"You've got to be kidding."
Lisa laughed. "A princess has to look her best when she goes to a ball."
"I can't believe I agreed to this."
Chapter 9
Would You, Could You...at a Hoe-Down
Lisa stood before the mirror, admiring the hot pink boots that matched her western blouse. In the past, she had hated being assigned to this particular resort event because it meant turning down amorous requests for dances. She couldn't even enjoy the line dances without some lothario attempting to attach himself to her. Having Julianne along had helped. She always had an excuse to refuse men. But she didn't feel as free to enjoy herself as Julianne did.
Tonight would be different. Even though she couldn't imagine someone as stiff as Bob dancing a line dance or the two-step, it would be fun just to be with him and not have to worry about the advances of other men. He would never put up with that. One stern look from him and other men would scoot out of the way. She sighed with contentment. Life certainly had changed in the past few days.
She pulled her hair back in a ponytail then glanced around her room one last time. It felt as though she was forgetting something. Her eyes lighted on her Bible, resting on the nightstand. It had been quite some time since she'd read it...or prayed...or took Julianne to church. Roger would be horrified.
A sob rose in her throat, but she tamped it down. She had a right to be angry with God, didn't she? Why hadn't he protected her husband and her baby boy? Why, Lord?
She couldn't think about that right now. Bob was waiting in the other room. Julianne was probably ready, too.
She stuffed her misgivings deep inside and strode into the living room.
Bob whistled, and she pirouetted then bent for a curtsey.
"Very nice," he said, standing. "I'll probably be the only person there without a cowboy shirt and boots."
"Nah," said Julianne. "Lots of guests show up without them. Come on, let's go."
"I'm ready. I could practically eat the leather on your boots by now."
He opened the door and waited for them to exit. As Lisa passed him, the admiring glance in his eye did a lot to soothe her battered emotions. It helped her forget the niggling feeling that she was ignoring something important.
Please, God. I'll think about it later. Can't I just enjoy tonight?
She didn't know whether God listened to prayers like that. She didn't feel as if she knew Him at all anymore, but right now, she didn't care. Almost.
Bob grabbed her hand as they rode down in the elevator. "You certainly look like a princess. A pink rodeo princess."
"Nothing could be further from the truth. If they put me on a horse, I'd fall on my butt."
"I guess that means you won't be riding any rodeo bulls tonight."
The elevator opened, and they stepped out to pass through the lobby.
"We've got a bull," said Julianne. She gasped. "Bob, you could ride it! That would be totally awesome."
"What! No. I'm not getting up on some mechanical bull and shouting yehaw with the yahoos."
"Oh, come on. It would be fun."
Lisa giggled. "It would be."
"How in the world could it be fun for the two of you if I'm the one risking life and limb?"
"That's what would make it fun."
"I'll think about it." He shook his head. "There better be platters of meat after what you're putting me through."
"There are," said Julianne. "More meat than you could ever eat."
"I don't know. I can eat a lot."
"Ok. Ok. There's even prime rib. They slice it as you go through the line."
"All right. If they've got prime rib."
They reached the event center, and Lisa used her pass to get them inside.
"You're such a cheap date," said Bob, heading straight to the buffet line. "I think I'll keep you."
"Maybe I don't wanna keep you," she teased.
Julianne snorted. "As if..."
"Hey, watch it, young lady. You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am. Although...he does play better tennis."
"Julianne," wailed Lisa.
"Just kidding, Mom."
As they perused the selections on the buffet line, they split up, each finding what appealed to them.
Lisa was the first to fill her plate and walked into the seating area to find a table. For round-up night, the convention hall was separated into three areas: food and drinks, seating, and a dance floor which included a spot for the mechanical bull.
She had just spotted a small open table when one of the guests walked up to her.
"Miss Engles, I was hoping you'd come. Here, let me get that for you."
The balding man reached out just as Bob stepped forward, cutting him off. He turned to Lisa as if the other man didn't exist. "Where do you want to sit, sweetheart?"
"I think that little table there."
"Fine. Let me set this down so I can go back and help Julianne. She's trying to balance her plate and dessert, all at once."
"Ok, honey," said Lisa in a sugary voice, moving to follow Bob. She offered a polite smile to the guest as she flitted past.
Bob set his plate on the table. "I was going to get tea. You want water?"
She sat in a chair. "Yes, please...and thanks."
"It's what I'm here for."
"Is that all?"
He bent until his face was even with hers. "I think you know better."
When she nodded, he slowly pressed his lips to hers in a not- so-brief kiss. When he looked up, his dark eyes were smoldering.
"Marking your territory?" she asked with a smile.
"Got that right."
Finally, he smiled before he walked away. The man could be so solemn, but she was beginning to see a pattern. When Bob was under a great deal of stress or really thinking about something, he hid his emotions. That could be a result of FBI training or part of his personality. There was so much she really didn't know about him...like if he believed in God. From his conversation with Julianne, Lisa thought he might be receptive to the idea of God, but that didn't mean he had a personal relationship. Lately, neither did she.
Julianne stumbled forward with two plates of food and a dessert dish. Bob followed and set three glasses on the table.
"Julianne," exclaimed Lisa. "You'll never eat all that."
"It's not for me. I want Bob to try some stuff. Did you see what he got?" She rolled her eyes. "Three kinds of meat, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes."
"You said I could enjoy myself tonight. I've eaten the rabbit food for days, and I'm on vacation."
"You won't be able to move when you go back to work if you keep eating like that."
He sighed deeply. "What do you want me to try?"
"Really," she said, stabbing something on her plate. "It isn't all that healthy. It's good."
She put something on his bread plate.
"What is that?"
"Fried eggplant. Trust me. Fried food is not good for you even if it is a vegetable."
He laughed, poking his fork at it. He took a bite and nodded. He took another bite and smiled. "Good. I could eat this, I guess."
Julianne beamed. "Told you. Now this."
She put something else on his plate.
"What is that?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"Pickled beets."
"I am not eating pickled beets."
"Just kidding," she laughed, smiling at her mother "I just wanted to see if you would."
"Not gonna happen."
She pushed a small bread plate toward Bob. "You'll like this. Sautéed squash and cheese."
"Fine, but that's the last thing. I haven't gotten a bite of meat yet."
"Agreed."
She waited while he shoved a forkful in his mouth. He chewed for a second. "Well, I can't say I've ever been a fan of squash, but this tastes better."
For the rest of the meal, they enjoyed each other's company, laughing at the antics of the line dancers or the peopl
e who tried the mechanical bull.
Lisa slowly relaxed. Bob was so good with Julianne. He listened to her. He took the time to know her. He was never hesitant to smile at one of her jokes. He was a wonderful man. Maybe they could go with him.
What if he didn't know God?
He pushed his plate back and rested his arm on the back of Lisa's chair. He might be relaxed, but she'd noticed his eyes never stopped scanning the crowds. Anyone else might think he was enjoying the sights. She knew better. He was on guard. They were safe.
Julianne jumped up. "Gotta go to the bathroom then I'm goin' dancin'!"
"All right," said Lisa. "I've got to let my food settle first."
She and Bob watched Julianne for a while, smiling and laughing at her when she gawked at them for their approval. Her daughter was growing up. In a couple of months, she'd be a teenager. As much as she would miss the little girl, she was coming to appreciate the young woman, too.
Bob reached for Lisa's hand. "She's quite a kid."
"I was just thinking how grown up she's getting. Especially here, surrounded by so many different age groups, most of them older."
"I think it's a good thing. She acts equally comfortable with anyone she meets. She's not particularly outgoing, but she is comfortable."
"She's outgoing with you."
"That's just my innate ability to charm."
"The day we met, you barely put three sentences together."
He turned his head and stared into her eyes. "Why did you come with me? You knew what I wanted."
"Maybe I wanted it, too."
He shook his head. "You could have anyone. Why did you come with me?"
"I don't know. I think I saw you. I mean...I really saw you. Everyone else has just been a blur of anonymous guests." She grinned. "I think it was your eyes...so solemn and serious."
"You were attracted to solemn and serious? It puts everyone else off."
"Maybe I knew you weren't after some frivolous, meaningless fling."
"You knew all that from a look? You should join the FBI."
Lisa laughed. "I don't know what I thought. Truthfully, I wasn't thinking at all. I just responded to that light in your eyes. Why did you..."
"Stare at you with my tongue hanging out?"
She laughed again. "You did not."
"I wanted to."
"Why?"
"All I can say, Lisa, is...when I saw you, I felt I knew you." He shrugged. "I wanted to be with you."
"So much that you threw aside all that FBI reserve of yours to make-out with a woman who could have been a total psychopath?" she teased. "I mean, you didn't take my fingerprints or have me investigated..."
He stared at her for the longest time; she began to feel uncomfortable. What was he thinking? Did he want to investigate her now?
Finally, he cupped her cheek with his hand. "Whoever you are...I want to be with you."
"Well then, let's go kick up our boots on the dance floor."
"If we must."
"We must. Julianne's been giving us the eye for the last ten minutes."
"I think I'm going to regret this."
She patted his stomach. "You might regret all that food you ate."
For thirty minutes, they did their best to follow Julianne in a series of line dances, then the tempo of the evening changed. The announcer told everyone to grab a partner for the infamous Silver Lake Dosey Doe.
Bob covered his face with his hands, but Julianne pulled him onto the dance floor anyway.
Lisa laughed until she lost her breath as Bob struggled to swing Julianne around whilst they followed the other couples in their group. His heel toe configurations left a lot to be desired but by the end of the reel, he had figured out the steps and was even keeping up, not that he looked in any way graceful. She shook her head. The poor man.
When they got back to the table, he was panting. "Water...give me water."
Lisa held up a glass.
He drank it down then turned to Julianne. "Why is it that you're still bouncing up and down with such energy?"
"I play tennis twice a day and swim. You sit around mooning at Mom."
"I do not."
"Do too."
He grinned at Lisa. "Well, can you blame me?"
The next dance was a slow dance.
"Finally." He stood and held out his hand to Lisa. "Would you accompany me, fair lady?"
"I would be honored, sir."
They moved onto the dance floor, and she leaned into his shoulder. "Just so you know, the only thing I know how to do is turn in a circle."
"My kind of woman."
She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his hand pressing into her back, turning in slow circles. If she hadn't been standing, she could have gone to sleep.
"I like the way it feels to hold you in my arms," he whispered in her ear.
"Mmm."
"I think I'd like it better if you weren't wearing clothes."
Her head shot up. "Bob White! Why don't you just come out and say it?"
"I just did."
She put her head against his chest and closed her eyes. That was one comment she would just ignore. Hinting about it was one thing, but blurting it out like that...she wasn't ready. Besides, she might be mad at God, but that didn't mean she could throw away everything. Even if she was tempted.
"Lisa?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't suppose you could get away from Julianne for awhile later tonight?"
Her eyes flew open and a cold, hard lump formed in her chest. Was he going to force the issue? Previously, he'd been the one to slow things down. Why was he pushing now?
"I'd like to take a walk in the moonlight and have a long, serious talk. I think it's time."
She breathed easier. A walk she could handle.
"I think I could."
"When do you get a day off? You've been on duty the whole time I've been here."
"Actually, tomorrow."
He pushed her slightly away so he could look at her face. "You're off tomorrow and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't think about it. I didn't not tell you on purpose. In the back of my mind, I expected to be with you. I just didn't think of it as my day off until you mentioned it."
He continued to stare at her. "I don't want to push you if that's not what you want."
She stopped moving. "Bob, it's not like that. What's gotten into you?"
"I have no idea. I guess the sudden thought that you didn't want to be with me was a little...a little disconcerting."
Other couples moved around them, and Lisa looked down at the floor until they passed.
"There's a lot to think about, Bob. I'm not sure I'm ready."
He reached up to run his fingers through his hair. "I guess we really do have a lot to talk about."
She brought her arms up to his shoulders and smiled at him provocatively. "Maybe for now you could hold me and dance?"
He pulled her close again and they settled back into their little circle formation. When another slow song immediately followed, Bob didn't even break stride.
Lisa sighed. This was so much better than trying to figure everything out. Being with him was deeply satisfying. It was also satisfying to see he wasn't perfect. She had begun to wonder. Thus far, she'd noticed he was often withdrawn, rarely talkative, except to flirt. But he was an excellent listener. Maybe it wasn't that he was withdrawn so much as that he was comfortable with himself and didn't have to constantly express his opinions.
She smiled. Not too confident, though. He liked her reassurances that she found him attractive.
He was protective. That was nice. Not overly so. He didn't get raving jealous when other men spoke to her. He also seemed completely oblivious to the interest of other women. Several young ladies had eyed him at various times the past week, and he'd not responded once. With all the time he spent studying the crowds, you'd think he'd notice women coming onto him.
That was something Lisa appreciated very much. A ste
adfast man. He was assuredly that. And punctual. She had never cared for waiting on people. He got high marks for punctuality, even when he was meeting Julianne. Yep. Bob White was a catch!
When they returned to the table, Julianne was polishing off another piece of cheesecake. She waved her fork. "It's about time. If I had to sit here any longer, I might have eaten a whole pie."
"I don't see how you eat like that and stay so thin...or gyrate around the dance floor," said Bob, shaking his head.
"Well, Booob, I think it's time for you to gyrate on the mechanical bull."
"I think I deserve some down time."
"Nope. It's almost time for me to turn into a pumpkin. I've got tennis in the morning. Time for the bull...unless you're chicken."
"Do you seriously think that will work on me?"
"Bwack, bwack." She flapped her arms like wings.
Lisa laughed. "I think you should give in. She's relentless, you know."
"What happened to not giving her everything she wants?"
"I want to see you ride the bull."
"Ah hah. Fine. You ladies are about to be amazed." He strutted off.
"Wait! Where are you going? Wait for us."
"To study the adversary."
True to his word, Bob joined the line of interested bystanders, watching as different people attempted to hold their own against the bull. It didn't move too fast or buck too hard, but Lisa was amazed that people went down so quickly on the floor. Thank goodness, the surrounding area looked like something from a kid's bounce house, nice and soft.
There were six levels of intensity: easy, medium, hard, greenhorn, which was what most people tried, cowboy, and ambush. No one attempted ambush.
Whenever a rider stayed on for more than a few seconds, everyone's gaze shifted to the wall where the LED clock kept the Best Time. But no one came close.
Lisa caught Bob reading the sign on the wall.
Recommended Tips for Riding a Bull:
Start with level one and don't skip levels.
Hold on with your dominant hand, and use your free hand to balance.
Squeeze with your lower body, but relax your upper torso.
He leaned over and gave Lisa a kiss. "Wish me luck."
"Let it begin!" yelled Julianne.
"Bolt?" he asked.
"I can't believe you know a Disney movie."
Would You, Could You Page 8
