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He had an idea to run past Linc that would make for a unique bachelor party. What did most guys like almost as much as women? Fast cars, shooting guns, and blowing things up.
Nate had mentioned a DJ and dancing. With John’s rusty dance moves and size fourteen-and-a-half feet, he might hurt somebody. Maybe he needed to ask Elizabeth about the dancing at the VFW that Wren had mentioned. The idea of dancing with Elizabeth brought a smile to his face and an idea to mind.
ChapterSixteen
STAYIN’ ALIVE – Bee Gees
As was becoming their ritual,Boss loped over to get love pats from Elizabeth before she climbed her porch steps after work. “Hey, Boss. You have a good day?” As she expected, John followed close behind. He’d changed out of his uniform already into a pair of black athletic shorts and simple gray T-shirt and she couldn’t keep from checking out his muscular thighs and calves.
“I’m starting to think my dog likes you better than me.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m generous with treats, is all.” And seeing the two of them was a treat for her.
“He is a sucker for treats and pretty girls.” John’s smile lingered on her.
She broke eye contact, but not before heat started to build in her. “I don’t have treats on me, Boss.”
“Wren told me I’m supposed to go line dancing at the VFW with you ladies on Friday. Is this another one of your requirements for renting?”
“No. It’s just something I’ve invited them to do with me.”
“But I can come if I want to show off my dance moves?” John rolled his hands in a circle, then struck the iconic Saturday Night Fever pose.
Was he teasing her? She couldn’t always tell when he was serious. “All the ladies would probably love that since you’re under sixty. Do you have a white polyester suit?” She played along.
“I’ll check my closet. If not, will jeans and a T-shirt work?”
“You’re serious?”
“About the suit or coming?”
She laughed. With his looks and build, he could get any woman to dance with him—even dressed in a seventy’s era white suit.
“Unless you count picking our way through fields riddled with landmines, I can’t remember the last time I went dancing. It could be fun, and I’ve got a friend’s wedding coming up. Why doyougo?” He turned the tables on her.
“The VFW Hall doesn’t have the ‘pick up’ atmosphere of a club. It’s a way for a woman who may have issues due to abuse to get used to interacting with men in a non-threatening manner.” Though Wren sometimes still misinterpreted a smile from the older men as flirting. “You’re not a dancer?”
“I usually stick to singing. Which, believe it or not, is better than my dancing.”
“Then you might need a lesson or two—or three.” Elizabeth teased. She’d heard his off-tune renditions of classic rock and country songs when playing with Boss while she was cooking or sitting on her porch. “Darrin teaches the popular line dances.”
“Sign me up. Hey, do they have a trial date for Ariana’s ex yet?”
“Still no firm date.”
“I’m in a friend’s wedding next month on the seventeenth. I’m gonna be out of town at least two days and nights. I’ll leave Boss here, if you don’t mind looking after him for the weekend.”
“I’d be happy to. Or maybe Boss can stay with Ariana those nights.”
“Good idea. What time do we leave for the VFW?”
“Seven-forty. I’m hoping Ariana comes with us, so I’ll drive.”
“I’ll meet you here on the porch.”
She wouldn’t get her hopes up that he’d really come. John wasn’t like any man she’d known in a long time. Maybe ever. There was something refreshing about him that kept her anxiety from spiking when he crashed her safety bubble of solitude. Maybe it was the way he loved Boss and treated her and the other women here with respect. He also hadn’t pushed anything too far. That might be because he didn’t yet have a place to live.
ChapterSeventeen
