Chapter 11: May I Have This Dance?
The pale green stucco California ranch belonging to George and Laura Oliver was typical of most other homes in the area. A well-manicured lawn was flanked by perfectly-shaped bushes, a cheerful bed of flowers, and a Lincoln Town Car parked in the wide driveway. Tommy pulled in behind it and turned off the engine of his red Dodge Durango. He usually kept the SUV in the garage behind his house, preferring the airiness of the Jeep in pleasant weather. On an occasion like this, however, he knew that they would be more comfortable riding in an enclosed vehicle since Kimberly's hair could easily be ruined by the wind. Their conversation during the hour-long drive had been fairly limited. Kimberly was unusually quiet, but Tommy chalked it up to nerves. He knew he was nervous, anyway.
It was exactly six o'clock as they arrived. The wedding invitation said that cocktails started at seven, with dinner following at eight, so they had plenty of time since it took only about thirty minutes to get to Balsam Springs. Tommy stepped out of the truck and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Kimberly, but she made no move to get out. She was sitting there, still as could be, just staring at the house.
"Kim, what's wrong?" He could tell something was bothering her.
She finally looked at him. "Did you tell your parents that you're bringing me along?"
Lightbulb! "Is that what you're worried about? Just relax. I called Mom a few hours ago and told her. Don't worry, I didn't tell her any details. It's been a long time, remember? We're not kids anymore. Now, come on. They can't wait to see you. I promise." Tommy didn't know how else to convince Kim that his parents weren't mad at her.
"OK. I'm sorry. It's just strange, I guess. Let's go." As she stepped out of the elevated SUV as gracefully as possible in a narrow dress, Tommy gallantly took her hand, noticing that her palms were damp with sweat. She really is anxious. They walked together up the paved sidewalk to the front door. Mrs. Oliver was there waiting for them.
Laura was a beautiful fifty-eight year-old woman with blonde hair and stunning green eyes. She was in excellent shape for her age. As a nurse, she understood the importance of physical fitness, a lesson she taught her son well. She wore an elegant mauve dress with a coordinating jacket and dyed-to-match shoes. As soon as Tommy and Kim approached, she stepped outside and embraced both of them enthusiastically. "Kimberly! You look lovely! It's so good to see you again."
Kimberly was surprised but pleased at her warm greeting and returned it whole-heartedly. She knew it was genuine. Well known for her directness, Laura never felt the need to hide her true feelings. "Mrs. Oliver, I've missed you. What a beautiful dress!"
"This old thing? I've had it for years, but thank you anyway." It was obvious where Tommy got his humble manner, through exposure, if not through heredity. "Come on in, I'll go get George." She led the way inside to a large foyer that opened into a cozy living area. Tastefully done in the warm shades of a Southwest sunset, it looked to Kimberly as if the space had been recently remodeled. There was nothing in the room that she recognized from their old house in Angel Grove.
"Isn't this house great? They haven't been here long, but they've done a lot of work. I came up on the weekends to help them paint. Come on, I'll show you around." Tommy wanted Kim to feel more comfortable. He noticed that she was still somewhat stiff, so he thought a little tour would help her open up. He took her hand again, grateful for any excuse to touch her, and gently pulled her along until they entered a large kitchen with maple cabinets, a black granite countertop, and modern, stainless steel appliances. "All of this is new. The people who lived here before my parents were stuck in nineteen seventy. The cupboards were dark walnut, the carpet was orange, and the stove and refrigerator were olive green."
"This is amazing. Did they use a designer?"
"Nope. My mom watches lots of HGTV, and got all her ideas from there. Wait until you see the bedrooms." A small hallway off an Asian-inspired formal dining room led to the master bedroom. It was relatively monochromatic in various shades of soothing blues and greens. The king-sized bed was dressed in luxurious sea-colored linens with big fluffy accent pillows and a cream-colored upholstered headboard. Off that room was a master bath, complete with skylights and a huge garden tub. Kim could picture how wonderful it would feel to lie back and relax in there, the whirlpool jets massaging away all her cares. And it was plenty big enough for two, should she desire company. Cut it out! Oh God, how am I going to get through this night with thoughts of Tommy naked running through my head?
Tommy found that his mind was following a similar thread. Turning to look at Kim, he was captivated again by her beauty. As much as he loved it, that dress was going to cause him a great deal of trouble tonight. He had a serious neck fetish, so the curved line of her exposed neck and shoulders was a major turn-on. It would make for a very uncomfortable evening if he couldn't keep himself from imagining what if would be like to taste the skin of that throat. Already, he could feel his pants becoming a little snug in the crotch area.
Clearing his throat self-consciously, he motioned for her to follow him to the next stop on their tour. On the way out of the bathroom, he accidentally brushed against her hip. Their eyes connected for a moment in a heated exchange and seemed to communicate their sensual thoughts to each other. Tommy had to get out of there before he started to sweat profusely. I have no business thinking about her that way. It doesn't matter that she's the sexiest woman I've ever seen, and that I haven't slept with anyone in over three years. May the power protect me. Please?
He quickly showed her the rest of the house, and then they returned to the living room where his mother was waiting with his dad. As soon as they entered the room, George Oliver enveloped Kimberly in a giant bear hug, just like he always did when she was dating Tommy in high school. George was a distinguished-looking man of sixty, very tall, with a full head of wavy silver hair and a great sense of humor. "Kim! My, how the pretty girl has grown into a breath-taking woman. Glad you're coming with us tonight."
"Just promise me you'll save a dance for me, Mr. Oliver. I couldn't go the whole evening without a spin around the floor with the best dancer since Fred Astair."
"You got it. I've learned some new moves in the last few years. Won't I look like a stud waltzing around the two prettiest ladies in the place? You're both liable to show up the bride. Now let's get going."
Tommy was relieved to see the ease with which his parents and Kim reacquainted. They had always treated her like one of the family when they were kids, and were just as devastated as he was when they broke up. It seems that they picked up where they left off just as easily as he and Kim did.
"Dad, we're taking separate cars, aren't we?" Tommy knew he would probably have to leave earlier than his parents due to the long drive back to Reefside. Besides, if there was an attack, he'd have to be free to go. Let's hope that doesn't happen, then I'd have to tell Kim I'm back in the game.
"Yeah. I'll follow you. Do you have the map?" Laura always said that George was the quintessential man. Even if he had no idea where he was going, he would never stop to ask directions.
"Right here," Tommy replied, patting the left breast pocket of his suit jacket. Noticing that the clock read six-forty, he started the procession out the door.
It took less time than Tommy thought to get to the Balsam Springs Hilton, even though he was driving relatively slow so his father could keep up. He parked the Durango in a spot with an available space nearby for his parents. As he followed Kimberly to his Mom and Dad's car, he found himself fixated on the way her very womanly shape moved in the moonlight. The a glint of moonlight off the zipper in the back of her dress caught his eye, and he couldn't help but imagine inching it slowly downward until the dress pooled at her feet. He soon found himself having to adjust his suit jacket to cover the telltale bulge in his pants. Christ! How am I going to make it through this entire reception with a raging hard-on? If I'd have known it would be this bad, I would have taken care of things while I was in the shower.
The four of them together ascended an elegant stairway into the hotel. There was a sign in the lobby pointing the way to the Beaudry-Curtis wedding in the Grand Ballroom. They joined the receiving line that had already formed in the doorway, his Mother introducing them to various friends and relatives that had gathered around. Tommy was ashamed to admit that he didn't recognize most of the people, though he was careful not to let it show. He had been away from home for the last twelve years, and in that amount of time people change a lot. That's what made it so incredible that he still felt not only attracted, but connected to Kimberly after all these years. Every time he looked at her, he felt both his heart constrict and other significant anatomical parts swell. It was becoming a very difficult combination to handle.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the front of the line. Tommy congratulated Tracy and introduced himself and Kimberly to Jeff, Tracy's new husband. He was also a naval officer, and looked dashing in his dress uniform, while the bride opted to wear a traditional white wedding gown. Once the obligatory formalities were over with, the family headed towards the bar, needing refreshment after being amidst a crowd for so long.
Kimberly and Mrs. Oliver watched as Tommy and George waded through the throng of people gathered at the bar to fetch their drinks. Laura couldn't help but notice how her son and his date have been looking at each other since they arrived at the house. It seemed to her that there more involved than Tommy just asking Kim to the wedding to give her something to do while she was in town. That was fine with her. She had always loved Kimberly, and felt that she suited her son best out of any of the girls he dated. Tommy had never shared the details of his split with Elizabeth, and she didn't ask, but something about that girl had rubbed Laura the wrong way. Whatever it was, she was glad Tommy was over her, and maybe was now finally ready to consider dating again.
Meanwhile, while Tommy and his dad waited patiently for their drinks, Mr. Oliver decided to broach the subject that had been on his mind since he heard that Kimberly would be accompanying him tonight. "So, Tommy, looks like you and Kim are getting pretty close, again."
Tommy was initially taken back by the casual observation, but he couldn't deny that his dad might be on to something. "I don't know, Dad. It doesn't even feel like we've been apart, and there's a good chance she'll be moving to Reefside. I can't help but think that stumbling into each other was not a coincidence. It's almost as if we're being drawn back together by fate. Doesn't that sound stupid?"
"Not at all, son. Everything happens the way it's supposed to. You'll know if you belong together." George had always been a man of few words.
"Yeah, I guess so. I just wish I knew how she felt."
"Of course you do. That would make life much easier, wouldn't it? But that's not the way it works, and it wouldn't be any fun anyway. The key is to enjoy the journey as well as the destination."
"You're right, Dad. Thanks." For about the millionth time, Tommy felt eternally grateful that he had the good fortune to become part of the Oliver's family. That alone was a perfect example of things working out like they're meant to.
Once they had their drinks, the four of them set off to find their table. Although Laura knew that her sister, Martha, had set her sights on a big wedding for her oldest daughter, she was still overwhelmed by the elaborate, and very clearly expensive, affair. Every detail had been attended to, right down to the hand-calligrapied place cards gracing the fine ivory linen tablecloths. They took their seats and waited for the bride and groom to be introduced so dinner could be served.
No matter how hard he tried, Tommy could not take his eyes off Kimberly. He had moved through all the introductions and greetings and congratulations on his PhD. as if on auto-pilot. The short conversation with his father kept replaying in his mind, and he was becoming more convinced than ever that his deep feelings for Kim had returned in full force. But what am I going to do about it? And what if she doesn't feel the same way?
Kimberly tried her hardest to concentrate on the beautiful surroundings instead of on how sexy Tommy looked this evening. She couldn't make sense of the electricity they seemed to generate when they were near each other. He just had to feel it, too. Every time he took her hand, the jolt that passed through her shot straight up her arm to her heart. Although she believed him when he said that he held nothing against her, she still didn't know if that alone was enough to make him trust her again. She knew how important loyalty was to him. He walked right out on Elizabeth when she cheated on him. What makes you think that just because you were a stupid child when you did it that it makes any difference to him? Shut up, subconscious. You know that Tommy wears his heart on his sleeve. If he still had any grudge, you'd know it. The last thing he'd ever do is mislead you.
Dinner was every bit as elaborate as the rest of the wedding had been so far. They feasted on a meal of Beef Tenderloin with a Burgundy Wine Sauce, Crab-Stuffed Flounder, Baked Chicken Breast over Rice Pilaf, Parslied Red-Skinned Potatoes, Pasta Primavera, and Green Beans Almondine. Laura had to admit that Martha had pulled out all the stops, but as lovely as it was, she couldn't help but think that it was all just done to show off. Her sister and her brother-in-law, John, were financially comfortable, but were not by any means wealthy.
Before she had any chance to make herself any angrier, Laura's attention was drawn to the two adorable little girls outfitted in their wedding finery on the dance floor, spinning in circles to watch their dresses flare. They were Martha's son Ian's twin three year-old daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. While watching the little ones dance uninhibitedly, Mrs. Oliver suddenly felt ashamed by what she had been thinking about her sister and the extravagant celebration. Maybe she was just jealous. As a nurse for almost forty years, she has had the opportunity to touch a lot of lives, but raising Tommy was the single finest accomplishment of her life. Now that he has grown into a mature, successful adult, it was her greatest hope that he would be able to pass on the lessons he had learned from her to children of his own. Unfortunately, he just hasn't found the right woman, yet. Unless…
Dessert proved to be just as delicious as the rest of the meal had been. The bride and groom followed tradition and cut their seven-tiered, butter-cream frosted wedding cake together, each making a playful gesture to smash a little bit in their new spouse's face. Once the guests had been served their slices, the catering staff began preparing the hall for dancing. Dishes were cleared, some tables were taken down, and the band began tuning up. The first dance was, of course, reserved for the bride and her groom, but shortly after, several other couples joined them on the large wooden floor.
Tommy and Kimberly remained seated at their table for the time being, watching Mr. and Mrs. Oliver cut a rug to some 1940's big band classic. They were so in love, even after all this time, and Kim couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness that her own parents couldn't find that same happiness. They divorced when she was in high school, and although they were both happily remarried, there was no substitution for having them together. Soon, some slower music began to play, and she decided that if she was to ever going to get Tommy on the floor, she had to begin working on him soon.
When they were dating as kids, they and their friends attended lots of school dances. Tommy never seemed to mind going, but didn't enjoying dancing too much. That was always OK with her, as long as he never refused slow dancing. Because their relationship had been relatively non-physical, dancing with him was the only way she could as least partially satisfy her desire to touch and be close to him. She could always tell that her proximity and the swaying to the music affected him, as well. He would become very self-conscious after awhile, not realizing that Kim knew he was trying to discreetly keep his distance so she couldn't feel his natural reaction to her.
"Tommy," Kim began, standing up and reaching for his hand. "May I have this dance?"
He fixed her with a shy smile before following her lead onto the floor. It was like déjà vu, except that the anticipation he felt at the prospect of holding her stirred up feelings that were decidedly more adult in nature these days. He used to fantasize about Kim all the time as a teen while relieving himself of excess sexual tension, but since he had been completely lacking in first-hand knowledge of what it felt like to actually touch a woman in that way, the fantasies were all theoretical. Now that he has experienced love making, the images he had in his head of what her gorgeous body would look like writhing beneath his were powerfully vivid.
The pair took their place amongst the other couples on the dance floor. Kim knew instinctively to gravitate towards the center of the crowd so that Tommy wouldn't feel like he was being watched by the other guests. At first, they held each other lightly, keeping a fairly respectable distance. Eventually, though, the space between them lessened as Kimberly slid her hands up to wrap around his neck and then rested her head on his shoulder. Neither of them said a word, but simply relished the feeling of having the other in their arms again.
Tommy tried in vain to keep his body Kim under control, but he was just becoming more aroused by the minute. Their current position placed him in a serious predicament as long as Kimberly's warm breath caressed the skin of his neck. Although he loved to nibble on a woman's neck, his own was without question the most powerful erogenous zone on his body. Well, above the waist, anyway. The lightest kiss or caress could send shivers down his spine straight to his lower regions. She was pressed so tightly against him that he knew she must be able to feel his hardness, so he tried to take a half a step back so that he didn't embarrass either of them, just like he used to do in high school. He still couldn't tell if she had any feelings for him beyond friendship, and he'd hate to see the awkwardness that he worked so hard to dispel return because he couldn't rein in his hormones.
The possibility of being in Tommy's arms again was something that Kim never allowed herself to imagine during all their years apart. Now here she was, and it felt even more remarkable than ever. She just had to be closer to him, so she ever so slowly inched herself in his direction until her body was in full contact with his. She knew she should resist, but she couldn't help herself. As soon as she felt a strong arm wrap tighter around her waist and another glide up her back over her warm skin, she became undone. Her senses were completely overtaken with him. She could hear his quickening heartbeat and rapid breathing as her head rested on his shoulder, her lips so close to his throat that she could almost taste his pulse. These erotic images were difficult enough for her to keep in check, but when her stomach brushed against the evidence of his mirrored arousal, her downfall was complete. She knew at that point that she wanted Tommy Oliver, and that he at least, if nothing else, still found her attractive. If fate would just grace her with a second chance with him, she was determined not to blow it this time.
They say that nothing lasts forever, and so it was with the band's set of slow songs. Tommy and Kim's excuse for the intimate contact had ended, and they had no choice but to move off the dance floor. Both of them felt they needed a drink to cool their sexually charged bodies, so they headed towards the bar. Since it was getting late and he would be driving soon, Tommy decided against anymore alcohol. With an orange juice for himself and a white wine for Kim, they settled back at their table. Other than asking her what she wanted to drink, neither of them had spoken a word or even made direct eye contact since she had asked him to dance. The passion they were feeling was still too raw to try and disguise with small talk.
Tommy had wanted to kiss her so badly out there, but he didn't know if it was the right time, and he knew that a family wedding was definitely not the right place. When and if he finally did get to give Kim the long, deep kiss he'd always dreamed of, he wanted to take his time and not have any distractions. He just wished he knew if it would be a welcome gesture or not. There was still the possibility that she wasn't interested in that kind of relationship with him, so he needed to be sure before he tried. An erroneous judgment would just lead to her getting on that plane Tuesday for good. Then he'd never see her again. You'll know if you belong together. The words of his father kept running through his mind, and in order to get through the rest of the evening, he needed to convince himself to trust them.
As they sat and watched the other couples dance, Kimberly would periodically treat herself to glances in Tommy's direction. He was so sexy, and so charmingly unaware of it. She allowed her eyes to trace the curves of his full lips with the perfect heart-shaped bow at on the top. The one wish she had in all the world right now was that before the end of the night, she could kiss him. Really kiss him, with all the uninhibited passion and desire that had been building in her for the past twenty-four hours. Back in high school, she had all the typical girlish fantasies about steamy make-out sessions with Tommy in the backseat of his car. Occasionally, she even thought about what it would be like to go even further. It was a safe pastime to indulge in, because she knew it would never happen. They hadn't been anywhere near ready for that kind of step, but at that time, she was sure he would be her first when they finally were. To this day, how she could have made such a life-changing mistake by giving her virginity to a boy she barely knew was beyond her comprehension. Now as an adult, she found that her fantasies had grown up with her, and the visions she had of herself and Tommy were much more explicit. More than once, Kimberly felt her mouth going dry in response to a stray image or two of them naked, her rising and falling above him as he buried himself deep inside her. She was fairly certain she was getting to him out there on the dance floor. Periodically she would feel him shift and fidget, trying in vain to conceal his erection. Unfortunately, she knew there was a difference between sexual and emotional attraction. Tommy was only human, and so it was natural that he would be turned-on by a woman's touch, but he was not the type to act on that alone. He had to feel the same longing in his heart as in his groin, and maybe he could never see her that way again.
The reception seemed to go by in a blur. Before he knew it, it was after eleven. Tommy knew they had better than an hour's drive home, so he'd better think about getting on the road. Kimberly had been dancing with his father for the last few songs, and she was probably tired. Now it was crunch time. He never wanted the evening to end, because that would bring the big question of the kiss to the forefront. As he watched George and Kim swing around the floor, Tommy noticed that he had been idly tapping his Dino Gem cuff in a steady rhythm on the table top. That brought yet another question to mind. Should I tell her about the Rangers? If I do, it might ruin any chance of a romantic relationship because of the danger. If I don't, we'd be ruined anyway because I didn't trust her enough to confide in her. That settles it, because without trust we wouldn't have anything anyway. Now it's just a matter of when and how to tell her.
Kimberly returned to the table with Mr. Oliver, her flushed cheeks and light sheen of sweat making her seem to radiate an angelic glow. Tommy was sure he'd never seen her look more beautiful. She plopped down next to him with an exhausted sigh that made him wonder if telling her about the team would be a bad idea if she was too worn out to digest such major information. The huge smile she graced him with abruptly changed his mind. This wasn't a weary Kim, it was a super-charged, energized Kim. In high school, she had always been at her best when she was physically active and having a good time. It didn't seem like that had changed, so there might be no time like the present.
"Looks like you two had fun out there." Tommy wanted to bring up the idea of an impromptu extension of their evening as casually as possible.
"Oh, it was great. I haven't danced like that in years. Your dad is fantastic."
"He's in his glory, that's for sure. Are you tired?"
"Not at all. I'm totally pumped now." Do you have something in mind?
"It's almost eleven-thirty. We have a long drive home. Maybe we should get going."
Kimberly didn't try to hide her despondent expression at his suggestion that they leave prematurely. As soon as he saw her disappointment, he realized that she misunderstood.
"There's something I'd like to show you, if you feel like taking a little detour."
Her face brightened immediately. "I'm up for anything. Where are we going?"
"Actually, my house. If that's OK with you…" Tommy didn't want her to get the wrong idea. Unless she wants to get the wrong idea. I know I could think up lots of ideas…Alert! Mind in gutter yet again. Cool it, man. You have a very serious task to do before you can think about anything like that, if you can even think about anything like that at all.
"Of course it's OK. I'd love to see your house." His house! That means we'll be alone. I'm not sure I could resist the temptation if things got hot and heavy. Then again, I'm not sure I'd want to.
"Well, there's a little more to it than that. I'll explain later. Let's say goodnight to Tracy, Jeff, and my parents, then get going."
Kimberly grabbed her purse from the table and gestured for Tommy to lead the way. After all the obligatory congratulations and goodbyes, on their way out the door Tommy remembered to deposit the envelope he had in his pocket into the wishing well. He had no idea what would be considered an appropriate wedding gift, so he just bought a card and enclosed a check. Money was always appreciated.
Fifteen minutes later, they were back in the Durango on their way to his country house on the outskirts of Reefside, and the revelation that could change their relationship forever.
Author's Notes: This one wasvery, very, VERY hardto write. I hope I didn't disappoint my loyal readers. Just a reminder: if you are an underaged being, the upcoming chapters are not meant for your eyeballs. Consider yourself warned. I'd hate to contribute to the delinquency of minors. Ciao!