Chapter Nine

Evening came and before Emma was ready Karen, Monica and Tom were already at her apartment.

Tom also worked at Reddings.

"You are not ready?" Karen asked Emma. "You better not be changing your mind dear because we are not leaving here without you"

"relax" Emma said. "I haven't changed my mind. I know how important this kinda stuff is to you. Where are we going by the way?"

"A bar"

"Great... Of course you would choose a place with noise and smoke and lots of people" Emma said in a voice laced with sarcasm.

"Be sarcastic all you want" Karen said. "You are coming with us"

"I know I have no choice...Anyone else coming to this thing?" Emma asked

"Nah" replied Karen. "Just us."

Emma turned to Monica and Tom .. "So you guys aren't bringing any dates or something?" she asked them

"Nope" Tom replied. "I intend to just get there and go with the flow" he said smiling.

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"Emma, shake those long Calvin Kleins" Tom Casey wrapped a hand around Emma's waist and pulled her to her feet.

She grinned up at him, wondering how he, Monica and Karen could prefer the noisy, smoke filled bar to the freshness of the night outside. She hesitated, laughing.

"Okay, okay, Tom." This is your night to howl, but take it easy. Remember I have already had two vodka collinses.

In the darkened room she saw that regular customers were crammed together with many of the tourists who flooded into the town. The community contained three types of people : tourists, new people, and been-here-awhiles. Emma and her friends fell into the last category. Their sedate way of life included friends and leisurely enjoyment of one another. Yet all three types of people enjoyed the lounge. It was one place where they mixed comfortably.

"Ooooee" Tom yodeled with all the exuberance of a healthy Twenty seven year old.

Couples rotated clockwise around the dance floor, their arms looped about each other's waists, their feet tattooing the boards to the beat of a steel guitar.

Tom nodded towards a dancing couple. The man twirled his partner around his tall body, then folded her close as they continued circling the floor.

"See that?" he asked, grinning. "That dude thinks he can dance. "Let's give him some competition Emma". He pulled her against his lanky frame as they stepped into the crowded floor. Their boots immediately caught the beat of the music.

But Emma's eyes were following the precise movements of the two men who just walked into the bar. Frank and Daniel. Both dressed in shirt and jeans.

Emma frowned, her gaze flew to Karen. Who knew exactly what she had done and was laughing with Monica and some other guy Emma didn't know. She'd invited them... She had invited Daniel... Intentionally. That was the kinda stuff Karen did.

"Huh.. I'm gonna kill her" Emma said under her breath, staring in Daniel's direction again. He was staring at her. He and Frank were walking towards Karen and Monica.

Tom followed her eyes. "Hey, Emma, watch it!" he laughed, his arm tightening. "Just because that guy is giving you the eye doesn't mean you can step all over my feet"

Emma glared up at him. "I don't know what you are talking about"

"Don't give me that". Tom teased. "You've had your eyes glued to him since he walked in.

She pinched his waist and matched his grin." Get this straight. I'm not flirting with him. You wanted to strut your stuff, so where is it? I'm betting I can outdance you.

Tom led her through a fast series of twirls, then drew her close without missing a beat. He scanned her five-foot-ten-inch frame. "Half pint" he teased.

When she pinched again, he protested, "Hey, watch it! I bruise easy".

His hand tightened on her waist. Emma laughed and Tom's head dipped down to her. "Feels good huh Emma? Glad you came?

" Can't deny it" she said. " But what are you going to do with me when you want to check out the girls?. Even as she spoke, Tom's eyes fell on the full curves of a small blonde dancing with a man whose eyes never strayed from her low cut bodice.

"I will think of something"

Tom leaned down, raising his voice over the loud music. "That dude is watching you again. He's right across from us. " Come on... Let's show him some high stepping ". He executed a series of swirls, pulling Emma around him.

" Tom stop" Emma said breathlessly as she passed behind, to the side, and in front of him. "I'm out of practice" she said laughing.

"That's alright" Tom said.

Emma glanced at Daniel from behind her thick lashes. He smiled at her and dipped his dark head. She felt his gaze travel over her green silk shirt and down the length of her blue Jean-clad legs. Her flesh rose in goose bumps as if even her freckles could feel the power of his gaze.

The dance ended and a slow number began. Entwined, swaying couples circled them for a moment before Tom's arms slid around Emma, his lead taking her into a slow Texas waltz.

For some reason Emma looked around. Looked for Daniel. He danced with a lean grace, smiling down at the woman in his arms. Emma frowned.

His gaze drifted from his partner and zeroed in on Emma. His grin carried all the confidence of a lady killer on the prowl.

Emma looked away. Feeling that annoying pang of Jealousy. Although why she felt that way she didn't know. She was dancing with someone else too. He was probably flirting and whispering sweet nothings into the woman's ears. Just like he did with her. Judging by the way she was smiling at whatever he was saying. She didn't care. She told herself. He could smile and press her all over his body as much as he wanted.

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Something bumped jarringly into her back, pressing her against Tom.

"Hey" a baritone protest rumbled over her head. Half turning, she looked over her shoulder straight into Daniel's eyes. His second "Hey" was a sensual purr that lifted the fine hair on the back of Emma's neck.

A gaze of sheer male appreciation slowly slid down, then up her body, a smile touching the shadowed planes and angles of his face.

Emma flushed beneath his probe, her body tingling. She barely heard Tom's muttered apology and Daniel's gravely chuckle.

 "Don't worry about it, buddy" he said

The beat of her heart competed with the music as Daniel examined Tom's face.

Tom awkwardly backed Emma into Daniel's hard frame.

"Tom" she cautioned, frowning up at him.

"Oops. Sorry, again" he said without sincerity before easing Emma away from Daniel.

"Hello Emma"... His intimate drawl brushed Emma's cheek

Emma swallowed. Fractions of a second felt like an eternity as excitement oozed over her like lava. She could no more have kept her gaze from straying to his eyes than she could have stopped breathing.

The glow of a neon light touched his black hair. Which tapered to reach his collar. A corded expanse of tanned neck contrasted with his light blue shirt. His broad shoulders blocked her view of the room. But Emma didn't care. Her stare was riveted to his body.

Emma seemed to be floating on a cloud, her mouth turning dry as her gaze slid lower. She was fascinated by the rhythmic flex of his strong thighs beneath the tight denim.

Tom's whisper against her ear brought her back to reality "You are leering. Put your eyes back in your head" he said

She grinned sheepishly.

The music changed into a slow, swaying beat, and all around her she saw bodies fuse together. Tom eyed the blonde and glanced down at Emma. "Hey, the classy chassis is all alone over there. I'd sure like to ask her to dance.

"And you would like me to evaporate, right?. She teased.

His grin was rueful." You don't have to put it like that, but I think I will ask her to dance. Do you need me to walk you to our table?"

Emma patted his arm." Go ahead. I can manage " she noticed a man walking towards the blonde. "If you don't hurry over there, she will dance with someone else"

"Thanks Emma" Tom said. "See you later".

Emma watched Tom's purposeful strides cut through the swaying couples.

He arrived before the man and issued a low invitation. In a moment the blonde was in his arms, and Tom was holding her tenaciously.

"The old Casey charm strikes again" Emma murmured as she walked to their table.

A firm touch on her shoulder made her turn around.

" Dance?" He didn't wait for her to answer. He did what he always did. What he was used to doing. Taking what he wanted when he wanted.

She probably should have resisted. But she didn't. A rumble like distant thunder skimmed her skin as Daniel drew her into his arms.