“After losing another job.”
“Turning that slimy guy down was the right thing to do and you know it.”
“Yeah, well, I still lost a job I loved.”
“I know. And I’m sorry, but that wasn’t your fault. And you’ve been a huge help to me here.”
“Planning your wedding was fun. Cooking for your guests has been fun. Subbing has been easy. Big deal.”
“Subbing with Tank hasn’t been easy and you worked through that.”
“And look where that got me. Ready to jump back into the first relationship that comes along.”
Maddy was not about to give up the fight. “Other guys have asked you out. Did you go out with any of them?”
“No.”
“Taking care of the inn involved cleaning up after people, cleaning toilets. Did you enjoy that?”
“No.”
“Give yourself some credit, Becky.”
Maddy got up from the bed. “I don’t know everything that went into your decision to be done with men. If you want to stick with that conviction, then great. I’m behind you and I have no doubt that you can do it.” She went back to the closet. “Just be sure you’re sticking to your convictions for the right reason.”
***
Becky glanced at the clock; she had less than twenty minutes before Tank picked her up. Looking back in the mirror, she tried to decide if her current dress was too clingy. It was cut more conservatively than some of the others; knee length, long-sleeved, gently scoop-necked, but the midnight blue material clung to every curve, such as they were. It qualified as semi-formal, she supposed, though why the teachers were expected to dress up was beyond her. No wonder they had trouble finding chaperones.
The doorbell rang and she glared at her reflection. Leave it to a man to cut off a woman’s prep time by fifteen whole minutes. Maddy had left to run an errand, so Becky stomped into her heels and down the hall, yanking open the door.
Tank stood there, fine in his long winter coat. His look of appreciation did not gel with her look of frustration. She shivered and pulled the door open. “You’re early.”
Tank stepped into the front hall, making an effort to look contrite, but mostly just admiring her dress. “Yeah. Sorry. I was ready, so I came over.”
Becky sighed. “Well, I’m not ready, yet.”
“You look good to me.”
She fought her body’s reaction to his words. “Thanks, but I haven’t even decided for sure what to wear.”
“You should definitely wear that.”
She blew her hair out of her eyes. “Okay, but I still need to ... oh, just go sit while I finish.”
She gestured toward the parlor with its delicate furniture, none of which would comfortably accommodate him. Serves him right.
Tank took one look in the room and rubbed his neck. “I’ll wait in the kitchen.”
Becky turned with a sigh, feeling his eyes on her as she led the way down the hall. She slipped into her room.
“Give me ten minutes,” she called out.
She heard Tank walk through the kitchen, making himself at home while she tried to concentrate on finishing her hair and makeup. Taking a deep breath, she settled into her routine. She had no problem making him wait until she was good and ready to go.
***
“How can they dance to this?”
They stood in the high school’s cafeteria, trying to be cool and not cringe at the volume of the music that was playing.
“It is kind of ... different. I know it wasn’t that long ago, but I think our music was easier to dance to,” Becky shouted.
“Nothing’s easy to dance to,” Tank yelled back.
Becky laughed. It was no use talking. The students, at least, seemed to be having fun in the transformed cafeteria. Strands of white Christmas lights and strategically-placed streamers that stretched from floor to ceiling gave the room an entirely different look. They’d even brought in a small ice-sculpture that presided over a fairly elegant hors d’oeuvre table. It was all very impressive for a high school dance.
The chaperones - six of them - gathered in pairs in different areas of the cafeteria. There was little to do but make sure that the dancing was civil and that there wasn’t too much PDA. Becky wasn’t sure what she’d do if she had to confront someone. She decided to leave that job to Tank.
The music mercifully quieted and slowed. Two of the chaperones, a married couple, went out to dance. Becky watched to see how the kids reacted, but the adults were largely ignored. She looked up, expecting to see a panic-stricken Tank, but he was simply looking out over the crowd, a thoughtful expression on his face. He looked very handsome in his dark grey suit, his tie subtle, but classy. Becky smiled to herself. She’d always thought that dark colors made a person look smaller. Not so with Tank.
He looked over at her. “At least I know this song,” he was able to say in a more conversational tone. “And you look amazing tonight.” He leaned his shoulder into hers, seemingly embarrassed by his gushing praise.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling ridiculously self-conscious. “Your suit is beautiful.”
He smiled at her and she turned to the dance floor, wishing someone would do something wildly inappropriate so that she could go stop them.
“I think I’ll get some punch,” Becky decided. “Want some?”
“I’ll get it,” Tank offered.
“No, you’re doing a great job holding up the wall. I’ll go. Be right back.”
She ducked into the small crowd of people getting refreshments and made an effort to have a conversation with anyone who would stand still long enough for her to engage them. It was almost twenty minutes before she got back to Tank with his drink.
He gave her a wry smile. “Good thing I wasn’t thirsty.”
“Well, you have to dance for that,” she said, immediately regretting her words.
He raised a brow. “Do you wanna dance?”
Becky listened to the music for a moment. “This song is kind of crazy. I wouldn’t know what to do,” she lied. “Let’s wait for another one.”
Tank nodded, looked relieved. “Kind of thinking the same thing.”
“Okay, well, cheers,” Becky raised her plastic cup to his. The bathroom would be her next escape. After that, she’d have to get more creative.
***
The DJ announced the last dance of the night, and almost every student went out to the floor. Becky and Tank still hadn’t danced, but Becky had had meaningful conversations with just about everyone else in the room, including the custodian. He was one of her favorite people at the school, so she was glad she’d found him.
Bailey interrupted their conversation about whether enough effort was being made to promote recycling at the school.
“Excuse me, Ms. Jacobs?”
Becky turned. “Oh, hey, Bailey! Great party. Are you happy with how it all came together? Great turnout.”
Bailey nodded, looking a little bewildered at Becky’s energetic greeting. Not to be outdone, she launched into her own.
“Yeah, it’s great. But this is the last dance. You have to dance with Mr. Kimball. You haven’t danced all night and you both look so amazing. It’s not like the adults can’t dance. Everybody’s dancing.”
Becky’s head spun from the “dare to dance” challenge. She glanced toward the wall where she’d left Tank for the umpteenth time during the evening. He stood with his arms crossed, looking out over the crowd. At the very least, she needed to go over and tell him not to glower.
“I’ll see what I can do,” she told Bailey, as though Tank were the problem.
She excused herself and found her way over to his side as the music began. Having spent the evening avoiding him, she wasn’t even sure what to say. She sure wasn’t going to confront him about looking scary.
Tank glanced down at her and she met his gaze, trying not to look guilty.
“Dance?”
Eloquent Tank. Becky smiled. “Okay.”
> Of course, the final song was a slow, familiar tune. Tank took her hand and led her to the darkest corner of the room. One of the strands of lights had gone out, and there was a fraction more privacy.
He turned to her, keeping a hold of her hand, and placing his other at her side. Becky tried to breathe as she placed hers on his shoulder. She should have nothing to worry about. They were at the high school, of all places, with too many interested parties noting that they were finally dancing. It’s not like Tank was going to make a scene.
His hand moved a fraction along her side, a very subtle caress. Becky stiffened on the outside while her insides turned to jelly. She lost her footing briefly, but Tank held her upright.
And a little closer.
She couldn’t look up at him; she was not about to see what was in those intense green eyes. She couldn’t rest her head on his shoulder, that would be too cuddly. Instead, she kept herself upright, as pliable as a board, and looked at his charcoal grey chest.
Tank wasn’t much of a dancer, but he knew how to hold her, and they swayed gently back and forth. Becky started to lose herself in the music, allowing herself to enjoy being held in his arms for a few minutes. It was heady; the audience was probably a good thing. As the music wafted through its final refrain, she heard a barely perceptible, “Ah, Becky.”
She came out of her reverie and realized that they were close and barely moving. Tank had let go of her hand and was gently holding her at the waist, his thumbs sending shivers as they stroked her sides. Becky’s hands linked behind his neck. They weren’t pressed against each other, but they might as well have been for the heat radiating between them. Becky pulled back a fraction and Tank resisted a fraction.
“Space,” she whispered.
“What?” he leaned in, turning her away from the rest of the crowd.
She shook her head slightly. He’d only gotten closer. She looked up at him, eyes a little wider, heart beating wildly.
He smiled and brushed his lips over hers before letting her go.
***
Becky never told him that they’d have to oversee the undecorating.
“It won’t take long,” the girl, Bailey, promised as she gathered her fellow council members together to find the cafeteria again.
Tank looked at Becky with a sigh. “Do they have to take the lights down?”
She looked around the room, rubbing her arms. All of the students leaving the building had left the area chilly. “I’m sure they do. Cafeteria is supposed to be back to normal by Monday morning.”
Tank nodded and walked to the first set of lights, setting them free from the wall. One of the students was pulling a step ladder out of a closet and stopped when she saw him. “Thanks, Mr. Kimball!” she called out.
Tank nodded and continued to pull down the lights and the tape that held them. The DJ had packed up and left, but someone had found an old eighties station on a radio in the kitchen and cranked it. The kids were tired, but worked cheerfully. Everyone seemed pretty happy that the dance had gone well.
All Tank could think about was holding Becky, and that brush across the lips that left her wide-eyed and looking like she’d never been kissed before. He wanted to revisit that moment before the night was over. He just needed to make sure Becky didn’t hitch a ride home with the custodian. He liked Joe, too, but if Becky had spent any more time with him, Tank would have escorted him from the building.
He glanced toward the corner where he’d last seen her helping put the food away. She was gathering the tablecloths, laughing with one of the other chaperones. A male, of course. Why was she always hanging out with the men?
Tank watched as she walked away with her bundle and stuffed it in one of the garbage cans. She had no business collecting garbage, dressed like that, though she didn’t seem to mind. She turned with a smile as one of the students called out to her.
Finishing his job, Tank gathered the ropes of lights that he’d bound, and set them near several boxes where the party supplies were piling up. Within minutes the whole pile was hauled away, and Tank noted that the students had started filing out. Becky was talking to Bailey. The other chaperones had left.
Becky looked up as he approached, all kinds of interesting emotions dancing across her features.
Bailey spoke first. “Thank you both so much for coming tonight! Everything went so smoothly, everyone behaved, probably ’cuz Mr. Kimball stood in the corner looking so scary.” She giggled. “Anyway, I’m so glad you danced! Everyone was wondering if you would. It was so romantic!” She turned as someone called out to her. “Oh, my ride is here. Are you sure you don’t mind turning off the lights and stuff?”
Becky glanced at Tank, then back at Bailey. “No problem. We’ll see you on Monday.”
Bailey left, and Becky turned, all business. “Okay, we need to find the cafeteria lights - and turn off the music in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure the doors are locked, so once we do a walk-through, check the bathrooms and stuff, we should be good to go.” She barely looked at him while she rattled off her list.
“Sounds good,” Tank replied.
A few minutes later, he stood by the cafeteria light switches, waiting until Becky was almost to the kitchen.
“Becky,” he called out. She turned and raised a brow.
“Hang on a minute.” He knew she was heading for the music. A ballad was playing, another classic love song, and Tank wasn’t about to miss his chance.
“Why?” She stood with her hands on her hips, not looking quite so tough in her mind-blowing dress. Tank hit the lights and Becky stood in relief against the light from the kitchen door. He moved fast, skirting one of the refreshment tables.
He grabbed her hand as she started to back up into the kitchen. He couldn’t clearly see her face, but he could imagine a bit of panic there. He wasn’t going to let the evening end on that note.
“Come on,” he said, pulling her gently back out to the now deserted dance floor. “One more dance. This is a great song.”
Becky dragged her mind-blowing heels. “We already danced, Tank. We need to get home.”
He guided her back into position. “The song’s almost over. Let’s dance without an audience.”
He pulled her close, and she sighed. Within seconds she melted into him, her arms around his neck and her head against his shoulder. Tank had pretty much always believed that no good could come from dancing.
He was wrong.
He held her and they swayed, the haunting lyrics floating around them. He focused on how she felt in his arms. Largely behaving himself, he kept his hands on her waist or her back, making a valiant effort to keep the dance relatively innocent.
The song ended, and another one began. Becky pulled back and looked up at him. “We have to go.”
Her eyes were full of all the longing he felt, and Tank hesitated only briefly before leaning down and kissing the ‘go’ off her lips. Her surprise turned to gentle, yet fervent response.
Tank finally pulled back before he lost his mind completely and forgot where they were, what they’d agreed to, and everything else.
A small smile touched Becky’s lips. “You are trouble,” she whispered, her eyes fluttering open.
Tank physically set her away from him. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ve got to go.” He jogged into the kitchen to turn off the music. He hit the overhead switch as they left the room, following the light from the hallway leading to the doors.
Grabbing their coats, he made quick business of throwing hers over her shoulders. Becky laughed at his newfound need for speed, and followed as best she could in her heels.
“I’ll get the Jeep,” he said. “You wait here.”
She smile and shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”
She sat down on the bench just inside the door. Tank threw on his own coat, ignoring the buttons, and ran out into the cold night.
***
Becky had the door open before Tank could put the Jeep in park.
“Hang on,” Tan
k said. “I’ll come around and help you. It’s slippery.”
“I’ll be fine,” Becky assured him. “See you Monday.”
“Don’t get out,” he growled. “You’ll fall in those ridiculous shoes, and I’m not finishing our class alone.”
Becky sighed. Men did not understand how women navigated in heels. She lowered herself carefully onto the slick drive and turned to him. “Seriously, Tank ...”
He was already bounding around to her side of the vehicle. Becky didn’t want him walking her to the door, and she really didn’t want him coming in. They were in new and unnerving territory, which heated up exponentially every time they were alone together. If that kiss hadn’t happened in the high school cafeteria, she wasn’t sure how things might have ended. As much as she’d enjoyed it, and oh, she enjoyed it, they couldn’t play with this fire anymore.
He was at her side.
“Tank, I don’t want you walking me to the door.”
He sighed. “Why?”
She looked up at him. “You know why.”
She could see a tiny grin by the light from the porch. Her stomach tightened.
“You afraid I’m gonna kiss you good night?”
Her eyes were glued to his, all cool disappearing. “Yes.”
“You don’t want me kissing you good night at your door?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Becky knew what was coming. Taking her face gently in his big hands, Tank leaned down and gave her a very gentle kiss. It was over before she could even pretend to fight it.
“You don’t play fair,” she said, amazed that she had to catch her breath even after such a brief kiss.
He smiled and put his arm around her, guiding her up the steps.
“No way you’re coming in this house.”
“I know.”
“Ever again.”
He laughed. “Let’s take it a day at a time.”
She unlocked her door and turned, willing him to kiss her again; fearful that he would.
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I had fun tonight.”
Done With Men Forever (Clairmont Series Book 3) Page 22