Jenna Marcus glanced over Vanessa's shoulder and gasped, "Don't look now, but you've got a tall, dark and handsome stranger walking toward you." Jenna winked at the older girl and moved away carefully. Vanessa swallowed the last of her punch and wiped her mouth carefully. While she was setting her glass down, the man spoke, "Hello." She smiled, "Hi." she was shy?! Vanessa straightened her shoulders and turned to face the mask. His face was completely covered by a black mask that had silver leaves and vines engraved around his eyes...his eyes. They were a very disturbing shade of hazel...no slate that she'd seen in a long time. Shrugging it off, she had a distinct feeling that Adam would be brazen enough to walk in without his face covered.

Adam stared down at the woman in front of him and fought not to smile too brightly. Either she didn't recognize him, or she did and was playing at some game. "Would you care to dance?" He offered his hand and waited.

Vanessa glanced up at him, then took his hand, "I don't see why not." As he lead her onto the dance floor, she caught sight of a larger man standing off to the side of the room, but before she could get a good look at him, her dance partner twirled her under his arm and she was facing him. His hands led her into the waltz , and the size of the room went from several dozen couples to the two of them.

Adam let her simmer for a moment before he spoke, "I hear your aunt was the one that pulled this all together." Vanessa nodded and stared up at him, "Yes...wait. How did you know who I was?" He grinned, tightened his grip on her and spun her a little faster. Her thoughts flew out the window, it took all her concentration to focus on not stepping on his feet as he twirled them to the veranda. Once they were alone, he stopped moving and let her catch her breath.

She stepped away from him and put a hand over her heart, "W—Why did you come out here?" He leaned against the railing and folded his arms, watching her, "There's a full moon out tonight." Vanessa took a deep breath and glanced behind them into the ballroom, "I hadn't noticed..." she turned back to face him, "You didn't answer my question." He chuckled and she moved to stand next to him, bracing herself against the rail on her arms. Adam looked over his shoulder at her, and raised an eyebrow, although he knew she wouldn't be able to see it. "No I didn't."

Vanessa looked at him expectantly, "Well?" Adam drew a breath, then started, "I've known you for a long time...Vanessa Warrick." The way his voice caressed her name, she took a moment to process what he'd said. No one had spoken to her that way since... "Adam?!" she walked backwards quickly, her face a mix of shock and horror... "I knew it!" she hissed and quickly stepped up to him and pushed hard against his chest, "I KNEW it! Adam Cartwright, what in all heaven makes you think you can just waltz with me and...." he grabbed her up to him and kissed her. She broke I quickly and pushed hard against his chest, "You....let...me...go!" He released his grip, then caught her as she stumbled backwards. She almost screamed when he pulled her to him again and kissed her...again.

Vanessa didn't know what to think, but she knew that she couldn't let him keep doing this. Pushing him away again, she caught her breath and took a careful step away from him. "I shouldn't have let you do that. I shouldn't even be out here with you...alone. Adam what are you thinking?" she sighed and put a hand on her forehead, "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you...here, in New Orleans. The one place I thought I could get away from anyone named Cartwright!" She could feel tears building behind her eyes and she knew she couldn't do that. Closing her eyes, she turned away and took a deep breath, "Adam, please...don't do anymore." she turned around to look at him, "Go home...go home to the Ponderosa...and stay there!" she was about to storm away from him, down the flight of stairs that led to a small garden path.

Before she was too far out, Adam called out to her, "Vanessa, wait!" he ripped the mask of and sped down the steps to her, "Vanessa. I came here to apologize...about the way things happened at the Summerset last year." Vanessa rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, "Fine, then apologize. I won't accept it!" she spun on her heel and was about to continue on her way, but he grabbed her arm. "Vanessa..." He checked his voice, and glanced back at the hall behind them, "Just hear me out...please?" She turned back to him and crossed her arms, "you have two minutes, Adam Cartwright. I suggest you use them wisely." Adam nodded and rubbed his hands together, now that he had her here he didn't know where to start. She was waiting for something, and he nodded again, "Alright, but let's go sit down. I really don't think you want to have someone overhear this." She shook her head, "No Adam. You'll say your piece here and now."

What she didn't want to admit was how her lips still burned from where he'd kissed her, or how her body ached to be held against him again...or how she feared that she wouldn't be able to contain herself if they moved anywhere out of sight of the house. The truth of the matter was

She still loved him. As much, or maybe...just maybe even more than she had two years ago when they'd first decided to get married. How her heart hurt to think of that day when she'd left...when he'd come to the Summerset to fetch her 'home'...when she'd learned that he loved another woman...that she could never be his, as her mother had always wanted. As Adam spoke, her mind wandered through the forest of feelings she had about this man.

This man that could still make her flush.