Disclaimer: I do not own the Bob-Whites or Trixie Belden. No profit is being made from their use.
Hot or Cold
"Jim," Trixie gasped breathlessly. The way Jim was staring at her made Trixie's heart begin to pound furiously. In his eyes she saw a flash of emotion, something that made her wish his heart was pounding, too. Embarrassment crept up her cheeks as she recalled the last time they had spoken. He had been so angry towards her that Trixie still felt resentment. Missy is so beautiful, of course, Jim would see everything in her favor.
"I'm here to escort you to the publicity dinner," he told her as he suavely offered his arm, hoping she wouldn't realize just how much he was anticipating the touch of her hand.
"Are you my driver?" Trixie asked, a tinge of anger in her voice, all the while ignoring Jim's proffered arm. She gave Jim an icy glare. If he treated her that way she would do the same. He may be James Frayne, one of the heirs to Wheeler-Frayne International, but he didn't own Trixie Belden.
"Ungraciousness doesn't become you, Miss Belden," Jim quoted with amusement. Stepping aside, he motioned for her to walk ahead.
"Mmmh," Trixie snorted as ungraciously as she could while pushing past Jim. If only I hadn't promised Honey, she thought viciously.
Jim grinned and watched as Trixie locked the door behind them. He couldn't help but admire her fiery attitude, guessing that it would never be tamed. Allowing her to proceed in front of him, he trailed closely after her, enjoying the view immensely. With her hips swaying seductively and her bare back exposed, he groaned inwardly as he fought the urge to touch her.
"Slow down, Trixie," Jim called out to her, "you might trip in that dress." Giving up the fight, he placed his palm against her lower back and took her hand in his to guide her safely down the stairs.
Trixie gasped as the touch on her bare skin sent tingles up her spine. Part of her wanted to jerk away while part of her wanted to get closer. Confused, she numbly allowed Jim to help her to his car. When he removed his hand to open the car door for her, Trixie acutely felt the loss of warmth from the intimate contact. When Trixie turned to look uncertainly at him, he hesitated a moment before stroking her cheek.
"I'm glad you left your hair down," he said softly. "I like your curls all tumbling about." With that he gave one of her curls a tug, and closed her door before getting into the driver's seat.
Dumbfounded by the mixed signals she had received during the past week, Trixie sank back gratefully into the leather seats. Gazing out the passenger window, she felt the rush of emotions flow, emotions that she was incapable of defining. In his small sports car she felt crowded and nervous, not the place to contemplate her feelings toward Jim.
"Trixie," Jim said as he lightly nudged her shoulder with his, "you want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?" Trixie managed to answer civilly when all she wanted to do was ignore him and his close proximity.
"The other day," he reminded her, "in my office."
"Listen, Jim," Trixie said briskly as she took the offensive, "I know you were angry. I apologized to Miss Kramer. I even offered to pay for her darn dress. What more can I do? It was an accident and one I'm sure I have no intention of repeating."
"You handled yourself quite well under the circumstances," Jim remarked as he noted Trixie's flushed cheeks. "I wasn't angry at you, Trix. Missy can be difficult at times. Even I realize that."
"Is that why were you so hateful to me?" Trixie turned to face him, her eyes flashing with anger. "You had to take up for your girlfriend at all costs. Where is she anyway? Shouldn't you be escorting her?"
"Miss Kramer," Jim said with thinly veiled anger as he forcefully shoved his gears into motion, "we'll be waiting for us. I'm sure you can manage to be polite to her for one evening."
"Can she manage to be polite to me?" Trixie retorted, knowing her attitude was getting on Jim's nerves. She couldn't help it. There was no way Trixie wanted Jim to know she was attracted to him.
"This is business, Trixie," Jim said coldly, "and you are expected to represent the CAP students. The scholarships are funded by donations from more than just Wheeler-Frayne International. I expect you to behave in a professional manner."
"Of course," Trixie answered, feeling like a grade school kid being chastised by the teacher, "I have no intentions of embarrassing Honey."
Jim cast a lingering glance at Trixie. "In that dress, I don't think you would be an embarrassment to anyone."
"Will you stop?" Trixie demanded. "I don't appreciate your hot and cold attitude."
Jim didn't know what to say so he settled for silence as he thought about Trixie's last statement. What would she say if he told her he didn't understand his feelings either? Part of the anger came from his yearning for Trixie to be his, but she wasn't the type to have a physical relationship without emotional involvement and his frustration was starting to show. His life was good before he met her and Jim had no plans of getting serious about anyone. While he couldn't deny the attraction to the little spitfire, he knew that it could quickly become more that just an attraction. That thought alone made the decision for Jim. He would just have to keep his distance from Trixie Belden and keeping her angry was the easiest way to accomplish that. Just keep telling yourself that, Frayne. He glanced once again at Trixie. Maybe just one kiss tonight would end all this foolishness. Maybe it was just the thrill of the chase, as Dan would say. Surely, he could manage one kiss, the pull between them evident in Jim's eyes.
Trixie turned quickly to catch Jim's eyes upon her. "What?" she said in confusion at the dark look in his green eyes. Uncomfortable with whatever emotion was there, Trixie quickly averted her eyes.
Damn, why does she have to look so innocent and vulnerable? Most of the women he dated were like Missy, cold and calculating with no emotional entanglements and no recriminations later. Then why don't you want to be with them? Ignoring Trixie's question, Jim argued with himself for the rest of the painfully silent trip.
Trixie was grateful for the silence and for Jim's sudden preoccupation. It gave her a chance to settle her own nerves. Jim had unknowingly shattered her already low confidence. Biting her lower lip to keep the tears at bay, Trixie regretfully thought back to what Diana had said earlier. Some Cinderella. Was that really why I was so upset? Could I have been hoping that Jim would be my Prince Charming? Angry with herself, Trixie erected a protective wall around her fragile emotions. Hiding her emotions was not new to Trixie. With two older brothers around to tease her unmercifully, she had become skilled in the art, thankful for once that they had become accidental allies.
Turning to Jim, she plastered a smile on her face and said as sincerely as she could muster, "You don't have to babysit me tonight, Jim. I'll be fine. I won't let you or Honey down."
They had arrived at the hotel convention center by then, and Trixie faced the doorman that courteously opened the door for her. Jim exited his side, giving the keys to the parking attendant. Warily, he walked toward Trixie, confusion warring on his face at her sudden change in demeanor. Her emotional distance was what he had wanted all along, wasn't it? Sighing, he took hold of Trixie's elbow to escort her to the dinner, feeling her flinch as he did so.
"Relax, Trixie," he whispered softly in her ear, "I won't bite."
Jim's words did nothing to relax Trixie. Flushing, she fought off the images of Jim's mouth and teeth touching her. "That's not quite what I'm concerned about."
Laughing, Jim caught the twinkle in her eyes and returned her gaze with a twinkle of his own. He caught himself thinking gratefully that she at least was starting to let her sense of humor show.
They had barely entered the room when Dan approached them.
"Jim," Dan called, an especially pleased expression his face, "and you must be Trixie. I'm Dan, not Officer Mangan now, but I didn't catch your name the first time we met."
"Yes, I'm Trixie Belden," she answered with a welcoming smile for Dan. She didn't feel threatened by Dan, although Trixie suspected that he was more than just a bit of a lady's man. She also enjoyed the attention he was giving her. Dan would be fun, she knew that. She also knew that he was only looking for fun. It would be a relief from the turmoil Trixie felt every time she was in Jim's presence, and she didn't think Dan would mind her using him as a shield from her attraction to Jim.
"Why don't you let me show you around?" Dan said as he pulled her away from Jim. "Jim can introduce you to the bigwigs later." Grinning at Jim, he added mischievously, "Oh, yeah, Jim, by the way, Missy is looking for you. She seemed quite adamant that she talk to you as soon as possible. It sounded important."
Jim seethed as he watched a laughing Dan disappear into the crowd with Trixie. Damn, Jim thought, I don't need him to run interference for me. Jim also saw the way Trixie went willingly with Dan. A slow burn started in Jim's gut as he pushed his way through the crowd with every intention of reclaiming Trixie. Just as Dan knew I would, he thought. That thought almost as irritating as knowing just how well Dan knew him. He recalled what Dan said earlier that day upon learning that Jim would be escorting Trixie.
"Face it, Jim," Dan had teased. "You're caught hook, line, and sinker. You might as well start looking for rings right now."
"What do you mean by that?" Jim scoffed. "I'm only escorting her as a favor to Honey."
"Yeah, right," Dan chuckled. "You would have let the driver pick her up if it had been anyone else. Although I can't say I blame you."
At the vicious look Jim shot him, Dan threw his hand in the air. "She's all yours, Jimbo," Dan had surrendered with another laugh. "I'm not her type, remember?"
"Maybe I'm not either."
"Are you sure about that?" Dan countered.
"She's cute, Dan, but she's not what I'm interested in dating right now."
"The what being…?," Dan let in his voice trail off in an unfinished question.
"Just drop it, Dan," Jim said curtly. "I'm just not interested in that type of relationship."
Now Jim was starting to regret those words as he caught sight of Dan hovering over Trixie, when he felt a tug on his arm.
"Jim, sweetie," cooed Missy as she slipped an arm around his waist, "you always look so good in a tux."
"Hello, Missy," Jim returned but his eyes were still on Trixie. They narrowed a bit as Dan moved even closer to her.
Following his line of sight, Missy saw what had Jim so preoccupied. "Ah, Miss Belden," she murmured. "Don't fret so much, Jim. I'm sure Dan can keep her out of trouble. He is a cop, although why you choose to be friends with one of New York's finest is beyond me."
"I really should introduce her to our guests," Jim made his excuses to Missy. "She's representing the CAP students tonight."
"Then let's rescue her from Dan together," Missy offered, placing her hand around Jim's arm. "I'm sure you don't want people to get the wrong impression. They always assume we're together anyway, don't they, darling?"
Trixie looked up and saw Missy's hand clinging possessively to Jim's arm. In the instant before she could hide her emotions, Trixie locked eyes with Jim. The intensity in his green eyes caused her gaze to falter as she quickly looked away, but not before Jim saw the hurt and almost accusing stare she had bestowed upon him.
Dan noticed Trixie's distress and frowned when he saw Jim and Missy approaching. Putting an arm protectively around Trixie, Dan glared at Missy.
"Hello, Missy," Dan said with a tight voice.
"Hello, Daniel," Missy purred, clearly enjoying herself. "Hello again, Miss Belden."
"Miss Kramer," Trixie acknowledged her politely, remaining in the shelter of Dan's arm.
Jim stared stonily at Dan and the arm he had placed around Trixie. Smirking, Dan merely lifted his brow and nodded his head in the direction of Missy's hand clinging possessively to Jim's arm. Dan knew Jim felt trapped by Missy but he couldn't resist having a little smidgen of fun.
"Are you ready, Trixie?" Jim asked. When he saw the uncertainty in her eyes, he gently added with an answering gleam in his, "They won't bite. I won't let them."
Trixie laughed as she recalled their earlier conversation and Jim was pleased that his words had the calming effect he had intended.
"Dan has been quite helpful in that department," Trixie admitted with a grin, "but I don't know if he's been entirely truthful."
"Trixie's been keeping me on my toes tonight," Dan remarked gleefully. "Every man in here has been eyeing her." As Trixie's face flushed with embarrassment, Dan grinned and gave her a comforting squeeze before continuing. "She's still an innocent. We have to make sure she stays away from the vultures, you know."
"Maybe we should start with you," Jim remarked drily, not one bit amused by Dan's banter.
"Why, Jim, I'm hurt," Dan smiled mischievously at his friend.
Having enough of Dan's game, Jim carefully removed his arm from Missy's clutches. "Excuse me, Missy, but I do need to introduce Miss Belden to our other guests." Giving Dan a candid look, he continued, "Dan, would you mind keeping Missy occupied for awhile?"
Releasing his hold on Trixie, Dan simply grinned once more at Jim. "Don't let this character get away with anything, Trixie," he told her. "Let me know if he misbehaves." Grabbing Missy by the upper arm, Dan pulled her along with him quickly, intent on giving Jim a few moments alone with Trixie. It was going to be fun to watch the mighty Jim Frayne fall at the feet of this petite blonde, but not nearly as much fun as watching the battle before the fall.
Thanks a bunch, Karen. You always make it better.