Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues (6 page)

I’m about to lose my virginity right here, right now, at the Rabbit Run Hunting Lodge. Well, okay, technically I’m not a virgin . . . there was that time with Jimmy Boone in the flatbed of his truck. We were fumbling and bumbling after too much of his granny’s homemade wine and it was over before I knew it . . . Oh, and I threw up afterward, making things worse. I
tried
to tell him it was the strawberry wine and not
him
but he would have none of it and our short-lived relationship was over. There were a couple of other close calls and near misses but until someone rocks my world I will think of myself as a virgin.

I’m thinking Danny Becker could rock my world and he sure is looking at me like he wants to. But with a sudden frown he runs his fingers through his damp hair and blows out a sigh. “What’s goin’ on here, Abby?”

I swallow. “Um, I think we were havin’ a moment.”

Nodding, he jams his hands into his pockets, tilts his head to the side, and says, “Yeah, but
why
?”

“Well . . .” I’m stumped by this odd question so I don’t answer, but he seems to be asking himself more than me, anyway.

After clearing his throat Danny looks at me with serious blue eyes and says, “Look, I know that I’ve been comin’ on to you . . .”

I hear a huge “but” and brace myself.

“But . . . well, I don’t want to be a leftover crush from high school. In other words, I don’t want to be what I once was or have to answer for what I could have been.” Color goes to his cheekbones and he says, “I’m not making a damned bit of sense, am I?”

After mulling this over for a moment I say softly, “Yeah, you are, Danny.” Scooting up to a sitting position, I take one of his big callused hands in mine. “I
get
it, Danny, and ya know what? Maybe we need to forget all about high school and start from scratch.”

“Now, there’s a plan.”

When he gives me a slow, sexy grin I try to focus on the point that I’m attempting to make but it takes me a second . . .
oh yeah
. “I need to get rid of this chip on my shoulder about being ignored and not going to the prom and all that.”

He frowns. “You never went to the prom?”

“Let’s not dwell,” I remind him.

“Right. Well then, I need to get over Julia Mayer once and for all.”

I look up at him for a moment and, well,
damn
; I can’t believe that I’m going to say this but I do. “Maybe . . . but then again maybe
not.
She’s not in high school anymore either, Danny.”

“And your point?”

Oh, this hurts but I feel that I must proceed. Schooling my features so that I’m not wincing I say, “Maybe she’s grown up. Realized the important things in life.”

While shaking his head he withdraws his hand from my grasp. “Yeah, right, when hell freezes over,” he scoffs but something in his eyes tells a different story.

It sinks into my brain that he’s been truly hurt by Julia and I do believe that he’s afraid to open his heart to her again. I feel a stab of disappointment when I realize that he’s still hung up on the damned woman. If I had it in me I’d pull him down on this here bed and make him forget that Julia Mayer ever existed. Of course I’m not exactly an expert in the art of lovemaking but I think I could wing it. I brave a glance up at him and think that maybe I’m on to something. Oh, but what if he called out
Julia
while in the throes of passion? Wow, that would really suck.

But then again what if fate has thrown us together and I’m wasting a perfectly good opportunity to be with the man of my dreams?

“Okay, I give,” Danny says, breaking into my thoughts. “I have to know what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.”

Do I dare?

Of course not.

Instead, I open my mouth for another fake yawn. But just when I start my fake stretch, Danny tugs me to my feet and threads his long fingers through my hair. Cradling my head, he slants his mouth across mine and turns my fake yawn into a long, hot kiss. Until this moment I thought the whole weak-in-the-knees thing was a bunch of hooey but my legs feel as if they’re made of warm candle wax and I have to snake my arms around Danny’s neck for support. I curl my fingers into the soft dark hair at the nape of his neck and kiss him back like there’s no tomorrow.

I have the sudden need to feel his bare skin beneath the palms of my hands and as if reading my mind he sheds his jacket and then tugs at mine. Soft red flannel shirt tucked into Wrangler jeans and designer clothes be damned . . . there’s nothing sexier than this. With a thumping heart, I slide my hands up the soft fabric, loving the feel of the hard contours of his chest, the wild beat of his heart. He sweeps my hair to the side and places moist, nibbling kisses on my neck while I unbutton his shirt with trembling fingers. A breathy sigh escapes me when I feel his smooth, warm skin, the tickle of chest hair, and the bump of his nipples. He’s got the lean and whipcord-hard body of a natural athlete and a hard worker.

Danny inhales sharply and his stomach muscles quiver. In the back of my mind I know I should end this before it goes too far but I can’t quite stop myself from exploring every inch of his bare chest. When I run my fingertip over the top of his belt just grazing his skin he goes very still and I immediately stop, figuring that I must have done something wrong. Wow, if I’m bad at this part just how bad will I be in bed? I’m guessing that it’s best he doesn’t find out, so I try to take a step back but he puts his hands on my waist, holding me firmly.

“Abby, baby, I’m only human,” he tells me in a husky tone and then inhales a deep breath.

“I know what you mean,” I say with a nod. In truth I have no clue what he’s getting at but I’m thinking that agreement sort of covers all the bases.

“If you keep touching me like that . . .” He stops and shakes his head.

My gaze travels south and when I see the telltale bulge in his jeans I understand what he’s getting at.
Oh.
I suddenly realize that I’m at a crossroads and Danny is waiting for me to make up my mind and I have to say that I’m leaning heavily toward the road less traveled . . .

Of course jumping into bed with him would probably be stupid and I suppose wrong and could complicate the competition. I wonder if there’s something in that big packet that I should be reading about having sex with one of the other contestants. Good Lord, that would be totally humiliating to be disqualified for such a thing. Then again, this is Comedy Corner so anything probably goes . . .

“Abby, I’m sorry,” Danny says, interrupting my decision-making process. Taking a step back he shakes his head and says, “What was I thinkin’?”

I don’t know how to reply but since my face feels as hot as a match that’s just been struck he must know that I’m embarrassed. I wouldn’t be surprised if my hair suddenly burst into flames. While I was contemplating hopping into bed, Danny was looking for the escape hatch. I close my eyes for a moment and inhale a deep breath. Did I really just throw myself at him? I open my eyes and see his unbuttoned shirt.

My heart starts pounding and my legs tremble, making me plop down onto the edge of the bed. “I should be making meat loaf.”

“What?” Danny looks at me like I’m one wrench short of a toolbox.

“I should be at the diner right now helping my mama make her meat loaf for the supper crowd.”

“Abby, I’m sure she has the situation under control.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t. The competition hasn’t even started and I’ve already made a fool of myself by throwing myself at you.” I put my hands over my face.

“Abby . . .” Danny says softly.

When I don’t respond he gently pries my hands from my face. I open my eyes to see that he’s kneeling down in front of me and I try to swallow the tight ball of emotion clogging my throat but fail.

“Make no mistake, what just happened here was more than mutual. In fact I was the one who kissed
you.
”

“Yeah, after I told you to.” I would put my hands back over my face but he’s still holding them.

Danny chuckles softly, leans forward, and gives me a tender, lingering kiss. “There,” he tells me gruffly, “all my doing.”

I hold on to the edges of his open shirt and ask, “Then what was the apology for and the ‘what was I thinkin’?’ comment all about?” My voice has a little hitch in it and I feel on the verge of tears. “We’re moving way too fast, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. There’s no denying the attraction and you’re a hellava woman but we’ve both got some issues, and then there’s the whole ballroom dancing thing. As much as I hate to say it we need to cool our jets.”

“Okay,” I agree glumly but not because I know he’s right. His mouth is so very close and he’s looking at me with those deep blue bedroom eyes shaded by dark lashes that no man has the right to have, and I have to say that my resistance just isn’t that strong. Without realizing it I’m leaning forward.

“Ah, Abby,” he says and gives me a featherlight kiss that manages to pack quite a punch. My eyes are still closed when he says, “You’re not making this easy.”

“Nothin’ worthwhile ever is.”

He gives me a smile that makes my toes curl and says, “So true . . . and worth the wait.”

At this point I’m ready to throw the whole waiting scenario out the window but he stands up and begins buttoning his shirt. After clearing my throat I say, “I guess I’ll see you down at the orientation, then?”

Danny looks up from his task and nods. I watch him walk toward the door, admiring his jean-clad butt, and sigh. He puts his hand on the doorknob but then pauses and turns around. “Ya know, Abby, I know that this is a competition and we could all use the money, but I want you to know that you can come to me if you need me. Okay? If anyone pushes you around or gives you a hard time, promise me that you’ll come to me.”

“Okay,” I say softly.

With a satisfied nod he leaves, closing the door quietly behind him.

“Ohmigod.” I fall back into the mattress and stare up at the ceiling. I’m touched beyond words that he wants to protect me. No guy has ever done that before and it makes me feel . . .
I don’t know
. . . treasured or something. Since my daddy died Mama and I have had to fend for ourselves and I suddenly realize how hard it must have been for her to lose that security of having a man to look out for her. I think about how she blushed and flirted with Mitchell Banks and it occurs to me that she deserves to feel feminine. I mull this over for a few minutes and then think about how extraordinary this day has been . . .

“Wow,” I murmur softly, “Danny Becker kissed me. Wanted to
be
with me.” I could think this is all a figment of my imagination but I spot his jacket on the floor where he tossed it in our moment of heated passion. I swallow and close my eyes, reliving the kiss once and then again. I have the sudden need to call someone and tell them . . . but who? Calling Mama would be awkward and Jesse would just laugh.

I really want to call Misty Falls, my best friend since kindergarten. Yes, her mama named her after the town. I know her name sounds like it’s a cheesy tourist attraction and should be painted on the side of a barn: See Misty Falls. She was Misty Morgan when we were kids but she’s married with a baby on her hip and one on the way, so she tends to be a bit unstable and sometimes envious of my single status. Funny because I think that she’s living the picket fence American dream. I suppose the grass is always greener . . .

With a huge yawn and a stretch I realize that I am a bit tired after all, but I glance over at the big packet that I’m supposed to read and I sigh. “Better get to it,” I mumble. “Maybe I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment or two. . . .”

Reality Check

“Oh, stop. . . .” I grumble when a thumping sound interrupts my dream that for some reason involves penguins sunbathing on a sandy beach. I turn to my side and cradle my head beneath my hands, wanting to see a penguin hang ten, but the darned thumping persists. It almost sounds like someone is knocking at my door.

“Oh no!” I jackknife to a sitting position and brush my tangled hair from my face. Someone
is
knocking! I scoot from the bed and head for the door, tripping over Danny’s jacket, causing a stop, drop, and roll sort of tumble to the carpet. With a little groan I scramble to me feet and hobble to the door while rubbing my left knee.

“Danny!”

“I came for my coat and I thought I might walk you down to the orientation.” With a frown at my disheveled appearance he adds, “You’re going, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I fell asleep,” I breathlessly explain over my shoulder as I pick up his jacket. “I’ll meet you down there, okay? I have to tidy up a bit.”

“Okay,” he says as he glances at his watch, “but you’d better hurry or you’ll be late. It starts in just a few minutes.”

“I will. Save me a seat.”

“Sure thing.”

“Thanks.” I thrust his jacket at him, close the door, and then hurry to the bathroom. “Good Lord, would ya look at me?” My toiletries are somewhere in my huge pile of stuff but I don’t have time to go digging for them. I manage to locate a comb in my purse and then begin tugging at the tangles in my bed-head hair while cursing at myself for letting this happen. “Just how in the world did I manage to sleep for two solid hours?” I cringe at my appearance but that will just have to suffice. Hopefully this is just an informal gathering anyway. As I hurry from my room I spare a glance at the unread orientation packet and hope that there isn’t a test or anything, because I’ll fail miserably.

While I hightail it down the hallway I hope that I’ll meet up with someone else so I don’t have to walk in alone, but since I’m a good ten minutes late that doesn’t happen. After turning the last corner I know that I should just slip quietly into the room but I’m so dazzled by the touches of elegance in the otherwise rustic banquet hall that I stop dead in my tracks and put my hand over my mouth. Fat candles atop round linen-covered tables give the room a soft glow. Fresh-cut flowers are
everywhere
, filling the air with a sweet scent. I inhale deeply and have to smile.