One Swinging Summer Read online

  The comfortable silence we had been enjoying became really uncomfortable, really quickly. Just as I'm thinking that this is worse than watching a movie at home as a teenager and having your dad walk in exactly in the middle of the only sex scene in the whole thing, and that I may possibly melt into an embarrassed puddle right here under the golf cart, Charming says, "Wow, dancing AND a show, it's your lucky night."

  That breaks the ice a bit, and I giggle. Or more like snort, as it catches me off guard while I'm hyperventilating.

  "What was that? Did you snort?" Charming asks laughingly. And loudly.

  "I did no such thing," I shot back. I'm so glad we are sitting in a shadow, and I hope he can't see how red my face has gotten between watching that couple and then snorting. Could this get more embarrassing?

  "You did. You snorted. They gave you the performance of their lives, laid it all out there for you, right there on the hood of that truck, and you snorted. Tough crowd."

  I look over at him, mortified and amused. He is grinning, his eyes dancing with laughter. He is enjoying this. My embarrassment is entertaining him to no end.

  It is catching actually, and I start laughing too. He leans toward me and elbows me in my side, like we had been friends for years, and says, "I thought I was going to have to call the fire department out here, douse them with a big hose like they do dogs in the backyard."

  "Who does that?" I asked him, humiliated for the couple. "I mean right out in the open like that, that was crazy."

  "Yeah, but you've got to admit, it was hot."

  "Hot?" I repeated incredulously. We sat a few more seconds and I mentally replayed what we had watched. I took a deep, steadying breath, looked up at him shyly through my eyelashes and said, "Yeah, it really was kinda hot." He laughed out loud, a deep throaty laugh, and said, "Oh you are going to be trouble."

  CHAPTER 3

  DAMAGED GOODS

  "I don't know what you are talking about. I am pure innocence, sunshine and light. No trouble here." I say with wide, innocent eyes.

  "Yeah, I'll just bet you are."

  I can not believe I am sitting here, coyly flirting with this man. And enjoying it. He's just so darn easy to flirt with. I usually have all force fields up, phasers set to stun. I have to keep my guard up because I often arrive at this bar alone. Except for rare occasions when I do actually arrive with a date, I leave this bar the way I came tonight- alone. But I have a fabulous time; I drink, I visit and catch up with friends, and I dance. Boy, do I dance. Charming was right, I dance every chance I get, with almost anyone who asks. The only way to be able to do that, consistently, is to keep my guard up. No one gets too close. Be friendly with everyone, but overly friendly with no one.

  The regulars know me. They know I am here for fun and am always good for a dance, but they know that is all. People notice if you are always taking some guy home at last call. The best way to avoid that is by never taking some guy home at last call. That way the men all become more like a protective big brother, and none of the women want to gouge your eyeballs out with their manicured nails in the bathroom.

  "Do you dance? When you're off duty, I mean." I ask, trying to bring the topic of conversation off of sex and onto something more neutral.

  "Yeah, some. The slow songs. Not the wild, thrashing around with abandon stuff."

  "But sometimes the thrashing around with abandon is exactly what you need. After a drink or two, in the dark with the throbbing lights, the beat of the music pounding through you, the volume up so loud your heart beats with it. You go out there, get lost in the crowd, close your eyes, totally thrash, and definitely with abandon."

  He laughed and said, "Well, when you put it that way...still no."

  "So where is this boyfriend of yours?" he asked.

  "What boyfriend?"

  "The one I pretended to be, the one you kept telling the drunk, pushy guy that you had."

  "Oh, that boyfriend. There isn't one."

  "No boyfriend? Should I find pushy guy and tell him the coast is clear?"

  "Only if you want to see how fast I can run."

  "He was toasted, you really wouldn't have to run all that fast."

  "If he was that toasted, how come you didn't catch him trying to drive home Mr. Officer, sir?"

  "I'm not on duty. Just moonlighting at the front door. No car, no radio, no anything. But they do patrol out front. I'm sure someone got him."

  "Ah, all dressed up but no place to go, huh?"

  "Beats having a major event to go to and showing up butt naked."

  "I have had that dream, that is not fun." I said.

  "We have been out here for quite a while, did you lose your friend?"

  "She is around here somewhere. She knows where to find me. If I get bored and ready to leave, I'll go hunt her down."

  "You aren't bored yet?"

  "Are you kidding? Dancing and a show remember?"

  "Oh yes, how could I forget? I thought maybe it was my charming company," he said, with a knowing smirk.

  I almost let the comment go, but the smirk was too obvious. "Charming?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes at him accusingly. "Why did you say charming?"

  "No reason," as he looked away with a fake guilty expression.

  "You heard me? Oh, God, I'm sorry."

  "That was definitely a new one, but I've been called worse. Yeah, I heard your friend say something to you about me being the reason you were hanging out front all night instead of with her. And you said, 'He's too charming.' " He said it mockingly, with his eyebrows raised high, impersonating me.

  "Yeah, sorry about that."

  "It sounded dismissive."

  "It was meant to be. She stopped asking, didn't she?"

  "I don't know, you were walking away. She did look surprised though, it was kind of funny. She looked really confused." He said with a laugh.

  "Well, I hope you weren't offended, it really wasn't personal. I just don't trust charming."

  "Ah, you have issues."

  I laughed and said, "Haven't you heard? Women are nothing but trouble."

  "Isn't that the truth? Some of you are even worth it."

  "Hmm," was my response again, as I thought about my recent ex, the reason I do not trust charming, and added, "I wish I could say the same for your gender. Women are nothing but trouble, but men? You guys are a piece of work."

  "Not me." he stated smugly.

  "Not you, huh? What makes you so different?"

  "You will have to find out for yourself, go out with me, and I'll show you."

  "Go out with you? Like on a date? And this conversation was going so well."

  "Is that a no?" He gave me the elbow to the side again and said, "If tonight is any indication of the things that happen when we hang out together, how can you resist?"

  I smiled and said, "Yeah, but seriously, you don't want to go out with me right now. I'm damaged goods."

  "Damaged goods?"

  "Yep, I am not seeing anyone right now, and I don't plan to. Not for a while. I'm taking a break. You guys are killing me. Really, the only reason I'm here tonight is for Julie's birthday. I don't see her very often, or I wouldn't have even come tonight. I'm done with men for a while."

  "I can't even call you?"

  "Nope."

  "And after all we've been through," he said with a sad, melodramatic sigh.

  I laughed at him, and spotted Julie. She was looking for me. "I'm sure you will survive. I must admit though, it has been a pleasure to talk with you tonight. Hanging out with you was the highlight of my night, but it is time to drive the birthday girl home."

  "The pleasure was all mine," he said as I got up and left him sitting on the golf cart.

  CHAPTER 4

  DANCING

  "Friday night, finally," I think as I walk into my bar. I wait in line with my ID out. It's a short line thankfully, the night is still young. It's ladies night, so I don't have to pay. A quick hello to the front door guy and I'm in. I tuck my driver's licen
se and my car key down into my bra, where I always keep it. As I stand in a longer line, this time for my bartender, I catch myself thinking that there were no police officers outside yet. I smile as I remember why I would notice if the cops were here. I have thought about Charming a few times in the two weeks since I've been here, but not a whole lot. Real life and work has a tendency to get in the way. I'm usually here every Friday, but last week I had family duties to attend to, and I couldn't make it. No wonder I'm so glad it's finally Friday, I missed one.

  You would think I wouldn't have to refer to him as Charming, but I never did catch his name, even though it had to have been right there on the silver bar on the front of his uniform. Oh well, another fond memory from this place. It's not like I'm likely to see him again, this place gets pretty packed.

  There are three people ahead of me at the bar when I see Lana, my bartender, notice me. She mouths hello, and before I know it she waves me up to the bar around everyone else, hands me a Jameson and Coke, takes my credit card off my hands and starts a tab, all while the three ahead of me give us dirty looks. I love Lana, and I tip her well at the end of the night.

  As I walk toward the dance floor I see a friend of mine, Gary James. I half hug him hello, trying not to spill our drinks, and then visit with him for a few minutes. As he introduces me to his new girlfriend, I remember the night I first met him.

  I had been hanging out with a group of the regulars, and they had been laughing about one of their latest exploits that involved using their 'bar names.' When one of them would be in a situation in which they did not want to use their real names for whatever reason, they would use the name Gary. All three of them. Just usually not all in the same night. The story they were telling was about the one night that they all three used the name Gary. And then all three of them, with the girls that they were messing with in tow, ended up at the same table at the same time.

  So after I had walked away from hearing the Gary, Gary and Gary story, I had gone to the bar, struck up a conversation with a man while in line, and he, of course, introduced himself as Gary James. I laughed at him and said, "Bullshit." Well, that confused him thoroughly.

  By this time we were at the front of the line, side by side, standing before Lana, who couldn't help but hear our conversation. I said, "Everyone knows Gary is your bar name. What is your real name?" He still stated it was "Gary." Thankfully he was being a good sport, because I said, "Prove it, let me see some ID."

  At this point Lana jumps in, while making both of our drinks without either of us having to order, and says, "I can vouch for him, he really is a Gary." Gary actually pulls out his driver's license and shows me, while sheepishly saying, "The Gary part is real, but my last name isn't James. That's just a joke that stuck, everyone calls me Gary James." So, I was half right. Gary James wasn't his real name, but Gary was.

  Gary James' new girlfriend was kind enough to lend him to me for one dance. Afterward, I returned him back to where I'd found him, picked up my drink, and headed off to meet more friends.

  It was a fun night. I was on the dance floor more than I was off, and was generally just having a good time. We had a decent size group standing just off of the dance floor. The spot was perfect- halfway between the bar and the dance floor. Lots of traffic passing through, saying hello. And lots of people coming by, grabbing us, and pulling us out to dance.

  I rejoined the group after one such dance. I picked my drink up from the table and took a sip. As I looked past one of my girlfriends, I saw him. I felt my breath catch in my throat. He really is tall. He was looking at me, too. After a few stunned heartbeats, I saw him jerk his head toward the dance floor while still holding my gaze.

  I'm not sure I would have recognized him if I had been looking for him, he looked different out of uniform. But when his eyes were locked on mine as he held out his hand, I knew exactly who he was. My stomach did a slow little flip, and my hand raised toward him of its own accord. My face must have changed because my friend's eyebrows raised, and she gave me that 'this is new' look as I allowed Charming to lead me to the dance floor.

  It was a slow song, of course, and once we reached the dance floor and I was facing him, he smiled a devilish little half-grin as he used my hand that he was holding to pull me close to him, right up against his chest. He wrapped his other arm around my waist, and pressed me even tighter as we started to dance.

  "I remember this chest," I thought as we danced. It was almost as large and barrel shaped as it had been with his bullet-proof vest on. He had me pulled tight, and kind of tucked into him, so I really couldn't look at him without cranking my head back. I watched the people around us instead. I couldn't tell you who, or what, I saw though, because I was too busy just trying to breathe.

  He felt so good. I fit into him perfectly, and he moved really well. As we rotated a bit, I saw my girlfriend watching us, the one he had taken me from. I spoke to her with my eyes, widening them in a 'holy crap' way. She just grinned back at me, sucking on her straw. She gave me a thumbs up and an eyebrow wiggle. Some help she was.

  I think one song may have moved into two, I'm not really sure. He had yet to say anything to me. He had found me, asked me to dance, held me close for many minutes, and had yet to even speak. It was probably a good thing, because I wasn't sure I could hold a conversation this close to him anyway. Where was the genial, friendly, rib-elbowing guy from the golf cart with the laughing eyes? The guy who was easy to flirt with and walk away from? And where did this quietly demanding, I knew you would join me, devilishly grinning man come from?

  "I looked for you last week." He finally stated.

  "I wasn't here."

  "Yeah, I noticed." He said wryly, looking down at me.

  "You looked for me, huh? Funny, I never gave you a second thought."

  "Uh huh," he grunted as the music changed. The beat got a little faster, and he changed his tempo to go with it. He stepped forward a bit, slid his leg in between mine, and pulled me just a hair tighter as he led me into a turn. Damn, it is so sexy when a man knows how to lead. He didn't say anything else, just continued to twirl me around on the dance floor. He was masterful, moving in a take charge fashion that made him so easy to follow. I couldn't have spoken even if I had wanted to. The dance had become so sensual, my body just flowed with him. We were speaking to each other all right, just not verbally.

  I had always kept a distance with dance partners before. If not an actual physical distance, then a mental one. But not this time. There wasn't an inch of us that wasn't touching, from knee to chest, and for the first time I saw why some people claimed that dancing was a form of foreplay. It had always been pure exercise before this dance.

  He moved and spun, pressing and pulling against me, knowing exactly where to put pressure either with his hand, a hip, or with his leg between mine, to get me to counter him perfectly. I never wanted this dance to end.

  When the song did end, it morphed into a hard-driving, fast song. We came to a stop, still pressed against each other, breathing heavily. 'Right, no flailing with abandon for this one,' I remembered. We separated from each other, and with a 'bet you will give THAT a second thought' smirk, he took my hand and led me off the dance floor.

  Without a word, he led me back to my friends. He dropped me off beside my drink, gave me a small nod, a wink, and he left. I grabbed my drink as a life-line to hang on to, turned toward the dance floor so I could pretend to be watching all the dancers, and tried to figure out what in the hell had just happened.

  "What the hell was that?" My thumbs-up friend echoed my thoughts exactly.

  "What? It was just a dance." I said back too quickly, to myself as much as to her.

  "Just a dance my ass, that was hot. Where did he come from?"

  "I'm not sure. He has a habit of just turning up out of nowhere."

  After a few minutes, I noticed that I had been sucking on an empty drink. "Yeah, I wonder where my brain is," I thought sarcastically, and headed to the bar to get another. I
found myself taking the long way, slowly, weaving my way through people so I could look for Charming without looking like I was looking for Charming.

  I didn't see him anywhere. As I stood in line for a drink, I made mental plans to go back to my table the other way, so I could not look for Charming on that side of the bar next. While Lana made my drink, I found myself visiting with Gary James and his girlfriend again for a few minutes. As my eyes flitted over people, I finally caught a glimpse of him. A few tables off to the left of the front door, he was standing and laughing at something one of the guys at the table was saying.

  I was able to watch him for a few minutes unnoticed. He was with a small group- a man and a woman wearing wedding rings with their arms around each other, another man and woman, they looked like they might be together as well, but more awkwardly, like it was a first date or something. There were also two girls and another guy, sitting at another table that looked like it had been pushed together to be closer to their table. The numbers looked even, a girl to each guy, but it didn't look like Charming was spending a lot of attention on any one female. He would bend down and speak into their ears, but it looked friendly, like he was just trying to be heard over the loud music, and not like he had left a date over here to come dance with me.

  I got my drink from Lana, turned to say a 'see ya later' to Gary, and glanced over one more time at Charming before I headed back to my table. As I watched him tell what looked to be a funny story to his own table, his eyes flicked over them and met mine. He never broke in telling his story, he kept on talking, using some kind of hand motions to illustrate what he was saying, but as he spoke his eyes never left mine. I felt a jolt of electricity shoot down through my body as he looked at me, it ran right through my stomach, setting the butterflies aflutter, and settled somewhere deep in my groin.

  I was the one who finally broke eye contact. I turned and wound my way back to my table, unsteady on my feet. 'This should probably be my last drink,' I thought to myself as I walked. Yeah, like that was the problem.