A/N: OK, so I've been checking my Yahoo! Mail, and the only things I've gotten from this site so far were replies for reviews for stories and chapters I've reviewed while writing this one. NO ONE has left any reviews for Chapter 5, or any other one of my stories, since the last update! And where has skyefire gone lately, I wonder? Methinks her computer hasn't been cooperating lately? And is anyone else even noticing this – or the C.O.P.S sub-category? Anyway, here's #6, and I WANT TO SEE SOME REVIEWS! PLEASE!
Chapter 6
"And just when we got settled on the raft, there they were!" Mace told everyone at C.O.P.S. headquarters the next morning. "Buttons McBoomBoom and Berserko, lookin' down at us from the glass dome in the ceilin'! What's worse was that Buttons had his little video phone at the glass too, so the Big Boss could also spy on us!"
Bulletproof tried to make logic of the previous night's incident at the pool. "Could Big Boss and his gang be trying to use Valerie as a link to get to us?" he asked.
"I think they might be tryin' to get to Valerie herself," Mace answered. "After I dropped her off, I was thinkin' of the way she screamed when she first saw them! Judgin' by that alone, you'd think they been starin' at her the whole time. When I looked, I noticed Buttons hunched over to her side of the raft. I think he'd been tryin' to get a look at her rack."
"I honestly don't see that," Longarm said. "I mean, come on. Valerie and the Big Boss? Valerie and one of the crooks? Why on Earth would a single mother like her take a romantic interest in someone like that? If they tried to pursue her, she'd probably just resist."
"It's certainly not setting a good example for the child," Mirage added.
"Whatever it is," Bulletproof said, "we're going to have to keep a watch over her and her son to make sure they don't do anything harmful to either of them."
They may not be our only competition, Sundown thought as he listened to the conversation. But he couldn't actually say that. If he did, should he also mention that he had a date with Valerie that night?
Valerie put away her lipstick and stared at herself in her bedroom mirror. She was certain Barricade would love her sky blue blouse with royal purple "tiger stripes," and white slacks. She brushed her hair a final time, and put in earrings of blue and purple triangles. She liked how they matched her blouse. She thought she looked sexy, yet conservative – the perfect look for a daytime date.
She stepped out of her bedroom to see Jeremy coming towards her. He was wearing a green polo with a small white stripe on the collar, and blue track pants. She'd wanted him to change into some blue jeans, except she knew that he's never owned a belt. Still, he'd worn jeans to school before, so how was he able to keep them up, she asked herself.
"Is this… okay… for… Barricade?" he asked.
"Sure, that's lovely," she answered. "I'm sure it's warm enough outside for those pants. Here, let me comb your hair." She took him into the master bathroom.
Meanwhile, Rhonda was staring out the living room window, looking for Barricade's car. "He said it's a white Ferrari with two bucket seats in the front and two in the back," Valerie had told her before she'd gotten into the shower. She checked the VCR time. At least six minutes to noon. She went back to the window and muttered, "Okay, Barricade, we're expecting you at any time now."
Just then, she saw a flashy white car pull into the driveway. Christ, she thought to herself. Whoever owns something like that must be a classy playboy. Then, she saw a sandy-haired man with funky-looking bangs get out and walk to the front door. He was wearing a leather jacket, black slacks and sunglasses, carrying a small bouquet of white roses. She couldn't make out his shirt from her view.
"That has to be him," Rhonda muttered to herself as she rushed to the front door. She didn't know what to think of Barricade arriving early. She wondered if Valerie and Jeremy were even ready. She opened the door for him before he could ring the doorbell.
She smiled and said, "Hello! You must be whom they call 'Barricade.'" She immediately noticed a blue polo shirt underneath the unzipped jacket, and looked over his face, hair and the rest of his outfit. God, but he's got some outstanding style, she thought.
He took off his sunglasses, smiled back and replied, "That would be me. Is Valerie ready, by any chance?"
She was soon taken by his smile and eyes. They made his face even more radiant than Rhonda first thought. She stuttered, "Uh, y-y-y-yeah, sure!" She turned away and screamed, "VALERIE!"
She extended her hand for either a shake or a kiss. "Barricade," she said nervously. "I'm Rhonda, Valerie's sister." She was soon attracted by a pine-scented smell coming from him. She sniffed his neck. "Oh my God, what fabulous cologne you're wearing! What is that called, Forest Ranger Lust?" Valerie and Jeremy had just come out from the bathroom. She screamed at her sister, and Rhonda turned, startled.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Valerie cried. "He's my date, and besides, you're a happily married woman!" She greeted Barricade. "Stan! What a surprise, you're only a few minutes early. Please excuse my sister. She tends to get very edgy and nervous around gorgeous strangers." She glared at Rhonda, unnerved at her jezebel behavior.
He kissed the back of her hand and presented her the flowers. Surprised, she said, "Oh, and you brought white roses. My favorite." She felt them, and found they were made of silk. "Uh, they look realistic, though."
"The silk is so they can last forever without the need for water," Barricade told her. "Oh, and you can call me 'Barricade.' Most people who know me do."
Valerie smiled, "All right… Barricade." She went up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I actually like that name better. It sounds manlier, and gives off the 'tough yet tender guy' attitude. I like that in a man."
She saw Jeremy running out of the house to Barricade's car. "Well, someone's ready to go, obviously. Let's head out." Then she had a thought. "Did you say we were going to the Empire City Park?'
"I did," Barricade answered. "I believe it's where you met us at the picnic. Remember?"
"Great!" she exclaimed. "That's where we're scheduled to shoot the Pretty and Plump commercial I'm working on. Maybe I'll take you to the set. I haven't seen it yet, either, but it should be fabulous."
The whole way there, Valerie talked to Barricade about herself – mainly her career and divorce. While she was talking about her great advancements in Empire City and Indiana, she kept thinking to herself, Okay, Barricade, stop me if I'm boring you. But she looked at him and noticed that he never got bored. Although she took that as a positive thing, she still wondered that aloud after talking about her latest magazine advertisements: "Uh, Barricade, I hope I'm not boring you, am I?"
"Oh, no," he replied. "Actually, I think you have quite an interesting job. I always wanted to know how much truth in advertising there is in the world. I always thought that if I didn't get to be a police officer, I'd probably go into advertising."
Valerie smiled and said, "It's nice you're interested in what I do. Most men would probably run away if I talked about my job so much. They want a woman who can cook and clean and satisfy them sexually. But my sisters and I weren't brought up like that. That's the only thing I ever liked about Tom – his encouragement of my work. But he always took my paycheck, and he never wanted to hear how my day was."
Barricade shushed her. "Don't talk about your bastard ex in front of your boy." He looked at Jeremy in the backseat through his rear-view mirror. Jeremy was moving his head around, not listening to the conversation at all.
When Barricade drove into the park, Jeremy looked outside his window at the field area where he and Caleb played with Brian and Tyler. He tried to look for them, but all he saw were a few kids playing tag, throwing sticks for their dogs to fetch, and chasing butterflies. Jeremy was disappointed. He thought his new friends would be there, so he could play with them again.
Valerie looked back at her son. "You probably want to play the other kids, don't you?" she assumed. "I know how you feel, sweetie, but Barricade wants you to spend the time with us. That's why he wanted to include you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mom," he said. He looked through the rear windshield at the playfield behind him. "I don't… see… anyone… I know… anyway."
They parked next to grassy area leading downhill to a large pond. There, Valerie saw workers finishing up a paint job, a white runway with posts underneath. More workers were busy finishing up an arch for the runway. It looked like a mixture of French and Greek architecture. The backdrop looked like it wasn't even started yet; it all looked like blank white space. She looked along the runway. It was aligned with tiny fountains made to spew water. She thought those to be perfect touching for a fashion show held in the daytime.
Jeremy surveyed the pond and began to pout. "No fair!" he declared. "Where… are all… the… little… ducklings… supposed… to go?"
Valerie looked over at a small bridge in between the walking path around the pond. She saw an adult mallard swimming with her ducklings. "There's some over there, Jeremy. And they're going to stay there until that big platform comes down." She went back to the platform and backdrop. "Observe, Barricade. That is how you set up a commercial for a summer fashion line."
She spied Matt on the walkway, positioned at the backdrop, his back towards her. She called his name, and brought her son and her date to the set.
"Valerie!" Matt called back. "Fancy meeting you here. Oh, and I see you've got one of those C.O.P.S. guys in tow… uh, Bullseye, is it?"
"Barricade, actually," Valerie corrected. "Bullesye's hair is chocolatier, I think.
Matt looked at Jeremy and smiled. "And this must be your son. You told us so much about him. Valerie, you simply must bring him to work one of these days. Let's see if he's got any advertising talents," he joked.
Valerie stared at the commercial set and said, "I take it things are going well here. How are the paint jobs?"
"The walking surface of the runway is almost dry," Matt answered. "This warm weather we're having is doing one good job. By evening, it should be ready for painters to walk on and paint the backdrop. I'm thinking of an illusion of a white curtain with the 'Pretty and Plump' logo on top of it. Does that sound all right to you?"
Valerie nodded. "It's better than those god-awful silver and black walls at European shows," she laughed.
"That runway looks beautiful," Barricade commented. "I can't wait to see the finished set. I'll have to come by on Monday or Tuesday to watch you produce, Valerie."
"Monday," she replied. She turned to Matt, pointing to Barricade. "Uh, Matt, not a word of this to anyone at the office, especially not Little Miss Office Gossip. I don't want a bunch of personal questions come Monday morning."
"Mum's the word," Matt replied. "See you." Valerie, Barricade and Jeremy continued on their walk.
They went to the bridge and stopped halfway to look at the ducks. They were staring at the mallard and ducklings Valerie had pointed out earlier. The mother bird dunked her head into the water for a drink, and brought it back up again. Jeremy smiled at this, and asked his mother, "Do you… have… any… bread… crumbs? I want to… feed… the birds."
Valerie laughed and replied, "I'm afraid I don't, honey. But you know what, maybe it's time for you to be fed." She asked Barricade, "Uh, do you know of any hot dog stands, or anything like that around here?"
"There should be a small luncheonette a few miles down the road," he answered. "They sell hot dogs, burgers and fries, and we can also share ice cream for dessert." He paused, then, "Uh, Valerie, are you sure Jeremy can digest food in his condition?"
"I'm positive," she answered. "Jeremy may not talk very fast, but his doctor back in Parrish had said his breathing and digestion were somehow not affected. Anyway, I don't see how digestion problems come into play here. I believe you're thinking about cystic fibrosis."
"Right," Barricade said. In the distance, they saw a small wooden shack-like building and people standing in line. "That must be the place I was telling you about."
There were ten people lined up in front of them. While they waited, Jeremy moved his head around twice. The first time, Barricade tried to position his head so he faced forward. Valerie saw this and quickly stopped him. She cried, "Barricade, no! Stop!"
"What's the matter?" he asked. "I'm only trying to get him to face forward properly. What if people stare?"
"Uh, I think I mentioned in the car that Jeremy has very weak neck muscles, and he tends to move his head around like that," she answered. "Didn't you see how he was doing that most of the way here? So don't force him to stop like that, okay? I like to think that his head is very fragile. Generally, once he starts, he'll stop on his own."
"What's he like when he eats?"
"He won't look at anyone's face, and he doesn't say very much. He'll just stare halfway down at the table – perhaps a 45-degree obtuse angle. Oh, and his stomach hasn't grown very much, so he can't eat a lot. Usually on an outing like this, I'll order him a small order of chicken nuggets and fries."
That's just what Barricade and Valerie ordered for Jeremy, while he decided on a bacon cheeseburger with all the toppings, and she ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. When they got their lunches, Barricade led them to the picnic tables. He found a spot that was very memorable for him. He asked, "Do you remember this very table, Valerie?"
She stared at it, and the others. There were about twenty or thirty picnic tables just like it. She thought back to the police picnic the week before, and remembered two tables adjoined together, where the C.O.P.S. were sitting. But was that really the same spot Barricade was sitting at now? She said, "Uh, is that where you and all your police friends were eating and chatting last week?"
He smiled. "You remembered."
"It was just a lucky guess," Valerie said, taking a seat across from him. Jeremy ran and sat next to Barricade. Valerie cooed and sighed, "Oh, isn't that sweet? Barricade, my son wants to bond with you." She bit into her sandwich and thought deep down, He must be that desperate for a dad.
"So, Barricade, about your work," she said, "do you have a special talent vital to C.O.P.S.? Your code name should tell me something. Does it have something to do with blocking people's way so they don't try to get at important people? Are you a professional bodyguard or something?"
"Close," he replied. "I'm actually an expert at crowd control."
"Ah, so you stop unruly protestors from rioting. That's great. They could've used a lot of those people during those violent protests in the Middle East years ago."
She'd learned the night before that Mace was part of the SWAT team. But she couldn't tell Barricade this. She didn't want to give him the impression that Mace was also dating her. She pictured the two fighting over her in front of the other C.O.P.S. at the headquarters. She didn't want to cause that kind of friction.
She sipped her iced tea and ate some fries. "So, if the President came to City Hall, or wherever the world leaders would meet for that G-8 summit thing in Empire City, you'd be there to keep things from getting out of hand?"
"That's right!" Barricade said. "And you remember that riot at the mall caused by those kids because of the hypnotic tapes? Mace and I, along with many other SWAT and crowd control people, were there to control it. It was so rough, we actually couldn't have…"
Valerie stopped him there, telling him about Sheldon lying in the hospital because of it. "It was quite traumatic for the family," she said. "I prefer not to talk about it."
"As you wish, my dear." Barricade took her hand and kissed it.
When they were finished lunch, Barricade took Valerie and Jeremy to the petting zoo. Jeremy was trotting ahead of them, as if he knew where it was. Valerie called after him, "Don't go too far, Jeremy! You might get lost!"
He trotted back to the couple. "Barricade," he said, "is there… anything… special… at the… petting… zoo… that you… want to… show us?"
"Glad you asked, kid," Barricade said. "They've just got this really neat chicken that can lay gold and silver eggs. It's called the Midas Chicken. They just added it the zoo this week."
But just as they arrived, they saw a black van pull up on the roadway across from it. Valerie became horrified. Was that the same van she saw when she was with Mace?
She was more horrified to see Buttons McBoomBoom step out of the driver's side. Accompanying him was another strange man, probably another one of Big Boss' henchmen, Valerie guessed. A well-built man, with a short, dark hairstyle, dark glasses, and an obvious Fu Manchu moustache. Valerie was disgusted. She hated Fu Manchus; she thought they looked ugly, especially on this guy. This new man was dressed in a pink button-down shirt, white pants with suspenders, and black boots. Valerie thought he looked just unattractive.
Valerie looked at Buttons again. Shit, she thought. That fucking pervert is back to harass me some more!
Jeremy screamed and hid behind Barricade.
Smiling at Valerie, Buttons turned to his partner and said, "See, Turbo? That's the chick from the pool last night. She's fuckable, ain't she?"
"Turbo!" Valerie repeated. "Okay, I'm familiar with that dude he's with, but that's Turbo! Who is he!"
"Turbo Tu-Tone," Barricade told her. "Another one of Big Boss' crooks." He brought Valerie closer to him. "Stay with me, I'll protect you."
Buttons and Turbo approached Valerie casually. "Well, well, well, if it ain't the blondie from last night. How was the swim, baby? Y'know, you look a little different outta yer swimsuit."
Turbo was focused on her breasts. "Youse sure got some nice gazombos there, lady," he commented. "Why doncha take off your top for Turbo?"
Valerie immediately slapped him across his face. "You perverted ass!" she exploded. "Will you quit staring at my boobs already?" She looked at his outfit. "And who the fuck dressed you this morning?"
"Back off, jokers!" Barricade warned. "If you're here for that Midas Chicken and the gold and silver eggs, you can just forget it. And you leave Valerie alone. She's my date, you got that?"
"Valerie," Buttons repeated. "So that's her name, huh? And you must be another one of them C.O.P.S. she's taken a likin' to. Sure didn't recognize ya outta uniform an' weaponry."
Barricade whipped out his cell phone. "See this?" he said. "I have access to C.O.P.S. headquarters just by dialing this." He quickly put it back in his jeans pocket so the crooks wouldn't take it. "I'm going to call in the cavalry if you two don't get lost. And if you do so much as touch me now…"
Buttons pointed his machine gun to the sky and started shooting. Valerie, Barricade and Jeremy, along with many other panicked petting zoo patrons, lay down on the ground on their stomachs. While Buttons and Turbo were running inside, Barricade shifted himself up to retrieve his phone. He dialed C.O.P.S. headquarters.
He was holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder, while clutching Valerie and Jeremy with both his hands. "Bulletproof!" he said. "I'm at the Empire City Park, outside the petting zoo. Buttons McBoomBoom and Turbo Tu-Tone are here, and they're trying to steal the new chicken, and all the gold and silver eggs. We need assistance and quickly."
"Hold on," Bulletproof said. "Mainframe's pinpointing the exact location." After a few moments, "Yep! They're still in that chicken coop. I'll have Mainframe keep an eye on their route as they leave the park. I'll send officers immediately."
"Thanks, Bulletproof!" Barricade hung up, and Valerie took the phone. She put it in her pants pocket, Horrified, Barricade whispered, "Valerie, get down! If Buttons and Turbo see you, they'll kidnap you."
Just as she was about to, Buttons and Turbo ran out of the zoo, back to their van. Buttons carried the chicken under one arm, while Turbo had a big bag full of eggs. Seeing an opportunity, Buttons grabbed Valerie's arm and said softly, "C'mon, Valerie, yer comin' with us!" But Valerie snatched her arm away and slapped his face.
"Go to hell, you goat's ass!" she blasted. "I'd much rather hang myself than act as your love slave. You and everyone else can just fuck off!"
Turbo had put the eggs in the van. He ran back to Buttons and said, "Forget the bitch for now. If I know her date, them C.O.P.S. are gonna be out for us. Let's go!" But before they left, Turbo raised one hand to give Valerie a sexual spanking on her rear.
She started crying as they left. Another date ruined by Big Boss' gang of crooks. She was sexually harassed, and had just witnessed a crime. Barricade stood up, stood Jeremy up, and they hugged the sobbing woman. Jeremy was also crying, and sobbing, "They… took the… chicken… and… eggs! Oh… Barricade,… what… are we… going… to do?"
"They'll get it back, Jeremy, I promise," Barricade said. He held Valerie tighter. "God, Valerie, I'm so sorry. I swear, I never meant for any of this to happen."
"It's not your fault, Barricade," she replied. "You couldn't save the Midas Chicken, but you did a wonderful job protecting Jeremy. I'd be in pieces if they took him."
Barricade had an idea. "What do you say we forget this petting zoo for now, and take a nice, quiet walk around the park? I'm sure Bulletproof and the others will find us. Then I'll take you guys for a game of miniature golf, and we can finish off with some ice cream. How's that sound?"
"That would be wonderful." She put her arms around him and kissed his lips. It was only two minutes before Barricade took his lips off, but for Valerie, it seemed like two years. She lovingly examined the blues of his eyes. "You're so wonderful, Barricade."
He wrapped one arm around her, and took Jeremy's hand with the other. They started walking, and Barricade asked Valerie, "Now, what was that thing with the pool Buttons was talking about?"
"Promise you won't get mad?" she asked. "At me or anyone else?"
Barricade stopped, looked straight at Valerie, put his middle and index fingers together, and placed them on his chest, where his heart is.
"I actually went out with one of your colleagues last night," she said. "Mace, it was." He looked stunned. He now knew there was competition for Valerie Boston's heart within the C.O.P.S. headquarters. He knew he loved Valerie, and wanted to be the winner of her heart. The question was, what happened with Mace? What were his plans in the future? And he knew Sundown was also interested in her, what would he do? And who else on the C.O.P.S. team had devoted feelings towards her? Did any of them have strategies?
Dammit, Barricade! he thought. She's sharing something with you, something she wants you to know! Stop dwelling on who might take her, and focus on her! He mentally dismissed his bothersome thoughts and said, "Tell me all about it."
The three continued walking. Valerie explained her date with Mace, the dinner, the swimming, and especially when Buttons and Berserko spied on them. She decided to leave out all the lovemaking parts, even at the spying part of the story. She just said, "I had this great plan to make them go away. I got on top of Mace, and gave them the illusion that I already chose him." Certain things, she thought, were a bit mature for Jeremy to hear.
"You still have that date with Sundown tonight," Rhonda said to a doubting Valerie later that afternoon. "I urge you to keep it."
Valerie had just finished telling her sister about another "disaster despite his wonderful treatment" date. Rhonda was disgusted by what Buttons McBoomBoom and Turbo Tu-Tone said and did to her. She was shocked by the crime they committed at the petting zoo. But now, Valerie was thinking about canceling her date with Sundown. Rhonda refused to let her.
"Nothing is going to happen on this date, I guarantee it," she said. "It's dinner on the beach, followed by a glorious sunset and a night of dance, right? With those two assholes in jail now, what could possibly happen? Why would they come down to the beach by themselves? What could be possibly worth stealing?"
She thought it over. "You're right, Rhonda. I'll go change out of these clothes. Help me decide what to wear, okay?"
In her room, Valerie was showing Rhonda two dresses. One was a short, peach number with no sleeves, and shoulder straps that went around the neck. The other was a maroon halter dress with violet straps around the middle. "Sundown was sounding rather sexy on the phone," she told her, "so my dress has to be enticing for him. I'm sure he'll be wearing something sexy for me, and we just might end up doing something on the beach, if you get what I mean. So, which do you like better?"
"Put the maroon one on," Rhonda said. "You wore that when you went out with us last New Year's Eve. And you were named the best-dressed woman at the party, remember? It's perfect. That other dress will make you look like Marilyn Monroe. And Sundown will probably want a Vivien Leigh-type."
Rhonda left Valerie to change clothes. As she did, she said, "Are you sure, Rhonda? Because I can't really look like Vivien Leigh for Sundown. I look awful as a brunette."
Rhonda rolled her eyes. "Well, a blonde Vivien Leigh, then. I hope you won't get so technical on your date. That can be a real turnoff."
Several minutes later, Valerie came out in her dress, her make-up re-done. Her shoulders were bare, and Rhonda was already having a change of mind. She asked, "Uh, where's your bra? Are you even wearing one? What if that dress pops out?"
"I'm going without," Valerie answered. "I know I look like a roadhouse whore, but I've decided to model myself after one of those 'cover girls' from those western romance novels. I was picturing Sundown in a sleeveless button shirt unbuttoned to his belly, some sexy denims, and a pair of black outlaw cowboy boots." She was groaning loudly in ecstasy. Rhonda quieted her down.
"Easy, Val!" she said. "You do not want to make yourself submissive to this man!"
"Not unless he shows me his chest," Valerie replied.
An hour later, she was sitting on the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was a very sultry evening for early June. She thought this was funny, since it wasn't unseasonably hot that afternoon. "Well, this is a first," she said to herself. "The highs and lows for today seem to be the same." She looked around. The beach was deserted except for her at the moment. "Wonderful. Now I know I can be alone with Sundown this evening."
Suddenly, she thought she heard a vehicle door slamming in the distance. She retrieved her make-up kit in her purse, fixed her lipstick, and teased her hair in the little mirror. Just in case Sundown was coming, she didn't want him to see her as a mess.
She was putting her make-up away when she heard footsteps in the sand. Then, a certain male voice with a Texan twang called her name. She turned, looked up, and saw Sundown standing over her. He was dressed in that sleeveless shirt, – milk white with two buttons undone – black denim jeans and cowboy boots that she imagined. He removed his white cowboy hat as he bowed down at her. She noticed a picnic blanket over his right shoulder, and a bag of fried chicken in his left hand.
"Evenin', Valerie," he said.
He set the blanket and food down, sat beside her, and prepared the dinner. Two three-piece meals with fries and coleslaw for both of them. "I know this don't look romantic," he said, "but I thought it was the best thing for a beach picnic." Then he looked at her face, her clothes, and smiled. "You look so wonderful this evenin'. I love that dress on you."
"Thanks, you look quite handsome yourself," she said. "And no, I'm perfectly content with this. I like fried chicken."
"Oh, an' I don't have no wine with me," he added. "Hope you don't mind."
She shook her head. "Hey, I don't care if a man supplies wine or not. I'm not a materialistic person. Thank you, Sundown."
"It's my pleasure, always," he replied.
Valerie had just finished eating a chicken breast and some of her fries, when she started telling him about her work at Lancer and Sussex. But Sundown shushed her after her first sentence.
"You need not tell me about your daily business," he said. "Maybe another time. And don't ever talk about that bastard you were once married to. It'll only spoil this beautiful moment. I know just what to do should I meet him. But I don't wanna hear about him now. Just relax, free y'self from the cruelties of the world, an' understand you're with a man who knows you and your kid deserve better." He cupped her chin into his hand. "He knows 'cuz he can provide it."
He brought her face closer to his and kissed her lips. After about thirty seconds, he let go and just stared in her eyes, stroking her hair. "You've got the fairest face I've ever seen," he whispered.
They said nothing more as they kept eating, just gave each other loving, flirtatious glances. When they were finished, Sundown disposed the trash, while Valerie folded the blanket up. He took it and said, "Just wait one minute while I put this back in my pick-up."
She sat on the sand and stared out at the aqua-colored waves. They were making a beautiful pattern of crashing sounds along the shoreline. She looked up at the sun. It was still yellow in a blue sky, but she knew it was about to change color soon. She knew Sundown would come back, though. He only parked about forty feet away. Just a few moments, she thought. He wouldn't miss this beautiful show.
Moments later, she heard the familiar sound of cowboy boots in the sand. But she was too immersed in the waving ocean to acknowledge Sundown's return. He sat beside her, put his arm around her, pulled her close. He became just as immersed as she was at the ocean. They heard seagulls squawking above them over the water. Valerie held her backhand up and out for them. One noticed it, and the bird flew down and landed on it.
She carefully brought it toward Sundown, and they took turns petting its feathers. After a few pets each, she flipped her hand so it flew away. Then she took her shoes off and dug her feet in the sand.
"Ah, Sundown, feel how warm this sand is," she sighed. "It's beautiful!" He buried his right hand in it, and had a questioning look.
"Funny, I'd reckon the sand would be somewhat cooler than this," he said. "Must be the balminess of the evenin'."
She walked down to the wet sand at the tide, and allowed the waves to splash at her exposed legs and feet. The water was so cool to her. She was laughing in enjoyment as they splashed on her twice more.
"Enjoyin' the ocean down there?" Sundown asked. He patted the spot where Valerie once sat. "Come back an' sit with me, okay? It's lonely up here without you."
But she was dancing around in the splashing water, and she proceeded to move further into it a few steps. Before he could say anything, a wave splashed onto the bottom of her dress. Intrigued, she dared herself to dive in without taking it off. She'd swam out a few feet when she waved at her date.
Sundown shook his head, asking himself, "How does a lady like her act like that without gittin' drunk?"
Valerie was jumping up and down like an excited child. "Come on, Sundown, dive in! This water's great!" He stayed sitting on the beach.
"Oh, what's wrong, Sundown?" she asked, walking back to the shore. "What, you afraid of the water? Don't tell me you get seasick in the shower!"
"No, it's just that I can't swim," he said. "An' what were you reckonin' divin' into the ocean with your dress on? No country club's gonna let you in lookin' like that!"
She slapped her forehead. She wanted to say a curse word, but she remembered she was around a gentleman. She'd forgotten that they were supposed to go dancing after the sunset. And she never thought to bring a towel.
"I s'pose we can stay here for awhile after the sun is gone," Sundown suggested. "After all, there's no one here on the beach but you an' me. It's the perfect opportunity to make love." With that, he took off his cowboy hat, put his arms around her, and kissed her long and sensually. She pulled from him to look into his dark eyes, and see the tenderness, love and sweetness in this otherwise tough, bucking lawman.
"Oh, Sundown," she whispered, and kissed him back.
She looked away after almost a minute, to see the sky no longer blue, but a pinkish color. The sun was now orange, and had just started to set. She touched his shoulder and pointed to the sky. She whispered, "Look it's starting."
She sat back down with him. They watched as the sky turned arrays of pink, orange and yellow. There were even traces of purple and blue. Valerie stared out at the ocean again. She thought the water just made it more beautiful. She sighed happily and said, "It looks like a masterpiece painting. And I wonder if it's just as beautiful after dark? Oh, Sundown, you were so wonderful to think of this. I could stay here all night."
She looked at the sky again, trying to find the clouds. She imagined herself and Sundown dancing slowly upon them amidst the colors. She rested her head upon his shoulder, and stared at the sun as it became a reddish orange, starting to go below the ocean.
Minutes later, the sun was gone, and the sky still had its sunset colors. Sundown took off his boots and socks, and felt the sand was still warm on his feet. He and Valerie stood up, and they started kissing again, caressing each other all over. Her hands went up his back, and were mostly exploring his neck and chest. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. She was so mesmerized by his beefed chest and abdominals, though he wasn't as big as Mace, and his chest was so hairy, too.
She decided to take him out to the water. He resisted at first, but she said, "Come on, Sundown, just one dip. I promise we won't go over our heads." He accepted that, and they went out chest deep into the water.
"Aw, Valerie, you never took off your dress!" Sundown lamented.
"I'm not taking it off!" Valerie insisted. "I'm not wearing anything underneath except for a pair of panties. Besides, you're still wearing your jeans."
They started splashing each other's faces, laughing hysterically. They were splashing each other like they were dog paddling. Then, she took off his cowboy hat, dipped it into the water, and put it back on him. Water splashed down onto his head and shoulders, soaking his face and neck.
So, ya think you can do that to me, huh?" he said. He took a step forward and, suddenly feeling frisky, he leapt towards Valerie, grabbing her shoulders for support. They both fell under the water, and stayed there to make love for only a few seconds. During this time, Sundown's hat seemed to float to the surface. After they came up, Valerie swam to rescue it."
"Aw, you're so sweet, thank you," Sundown said when she gave it back to him.
He grabbed on to Valerie's waist, trying to lift her up over his head. She giggled and said, "Trying to see how strong and flexible you are, are you?" He didn't answer; he was trying to concentrate. But he wasn't successful; he lost his balance, and they fell backwards into the water when she was three-quarters of the way up.
He tried a few more times. Each time, he just about made it when they feel into the water. On his fifth attempt, he managed to get Valerie's chest just above his head. Felling proud, he wanted to see just how long he could hold her up. He lasted about ten seconds before they fell backwards again.
Finally, they decided it was time to go back on shore. But Valerie was staring at Sundown that whole time. She thought he looked so sexy all soaking wet. So when they got back to the shoreline, she sat down and gave him an innocent, yet despairing look. He offered to take her hand to bring her up. But she grabbed his arms and brought him down with her. They started making passionate love as the waves crashed upon them. He was focused on her lips and cheeks, while she was kissing him all over his neck, chest and stomach. They rolled to a 45-degree angle, and they continued their passion as the tide enveloped their bodies.
"Oh, Valerie!" Sundown called. "Oh, Valerie, I ain't never realized how beautiful an' innocent you look when you're soakin' wet. Oh, but I've never really known beauty until I met you. All the women I've ever known, suddenly I've forgotten them."
"Oh, Sundown!" Valerie replied. "You don't know how gorgeous you look! Especially with your chest bare like that! Oh, but I wonder how often you go like that now that's it's hotter out."
"I've had women flock to me as they walk past while I do my yard work," he joked. "Ev'ry single time, ev'ry blazin' summer day without fail."
They continued to make love amidst the tide. Suddenly, Valerie had forgotten all the disasters that happened on her afternoon date with Barricade – but not Barricade himself. It made her think about who she wanted. Barricade was good-looking, but also romantic, brave, and seemed to deliver on his promises, and Jeremy seemed to love him a whole lot. Mace was gorgeous and just as romantic and caring. But the trip to the pool looked as if it was nothing more than lust. But what looks like lust can actually be love – or can it? It was the same with Sundown – he was gorgeous, loving and mannerly, but she was now too enamored by his body to think about any of it.
She decided to think about it when she slept still and sound – and alone.
It was well past dark when Sundown and Valerie decided to leave the beach. The clothes they'd taken off were still where they'd left it. The water had made them both frigid, and with no towel among them, they hurried back to his truck to warm up.
Sundown revved up the truck and turned up the heat. The time on his dashboard clock said it was after midnight. He looked so forlorn at Valerie. The date was about to be over.
"Oh, Valerie, I don't want this to be over," he said. "Please, let's just end this at the mornin' light."
She looked at the picnic blanket in between them, and the truck-bed in the back. She stared out at the starry sky and smiled. She grinned, "Then let's end this at the morning light."
She took the blanket and set of keys and got out, climbing in the back of the truck. He got the idea, and locked the vehicle to go join her. He closed up the back of the truck, and got in beneath the blanket with Valerie.
"It's such a beautiful night tonight," she said. "Look how pretty the stars are."
"I'll bet they're so colorful tonight," he commented. "That'd make 'em even more pretty."
"Well, I'm no science expert, but I think that the gasses emitted from the heat give them a little bit of color."
After two hours of staring up at the starts, pointing out shooting stars, and trying to find the constellations, Sundown and Valerie fell asleep in the truck-bed, holding each other.
Let's see, first Mace, then Barricade, then Sundown – is anyone seeing Valerie as something of a slut here? Have a happy reading and don't forget to review! See you in chapter #7! Betcha can't wait to see how Nightshade will react to Mace and Valerie – LOL!