Gregory returned just before dinner. He took the back stairs, wanting to set up his surprises before Olivia even knew he was back. His arms were full of boxes as he hurried up the stairs. He dropped the top one off in Sean's room. He didn't bother to leave a note, just the receipt taped neatly on top. If Sean wanted to return it, as he did all his presents, the least he could do for him would be to make it easy.
He left the ornately wrapped box from Olivia's necklace on her pillow. Smiling to himself when he pictured it resting around her neck. That left the other three boxes. He put one on the vanity in the bathroom, left the other in the closet and brought the last one with him down to the landing on the front staircase. He left it on the steps as he walked into the living room.
A living room that looked like it had been hit by a minor hurricane while he was out. All the furniture was piled haphazardly in front of the study and the front door. Even the bar was pushed back into the wall. The stereo filled the room with music, an odd mix of sensuous violin piano. Tango, Gregory realized as he caught sight of the people in his living room.
Remaining in the shadows of the staircase, he burst into an amused smile. Ethan, the real Ethan Baxter, had arrived. He was a younger, bookish version of his father, just as Roger had claimed. He brushed his reddish-blonde hair out of his glasses and extended his arm across the room, beckoning-
He had to come down a step to see who Ethan was waiting for. The lithe little blonde crossed the floor and took Ethan's hand only to throw it away and twirl around him, grinning wickedly. Perfectly in tune with the music, the sight of Alex Mitchum brought a happy sigh to Gregory's chest. She was vivacious, alive with energy and owning every second of the tango with the young Baxter boy.
He could hear Roger's voice ring out over the music. "Watch her footwork, see how she keeps her weight balanced on her back foot?"
Gregory went down another step, to see more of the excitement. Roger was addressing Caitlin, trying to explain to her the nuances of ballroom dance. Caitlin watched Alex's feet, looking perplexed, but definitely excited.
Sean took over as Ethan switched to help Caitlin. Gregory was impressed immediately with his son. Sean knew his way around the intricacies of the dance floor and he was a good height for Alex. He had lessons at his last school and had obvious done quite well. Gregory remembered seeing the note on Sean's report card, but he had never expected to see the results. Roger stood in the middle, alternately critiquing and praising Caitlin and Ethan.
Caitlin was the beginner, she had never shown much interest in dance and Gregory had never pushed the idea. She was picking it up and laughing when she stepped on her partner's feet. She looked just as happy as Sean.
The music sped up a notch, challenging the dancers to keep up. Sean answered by dipping Alex low enough to brush her blonde hair against the floor. Caitlin clapped and cheered, Ethan yelled something to his father, and Roger's eyes flashed in amusement. He dropped to his knees in the middle of the living room, stretching one arm out to the far corner of the room, pleading with his body.
Olivia had changed clothes. Leaving behind her pantsuit from this morning, she looked like a vision. Gregory hadn't seen that dress in years. It was deep red, short on her left hip, but long and flowing down the back of her right leg. She wore the strappy black heels Bette always referred to as 'dangerous'. She advanced on Roger a step at a time, her face imperious and body perfectly in line with her movements.
He was enthralled, forgot completely to stay hidden and nearly tripped down the last few stairs. Gregory had to watch her. She rested her heel on Roger's shoulder for a moment, pushing against him and turning away. Roger jumped to his feet, gliding up against her back. Roger's hands ran up her stomach and brought her arms over her head. Olivia spun out, but Roger pulled her back in, dipping her back as he worshipped the line of cleavage that red dress left bare.
She locked her leg behind Roger's, letting him do a partial lift as she spun out of reach again. Roger advanced and she retreated. She advanced and Roger spun her out and away, pulling her back as if he would die without her. Finally, he set her off in a twirling spin that she carried all the way across the floor. Breathless and laughing with tiny drops of sweat in her hair, she came to a stop as Gregory caught her, holding her desperately as he tried to remember the last time she had been that beautiful.
He could feel her heart racing against his chest, and had they been alone, it would have been a far different encounter. Since they were starting to attract a little more attention then they warranted, Gregory released her and shook his head in admiration. "You haven't danced like that-"
"Since I was much younger and in better shape." Olivia finished for him, stretching the muscles of her legs and wincing slightly. "But Caitlin wanted to learn the tango and then Ethan and Alex showed up." She kissed his cheek, still finding her breath again. "Oh darling, it's been such fun."
Alex smiled at him coquettishly and hurried over to give him a one armed hug. "I ran into this little sweetheart at the airport, so I had to come over and say hello to some of my favorite men."
Ethan blushed good-naturedly. "Apparently Alex and dad go way back."
"Everyone remembers Alex Mitchum." Roger corrected as he turned down the stereo. "It was just fantastic timing to run into her when we did."
"Well, I will expect you to stay for dinner." Gregory offered with pleasure at seeing his old friend again. "I want to hear all about Namibia."
"If someone else is cooking, I'm all yours." Alex teased happily as Roger threw an arm around her shoulders. "I've had enough of my own cooking to last me a lifetime."
"Rose is fantastic." Sean explained as he shared a quiet smile with his mother. "She even has chocolate mousse for us tonight."
"Your favorite, isn't it Catey?" Alex asked brightly.
Caitlin, who had been oddly quiet, had retreated to the front door. "I'm sorry I'm going to miss it."
Gregory left Olivia's side to give his daughter a hug. "Where are you off to? I've barely seen you since I got home."
Shrugging apologetically, Caitlin reached for her purse in the closet. "Sorry daddy, I've a meeting for my summer art class. I'll be seeing you all day tomorrow."
Gregory remembered her mentioning the art class before and let her go. "Have fun." Sean and Olivia came over to wish Caitlin goodbye and Alex pulled Gregory aside.
Hitting him on the side of his head, she put her hands on her hips and smirked. "Looks like you finally got some sense into you and started being good to your wife again. I haven't seen Olivia this happy since the kids were tiny. Whatever you're doing differently, keep it up."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to hug him tightly. "It's great to see you."
Ethan came over, hand extended politely. "You'll forgive me if I don't hug you. I'm a little sweaty." He gave Gregory a Baxter wink and they shook hands. "Gorgeous flat you've got here. Wife and daughter aren't too bad looking either."
He drew a raised eyebrow from Gregory and a hearty laugh from his father. "Sorry Richards, he gets too much like me for his own good sometimes."
"Obviously" Gregory replied dryly. Even he couldn't keep a smile off his face. Reaching his hand for Olivia's he followed the group into the dining room.
"I hope you aren't entirely danced out." He whispered in her ear as he teased the bare skin of her leg. "I can think of a few moves I'd like to put you through."
Olivia turned around and hid her blushing in his chest, giggling. "Later darling." She promised again as she kissed his cheek. "Let's just eat first.
He found the zipper of his dress and toyed with it wickedly for a moment before heading into the dining room. "All right."
Olivia followed a step behind her husband, feeling her heart racing again. "You aren't even playing fair." She whispered as he pulled out her chair and rested his hands on her bare shoulders just long enough to make them tingle.
"Do I ever?" He asked with eyes twinkling. Rose started passing the food around the table, and Olivia got even by dropping a roll in his lap while his hands were full. Coyly, she retrieved it from his legs with a sadistic twist to her smile.
"No, you don't." She whispered back. 'But you will be punished accordingly." Olivia had to elbow him as he moved on her knee. "Severely punished" she amended as the dish of pasta came around the table, casting steam everywhere as Alex moved to turn down the chandelier.
"Just what are you too whispering about over there?" She asked with sparkling eyes.
Sean looked at his parents, doing his best impression of his father's favorite severe expression. "Something entirely inappropriate for dinner, I'm sure. Perhaps we should send them to eat in the kitchen-"
Roger whispered something Alex, who erupted into a fit of giggles. "You're right Rog, sending them away would just reward them sooner. Everyone, take as long to eat as you possibly can. Our hosts need to learn some restraint."