Eagle's Destiny (47 page)

“Could you keep an eye on Tammy, you know if she needs anything?”  He asked.

“Of course, she’s welcome to stay with me.”

“Well,” he paused, “You could stay at,” he paused again, “ah, next door.”

I closed my eyes.  I only wanted to put my arms around him and hold him close, but there was no invitation from him so I had to protect my heart in the only way I knew.  “No, she should stay with me.”

He nodded, “I’d appreciate it.”

“So,” I said trying to prevent my voice from trembling, “will you be back in time for the Halloween party?”

“Party?”  He blinked at me not comprehending.

“Yes, the Halloween party.  It’s next Friday night.”

“Oh yeah, yes, I’ll be back in time.  Maybe you and I could go together.  You know on a date.”

There was the stupid date word.  I thought it was silly when he
initially
said it.  We were way beyond normal dating.  “Well, I’m working the fair during the day, at the baseball booth and I’ll be dressing at Joe’s house with the other girls.  So, I’ll probably see you there.”

He nodded but looked confused.  “Joe’s house?”

“Joe is the owner of the nursery, and we have the party in his barn every year.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right, I think you mentioned something about that.”

I sighed and wondered if he ever really listened to me.  “Was there anything else?”  We had both moved close to each other again and I felt like he wanted to put his arms around me.

“No.”  He said, “That’s all I needed.” 

I turned the doorknob, “Well, I hope you have a good trip.”

“Elizabeth.”  Michael said softly.

As I turned around my heart leapt into my throat and I could barely croak out, “Yes?”

Michael leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.  His arms went around my waist as he pulled me closely.  I let go of the door and put my arms around his neck.  Our lips met and I knew he was holding back but the kiss he gave me was soft and gentle.  I melted in his arms and when we
pulled back from the kiss, I put my head on his shoulder and we held each other.

Moments passed and Michael whispered, “Just give me a little time Elizabeth.”

“Is it me Michael?”  I searched his face for some indication.

Michael pulled away from me.  “Babe, no, I’ve thought about this all day today.  I need to understand why I doubt myself.  I’m sorry Elizabeth.  I shouldn’t be putting you through this.”

I pressed my lips together, “Michael, I’m not going anywhere.” 

“I’ll see you at the end of the week.  Thanks for being there for Tammy.”  He walked off the porch and headed back over to his house.

As I watched him go, I wondered if his pain was anywhere close to the agony I felt.  How did we get to his point?  What cues had I ignored?  Everything had been going fantastic between the two of us and suddenly it explodes.  Or did I fail to see us heading toward this crisis?

Before Michael went inside his house, he turned and waved at me.  I didn’t respond only tried to blink back the tears once again.  I stayed out on my back porch until I had myself under control again and then went inside to join the girls again.

After the girls left, I sat down at my computer to write.  Before I knew it, the clock showed that it was after midnight.  It felt odd to put a nightgown on after so many weeks of sleeping in the nude.  Getting used to anything was possible I guessed.  I snuck a peek out the window, Michael’s bedroom light was still on, and I assumed that he was getting ready for his trip.  He always repeated this scenario since he usually slept on the plane.

I lay in bed for almost an hour tossing and turning.  Sleep was evading me thoroughly.  Both dogs finally jumped off the bed since I was moving around so much.  I looked out the window again, and Michael’s light was still on, but this time though it looked like only his laptop.  I wondered how Michael would receive me if I showed up at his door.

Finally, I threw off the covers and put my robe and slippers on.  If he rejected me, it would not be for the lack of me trying.  I slipped in through Michael’s back door and knocked on his bedroom door.

“Come in,” he called, “Tammy, you should be sleeping.”  Michael used his firm dad’s voice, and it was reminiscent of my
father’
s voice.

I poked my head
into the room, “It’s not Tammy. 
Can I come in?”

He sat on his bed leaning up against the headboard with his computer on his lap.  “
Of course
, what’s wrong?”

“I saw that you were still up.  I couldn’t sleep and thought you’d like some company.”  I said meekly realizing that my excuse to be here was weak at best.  I stood by the door rather awkwardly, but Michael smiled and patted the space on the bed next to him.  I smiled back, climbed up on the bed, and sat with my legs folded next to him. 

“So you couldn’t sleep?”  He questioned.

I shook my head, “No, I tried.  Too keyed up I guess.  What are you working on?”  I peered at his computer but at the same time was eyeing him. 

He was wearing only his jeans and I was having a difficult time stopping myself from undressing him in my mind.

“I’m getting ready for my meeting tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, am I interrupting you?”  My voice sounded flustered and I’m sure Michael could tell that I was unsure about being there.

“No, you’re not,” he said quietly, “I’m done.  I was only reviewing my notes.”

“Will you tell me about the project?”  I was grasping at straws to keep him talking.

Michael looked over at me I was sure to determine my level of interest and I tried to look eager.  “Okay.”  He said as he launched into his
p
olar
b
ear conservation project with the San Diego zoo.

I decided to be bold again and lay down next to him.  I put my head on his stomach ostensibly to get a better look at the laptop screen, or at least that is how I was hoping it appeared.  Michael put his arm around my shoulder and this act of snuggling made me very sleepy.  By the third picture, I fell asleep.

Realizing that I was asleep, Michael must have set aside the computer and inched his way down next to me.  I had felt some jostling but not enough to stir me from my sleep.

I awoke just as Michael was leaving the room the next morning.  I was lying on my side hugging his pillows to my chest.  I looked up, “Michael?”

He turned, “Shhh, go back to sleep it’s still early.  I’ll see you on Friday.”  He leaned over and kissed me softly.

I nodded and lay my head back down.  As he left the room, I stretched out to get into a more comfortable position and felt the envelope hidden under the pillows.  I sat up immediately and turned on the light.  The note read, “
Good morning Babe
,” at least I was still his Babe, “
No treasure hunt today.  Thank you for coming back last night.  It was courageous of you.  Love, Michael.  P.S.  I’ll see you on Friday, and that’s shaken and not stirred
.”  I smiled and tucked the note back in the envelope.  Perhaps there was something to look forward to after all.

The week went quickly.  Tammy and I alternated between the two houses since she preferred my big screen television.  I was very close to finishing my book and tried to be diligent during the week.  Tammy spoke with Michael every night but he and I remained off the phone.  Things were still not resolved between us but I felt far more positive than I had at the beginning of the week.

CHAPTER FORTY

On Friday morning, Debi arrived at the house early after Tammy had left for school.  I took my dogs over to Michael’s house since Tammy would stop by after school to feed them dinner.  Debi, Angel and I drove to Annie’s house.  We tried on our costumes, and of the three of us, mine was definitely the most revealing.  Debi’s was a classic sexy witch, Angel of course in a daring angel costume, and my sultry devil costume.

Annie had done a fantastic job with the dress albeit I thought it was too short as it barely covered my butt.  The shirred red dress with elastic on the sides and the front to gave it a very tight and figure enhancing fit.  I actually had to pull the dress down over my body.  The lacey halter barely covered my bust and left my back bare.  The four-inch red heels showed my legs perfectly and since the dress was so short, there was no way to wear hose.  With a red satin thong underneath, I hoped that the dress wouldn’t inch up as I walked.

Annie made my little red horns out of the dress material and attached them to a thin headband.  With teased hair, all that would be noticeable would be the little horns peeking out.  Frank, Don and Lewis walked into the living room while we were strutting around with our costumes.

Don was the first to comment, “Man, Elizabeth, Michael doesn’t stand a chance does he?”

We laughed and shooed the boys into the kitchen.  After we changed back to our regular clothes we drove over to Joe’s nursery to start setting up the fair booths.  Since the kids only had a half-day of school, the fair started at one o’clock.  I wasn’t sure what time Michael would appear but Tammy had told me he had an early afternoon flight back up to Northern California.

There was a lull in the early afternoon as the adults went home to dress for the evening.  The adult party started at eight and as we dressed at
Annie’s house, I kept glancing at my watch.

“Nervous?”  Debi asked while she teased my hair.

“A little.”  I answered.  “You know nothing is really resolved between Michael and me.”

“Honey don’t expect everything to be resolved tonight, in fact it would probably be better if nothing was settled tonight.  Just give him a preview of what he’s missing.”  She grinned at me in the mirror as she placed the horns on my head and fixed my hair around them.

Angel had applied sparkling gold makeup around my eyes and with my dark lashes, the look was smoldering.  Angel clapped her hands.  “Perfect.  I can’t wait to see Michael’s face.”

“Speaking of Michael, has anyone heard from the boys?  Is he there yet?”  I worried that all this preparation might be wasted.

“Jason said when he picked up Tammy that Michael was home.  Tammy invited him to come with them but he said he’d see them at the party.”  Debi shared.

Annie squeezed my shoulder, “Don’t worry Elizabeth.  I don’t think he will miss this.  He’s curious.”

“You think he’s really coming as James Bond?”  Debi asked.

“His note said ‘
Shaken not stirred
.’  I can only guess that’s what it means.”  I replied.

We arrived at the party shortly after eight and the party was already in full swing.  I looked around and did not see Michael.  Don dressed as a pirate had saved us a few seats at the bar and the bartender made us drinks.

I was always surprised how Annie and Joe could transform the barn.  They constructed a large dance floor in the middle of the barn.  Throughout the entire structure, there were strings of colorful lights and small tables and chairs surrounded the dance floor.  The band up on a raised pedestal played requests. 

I drank my first drink quickly and Don ordered me another.  “Slow down a bit Elizabeth, I don’t want to pick you up from the floor.”

“I’m nervous.”  I replied.

Debi bumped my shoulder, “No reason for you to be.  You are beautiful and incredibly sexy tonight.”  She had turned to face the dance floor while I faced the bar.  “In fact I would say there are a couple of men making some circles around you, but I think Don is scaring them off.”

Don laughed, “As it should be, Michael is my buddy.”

The band had started to play disco music and the dance floor was crowded.  I still sat with my back to the entrance nursing my second drink.  Debi elbowed me in the side. 

“Ow!”  I said complaining.

“Oh my!”  Debi exclaimed elbowing me again, “James Bond has just arrived.”

“Really?”  I said excitedly.  I move to turn around.

“No, don’t turn around.  He’s looking around for you.  He’s spotted me,” Debi laughed, “but, I don’t think he’s recognized you yet.  Oh, man is he sexy.  He’s wearing a tuxedo.”  Debi leaned over to get the bartenders attention and ordered a vodka martini.  “Don’t turn around, he is on his way over here, Michael has figured out that it’s you.  Oh the ladies in this place are on the prowl.”  She giggled, “Women’s heads are turning like whiplash!  Wait he’s being stopped by one.  No,” she paused, “okay, it appears he’s safe.  Do not turn around, Elizabeth.”

The bartender put the martini down in front of me.  At first, I was going to say that I didn’t want a martini but then I understood why Debi had ordered it.

I felt Michael’s presence behind me.  He didn’t speak. 

I could tell he nodded at Debi and Debi answered him, “Hi Michael.”

I picked up the martini and swiveled my barstool around.  Michael seemed to be trying to capture the entire picture in front of him from my crossed legs to my short skirt, halter, and finally my eyes. 

I handed the martini to him, “Hi Michael, shaken not stirred, I think is how you ordered it.”

He smiled but still didn’t speak.  I thought I heard a hitch in his breathing. 

“Elizabeth you look,” his voice growled low, “ah, you look.”  He stopped again and blinked.  Michael looked around him as if he was searching for someone to help him.

Don laughed and took Debi’s hand, “You are on your own.  Come on baby let’s dance.”  They left us alone.

Michael’s eyes went back to me.  “Babe, you are so hot.  Your eyes are like fire.”

I stood up, and my shoes made me the same height as Michael.  I was close enough to him that I could almost brush against him and was glad that I had the extra cocktail in me because my knees felt weak.  I touched his hand and felt a jolt run through him as if I had stunned him. 

“Dance with me.”  I whispered so quietly that he had to lean over to hear me. 

When he did, my breasts brushed lightly against him and it was as if I had sucked the wind out of him.
 
I didn’t wait for his reply.  While I took his hand, he drank the martini down in one gulp and followed me out to the dance floor.  We started dancing and I turned around and rubbed my back against his front.  His groan was quiet but it was there.  His hands pulled my hips against him and we stood dancing while I my hips gyrated against him.

He whispered in my ear, “I don’t think I should be dancing with the devil.  Oh Elizabeth, what are you doing to me?”

I laughed a deep throaty laugh while turning around in his arms.  My leg went up between his legs, and I shimmied down his leg and then back up again. 

“It’s not what I’m doing to you now; it’s what I’m going to do with you later.”  I whispered back in his ear.

He gave me the intense look again, “Really?”

I laughed again throwing my head back, “Be very afraid Michael.”

He pulled me against him hard and we slowly swayed to the beat of the music.  One hand was cupping my bottom and the other pressed against my bare back.  Tingles of excitement pulsed through me as we moved together.  It felt wonderful to be in a room full of people yet have the sense we were alone.  My hands rubbed his neck and shoulders, he felt so firm under my caresses.  I also felt a very firm part of his body pressing against me.  I exalted in the fact that I was responsible for his reaction to me.  It made me feel powerful and very free.

When the music stopped, Michael kissed me, the first of the evening.  The kiss was a hot passionate one that made my knees weak.  Annie and Frank danced by us. 

Frank looked over and smiled, “Am I going to have to pull the two of you apart?”

We both laughed together and separated.  Annie wrapped her arm around Michael’s waist, “Thank you my son for the wonderful pictures you took for me.  The Smithsonian loved them and we’re sending my baskets.”

“Wow, that’s great.  I’m glad I could help.”  Michael beamed down at Annie.

“And what do you think of my dress creation?  This is your thank you
present.  A
lthough
,
I don’t think the dress does
justice to our beautiful model.  D
o you?”  Anne smiled stealthily.

Michael’s eyes widened.  “You made the dress Annie?”  He asked with amazement in his voice.

She simply nodded.

Michael hugged her and almost lifted her off the floor.  “Thank you!”

She chuckled and grinned, “I’m sure you will be thanking me late into the night.  Come sit with us when you’re tired of dancing.”

We continued to dance to the next song.  It was a slow song and we wrapped our arms around each other and slowly moved to the music.  “I love the fact you’re as tall as me.”  Michael murmured in my ear, “It’s much easier to talk to you.”

“You want to talk?”  I questioned with uncertainty in my voice.

“No, I want to dance, but I love to whisper sweet things in your ear.”

“You do?  Like what?”

“Like, do you forgive me for being the biggest jerk on this planet?”  He whispered it so softly I had to look at him to make sure I heard what he had
said.  Michael nodded.  “Babe, I’m so sorry I was blaming you for my insecurities.  You are nothing like Margaret and it is stupid of me to keep treating you that way.  Instead, I was an incredible idiot and then missed taking you down to San Diego to meet the cutest polar bears you have ever seen.”

We had stopped dancing and stood looking at each other.  Michael stopped speaking to search my face.  “You’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.”  I said softly.

“Are they unhappy tears?”  He asked.

I shook my head, “No, but Michael you almost broke my heart.”

He frowned and kissed me softly, “I’m such an ass.  Please forgive me.”

“I won’t be able to take it again,” I knew my words sounded intense, “do you understand?”

“I promise Elizabeth.  I’m trying very hard.”

“Don’t leave me again like
you did.  W
e can work out anything okay?”

Michael pressed his for
ehead
against mine, “I’m sorry
Babe
.”

“I forgive you.”  I said it slowly with resolve in my voice.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Debi glided by with Don, “Sounds like a couple has made up.  You two may want to vacate the dance floor if you’re just going to stand there.”

All four of us laughed.  Michael took my hand and led me off the dance floor, “I need some air.”  I nodded and when we left the barn, Michael put his arms around me again.  “You know,” he said, “we can sit in the hay and make out for a little while, or we can go home and have makeup sex.”

I wrinkled my nose at him, “It’s too early to go home, besides I have something else in mind for later.”

“You do?”  His voice sounded excited.  “What is it?”

“It’s a surprise for later.”  We were standing in the dark away from the crowd gathered around the bonfire.  I reached around, grabbed his butt, and squeezed it.  I must have surprised him because he let out a yelp.  I laughed.

“Hey what is good for goose,” he paused and pulled my dress up in the back and groaned, “Oh god,” he said as he touched my naked bottom.  “Are you wearing?”  Michael paused as he felt the top of my satin thong.  “Oh man, I am going to love taking these off of you.”

I giggled, “Pull my dress down Michael, there are people around.”

He righted my dress.  Michael kissed me and by the action of his tongue, I knew he was gearing up for later tonight.  I lifted my knee in between his legs and stroked his crotch.  He groaned, “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

I giggled, “I’m the devil aren’t I?”

I convinced Michael to go back to the party inside.  We sat together
with Annie and Frank at their table.  Also seated around the large round table was our usual gang plus Joe.  I caught Debi and Angel leaving the table to get food and joined them. 

Debi immediately started the conversation as we headed toward the buffet, “So what happened?”

“He apologized.”  I said simply not elaborating.

Debi did not press for more information, which was like her.  “He certainly appreciated your costume.  I didn’t expect Mr. Cool to react that way.  I thought we were going to have to roll his tongue up and put it back into his mouth.”

I smiled, “Yeah, his response was gratifying, but he is always like that with me.  He’s very sweet with hi
s
compliments.”