Sorry for the delay in adding this latest chapter. Hopefully the length of it makes up for the time between updates. To be honest, this chapter is almost *too* long, but I really couldn't find a better spot to end it so I let it be what it wanted to be. As always, I don't claim ownership to any of the familiar characters and no harm is intended in their appearance in this work of fiction. Please don't sue.
Thank you for reading. Any thoughts, comments or criticisms are welcome... in other words, please review:) SS
Beach House, Chapter Two
Kate held her hand out the window, letting it rise and fall with the wind as the car raced along the coastal highway. When she was a kid, she used to do the same much to her father's displeasure. He preferred to drive with the windows up and always complained when she lowered hers, even when she had been in the back seat with Marie. Jack liked to drive with the windows down. She had learned that early on so in that way, they were compatible, too. She found it interesting to think of all the things there were to learn about a person when starting a new relationship. What type of food they like to eat; how late or early they ate their dinner; how they take their coffee or if they even drink coffee at all; do they listen to music or talk radio while driving? She loved discovering these things about Jack. Discovering new things that seemed to confirm that they fit well together.
There was the fact that they both liked to enjoy a drive in a comfortable quiet with music playing softly in the background rather than feel obligated to fill the time with small talk. That they both felt that sometimes it was nice to watch the scenery and let your thoughts wander even when you weren't alone in the car. To this end, she found her own thoughts wandering back to the night of the fundraiser….
She had left the office at lunch time, having kept her calendar clear for the afternoon and headed to her father's house to oversee the last of the preparations while also dressing for the event. The yard looked elegant at the time of her arrival with intimate tables of six filling most it, leaving just enough space for a small stage for the band and a modest dance floor. For the bulk of the afternoon, she bounced between her father's office to keep on top of her work and the backyard where she directed the various vendors as they continued with their preparations. Finally, she surrendered the office time to time spent getting herself in a state that would match the elegance of the yard and as she did, her thoughts turned to the one guest she most looked forward to seeing.
She would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she looked forward to dressing up for him for that night. They had met for lunch the week he had been released from the hospital, but it had been unplanned so although she might have looked a little more put together than the previous times they had met, her outfit, hair and make-up had been simple and businesslike. The following week they had met for drinks and although that meeting had been planned, a conference call at work had run well past schedule which had meant that she had met him in work attire once again. It was exciting to think about him seeing her in something more feminine and the thought of him dressed to the nines was an intriguing prospect as well.
The ankle-length black dress she had chosen flowed over her curves without hugging them too tightly. It had a higher, straight neckline with high-polished thin silver bars that curved over her shoulders to a collection of slender silver chains that flowed over her back, gathering at a point above her rear that was low but not so low to be deemed improper. Having always been a regular yoga and Pilates attendee, she had since increased the intensity of her workouts and the dress showed off some of the results she had already begun to see. Having done her hair and make-up prior to slipping into the dress, she was ready for guests, save her shoes, with about fifteen minutes to spare.
She donned a simple pair of black flats and carried her heels to the rear entrance, giving her feet as much freedom from the stilettos as possible. Stowing the shoes, she went to the office in search of her father, hoping to find him ready as well. She did find him in the office and although not completely ready, he was respectably close to being fully dressed.
"Hey, Dad," she said by way of announcing her presence since he was standing behind his desk, looking out the window with his back to the door.
"Kate," he answered, turning to her, a glass of what she assumed was whiskey, held casually, the lengths of his bow tie hanging along the front of his shirt. "You look beautiful," he added.
"Thanks," she answered, ducking her head slightly at his flattery. She smoothed invisible wrinkles from the front of her dress. "Do you need a hand with your bowtie?"
"No, I'll get it. I just wanted to wait until the last minute before lacing myself up."
"I did the same for my shoes," she admitted, holding up the edge of her dress to reveal her ballet flats.
He sipped from his glass before placing it on his desk. "How did I let you talk me into this?" He sighed, before turning back to the window and she could tell that he was working on his tie using his reflection in the glass.
"It won't be too bad," she answered. "You just have to make a quick speech and then introduce the director from Finding the Light and you're basically done for the night."
He turned back to her and she recognized that despite his age, her father still struck a fine figure in his tuxedo.
"Not quite done for night, hmm?" he raised an eyebrow in her direction. "There's still the matter of mingling and making conversation and hoping that I can avoid too many questions about Marie."
She stepped closer and placed a hand on his forearm. "Thanks, Dad for letting me do this. I really think it will help us both; if we can come up with something good out of all of the bad from that day. Maybe you don't feel the same, but I really think I need this. Not the event necessarily, but the good that will come from it."
"I know, sweetie," he said as he took her hand in his and squeezed. "I just have a feeling that there are going to be some difficult or at the very least, awkward conversations tonight."
She left him to finish his whiskey while she went to stow her flats in a convenient closet and slipped into her heels. In the time she had left to dress for the evening, the remainder of the preparations had been completed. Waiters stood at the ready with trays laden with champagne flutes and the band was doing its final tuning. Sunset was still about a half hour away, but the torches surrounding the outer boundary of the designated space were already lit as were the candles on the tables and the overall effect leant an elegant ambiance to the yard. A young couple came through the gate and Kate smiled as she recognized her assistant, Claire and her boyfriend arriving a few minutes early for the event.
"Kate, this is Stephen," Claire said after Kate had walked over to greet them. The young woman had only been working directly for Kate for about six months but had already proven to be an incredible asset. Even now, Kate knew that Claire had purposely arrived early to the event so she could help with the greeting of guests. She smiled as she shook Stephen's hand and complimented the pair on their fine attire.
Kate was about to ask about their plans for the weekend when she noticed a small group coming through the gate. She excused herself to greet the secretary treasurer from the board of directors and soon after found herself in a seemingly endless sea of arriving guests. She glanced up from time to time to notice her father near one of the bar stations chatting with a few guests or Claire walking with someone as they sought out their designated table. She was scanning the yard to confirm that everything was flowing smoothly when she noticed another set of guests coming up the walk out of the corner of her eye. She fixed a welcoming smile as she turned to greet them and found her smile grow a little bigger as she was met with a familiar pair of slightly creased blue eyes.
"Jack, you made it," she said and suddenly felt unsure of how she should greet him. A handshake seemed so impersonal and yet a hug seemed inappropriate. As she debated, he placed his hand on her forearm and leaned closer to her and pressed a kiss on her cheek.
"Hi, Kate," he said in the soft almost shy tone that she had grown to love hearing from him. He broke eye contact, looking at the ground before meeting her eyes once again, seeming to remember where they were and why they were here. "You remember Tony Almeida, right? And, this is Michelle Dessler," he said, indicating the couple immediately behind him.
"Agent Almeida, Ms. Dessler," she held out a hand to each of them.
"Actually, it's Agent Dessler," Tony had corrected her with a bit of a smile, softening the rebuke. Later, as she got to know the both of them better, she would realize that Tony enjoyed making the correction often and that Michelle never would but that she did appreciate it when Tony made it on her behalf.
"Please, call me Michelle," the petite dark-haired woman said, holding out a hand in greeting.
She shook both of their hands and then a slender, bald man stepped forward with a short, middle-aged blonde woman at his side. "Kate, I don't believe you have met Director Chappelle before."
The man held out a hand to her and she shook it. "Ms. Warner, it's a pleasure to meet you. This is Francine." Kate shook the hand of the woman and then offered to help the group in finding their table. She stood back as first the director and his date (or girlfriend or something other than his wife as Kate deduced based on the informality of his introduction) took their seats and then, Tony and Michelle. Jack came up behind her and leaned forward, his breath tickling her ear. "You look beautiful tonight," he said and she couldn't help but smile at his flattery.
"You do, too," she answered, turning as she did and then realized her blunder. She bit her lip but couldn't prevent the smile from breaking through. "I mean, you look very nice as well."
He smiled and then moved to take a seat next to Tony. Kate indicated the empty chair at their table. "Is Agent Baker still planning to come?"
"Yes, he'll be here in about an hour," Director Chappelle answered. "He's just finishing up some paperwork."
"That clearly couldn't wait till the morning," Tony mumbled, but since Michelle and Francine were between the two, the director didn't hear him. Jack had, she noted, as he stifled a quick grin at Tony's sarcastic comment.
"Kate, it looks really amazing back here," Michelle spoke up. "I think it's really incredible what you're doing and especially for the people at CTU."
"Well, really, it's not much. I couldn't see all the work and plans that had been put into the wedding go completely to waste. I, uhh," she took a deep breath, "I just wanted to find some way to start to repair…"
She couldn't finish the sentence. She wanted to say that she wanted to repair the damage her family had caused even though in so many ways she knew that she couldn't possibly – so much damage had been done. She felt tears prick her eyes and for the first time she felt some of the dread for the night that her father had expressed earlier. Suddenly, Jack's strong hand was gripping hers, squeezing it and she found a little strength from the contact. She took another deep breath and forced a smile back to her features.
"I am happy to find a way to help, even if it's just in a small way," she said. "I should probably head over to the stage. The speeches are going to begin soon." She looked toward Jack and Tony before adding: "I promise there won't be too many speeches, but you might want to catch a waiter or head over to the bar before they start. They will shut down service until they are done."
Both men stood after she gave her advice and she laughed as they did. She made her way to her father's side, pulling him away from his group so they could make their way to the stage. They had opted to forgo an emcee for the event, leaving the task to be split between herself and her father. It was a simple fundraiser by necessity given the time that she had had to plan it. Attendees all paid for their tables (Warner Industries had paid for the table for CTU as well as the table of attendees from Finding the Light) and there was a small, silent auction that included a handful of prizes that she had secured from a few benefactors along with a two-week Mediterranean vacation that had originally been a honeymoon trip. She checked her watch and noting that it was time for the first course to be served, she took the stage. The band had been playing soft jazz music and it wrapped up the last song and she approached the microphone.
"Good evening," she said simply, pausing to allow the conversation to taper off and to stifle the slight tremble in her fingers as she shifted the microphone to a better position. "I believe that I know most of you in attendance tonight, but for those who I haven't yet met, my name is Kate Warner and on behalf of Warner industries, myself and my father, I would like to thank all of you for finding time in your busy schedules, on rather short notice I might add, to join us tonight."
She looked around the gathering, a little dazzled by the lights and the eyes that were on her but took a steadying breath and reminded herself that this was little different than being at the head of the board room table. She consciously brightened her smile before continuing.
"We would like to thank California Prism for keeping our ears entertained this evening," she said while turning to indicate the band behind her and pausing to allow the proper amount of time for polite applause from the audience. Turning back to face the crowd, she continued: "We would also like to thank the Hancock Park Country Club catering staff for accommodating all of our changes and requests and providing what I am sure will be an amazing meal tonight."
She gave another pause for applause and then offered her final remarks. "The wait staff will be coming around with the first course shortly. We will be keeping the agenda simple for this evening with just a few speeches during dinner and dancing later. Before I invite my father up here to begin the speeches, I would just like to point out the silent auction tables, each placed conveniently next to a bar station," she paused again, allowing the gentle laughter to fill the pause. "Please remember that these are to raise funds for a charity and not a business transaction where your goal would be the best deal."
Her smile widened, genuine with her happiness that her tone had been conveyed correctly, garnering the reaction she had been seeking and successfully lightening the mood for the event.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my father, Bob Warner, to the stage."
She turned and watched as her father strode confidently toward her position at the centre of the stage. As he stepped beside her, he grasped both of her hands and placed a quick kiss on each cheek before releasing her hands so she could walk away. She faced the gathering briefly and waved as she exited to his "my daughter, ladies and gentlemen, isn't she amazing?" but kept her focus on walking confidently in her heels.
She took her seat at her table, located in front of the stage, left of the center. It also included the President and CFO from their board of directors, along with their wives. She smiled at each of them as she took her seat and then turned slightly so she faced the stage and her father. She tried to listen to her father's speech but found her mind wandering in spite of her best intentions. Instead, she found her focus turning to the table just slightly offset and further from the stage than her own. She turned to glance over to that very table only to find Jack's warm gaze meeting her own. She smiled slightly and he answered with his trademark half grin that she was slowly becoming very attached to. Turning back to face the stage, she found her focus still on the man seated just behind her to the left.
Despite her anticipation at seeing him dressed for the evening, she found that he had surprised her with how well the tuxedo suited him. There were some who held the belief that all men looked the same in their evening attire but she wasn't one of them. She found that some just didn't have a body well-suited to the proper fit of a tuxedo, especially if it was one not tailored precisely for them. Agent Almeida was a perfect example. She would be lying if she didn't admit that he was an attractive man, but there was something about his build that made him look less attractive in his tuxedo. It was as if his shoulders and chest were overdeveloped so his jacket actually made him look thicker through the middle than she remembered him being.
Whereas Jack seemed made for the formalwear. He was strong, she knew, having felt his strength in the iron grip that had pulled her through the hellish night when they had met. It was a lean strength that allowed his jacket to fit him perfectly, defining his strong shoulders as well as his narrow waist. The blue of his eyes seemed to pop against the stark black and white of his attire and she wondered if her own eyes played as well against her black dress.
A waiter came and cleared the hors d'oeuvre course from the table and she realized, regretfully, that she had been so caught up in her thoughts that she had neglected to eat hers. Her stomach reminded her that it had been many hours since her lunch and thankfully, the soup course followed quickly behind along with a pairing of red wine. Her father was just wrapping up his explanation of some of the current projects that their company had just begun or were about to launch; they had added this to the agenda to entice board members as well as business associates into attendance and since the event had sold out, she would have to admit that their plan had been a success.
Her father invited Charles Brook to the stage, founder of Finding the Light and one of the principle psychologists who donated their time to the organization. A tall man with a deep, clear speaking voice, he immediately captured the attention of Kate and the audience. After thanking the audience as well as her father, herself and their company for hosting the event, Dr Brook explained the work that he and his team performed for the greater Los Angeles community. Much of the information was not new to her, having done the research which had led to Finding the Light being chosen for this event. Still, Kate found a warmth and sense of satisfaction filling her as she recognized the positive effect that this night would have on those who needed the help of Dr Brook and his associates and her part in it all.
Another waiter arrived to clear their course and this time, Kate had been able to eat a good portion of her soup, a deep and flavourful French onion that she knew her father would regret missing so she asked the waiter to leave the uneaten bowl at his place. Salad plates came just as the psychologist was wrapping up his speech and she joined the audience in their heartfelt applause as he exited the stage.
"Thank you, Charles, for helping us understand and appreciate what Finding the Light does and why it is so important that we give our support," her father said, having taken his place once again behind the microphone at center stage. "And please," he continued, waving an arm to indicate the entirety of the audience, "all of you, keep these stories and examples in mind when you are visiting those silent auction tables and making your bids."
The audience chuckled softly, as she was sure he had intended.
"But all kidding aside," he said with a more dour expression on his face, "not only do we have to give this organization our financial support so they can continue to offer their services to those who need them, we need to support their goal in spreading the word that they are there for those in need. That this service is available to everyone who has suffered a loss; absolutely anyone who is having a hard time dealing with a loss, even in a minor way. We need to tell people that it is okay to seek their help and that they are not a failure if they do. That it is okay if your loved one needs their help. That you haven't failed because they need outside help. That it is okay if your loved one needs more help than what you know how or are able to give them."
He paused and took a sip from his glass before continuing. "I can't help but wonder if we would even be here tonight if I had thought to seek this kind of help for my own daughter at the time of her mother's death."
The audience had already been quiet for the majority of the speeches, but there had been the occasional pockets of conversation that could be heard in the background, just barely audible but present all the same. Not now. It seemed that everyone in attendance was as stunned as Kate was herself at her father's admission. Sure, she held thoughts that Marie's path into terrorism might have been thwarted if things had been different after their mother had passed. She absolutely believed that therapy (which they could have readily afforded unlike so many others) might have been a big part in diverting her sister's conversion to extremist action. But she had never spoken these thoughts to her father and had honestly never held her father to blame. And, although they both anticipated questions regarding Marie's involvement in the events a month past, she had never imagined that he would discuss any of it so openly in front of all.
"If I hadn't thought that seeking outside help meant that I was failing as a father," he began again. "If I hadn't thought that I needed to be the head of my family just like I was the head of my company, with answers to it all… hell, who are we kidding, even I know in business it often makes sense to bring in outside consultants," he ran a hair through his hair as a brief smile flitted across his features. "I guess what I'm saying is that I wish I had known more about how important counselling and therapy is - especially during formative years and times of great duress. I am proud to offer my financial support to Finding the Light and I hope to also help them in their goal of encouraging people to seek out guidance and support whenever the need arises."
He stepped back from the microphone and Kate thought he might leave the stage on that note. Gathering her racing thoughts, she rose from her seat and made her way toward the stairs leading to the stage. She was about to climb them when her father stepped back up to the microphone. "Thank you all for coming. Please enjoy the meal, the entertainment, the drinks and the dancing. Your generosity and support of this organization, and of my family, are very much appreciated." He raised his glass in the air before finishing with: "Here's to the past, for all that we've learnt. Here's to the present, for all that we share. And, here's to the future, for all that we have to look forward to."
Kate watched as everyone rose a glass in answer to her father's own. Turning her attention back to him, she watched as he took a drink and then made his way toward her, waving at the band as he strode across the stage. The soft sounds of the strings filled the air as conversations once again were struck up at the tables. She was certain her father had given them much to talk about if any of the tables had been previously struggling for topics of conversation. As he came down the stairs and stood beside her, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Dad, you were wonderful," she said softly and then added: "tonight and always. I love you." He squeezed her tightly in answer and the two of them took their seats at the table.
The remainder of the dinner passed without incident. Kate had taken the stage as the dessert course was served and invited their guests to the dance floor while also reminding them to visit the silent auction tables within the next hour so that everyone's bid could be considered. After her brief stint in front of the microphone, she joined her father and they began making their way throughout the gathering, stopping for brief pockets of conversation with various guests. Eventually, they were separated, her father surrounded by a few of his friends and she chatted briefly with her assistant before finally making her way over to the CTU table. As she arrived at the table, she noticed that Director Chappelle and his date had left, perhaps to mingle, and that Agent Baker had arrived. He greeted her and then Tony interjected "There's no way you can convince me that Milton Bradley is worth enough to the Dodgers to justify all of his drama" and the two men and Jack resumed a debate that she seemed to have interrupted. She caught Michelle smiling out of the corner of her eye and decided to take the seat beside her that had been vacated by the director.
"Is this what your conversation for the evening has been all about?" Kate asked, smiling as she did.
"No," the brunette said with a smile, "there was an exciting debate about whether or not the Raiders should return to Los Angeles or stay in Oakland. I think I would have preferred it if we just talked about work all night."
Kate laughed, instantly taking a liking to the woman. "Well, I won't add to the fire by saying that I agree with Agent Almeida; Milton Bradley is more drama than he's worth."
"Wait, what?" Jack said, turning to her, clearly not solely engrossed in the men's conversation. "How can you say that? His slugging percentage is over four hundred."
"He threw a beer at a fan in the stands," Kate responded frankly.
"After it was thrown at him," Jack clarified with a smile.
Instead of countering Jack, she turned to the woman beside her and said: "Did you enjoy the meal, Michelle?"
"Yes, everything was delicious. Thank you."
The men seemed to finally notice that they had been engrossed in a conversation that had excluded one of the persons seated among them and the conversation turned to the meal instead. It evolved from there to a more general discussion of restaurants and favourite foods which lead to the revelation that Tony's parents owned a restaurant outside of the city and that Tony was also an excellent cook. The conversation had flowed freely from there until a brief lull which was filled by the opening strains of Sinatra's 'The Way You Look Tonight'.
"Michelle, we've shared meals together and we've shared drinks together," Tony said, turning to the petite woman at his side. "We've shared arguments and laughs together. But we haven't yet shared a dance together…" He stood then and held out his hand. "How would you like to change that?"
"I would love to," she answered, taking his hand and rising from her seat. The new couple (as Jack had told her when they had met for drinks the other night) walked to the dance floor and seamlessly slid into step together.
"You know," Jack said, drawing her attention from across the table, "you could say the same for us."
She met his eyes and smiled before asking: "When exactly have we argued?"
"Okay, maybe we're not the same. How about we put the dancing before the arguing?"
"Well, I don't know. After Tony put his invitation so eloquently, it seems like it wouldn't be right to skip one part of it."
"Really? You would rather argue than dance?"
"Some would call it debating rather than arguing. I was part of my college debate team and we were rather successful. I might enjoy a debate with you. Besides, it would be rather rude to leave Agent Baker stranded at the table all alone," she added, biting back a grin as Jack dropped his eyes to the table and picked up his drink. Tom glanced at her, confusion in his eyes. She answered with a wink.
"Okay, fine, you win the debate. Let's dance instead." She stood and walked over to his chair, a full smile on her features, a half grin on his as he realized that she had played at an argument so that they could both be right and win. He stood and took her hand and began to lead her from the table. She stopped for a moment, placing a hand on Agent Baker's shoulder. "Sorry Tom. I guess we are abandoning you," she said.
He looked up and smiled and she knew that he truly didn't mind. "Don't worry about it, Kate. I fully expected as much coming here tonight with this group. I'm actually pretty happy to mingle and look at a few different faces instead of these guys who I see every day. I was just sticking around to keep Jack company in case Tony and Michelle abandoned him before you were able to make your way over to us."
The trio laughed before Jack pulled on her hand and she followed him toward the dance floor. The song was in its final cords and they stopped just off to the side, waiting. The familiar sounds of 'Strangers in the Night' began and Jack led her onto the wooden overlay. She stood in front of him, resting a hand on his shoulder while he secured her other hand in his. In her heels, her eyes were not much lower than his and the intensity of his gaze was a little overwhelming at first. Their bodies lined up almost perfectly but this being a formal gathering, they kept a small but definitive gap between them. The hand that wasn't holding hers pressed against the center of her back and she could feel the heat of his skin in the spaces left open between the chains of her dress that draped along her back. They moved in time to the music as he led them in a basic ballroom square. A step back and together, a step to the side and together, a step forward, together, to the side again and together. Throughout it all, the gap persisted, but the steps caused an occasional brush of thigh against thigh, hip against hip. His fingers slipped beneath the chains covering her back and the feel of his calloused fingertips against the smooth skin of her back brought a flutter to her belly. To the side, together, forward, together. Their breathing fell into rhythm and her eyes found his once again, meeting his gaze with an intensity of her own. A step back, together, to the side, together. People often spoke of the tango and the sexuality it inspired by the closeness of its dancers but she would readily offer up this simple dance instead. This dance with its occasional brushes of touch, its intense eye contact, and the wave of desire that washed over her as his eyes broke that contact only to drop to her lips in response to her tongue quickly darting over them. This was far more sexual than the overt moves of the latin dance.
Jack seemed to feel the same. The song ended and he barely paused before picking up the rhythm of the next, as unwilling as she to see an end to their connection. A third song began and ended without her seeming to even notice its passing so lost in the bond that seemed to be developing between them. A tap on Jack's shoulder finally brought her back to her surroundings, noticing her father standing with a bemused expression behind him.
"Mr. Bauer, would you mind if I stole a dance with my daughter?" he asked.
Jack, too, seemed to come back to himself with the interruption. "Of course not," he replied, stepping back and to the side, relinquishing her hand to her father's.
She fell into step with her father, watching over his shoulder as Jack left the dance floor and returned to his table.
"I'm sorry that I had to break you guys up," her father said, drawing her attention away from the man at the now vacant table. "I was just worried that you might not realize the time and forget about your part of wrapping up the end of the night."
"Dad, you know I wouldn't let that happen," she answered although she knew there was a little validity in his concern. She twisted the wrist that rested on his shoulder and saw that the time for the auction had expired and her assistant was probably near to completing the list of winners for her to announce. Maybe there had been more than just a little truth to his concern. The song ended and they both exited the dance floor and returned to their table where Claire had been seated with her papers. Kate glanced briefly over to Jack with what she hoped was a look of apology before sitting next to her assistant.
The rest of the evening passed in a flurry. She had taken the stage to announce the winners of the auction and then her father had announced the total funds that were raised for the night and once again thanked everyone for coming. After that she became caught up in the departures of some of their guests while still chatting with others who wanted to stretch out their night. At some point, she had been disappointed to realize that Jack had left and she had missed his leaving. She tried not to let the realization dampen her smile or even her happiness at the overall success of the event. Her father had disappeared once the last of the board members had departed, leaving her to oversee the final hosting duties for the night.
Finally, as it neared midnight, she bid goodnight to Claire, insisting that they both take the following morning off, and found a table near the back of the yard while the caterers finished clearing up for the night. She dropped onto the chair and kicked off her heels, her feet welcoming the reprieve from their tight confines. She sipped from the glass of wine she had secured before the bar had closed, enjoying the bouquet now that she could relax while she sipped it. Rolling her shoulders, she stretched her neck in an effort to ease away some of the tension it held. The night was quiet save the sounds of the clean up and she pulled the pins from her hair, releasing it from the confines of the tight updo she had worn while watching as the glasses were cleared from the other tables. A slight movement to the left of her caught her attention and she found a smile breaking forth, unbidden, as a familiar blonde figure walked through the gate. He looked around the yard and then back to her with a half grin and strolled forward, his hands in his pockets.
"It's over?" he asked as he reached her table. "I came back as quickly as I could. I guess I'm too late."
"I'm still here," she answered with a smile, "but I'm afraid this is the last glass of wine and I'm not sharing."
He laughed, actually it was more of quick exhale of breath with a smile than a true laugh and she found that she couldn't think of a single word that would best describe it. It wasn't a chuckle or a snicker or any other word that she might normally use to describe a short laugh. It was just another trademark thing that was uniquely Jack.
He sat next to her and said: "I'm sorry that I left earlier without saying good-bye. I had to pick up Kim from a friend's house and I thought I could just leave and come back. I guess I didn't think it would take me this long to get back."
"That's okay," she answered. "I was pretty busy for the rest of the night. I didn't even have time for any more dances."
"I should have told her to make her plans for another night, but…"
"But it gave you a reason to leave early and get out of this thing," she supplied and he ducked his head for a moment before looking at her again.
"Yeah, I didn't think I would want to be here for much more than the dinner," he confessed. "I was wrong though. I was having a good time… with you."
She ducked her head shyly and he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You cut your hair," he said, fingering the end of a strand. She had forgotten that she hadn't seen him since the cut that had lopped more than six inches from her length. She had pinned her hair back in the semblance of an updo for the evening so the change hadn't been evident earlier.
"Oh, yeah," she answered, meeting his eyes. She ran her fingers through the length on the side he hadn't tucked away. It ended just below her chin, an inch or so above her shoulder. "I had really only kept it long for the wedding. It's much easier to manage at this length."
"I like it," he said, adding: "It suits you" before tracing his fingers through the hair that was loose, finishing their path along its length and then following the line of her jaw. She dropped her eyes to the curve of his lips and he leaned forward, sensing her invitation. With a finger, he tipped her chin up and chastely pressed his lips against hers. It was soft and tentative and left her craving for more.
He straightened, they both smiled slightly and she felt like a silly school girl after her first kiss. He reached out and captured one of her hands in his and laced their fingers together. Unlike any of the previous times that she had started a relationship with a man, she appreciated that she needn't wonder if he too was interested in getting to know each other on another level. In some ways, his directness almost left her lost for direction. He was clear in his interest and desire at spending more time with her and in getting to know her better. She was unsure how to move forward without any of the game play of whether they were going to date or not.
"I know this sounds crazy," he said, interrupting her thoughts, "but I actually could go for something to eat. I noticed a diner on my way here. Why don't we head over there?"
"Sure. Actually, I could eat something, too. I missed a couple of the courses tonight." She shifted, about to stand, adding: "Let me just go and change."
"Oh no, if I have to go in this monkey suit, you are coming just as you are."
"Okay, okay, but there is no way I'm putting those heels back on. I have a pair of flats in the house. I had actually hoped to be able to sneak and change into them but it just didn't work out."
Before she had a chance to realize what he was doing, Jack had stood and picked her up, cradling her in his arms while walking toward the kitchen.
"Jack, no," she protested. "Put me down. You can't carry me."
"I can and I am. You can't walk across the yard in bare feet."
"You were just in the hospital. I'm too heavy." She struggled in his arms, trying to lower her legs somehow, but he just tightened his arm around her thighs.
"You know when you fight me, you actually make it more difficult," he said and she stopped moving; they were nearly at the garden doors anyway. She relaxed into his embrace and let herself enjoy the feel of his arms around her. They reached the kitchen entrance and he released her thighs so she could lower her legs and stand on her own. His other arm still held her close and once standing, she found herself wrapped in his arms, pressed tightly against him, facing the slight vee created by the single button he had loosened beneath his tie. A brief hint of aftershave lingered on his collar and she closed her eyes, inhaling slightly. She felt him tip his head closer to hers and his nose dipped, brushing against her temple and her hair.
She tipped her chin up, a moment passed and then another and she opened her eyes finding him staring intently at her. He released her from his grip and took a step back. Her confusion must have been plain on her features because he muttered her name, took another step away from her and ran a hand through his hair. She recovered her composure and opened the door closest to her, tossing a quick "I'll be right back," over her shoulder before entering the kitchen to retrieve her flats. She slipped them on, took a deep breath and then returned to the backyard.
"Kate, I'm sorry, I…" Jack tried to explain as soon as she closed the door. "It's just, well, I haven't dated anyone in over twenty years." He looked up, flashed a trademark Jack half grin and then looked back down at his shoes. "I wasn't very good at it back then so I imagine I'm probably much worse now."
"It's okay, Jack. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea for us to start making out in my father's backyard while the caterers are watching."
She was rewarded with a half grin and 'Jack laugh' before he said: "C'mon, let's go." He undid his bowtie and tucked it in his jacket pocket before undoing a second button at the nape of his shirt. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, drawing goose bumps along her arms. She tried to stifle her reaction to it, but her senses seemed to be highly attuned so she couldn't.
"Here," he said, quickly removing his tuxedo jacket and holding it out for her. She slipped it on and found herself swinging on a pendulum to the other side of the spectrum; first it was the cool, impersonal feel of the breeze against her skin and then she was wrapped in the comforting warmth of Jack's scent and jacket. He grabbed her hand with his and she happily let him lead her to his SUV.
They arrived at the diner and ordered breakfast complete with coffee for each despite the late hour. Once again, the conversation seemed to flow easily between them regardless of whether they were discussing something mundane like the prospects for the Dodgers' next season or something much more personal, like the dark months he had spent alone after having lost his wife. She found herself listening more than she was sharing, but she also felt sure that he needed someone to listen and so she did. Hours passed and soon neither were able to ignore the heaviness of their eyes despite their desire to extend the night together.
"Jack, I think we both should call it a night," she finally admitted. She stroked her thumb along the back of his hand, their fingers had been entwined across the table ever since their plates had been cleared.
"Yeah, you're probably right," he answered. "Can I take you out for a proper dinner tomorrow night?"
"Oh, Jack, I don't know," she started and the disappointment was clear on his face. "No, I don't mean that…it's not like…"
"No, it's okay. I get it. You don't have to explain. It's not like I'm…"
"Jack," she interrupted, squeezing his hand, pulling his eyes back to hers, "I would love to see you again tomorrow… I mean later tonight… but it's been such a hectic week, I really think I would like to stay home."
"I'll bring dinner to you."
She smiled and nodded. "Now that sounds perfect. How about…" she paused to think of the day ahead, what time she could reasonably expect to leave the office and the workout she had missed this evening and would likely miss in the morning as well. "How about eight o'clock?"
He smiled his agreement and they both stood to leave. He tossed a few bills on the table to cover their bill which worked well for Kate as she had neglected to bring anything with her at all, including her purse. He drove her back to her father's house and when he pulled into the driveway, he put the SUV in park and looked over to her.
"So I'll see you tomorrow."
She smiled and said: "You'll see me tonight."
He answered with a grin of his own which quickly disappeared as he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. He leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss, soft at first, but then his mouth pressed against hers more firmly. Their lips parted slightly and his tongue dipped into her mouth, tangling with hers briefly before he ended the kiss. His forehead rested against hers for a moment and then he straightened.
"See you tonight," he said and she smiled at him in return before opening the door and walking to the side entrance of her father's house.
Again, thank you for reading. Thoughts would be appreciated. I especially struggled with a "dating" Jack so feedback would be helpful especially if it seems that I have him somehow headed in the wrong direction. Scarlet.