her guard dropped. "What?" she asked.
"What the hell is this I hear about you going to the gala with Charles?" he demanded to know; his self preached calmness going out the window.
Johanna didn't flinch. "What about it?"
"It's true?" Jim asked; a part of him hoping that Sharon had fed Jeff false information.
"Yes."
"I thought you were going with me."
She gave a short laugh. "Whoever told you that was wrong."
"We always go to these things together," Jim remarked.
"You didn't ask me."
"Since when do I have to ask you?"
Johanna closed her briefcase and glanced at him. "Usually when a man wants a woman to go somewhere with him, he asks."
"We always go everywhere together; there's no need for formalities. I just pick you up and we go; that's how it's been for awhile now."
"Those days are now over," she replied; sticking to her guns.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I mean that I'm not wasting any more of my time on you. Just because you don't want me doesn't mean somebody else doesn't."
He scowled at her. "There's only one thing Charles Patterson wants from you, and it's not what you have in mind."
Johanna shrugged. "You have to start somewhere."
"Don't be ridiculous!" he yelled.
"I'm not! Charles asked me and I accepted; I didn't have any other offers."
"We talked about the gala," Jim retorted.
"Yeah, we talked about it, but you didn't ask me to go with you, and with the way things are between us at the moment, it wouldn't have mattered if you did. I would've considered it to be broken."
"Well it's not; when we talked about it, I figured it was implied that I was taking you."
"It wasn't. Now if you had asked me, it would be different, but you didn't and Charles did and I'm going."
Jim shook his head. "You won't go through with it. I know you; you won't stoop low enough to go out with him."
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do."
He stepped closer to her. "Oh I know you, Johanna; I know you like to eat your cereal dry, that you like to sleep with the TV on, that you hate grapefruit and that sometimes you like to run to clear your head. I know you can play the piano without using sheet music, you can speak Italian more fluently than you claim and that you have a bag of M&Ms in your desk drawer for your chocolate cravings and that you have a shelf full of Harlequins mixed in with your mystery novels. I know you pledge allegiance to Coke and that you sneak down to Jeff's office every day to catch a few minutes of All My Children. I know you don't like tomatoes on your sandwich and that you buy yourself a new pair of shoes every time you need a pick me up. And that's barely skimming the surface of things I know about you! I know you, Johanna. You don't have the stomach to put up with Charles for an evening. You're too particular about the company you keep to go along with that. You'll call it off."
"No, I won't," she said sternly. "I told him I'd go with him and I meant it."
"Don't do it, Johanna."
She gave a hint of a smile. "You only call me Johanna when you're mad at me…did you know that?"
He smirked at her. "What, are you going to tell me what you know about me now? Do you have to even the score?"
"Evening the score is always your line of work," Johanna remarked; "That's something I know for sure…just like I know about your love of baseball, perfectly fried chicken and hatred of cold toast. I know you prefer your beer in a bottle opposed to a can and that you have to have at least one foot uncovered when you sleep. I know you don't like to go grocery shopping and that you sometimes peek at the ending of the book you're reading. I know that you talk to your car and that you rub the back of your neck when you're nervous or stressed. And if you think I don't know about that bag of chips stashed in your desk drawer, you're crazy. I also know that you can fix things and that you don't like to be disturbed when you're watching M*A*S*H or Rockford and that you're too damn stubborn for your own good. And believe me, that's only skimming the surface. Now do you want another turn or can I go home?"
"Don't go with him, Johanna."
She held his gaze. "Give me a reason not to."
Jim's jaw tightened; there was tactic again. "Because you deserve better."
"I agree," she said softly. "But it isn't a good enough reason to turn down the invitation. He is the only one who asked me, after all."
"Then turn it down because I asked you to."
"Why are you asking me to?"
"You know why."
Johanna shook her head. "No, I don't know why…tell me, Jim."
Irritation welled up within him. "I'm not playing games with you tonight," he told her. "I don't care what you say, I know you; and I know you won't go through with this. You'll call it off at the last moment and you'll show up alone…and you'll be more than welcome to sit with me and I'll drive you home…and then we're going to settle this once and for all."
She scoffed; his refusal to acknowledge any feeling for her chafing her heart. "You think so?"
He nodded. "I know so."
Johanna closed the distance between them. "Why don't we just settle it tonight? Why don't we just go get it all out in the open and be done with it?"
Jim shook his head. "I'm too aggravated with you this evening."
"Always an excuse," she remarked flippantly. "I keep giving you chances to end it and you don't want to take them…and yet you want to blame me for everything. Start taking your share of the blame, Jim. I'll save you dance at the gala."
"Don't bother," he told her. "If I can't have them all, I don't want any."
"Fine," Johanna said with a nod; "Then it'll be none. Just remember that you could've had them all…but you didn't want to stop being a stubborn jackass. You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to have me either."
"Quit saying that," he demanded.
"It's how you make me feel."
He was tempted for a moment to beg her to call off her date. He was also tempted to reach out and draw her into his arms but he didn't dare. "I know that you're not going to lower yourself and go out with Charles," he said quietly. "You're better than him and we both know it."
She shrugged as she toyed with the strap of her briefcase. "Sometimes a woman has to lower her standards."
"Charles is a pretty low standard."
A soft smirk touched her lips. "High standards don't get me anywhere; the only way to go is down."
"Isn't that kind of degrading?"
"No more than hearing the words 'of course I want a relationship like that, but who said it was going to be with you?' Do you think that didn't degrade me? Do you think it didn't make me feel cheap and worthless in your eyes? That all I was to you was someone convenient that you could have a good time with if I'd just give in."
"It's not like that," he said quietly. "I didn't mean it."
"Yeah; you never do."
"Johanna…"
"I'm going home, Jim," she murmured as she picked up her briefcase.
"Let me drive you," he said; keeping his tone gentle.
"That's okay, I'll be fine."
"You don't want walk home in those shoes," he replied; noting the black open toed, stiletto heels she was wearing. "They look new…they're probably not broke in yet and that heel looks flimsy."
They were new, she thought to herself as her gaze dropped to her feet, and they weren't broke in…and her feet were somewhat achy. She could call a cab but that would mean waiting and she just wanted to go home. "Alright…but you're not coming in."
He nodded. "I wouldn't even think it."
The drive to Johanna's apartment was silent but as he pulled up in front of her building and put the car in park, Johanna spoke. "Thanks for the ride," she said as she gathered up her purse and briefcase.
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you to your door?" he asked, his hand falling on her knee.
"I'm sure."
"Why, are you afraid if you let me in that you might cave a little and stop all of this?"
"No, I'm not afraid," she replied as she did her best to ignore his fingertips rubbing against her knee. "I just recall that we made the agreement that you weren't coming in…that's why I got in the car with you."
Jim breathed deeply, his fingers stilling against her knee but he didn't remove his hand. "I wish it wasn't like this, Jo."
"So do I," she said, her gaze sliding toward him.
He held eye contact with her. "You won't go with him."
"Let's not go through this again; I told you I accepted and that means I'm going."
He shook his head. "You won't…you won't go out with a jackass; it's against your nature."
She gave a wry smile. "Au contraire; I spent two years with a jackass."
Jim bristled. "Three years, Johanna; we've known each other for three years."
Johanna laughed. "I wasn't talking about you, Jim. I was talking about Cade; but it's nice to hear you acknowledge the fact that you're a jackass."
Jim glowered at the windshield; he'd walked right into that one. "Does it make you feel better?"
"A little," she admitted; "And just for the record, I know how long it's been…and it won't be three years until the 29th."
He was quiet for a beat. "You remember the date?"
"Of course I remember the date," she said softly. How could she not remember it? It was her first day on the job. It was the day she met him…the day her heart started breaking off little pieces and giving them to him until he had it all. As fate would have it, the gala would be on the 29th and it would serve as a bittersweet reminder of where her life was at that moment. She sighed deeply, his fingertips moving against her knee once more and she closed her eyes. Why did he have to be so stubborn? She was lost in thought and barely realized the touch of his fingers against her chin until his lips were brushing against hers softly. She betrayed herself and accepted his kiss for a moment before gently pushing him away. "We're not doing that anymore," she murmured.
"You won't go with him, Jo," he said quietly. "I don't care what you say, I know you and you won't do it."
She reached for the door handle. "I only cancel a date if I'm sick or there's a family emergency."
"Start coughing tomorrow," he told her; "Build it up into a believable illness."
"I'm not canceling, Jim; not unless someone gives me a good reason to," she stated before she got out of the car and slammed the door.
Jim watched her walk into the building and he remained idling at the curb as he watched her through the glass doors as she waited for the elevator doors to open. He wondered what kind of family emergency would be enough to cancel a date. It probably wouldn't take much but he had no idea how to orchestrate that. He wished he knew Frankie and Valerie better, if there was one thing Johanna wouldn't be able to resist it would be Greg and he'd be more than happy to pay for Frankie and Valerie to have a nice evening out and a stay at a hotel if it meant Johanna would have to babysit and therefore miss the gala. But he didn't know Frankie and Valerie well enough to make that offer, along with an explanation for it. Damn. It would've been such a perfect plan if he'd had an ally in her family. He blew out a breath as Johanna glanced toward the door of the building before she stepped onto the elevator. He had faith that she wouldn't go through with it. The fact that she let him kiss her without getting slapped for it spoke volumes. She was still his girl. It wouldn't happen.
"Relax, Jim," Jeff said Saturday as they sat at a table in the hotel ballroom where the gala was being hosted. His best friend was agitated; his gaze straying to the entrance every few moments in search of Johanna.
"I'm relaxed," Jim stated; his hand curled tightly around his drink.
"Tell that to your face," Jeff replied. "If your jaw was any tighter your teeth would probably break."
"If I'm bothering you, you can go be with your girlfriend."
Jeff glanced across the room to where Maggie was standing with a small group of women. "She's still at the hen party, it's best to let her get that out of her system. Maybe Jo's not coming."
"She's coming; she bought a dress. Johanna wouldn't let a new dress go to waste. She's just coming late so no one will notice that she's alone."
"I know you have yourself convinced of that but I think you better brace yourself. As of yesterday afternoon, the date was still on. I know because I overheard Melanie bitching in the break room. She was hoping to come to the gala with you but you're too hung up on that plain, boring little ice princess; those are her words, not mine. She then planned on going with Charles because they always hook up when they can't find anyone fresh or better…but Jo got him…so it's like Jo's usurped two men from Melanie this week and she is livid."
"She'll get over it," Jim replied; "Or maybe we should say she'll find someone else to get under, she always does."
"That's true," Jeff remarked.
Before Jim could say anything else, he caught sight of Johanna standing just inside the door of the ballroom. His breath caught and a hot rush raced through his body as he took in the sight of her. Her strapless black dress fit her like a glove, showing off her figure, making his hands itch to touch her. The dress was shorter than she usually wore, making her legs look longer while giving him a generous view of them. Her silver heels showed off the red polish on her toes that matched the polish on her fingernails. A delicate silver chain was around her neck, its diamond pendent lying just below her collar bone. His eyes swept across her bare shoulders and the creamy expanse of skin that her dress left bare that he ached to touch and kiss. Diamond earrings dangled from her ears and her hair was swept up elegantly. He'd rather see it down…just like he'd rather be somewhere else with her, somewhere where he could give her the attention that dress demanded.
Jeff gave a low whistle at his side. "Wow."
"She looks incredible, doesn't she?" Jim murmured.
His friend nodded. "She's a knockout; she'll probably need a bodyguard."
"I'll guard her body," Jim replied.
Jeff laughed. "Do you think she'll let you get that close?"
He smiled. "She's alone, isn't she? I told you she would be. I knew she wouldn't go through with it. She was just putting on a show for me; all I have to do is go get her, she'll come with me."
Just as he was about to rise from his chair, Charles stepped through the door and Johanna took his arm as they moved down the stairs. The sight felt like being punched in the stomach. She had done it…she had done it and he was seeing red.
"I told you, Jim," Jeff said as he watched Johanna walk across the ballroom with Charles. "Sassy's a determined woman, you should've known she wasn't going to back down. You know a woman's best revenge is to dress as sexy as possible and go out with someone else…and let's face it, she's raising the bar on sexy tonight."
"There's no disputing that," he seethed; "But I still want to wring her neck for showing up with him!"
Jeff shook his head. "Go back to the lustful thoughts; you know you'd never lay a finger on her."
"True," he huffed; "But I wouldn't hesitate to lay one on Charles…preferably all five of them curled into a fist."
"Don't do it here," his friend warned. "Get him outside in the dark if you have to."
Jim picked up his glass and drank down its contents; anger simmering in his veins. "How could she wear that dress to go out with him!" he asked gruffly.
Jeff laughed. "What?"
"She shouldn't wear something like that to go out with him!"
"Who should she wear it for?"
"Me," he remarked. "I'd appreciate it more than that jackass will."
His friend chuckled. "Jo would probably make the argument that if you really appreciated her and what she has to offer that you would've done something to keep her from being here with Charles…like promoting the status of your relationship."
"I thought I had you back on my side."
"I'm on your side; but Jo's my friend too and I see her point and support her side as well. You brought this on yourself, Jim; now you have to do what needs to be done in order to get out of this."
He was barely listening to his friend as his eyes stayed locked on Johanna's retreating figure. "How could she come here with him? Does she know what they call him?" he demanded to know.
"I'm fairly certain that she knows all about his reputation as the octopus…I just hope she's on guard if he asks for something she doesn't want to give."
"I'll kill him if he tries to force her to do anything, I swear I will," Jim replied.
"I'll be right there with you," Jeff agreed.
"I can't believe she showed up with him…" he seethed.
"I told you so."
"I was so sure."
Jeff nodded. "I tried to warn you about that. Just stick to the plan; don't approach her if you can't keep your cool. Technically she's a single woman and she isn't doing anything wrong; if you want her back, you have to start playing the right cards and blowing your top isn't among them."
He scoffed. "It is wrong…she should be here with me."
"Maybe she'll be at the next party with you…if you get this current situation straightened out."
"I'm going to straighten it out alright," Jim declared. "I just haven't decided which method I'm going to use."
His friend shook his head. "It's going to be a long night."
Jim grunted in agreement; he had a feeling it would be the longest night of his life.
Later that evening, Jeff collected a fresh glass of scotch from the bar and then headed towards the table where Jim was still staked out, a scowl on his lips as he tapped a pen against the table cloth. Jeff's brow furrowed at the sight of the pen which bore the hotel name and he wondered why Jim had it but he'd reserve the question for later. "Are you still brooding?" he asked as he sat down.
"I'm not brooding," Jim remarked; his eyes glued to Johanna as she left the dance floor and sat down at a table.
"You haven't moved all night that I've seen; what do you call it?"
"Controlled anger."
"I see," Jeff replied. "You're still bouncing between thoughts of strangling her and sleeping with her?"
"I prefer to call them plans A and B," Jim answered.
"Go with plan B."
"Every man in this room would like to go to plan B with her," Jim snapped. "Look at her in that damn dress!"
"She's gorgeous," Jeff responded. "But so is my Maggie. They're two sinful looking angels tonight; but I only want to plan B with Maggie."
Jim grunted. "Where is your angel in blue silk? Shouldn't you be following her around and basking in her beauty so she'll take you home with her?"
Jeff grinned. "Hey, don't get mad at me because I was able to say those three little words to Maggie and you won't say them to Jo. In answer to your question, she's over there at a table talking to a woman she went to school with. I told her to take her time, I wasn't going anywhere. She does appreciate you babysitting her purse for her though, just so you know."
He gave a disdainful glance at the blue silk evening bag and then looked back to Johanna. "Look at that," he said angrily. "Look at where Charles has his hand on her!"
His friend followed his gaze. "He has his hand on her knee; it's nothing to have a stroke over."
"It's above the knee!"
"It isn't."
"Yes it is; I know what I see and if it slides any higher, I'm going to break it for him."
Jeff laughed. "It's on her knee. You've been locked in hotel rooms with her, half dressed and ready to round the bases; I'm sure you've had your hands in more places than Charles's has been."
"That's beside the point," he remarked. "I had wait to be allowed to touch her in more vital areas. He's only been with her for a few hours; he doesn't get to touch. She isn't his."
"Do you hear yourself?" Jeff laughed. "You're losing it. Sassy isn't going to do anything with him."
"I can't believe she wore that dress to go out with him…so he can have his grubby hands all over it."
"Because it should be your grubby hands all over it, right?" Jeff commented lightly. "Sassy and her little black dress are really getting to you, aren't they?"
Jim shifted in his chair as he continued to watch her. It was getting to him alright. It looked tight enough that she'd need help to get out of it and he was desperate to volunteer. The way she moved when she was dancing didn't help matters either…neither did that cocky little walk of hers…or that sly little smile that spread across her lips speaking volumes about how confident she felt as she turned every head in the room. He blew out a breath; lust wasn't the only thing on his mind though. He missed having her attention and her company. He hated watching her have fun with everyone but him. It made him angry. It made him feel replaceable. He didn't like this show she was putting on. He didn't like it at all…and he didn't want to think about being replaced.
"Do you want me to get you a drink, Jim?" his friend offered.
"No; I need to be sober."
"Smart move," Jeff replied as he noticed a napkin with tally marks on it. "What's with the napkin?"
"She's danced with twelve men so far," he said bitterly.
Jeff snorted. "You're keeping track?"
"They all hold her entirely too close," Jim remarked. "She's only sat out this dance and she's danced with the girls a few times."
"That's acceptable, right?"
"Yes; in fact I prefer her to dance with Maggie and Sharon."
Jeff watched as Charles excused himself to Johanna and he saw a hint of relief flick across her features. "Well, don't hate me or kill me but I'm going to go be number thirteen on her dance card."
"You do that," Jim stated. "Tell her she's making a fool out of herself."
"That wouldn't be very friendly; I think I'll charm her instead."
"Where are you going?" Maggie asked as she and Sharon approached.
"I'm going to go ask Jo for a dance, if you don't mind," Jeff replied.
Maggie waved a hand at him. "Of course not; you know better than that. We'll sit here and keep Sour Ball company."
"Please; don't do me any favors," Jim told her.
Maggie smiled. "It'll be our pleasure."
Jeff grinned and hurried away as Maggie and Sharon took seats on each side of him. "What's the matter, Jim?" Sharon asked. "Didn't you know she could have a good time without you?"
He scowled at her. "Shut up, Sharon."
"Wow, someone's cranky," Maggie commented. "I don't think he's having fun tonight, Sharon."
"Me neither; it's really a shame…he might have more fun if his expression wasn't scaring people away."
"It must not be too bad," Jim remarked; "You're still here."
Sharon smiled. "I'm not as easy to scare."
Maggie patted his arm. "I suppose if it'll make you feel better, I could dance with you."
"No thanks."
She laughed softly. "Why not? You always dance with me when Jeff dances with Johanna."
"I'm not in a dancing mood."
"You don't want to dance with me either then?" Sharon asked.
"I'd rather dance with a cactus," he told her.
She laughed. "That's probably about all you could get with your attitude."
Johanna had just finished off her glass of champagne when Jeff appeared at her side, dropping an arm around her shoulders and grinning.
"Did you save me a dance?" he asked.
Johanna smirked. "It depends, are you asking because you want to dance with me or because someone sent you over here?"
Jeff laughed. "How can you ask me that? Don't I always dance with you?"
She smiled. "Yeah, I guess you do."
"So are you going to dance with me or not?"
"I suppose I can spare one dance for you," she told him and he smiled mischievously as he led her out on the dance floor.
The music was slow and they were quiet for the first few bars of the song before he looked her in the eye and spoke. "I know what you're up to."
Johanna smiled. "And just what would that be?"
"You're trying to give Jim a heart attack," he answered.
She giggled lightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"A likely story."
"Are you sure he didn't put you up to dancing with me?"
Jeff scoffed. "He's too busy muttering things about you to form any coherent thoughts."
"Muttering what kind of things?" she asked.
He grinned. "What does it matter if you're not up to anything?"
"Do you have something you want to say, Jeff?"
He laughed. "You, Miss McKenzie, are playing the 'make him jealous' game."
Johanna rolled her eyes. "I have never heard of that game."
"It's a good thing you're not on the witness stand; you'd be going down for perjury."
"It's not my fault if he's jealous. He had his chance, he didn't want me."
Jeff laughed quietly. "Are you crazy?"
"What?"
"You know he wants you."
"He has a funny way of showing it."
"Don't even tell me that you haven't seen the look on his face all night," Jeff replied.
"He looks like a man who isn't having a good time," she answered with a grin of satisfaction.
"And it's all your fault," he told her. "All he can do is sit there and say 'Look at her in that damn dress'."
"I like this dress," she remarked.
"Honey, everyone likes you in this dress," Jeff said as his eyes roamed over her.
Johanna smirked. "It's not like this is first dress I've worn."
"But this one makes a statement that the other ones lacked," he replied as he continued to look her over. "Have I ever told you that you have nice legs?"
She nodded. "Once or twice."
"You have great legs," he repeated.
She smacked his shoulder. "Stop that," she told him; forcing his gaze back to her face. "Does he not like my dress?"
Jeff smirked. "Oh he loves the dress; it's the jackass you chose to accessorize it with that he doesn't like."
Johanna laughed. "Is he bothered by that?"
"You know he is!"
"I don't know anything about it."
"You little vixen," Jeff commented. "Who knew you had it in you to play dirty?"
"I'm not playing dirty!"
"Yes you are," he laughed. "You're getting Jim all worked up so he'll fall into your trap."
"What trap?"
"You know what trap."
"What do you know about anything?" Johanna asked with a teasing glint in her eye.
"I know plenty," he replied. "You knew he'd blow a gasket if he saw you with Charles. He's sitting over there thinking about wringing your neck."
"That wasn't exactly the reaction I was hoping for," she said with a laugh.
"I thought you weren't up to anything?" he teased.
"Shut up!"
"You're driving him crazy."
"Good, that's what he gets."
The music ended but he took hold of her elbow and steered her towards a less crowded section of the room.
"You don't even like Charles."
"I know that," she answered. "But desperate times call for drastic measures."
"You know what happens when you play with fire, right Sassy?" he asked.
Johanna rolled her eyes. "No, enlighten me," she said sarcastically.
He laughed. "You get burned."
"Not always," she remarked. "Sometimes things just heat up."
Jeff looked at her. "Trust me; there's plenty of heat between the two of you already. There's enough sparks flying there to start a forest fire without a match."
She smirked. "Funny."
"I'm serious."
"This is about more than…that," she answered.
Jeff sighed. "It always is with you women."
"Like you men are anything to brag about," she responded.
"So what's the real problem here, Jo?"
"What do you think?"
He knew, and she knew that he knew and he didn't bother to act as though he didn't. "You know he's in love with you," he told her.
"Do I? It isn't like he's ever told me."
"Everyone knows he's in love with you."
"Everyone but me," she replied.
Jeff nodded. "Okay, I get it. You want to hear it, but do you really think being here with Charles is going to make that happen?"
She shrugged. "I guess I'll find out."
"Just go over there and put Jim out of his misery," Jeff told her.
"Not until he puts me out of mine," Johanna replied.
He sighed. "You know it's always the friends who suffer in times like these."
"Poor you."
"Come on, Sassy, let me walk you over there so you and Jim can have some verbal sparing and then kiss and make up and we'll all live happily ever after."
"No."
"I'd grab a hold of you and shake you until you came to your senses but I'm not sure that dress is allowing you to take in much oxygen."
She rolled her eyes. "It's not as tight as it looks."
He grinned and reached toward her. "Well in that case."
"Don't even think about it," she warned taking a step back. "If you want someone to come to their senses then you better go talk to Jim."
"But you're more receptive to sense than he is," Jeff quipped.
"I can't argue with that."
"Then you see it my way," he said.
"Nope."
"Alright, have it your way," Jeff told her. "But be careful."
"Careful of what?"
"The idiot you came with, he might want something you don't want to give and I've heard he isn't always nice about taking no for an answer."
"I don't think he's interested in me enough to warrant taking drastic measures," she answered.
Jeff's expression was serious as he held her gaze. "Trust me, he'd like nothing more than to put a checkmark next to your name in his ledger, and hating Jim as much as he does probably gives him extra motivation, so be careful, okay?"
She nodded. "I can take care of myself."
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Alright, I'll go back over there and listen to Jim curse you some more."
She laughed. "Maybe you can shake some sense into him."
"I may have to," he said with a chuckle as he began to walk away. "We can't have you running wild all the time."
After leaving Johanna; Jeff headed back to Jim's table. "Where's Maggie?" he asked, seeing that his friend was now alone.
"She went to the bathroom; Sharon went with her, because you know they can never go by themselves for some reason."
"That's because they go in there to talk about men and people they don't like."
"How was your dance?" Jim asked. "She seemed to be enjoying it. Did you give her my message?"
"No, I didn't think that would be wise; but don't worry; she's still crazy about you."
Jim smirked at him. "Did she tell you that?"
"Not in those exact words but I read between the lines."
"Uh huh."
"Seriously; she is and you know it; she's just trying to motivate you with the sight of her being out with other men having the good time you could be having with her," Jeff remarked. "She loves you; she wants you, she hates this as much as you do."
"It doesn't really look like she's hating it too much tonight," he retorted.
"That's because you're looking at it through those anger tinted glasses. Trust me; she's still your girl and she wants to stay that way. You just have to give her a little something so she knows she's wanted and loved."
Jim said nothing as he drummed his fingers on the table; his eyes searching the room for Johanna but he couldn't find her among the crowd. His stomach soured. He liked keeping her in sight just in case she needed someone to fend off their lecherous colleagues. She could take care of herself…but why should she have to when he was willing to do it for her?
Maggie reappeared at the table. "You ready to take me for another spin around the dance floor, Romeo?" she asked her boyfriend as she brushed her fingers through his hair.
"There's almost nothing I'd like more," he replied with a suggestive grin.
Maggie laughed. "Later; dance first, the rest later."
"If you insist."
"I do," she replied. "I offered to dance with Sour Ball but he turned me down."
Jeff smiled. "Don't take it personally; he's saving himself for Johanna."
"I bet if he asked her to dance, she'd accept," Maggie commented.
He nodded. "Yeah but then he'd have to stop being stubborn for a few minutes and he's not ready to let go yet."
Jim pinned them both with a look. "Weren't you two going to dance?"
Jeff rose from his chair. "Come on, Muffin; Jim likes to brood alone."
Jim watched his friends go and then his eyes searched the room once again for the woman he loved. He caught a glimpse of her with Sharon as they posed for a picture together and he relaxed slightly…but he was still far from happy.
Awhile later, Jim was tired of stewing in silence and he stalked across the ballroom when he saw Johanna lingering near one of the refreshments tables. He slipped into place next to her and fought the urge to touch her. "You're making a fool of yourself," he told her, his tone low but sharp.
Johanna turned her head to look at him. "I don't think so; I mean history shows that I only make a fool out of myself for you…and I'm not with you tonight so therefore your point is moot."
He smirked at her, his hands curling at his sides. "I see you're feeling cocky tonight; I guess your date must be rubbing off on you."
"We haven't been around each other long enough for anything to rub off; maybe you're confused."
"Confused?" he repeated tartly.
"Mhmm," she murmured before taking a sip of champagne and then setting the glass down on the table. "You see a woman having a little bit of fun and you brand it as cockiness. I came here to dance and have fun…unlike you. Everyone keeps saying that you look like you're sucking on a lemon and I have to say, Jim; it isn't one of your more attractive features."
Jim scowled at her. "And watching you play act the role of floozy isn't very appealing either."
A short, quiet laugh crossed her lips as her eyes narrowed slightly. "I've done nothing to suggest that I'm a floozy."
"I don't know about that; you don't seem to be very particular about the company you keep tonight."
Her brow rose as she regarded him. "Apparently not, I am standing here with you, aren't I? And really should you judge? You had Callie in your lap just the other night…so I'd say you're no authority on what kind of company to keep."
Jim took the flippant remark in stride. "You've been passed around like a damn football tonight."
She shrugged a bare shoulder. "It's nice to be wanted and admired once in awhile."
"It's not you they want; they want what's under your dress. They want what you're trying to pass yourself off as."
"I resent that," Johanna retorted. "I haven't been anything but myself tonight."
Jim scoffed in disbelief. "Maybe your parents should've let you be an actress, Johanna; you do know how to play a role. Where are you drawing your inspiration from tonight? Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara at the Barbeque; with all the dopey eyed fools at your feet, waiting to do your bidding because you flash a smile, bare some skin and flutter your lashes?"
A slow biting smile slid across her red lips, her green eyes glittering as they narrowed further, reminding him of a cat that was ready to pounce on its prey. She moved closer, her hip brushing his, sending a jolt of fire through his body as he breathed in the scent of her perfume. "What's the matter, honey?" she asked; her voice whiskey soft as her hand caressed his arm. "Can't you handle it?"
His hand curled around her hip and he saw her struggle to hide a wince as his fingers dug into her and yet he couldn't loosen his grip. He jerked her against him, not caring who might be watching but as her body settled against his, he had the briefest notion that closeness might not have been the best idea. Her eyes closed and he watched her swallow. She was just as affected as he was, he thought to himself as he lowered his head to whisper in her ear. "I assure you, sweetheart, that I can handle you in more ways than you can fathom."
He felt her shiver as his lips brushed the shell of her ear. She shifted against him in effort to get free but it only added fuel to the fire as they remained intimately pressed against each other. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip and he was tempted to kiss her as she swallowed hard but her hand snaked between them, finding its way to his chest and she pushed against him. "I think you're all talk and no action," she murmured; her voice only betraying the slightest hint of a tremble.
"And you think you're going to get the action you want from someone else in this room?"
"Only time will tell."
Jim shook his head. "Whatever it is you're doing isn't going to work, Johanna."
"Don't act like you know every thought that goes on in my head, Jim; because you don't. If you did, we might've not be in this predicament."
"This predicament is your doing," he reminded her.
She smiled. "Only part of it is mine…the other part is yours, darling. Own it."
His jaw tightened as he stared her down but it didn't seem to faze her. She stood there as relaxed as could be, a hand on her hip and a sassy, confident look on her face. It never failed to amaze him how he could be infuriated with her and want her so badly at the same time. He quickly calculated his chances of backing her into that shadowed corner of the room but he discarded the notion. It wouldn't happen and it wouldn't accomplish anything. He shoved his hands into his pockets so that he wouldn't reach for her. "So what are you going to do, Johanna?"
"It's a party, Jim; I'm going to have a good time. I'm still willing to save you a dance, if you want."
Jim shook his head. "I wouldn't want to deprive your new crowd of admirers. You go ahead and have your so called fun, sweetheart…but come morning, you'll regret it. You see the problem with your plan is the fact that you have a conscience, Johanna; a conscience and morals…and even if you rail against them tonight, they'll be waiting for you in the morning."
She held his gaze. "Is that what bothers you, Jim; your conscience? Do you feel guilty for something…do you have a regret you'd like to share with the class?"
The comment hit a little close to home. He did feel guilty, he did have regrets…and yet he couldn't find the right way to rectify them and it just made him angrier. "Why don't you go find dance partner number fourteen," he said bitterly. "Hearts are breaking all across the dance floor every minute you stand here."
"Fourteen huh?" she replied; "Not that you're counting, right?"
Jim scowled; but before he could comment, Charles appeared out of nowhere at Johanna's side. "How about another dance, Johanna?" he asked. "I'm sure Jim won't mind if I take you away from him, after all you are my date and not his."
It took every ounce of his self control not to punch Charles in the mouth then and there. "I'd love another dance," Johanna remarked as she accepted the hand he held out to her. "See you later, Jim."
Charles shot him a gloating grin and led Johanna to the dance floor. Jim remained in place, watching as his adversary took her in his arms for the dance. He held her entirely too close…they all did. He hated it, hated every second, hated her for allowing them to get so close…but hating her never worked for more than a nanosecond. He loved her too much to ever hate her. But he couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't spend another minute of watching her on her good time tour. He wasn't done with her yet, he still had more to say, but the place for it wasn't here. Jim picked up the champagne glass she had abandoned and drank the rest of its contents. He would've rather had something harder but he had to stay focused and sober. Jeff appeared at his side as he put the empty glass back on the table.
"What are you doing?" his friend asked.
"I'm leaving," he said sharply. "I have to get away from here, from her, from him, and from every other jackass in this room that thinks they have a right to put their hands on her."
"I guess that little chat the two of you were having didn't go well," Jeff commented.
Jim frowned; but his eyes glittered with determination. "It isn't over yet."
"Don't do anything stupid."
"I'm not," he retorted. "But this is going to end, one way or another."
Jeff sighed as he watched Jim storm through the room and toward the exit; he wanted his friends to work things out but he wasn't sure it was going to happen the way either one of them wanted it to.
Johanna blew out a breath as she looked around the ballroom which was rapidly emptying out. She'd had a nice time, all things considered but she had ached to be with Jim the entire time. He had left long before and she had been relieved; it had meant that she could turn down more dances and not try as hard. Not that it had mattered. She felt certain that her plan had been a failure; Jim wasn't swayed into action…maybe he never would be. Sure he was angry with her, but there was no sign that he intended to do anything about their situation.
She frowned; maybe it wasn't meant to be. Her eyes stung but she blinked and cleared away the sensation; there'd be time for that later if need be. Maybe Jim was an unmovable object; she couldn't inspire him with honest conversation, with arguments or with jealousy. Maybe it was time to think about giving up the fight. The thought was depressing and anger inducing as she thought of the time she had wasted giving her heart to a man who didn't want it.
"Jo," Charles said, his fingers brushing against her shoulder.
She forced herself not to flinch at his touch as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Are you ready to get out of here?"
She picked up her purse from the table. "Yeah; I'm ready."
Her date smiled and there was something in it that put her instantly on alert. "Do you want to go get a bite to eat or stop for another drink…or anything else?" he asked; a suggestive note in his tone.
"No," Johanna answered with a shake of her head. "My feet are killing me and I'm starting to feel tired. I'd just like to go home, but if you want to go on without me, I'm fine with grabbing a cab."
Charles shook his head. "Oh no, we can't have that. I'll drive you."
She forced a smile to her lips; she had hoped he would go off on his own and let her catch a cab but it looked like he thought he might have a chance on the ride home. He was in for a surprise, she thought to herself as she allowed him to lead her to the exit. She just wanted to go home…she just wanted to go to bed and wake up to something better in the morning. Johanna scoffed at herself; better wasn't in the cards for her lately.
Jim checked his watch for what seemed like the millionth time as he stood outside Johanna's door. Where the hell was she? He paced angrily in front of her door; the gala should've been over by now. Surely she didn't go home with her date…she wouldn't stoop to that level would she? But then again, she had been letting that jerk put his hands on her all night, so anything was possible. He had to suppress an angry growl. It wouldn't do to attract more attention to himself than he already had. A few of her neighbors had already spotted him loitering in the hallway, and while some of them were used to seeing him around, they still eyed him curiously and with suspicion. The old woman who lived across the hall from Johanna; Mrs. Blackston, if he remembered correctly, was probably going to wear out the hinges on her door if she kept cracking it open to peer out at him. Just as the thought entered his mind, he heard the hinges of her door squeak.
"I'm not leaving until she comes home, Mrs. Blackston; so you may as well go back to bed and stay there," Jim stated.
Mrs. Blackston opened her door wider and stepped into view. "You know, loitering in front of her door doesn't look good. What will people think?"
"I don't care what they think."
"Well maybe you should. You're jeopardizing her reputation."
"Believe me; I've got her reputation in mind."
"Well it doesn't seem like it. Johanna's a good girl; you know she always asks me if I need anything from the store when she goes, and if I do, she always gets it and brings it to me."
"I know, Mrs. Blackston."
"And she talked the landlord into letting me keep the cat my daughter gave me for Christmas."
"I know," he stated; trying hard not to lose his patience as he knew Johanna liked the old woman, but listening to her sing her praises wasn't what he was in the mood for right now. He was too angry for that.
"She's polite, honest and kind. She doesn't make too much noise or throw wild parties like that bunch down the hall…although that dress she went out in tonight was a little too short and a little too tight but I suppose that's the fashion for young women today."
Jim knew all about her dress. He knew how short it was and how it fit her like a glove, showing off her curves and those gorgeous legs. He knew all about the soft creamy skin it left bare…that he ached to touch and kiss. He had to stop…letting his thoughts wander too far down that road would make his wait for her even more uncomfortable than it already it was. But his mind had difficulty tearing itself away from the thought of ridding her of that little black dress and laying her down…skin to skin and wiping the thoughts of other men from her mind as he showed her just who she belonged to.
"…I was surprised to see her leaving with a man who wasn't you," Mrs. Blackston stated; pulling from his thoughts.
His jaw tightened. "I know all about that."
"Well then, what was it all about? I thought you were her young man."
"We had a fight," he spat.
Understanding lit up the old woman's eyes. "Oh, I see…and now she's making you jealous as your punishment."
"I'm not jealous."
"Tell that to the look on your face."
"I'm not jealous; I'm angry and she's going to know about it as soon as she drags herself home, so you go on back to bed and don't worry about Johanna, she'll be fine."
"Well I hope so. I hope you get things settled."
"Oh they're going to be settled alright, one way or another," he stated while silently adding that if he had his way about it, they'd be settling part of it in her bed.
The old woman said goodnight and pushed her door shut but he had no doubt that she'd be cracking it open again in another half hour…and he'd still be there; because he wasn't moving from that spot until Johanna dragged herself home.
…to be continued