Alliances

Part 3

J.R. took Sue Ellen to the Dallas Four Season's Resort and Club for lunch. The Café on the Green, patterned after the world-renowned Tavern on the Green in New York City, offered a small, but masterful menu in a sophisticated setting. The café looked out over grassy wooded vistas. The pleasant greenery would be visible to most of the café's patrons. The dining area formed a curved space under a high, glass ceiling, dimly lit to heighten its mysterious mood, but bright enough to rescue the food from potential questions about the foods authenticity. The entryway art was of gallery quality, a rare combination of good taste on the wall, and in the menu items.

J.R. and Sue Ellen followed their hostess past long pale drapes, dark rattan chairs, and marble table tops to a dimly lit table in the back of the café. The hostess informed them that their waiter would be with them shortly.

J.R. pulled out Sue Ellen's chair, and helped her slide her chair under the table.

Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, J.R. I don't believe I've ever eaten here, before."

J.R. smiled at her, and said, "Well then, Sugar. You're in for quite a treat. They offer a Black Angus Beef Carpaccio appetizer that is out of this world."

Sue Ellen licked her lips, and said, "Mmm, sounds delicious. I'm starvin'."

Their waiter approached their table and inquired about their choice of beverage. J.R. ordered iced tea for himself and Sue Ellen. The waiter told them that he would return promptly with their tea.

J.R. reached across the table for Sue Ellen's hand.

He said, "Your bronzed skin is positively glowin' in that dress, Sue Ellen. That color suits you, Honey."

Sue Ellen glanced down at her dress and said, "Thank you, J.R. I don't know what I did to deserve all your praise, but I certainly am enjoyin' it."

J.R. looked over the menu, and asked, "What sounds good for lunch?"

Sue Ellen said, "Everything, I'm so hungry I think I'd like to order appetizers and lunch."

J.R. grinned at her, and said, "Whatever you'd like, Sugar. I'm on the menu, too."

Sue Ellen shook her head, laughing at his openness. She liked the new J.R., a lot.

She winked at J.R., and said, "Ooh, that sounds like an excellent dessert choice to me."

J.R. chuckled at her off-color comment.

He said, "I think I'll have the oven roasted Tandoori marinated rack of lamb with the Marsala spaghetti squash in the Kaffir-lime reduction."

Sue Ellen's eyes widened, and she said, "The name of that dish is a mouthful. I can just imagine what the food looks like."

J.R. asked, "What would you like, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen deliberated for a minute or two, then said, "I think I'll have the Thai flavored rock shrimp with Soba noodles and asparagus in the orange-ginger reduction."

J.R. relayed their menu choices to their waiter, and thanked him for taking their order.

Sue Ellen glanced around the restaurant, noticeably taken with the massive arrangement of bamboo stalks lining the interior walls. The bamboo reminded her of a trip she had taken to Hong Kong years before, when she and J.R. were married. She had a distant look in her eyes, and J.R. tried in vain to get her attention. He wondered what she was thinking about.

J.R. increased the tone of his voice, and said, "Sue Ellen? I asked you a question. What were you thinkin' about just now?"

Sue Ellen snapped out of her reverie, and said, "I'm sorry, J.R. Nothing really, I think my blood sugar is low."

The waiter delivered their meals, and asked if there was anything else they required. J.R. looked at Sue Ellen.

She shook her head, and said, "No, this looks perfect. Thank you."

Sue Ellen devoured her meal, gracefully, but expediently. J.R. took his time, savoring each bite. He offered some of his meal to Sue Ellen, but she declined his offer.

She politely said, "No, thank you, Darlin'. If I eat any more, I'll burst."

J.R. asked, "Does that mean you don't want dessert?"

Sue Ellen grinned at him and said, "On the contrary, J.R. I'm savin' room for dessert when we get back home."

J.R. laughed appreciatively. She was becoming as wanton, and outspoken as he was.

Their waiter returned as J.R. pushed his plate aside, and wiped at his mouth with the cloth napkin.

The waiter asked, "Will there be anything else?"

J.R. looked at Sue Ellen to see if she wanted something from the menu for dessert.

She said, "No thank you. I couldn't eat another bite."

Their waiter handed J.R. the check, and J.R. handed the waiter his credit card. The waiter walked away to process the transaction, and returned to collect J.R.'s signature on the credit card voucher. J.R. included a generous tip in the tab. J.R. stood up from the table to help Sue Ellen out of her chair.

He placed his hand around her waist, as they walked out of the café.

J.R. asked, "How would you like to walk off that meal before we drive back to Southfork?"

Sue Ellen said, "Yes, I'd love to. What did you have in mind?"

J.R. said, "Let's take a walk through the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve."

Sue Ellen was surprised by his suggestion. J.R. wasn't an outdoorsy type person. He preferred his recreational pursuits in the confines of a bedroom.

She shrugged her shoulders, and said, "Let's go."

J.R. reached for Sue Ellen's hand, as they walked toward the park. The two-mile pathway surrounding the park was connected through a series of bridges and ramps leading to a covered pavilion. The park offered a tranquil setting for escaping a hectic afternoon.

Sue Ellen glanced at J.R.; he was smiling, and had a far-off look in his eyes. She wondered what he was plotting.

She asked, "J.R. what are you thinkin' about?"

J.R. smiled, and said, "I was thinkin' about you becomin' my silent partner."

Sue Ellen stopped walking, and said, "J.R., I told you, I needed some time to think about your offer. I still have to interview a new fabric buyer, and find a model for my high-end lingerie line. The last thing I have on my mind right now is the oil business."

J.R. could tell from the steadily increasing pitch in her voice that she was going off on a tangent.

He said, "Now, Honey, calm down. I didn't say that to upset you. I just think it'd be good for business, and wonderful for our relationship if we had the opportunity to work together full-time."

Sue Ellen said, "I don't know, J.R. aren't you the least bit worried about familiarity breedin' contempt?"

J.R. said, "No, of course not. I guarantee you we'd both be too busy to be gettin' on each other's nerves. Besides, I'd much rather take you on business trips with me than going alone. Think of all the fun we could have when it's just the two of us after hours?"

Sue Ellen nudged him with her elbow, saying, "J.R. Ewing, you are incorrigible."

J.R. said, "You bring it out of me, Sugar. I can't stop thinkin' about all sorts of lascivious thoughts when I think about you."

Sue Ellen gasped in mock-shock, and asked, "Are you blamin' me for your disgustin' mind?"

J.R. chuckled, and said, "Well, if you weren't such a sexually charged woman, I wouldn't be thinkin' about makin' love to you day and night. Hell, I could have a full-time job just contemplatin' what I could do to you if I had you alone for five minutes, not to mention what we could do for the rest of our lives."

Sue Ellen winked at him, and put her arm around his waist. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. She closed her eyes, wanting the way she felt when he held her in his arms to last forever. He made her feel safe and secure, but more importantly, she felt loved. She had spent too many years questioning J.R.'s love for her, sometimes with cause, mostly because of her own insecurities. Now, she knew without question that J.R. truly loved her, and wanted only her.

J.R. kissed the top of her head, and said, "I don't know about you, Sugar, but I'm ready to go back home."

Sue Ellen said, "So am I, J.R. Thank you very much for a pleasant afternoon."

J.R. said, "The day ain't over yet, Sugar."

Sue Ellen knew what J.R. meant, and she smiled at him. She enjoyed their lovemaking, probably more than she should. J.R. certainly seemed to enjoy himself. J.R. whistled, as they walked back to the parking lot. He was in a hurry to get back to Southfork.

J.R. rested his hand on Sue Ellen's knee as he drove the car onto the freeway heading toward Braddock.

Sue Ellen touched his hand on her knee, and said, "I love you, J.R."

J.R. squeezed her hand, and said, "I love you, too Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen leaned into his shoulder, as J.R. pushed on the gas pedal to increase the speed of the car. He was anxious to get home …