Niles sat down when a slow song started to play.
"Wha? Are you pooped already? I'm just getting started."
"CC never slowed danced with me. so I figured..."
"Oh come on get over here." Fran held out her hand. "I'm not like CC."
"That's for sure." He murmured to himself. The slow dance is what did Niles in.
Fran felt him tensing up. "Relax Niles, it's just a slow dance. I know you've slow dance before." She looked him streight in the eyes. "Haven't you?"
"Not in quite a while." He admitted. For it had been a long time. Niles couldn't remember how long though.
"It's not like I'm asking for a marriage proposal," she smiled. That's for Mr. Sheffield. She thought to herself. "It's just one dance between good friends. That's all. Will ya com'n." He placed his arms around her waist.
"See it's not hard." She placed her hands around his waist pulling him closer. She
rested her head on his shoulder as they danced. "This is good."
When the song ended she lifted her head. He didn't want to let go of her. With his palm he smoothed her hair, stopping to cup the back of her head. Knowing it was an invitation for trouble, a request, and one that, he shouldn't be asking. He closed the space between them even farther. He was going to kiss her. He should be stepping back and giving them space.
But something was pulling him into her. Was this where he belonged in her arms? Fran accepted, the invitation tipping her head back. He kissed her on the lips. Her taste had something he couldn't define. Some chemical that invaded his bloodstream and told him that that was a mistake kissing her. She was holding onto him, not trying to pull away or anything. Not like CC would have done to him if he kissed her. This was all new to him. He finally kissed someone who didn't fight what they were feeling. But with his best friend, was that right?
When they finally broke apart wow was all that Fran could say. After a few seconds she was able to breath.
"We should..." Niles started.
"I think that would be best." Fran stated as she let go of Niles.
For the first twenty minutes of the ride home in the limo there was only silence between two best friends. Niles' mind: I blew it with her. How could I let myself act like that? I know nothing is going to be the same around here. Maybe some sleep will do me good.
Fran's mind: Wow. What a kiss. I didn't know Niles could kiss like that. Stop don't go there...how can a women resist British men that can kiss like that. she looked at Niles with his eyes closed. I see that that kiss wore him out. Both of them sighed at the same time. He looked across at her .
"We need to talk about what happened."
"It happens."
"I took advantage of you. At least it was out in public not at the mansion where we don't know where we could be.
I just..."
"Niles it was just a kiss. Don't worry about it. You're a man. You have needs." She explains to him. "A very intense hiss at that but that was all it was just a kiss. Nothing more."
"I should..."
"Enough said, I know that your sorry just forget it ever happened." Niles' mind: Easy for her to say but I can't. It felt so good. I know that she my friend and all. What am I doing? I can't take her away from Max. Wait a minute away from Max? He doesn't even acknowledge his feelings for her so what am I worried about? I can't do this to my best friend. It's not right? He shook the thoughts from his mind.
At the mansion Max and CC are nowhere to be seen. So Fran thinks they already went to bed. Fran tried to sleep but all she was thinking about was the kiss that Niles and her shared. Fran's mind: What did it really mean? Are we getting too close to each other? If it meant nothing then why am I still thinking about it? How to tell Mr. Sheffield? Or should I even tell him about it? I don't want to start a fight between them. I don't want to be the one caught in the middle. I guess right now I'm in the middle. No one can ever know about this. I need something to eat. Fran goes down to the kitchen and who does she finds. Niles. What is he doing up at this hour? Can I face him? She starts to walk back out the door but stops. I'm going to have to face him sometime so I might as well make it now. She swallows.
"Niles,"
"Ms. Fine." He nods, trying to avoid eye contact with her. He knew that if he looked at her there would be no telling what he might do. "I'm sorry I reacted like I did tonight."
"It..." she started but he came over to her. He poured her some tea.
"Max should not know about this. Promise me." Niles begged her.
"I'm not going to tell him. You know that I'm not going to ruin my chances with Mr. Sheffield. Ms Babcock," she points a finger at Niles. "can't know either. She'll hold this over us." He nods just staring into her eyes. All he can think about was those soft lips on his. He tries to stop these new feelings but he can't. He places his hands up to her face. Surprisingly she doesn't fight back. They kiss again. Fran pulls back.
"No Niles, this isn't right."
"Who says?" he moves in again. "It feels wrong but how can it be?" She pushes him away and places her cup in the sink. He follows her. He placed his arms around her waist from behind.
"That was a mistake. You shouldn't have done that." She says.
"Why not?" He sounded husky and warm, his hand stroking her hair as though he were soothing a frightened fawn instead of a sexually furious female. He started kissing her neck slowly as he walks around her. She glanced up at him, and their eyes caught and held, an old remembered heat washing right through her.
"Niles," she pushes him away again. "Go take a cold shower."
"I know you're right." Their lips met again in yet another passionate kiss. "But I don't want to." She wiped the lipstick off his lips.
"Now this time. I'm serious. Go." She starts to push him to the door. The door from the den's side opens. Max stands there.
"Oh good Niles. I didn't have to wake you. Will you make me some tea?" Max sees Ms. Fine in the kitchen. "Oh, Ms Fine did we wake you?"
"No, I couldn't sleep."
"Want some tea?" as he headed for the table.
"Sure," she smiles at Niles and pulls up a chair next to Max. Niles walks back into the kitchen just shaking his head. He watches them as pours some tea up. After handing the cups off to the two of them he leaves upstairs.
Moments later up stairs:
On the way back down the hall Niles meets Fran.
"Good night Ms. Fine." He tried to sound clam but inside he wasn't. Niles' mind: I'm not going to get close to her. That's the last thing I need. She stood in front of him blocking his way. She grabbed him by the arm and pulls him into her room.
"Ms. Fine..." she put her hands up to his lips.
"Don't say a word." Then kisses his lips. Niles' mind: Now I'm really going to lose it. I'm losing all control. Will she stop this? I know I should but if it's so wrong then why does my body say it's so right. She's...
"I, We shouldn't..." Niles starts.
"I know..." She kissed him passionately, "but I want..." between kisses. He lowers her on the bed leaning over her. "Oh Niles," her breathing increase "I need it."
Next morning:
Niles and Fran end up in each other's arms in the morning. Not disturbing her Niles leaves. I can't believe what just happened in there. I can't believe I let myself do that to her. Oh...should I tell Max?
Both of them don't talk to each other at the breakfast. Max's sees that something is bothering both of them. Because Fran is disrupted by thoughts of Niles and what happened last night between them she didn't notice that everyone had left the room.
How could she just forget what happened last night between them? It was burned so deep in her mind.
Niles is upstairs packing his bags. He has convinced himself that he shouldn't stay here anymore. He thinks that he betrayed not only Fran but also Max as well; maybe-even CC for that matter.
Max went to his office to think some before CC got there.
Max's mind: What the bloody hell happened this morning? What is with the two of them? Something's not right here but how do I find out. They are not just going to tell me would they? Oh why does the biggest yenta have to be the one that I need to spy on?
Gracie knocks on the door but Max apparently didn't hear it. So she just walks in and interrupts Max's thoughts.
"Daddy, daddy we need to talk."
"Can't this wait Gracie." He looks up from his desk at his daughter. "What about talking to Ms. Fine."
Gracie thought for a minute. Gracie's mind: Should I tell him this? I mean I don't want to get either one of them into trouble if I was just seeing this but I don't want to have all the guilt, if it was true and I didn't say anything. Oh what to do? Maybe I should just go to Fran, she would know but then she would want me to keep a secret and I can't. I'll just go a head and tell him. That way they can all work it out which I know they will. They always do.
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't sweetheart?"
"I saw..." Now Max was really intrigued about what was going on with his daughter.
"Yes, sweetie what is it? It sounds serious."
"Niles and Fran...they were..." with that she ran around his desk and into his arms.
