A/N's: After the somberness of my last chapter, this is much better. Besides, who doesn't love a good shopping trip? ;)

Chapter Eleven

It was a very businesslike Dee Thompson who said hello to her co-host on Monday morning. It was a pleasant, cooperative Dwayne Johnson who greeted her, as though the encounter on Saturday had never happened. "We've got ten minutes, Dee." He looked at his watch. "I forgot to mention to you last week, we've been invited to host a dance the Denver Cancer Society is holding at McNichols Arena. It's a fifties type sock hop." Dwayne made a face. "They want us to be king and queen of the hop." He lifted wide shoulders. "Can you make it? It's scheduled for this coming Friday night."

"Sure, I can make it." Dee smiled. "Sound like fun."

"Good." He nodded. "One more thing-on Halloween night the Valley Orphans Home is having their annual party for the kids, and I thought, well..."

"Count on me," Dee said.

"Dee, it's not a personal appearance. What I mean is, we don't get paid for this one. The children's party would strictly be volunteer."

"I'll be there, Dwayne," she assured him. "And I'm happy to do it for free."

"Thanks, Dee." He got up and came around the desk. Together they headed for the control room. "Mile High magazine called last week. They want an interview at our convenience. I said I'd give them a call."

"Fine," Dee agreed, "any afternoon this week is good."

"I'll set it up," he said, while from the monitor came Dan Kitrell's voice. "So stay tuned for the upcoming Dwayne-and-Dee show and I'll be back with you tomorrow...."

******

The November issue of Mile High hit the newsstands on the first day of the month, the very day the Arbitron rating period began at X104 and at every other radio station in town. On the magazine's slick cover, a handsome couple smiled into the camera.

The caption read, "Denver's hottest duo." Inside, a well-written story about the pair spread over six pages with more photographs of Dwayne and Dee.

The Arbitron audience ratings where under way, and they outdid themselves to make their morning show entertaining. To further ensure success, they increased their personal appearances, sometimes doing as many as three a week.

Mark Calloway was fully approving, urging the pair to get out and be seen at every opportunity. Dee was more than eager to make the appearances. Not only was it beneficial for the station, it constantly threw her and Dwayne together. She kept hoping that in time, if she was very, very, patient, he'd come around. She had decided that she'd never again push him or plead with him. He was a proud and stubborn man and she knew that he alone would be the aggressor should he change his mind. There was little she could do but try to show him, by her actions, that she could be trusted. She could do nothing but wait.

As though he could sense the change in Dee, Dwayne seemed to relax. There were no more kisses, not tortured glances, no evidence of strain and stress. Dee wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but she reasoned that if they were ever to recover the closeness that had once been theirs, they'd first need to become friends.

******

Rating period ended on December fifteenth, and at 10:00 a.m., Dwayne Johnson turned off his mike, rose from his chair and let out a loud shout of relief. Dee stuck her hand out and said merrily, "Shake, partner. We did it!"

"We sure did, baby," Dwayne said, and ignoring her hand, wrapped his long arms around her and crushed her to his tall frame. He rocked her back and forth in uninhibited glee and Dee thought she surly die of happiness. Instinctively, she molded her small body to his, and tentatively lifting her hands, she put them to Dwayne's trim waist. The rocking ceased. The laughter died. Dwayne, as though coming to his senses, eased her away from him.

"Okay, you guys-" Jeff stuck his head in the door "-it's time to celebrate. Be at Griminzo's in fifteen minutes for champagne brunch." He was gone before they replied.

"Hungry?" Dwayne smiled down at her.

"Famished," she replied.

"Shall we?" He took her hand in his.

"We shall."

******

Two days prior to Christmas, Dee was to fly to Miami, Florida, to meet her parents at her uncle's home in Mims. Before she left, she knocked on Dwayne's closed door and went inside. She carried a slim box wrapped in silver paper.

Dwayne rose and said, "So you're off to the airport?"

"My plane leaves in an hour," she confirmed. "I just wanted to give you your present before I go."

"Dee," he said, "you shouldn't have. I didn't want you to-"

She thrust the package to him. "I wanted to."

Dwayne patiently worked the ribbon and paper away. "Just what I needed." He smiled warmly at her, looking at the gold pen inside.

"Wait, Dee." He laid the pen aside, and took a small box from his desk drawer. Shyly he handed it to her.

"Thank you," Dee managed and started backing away.

"Why don't you open it?"

"Sure," she said. Inside, she found a soft red-leather case containing a tiny camera no larger than a cigarette lighter. It was of shiny yellow gold.

"It actually works," Dwayne announced. "And you'll be needing it."

"Why?"

Dwayne grinned. "Because we're escorting a planeload of people to Paradise Island in the Bahamas in mid-January." He loved the surprise on her face.

"Dwayne, you mean it?"

"I'll tell you all about it when you get back." He guided her to the door. "Have a Merry Christmas, Dee."

"You, too, Dwayne," she said, and felt his warm lips brush her cheek. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh, you, too!"

******

It was warm in Florida. Dee was happy to see her parents, who'd flown down from New York. Uncle Jim had decorated his palatial beachside home with every kind of ornament and Aunt Marilyn had obviously been cooking for weeks.

Dee received loads of lovely gifts from her family. So all were puzzled when, the very day after Christmas she rose early, ate a large breakfast and announced she was going to spend the day shopping.

Dee borrowed one of her uncle's cars and headed for the exclusive Mims' shops with a mysterious smile on her face.

The one thing on her mind was the Bahamas with Dwayne Johnson. Dee had the glorious premonition that it would be there, in that island paradise, that the man she loved to distraction would at long last surrender.

Dee went from boutique to boutique searching for clothes to take on her trip. By the time the desert sun was slipping below the horizon, the borrowed Jimmy's roomy trunk and back seat were filled with her purchases.