Page 7 of Lady Luck’s Kiss

CHARLIE

Charlie wasn’t sure why she let Beth talk her into going to the dance hall instead of heading home.

The boots were starting to pinch her toes and, honestly, after her bout of anxiety in the restroom, she wasn’t feeling so fresh.

Chewing gum and rinsing her mouth after being sick wasn’t doing the trick.

She wanted her dental floss.

And Listerine.

The hall was gorgeous. Dim lightbulbs that flickered like candlelight were on each wagon wheel suspended from the ceiling.

The wood plank floors appeared like they had been salvaged from a barn and sanded down, giving it a down home look.

It was crowded, but not overly so. Beth was more interested in seeing what was going on and was hoping she could meet a guy.

Charlie just wanted a Dr. Pepper.

She was done with beer for the night… or maybe for life.

“You look like a kid with these!” Beth exclaimed, waving Charlie’s braids around. “A wittle-itty-bitty kiddo!”

“Stop that, Beth. You know it’s a lot easier to keep it up than it is to run around with it down.”

“Why? Because of tangles?”

“Yes, that and it gets hot.”

“Lop it off, my dear Watson!” She hollered back over the music and patted her own hair.

Beth had a long braid with a wide swath of bleached hair that looked adorable on her but was never going to be attempted on her own hair. Beth called it her ‘wild skunk streak’. It was wild all right… just like her friend.

Charlie liked having her hair a decent length and a decent color. It made her feel feminine, girly, and she needed that feeling on days when she was up to her elbows in oil and grease. She shook her head - minus any smile in that moment.

“Party pooper!!” Beth cried and pulled a rubber band off the bottom of the braid she was holding. Stretching it quickly between her fingers, she shot it over the heads of other dancers into the air.

“What’d you do that for!”

“Live a little and relax!”

Sighing, Charlie unwound the braid and shook out the wavy hair. She unwound the other braid, intending to put it in a single braid when the rubber band snapped in her hand. Groaning in frustration, she saw Beth’s eyebrows wiggle in a silent taunt and sighed.

Beth had won this round.

Running her fingers through her hair, she prayed that it looked halfway decent and got out her phone’s camera to check. This resulted in Beth darting around to join her in a selfie. She really adored Beth sometimes – she made the best out of every situation.

“Oh yes! That’s my song!” Beth cried out, laughing. She put both her arms above her head, disappearing into the crowd to find a dance partner.

Charlie stood there, alone, by one of the tables and flagged down a waiter to get a soda. Humming, she felt herself swaying to the loud beats as she waited patiently for him to return. Thankfully, he was quick. She was sipping on a cold Dr. Pepper, using it to get her stomach settled in no time.

It was fascinating to see the people on the floor move slowly in motion.

The loud music was drumming with each beat and she felt it in her teeth with the speakers positioned around the room.

Some songs were fast, some slow, but it didn’t seem to matter.

They moved in a distinct pattern that seemed to be created of its own.

Like great waves, ebbing and flowing. Cowboy hats, frizzy hair, bald heads, etc…

it created a rhythm that was easy to feel deep down.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around, thinking it was the waiter again.

It was not.

“Hey, Lady Luck,” Jack yelled with a smile. It was the handsome bull rider that she’d kissed for good luck. He was simply gorgeous. Tall, tanned, with a wicked smile that curled her toes in happiness. “It’s Charlie, right?”

“It’s actually Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie if you want – and hey there, yourself!”

“It’s nice and suits you.” His wide smile made his eyes crinkle at the corners from years in the sun.

She liked that he had an easy tendency to grin.

It made him seem to be approachable. If it wasn’t for the unveiled interest in his gaze, he might have been friend-zoned right away.

There was no mistaking the man liked her in the way he watched her.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, blushing and looking away. She took a big sip on the straw, embarrassed by the attention he was directing her way.

“So, did you like the rodeo?”

“Not really.”

“Why?”

“It’s not my thing, I guess. I hate seeing people get hurt.”

“Why’d you come then?” he asked, looking surprised at her answer. She realized that people must go for the thrill of excitement and the sport. While it was exhilarating, it wasn’t her thing. She’d rather sit at home watching Jeopardy or some old re-runs.

“Well, because I could go and I’ve never been before. I could check it off my bucket list that I’ve gone to one and satisfied my curiosity.”

“Nice.” He nodded approvingly with a smile. “People should want to do things and experience life. I like that. Want to dance?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you! That’s what people do at these things. They dance.”

“I really can’t…wait!” she balked as he took her hand and led her out onto the floor. She pulled back nervously, feeling her stomach rebel briefly. “Wait! I’ve never been dancing. I can’t dance!”

“You don’t have to then. I will lead us, and you just let me do the dancing,” he offered politely with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Think of it as another one for your bucket list, Miss Charlie. Allow me… and relax. You look plum scared of me and just a little bit of boot-scootin’.”

“I’m not scared of you…”

“Good, now loosen up and enjoy it.” Jack spun her around once and pulled her into his arms. Laughing, she waved a finger at him knowing he’d won this round and bested her.

He took her hand in his and put it on his shoulder.

The other, he held in his other hand gently.

Jack’s free hand came to rest on her hip, causing her to jump and him to grin widely.

“Relax, remember?”

“I am relaxing!” she protested. His warm hand was creating havoc in her.

She had no idea that his hands were that big and warm.

It practically swallowed her hand, making her feel incredibly delicate.

Glancing up at him, she saw the red lipstick mark was still on his cheek but faded. “You didn’t wash it off?”

“Why would I?” he asked simply, looking pleased.

“Your run is over.”

“Doesn’t mean I want my luck to end. I’m hoping that it’s still working.”

“I’m not sure I have any luck at all, much less good luck.”

“Maybe you are my good luck charm.”

“Maybe it was skill that kept you from getting maimed today.”

“The day’s not over.”

“Are you gonna hurt me?”

“No? Why’d you ask that?”

“Well, I thought maybe that good luck kiss led me to you again – and yet here you are threatening to maim me when I’ve been on my best behavior. Maybe I should act different?” he teased, pulling her closer into his arms.

“I’m not going to maim you…I was talking about that crazy-looking bull from earlier.”

“Pity. A fellow can wish, can’t he?”

Fiercely blushing at the intimate tone in his voice, she smiled lightly at his sweet words.

Jack Seguin was a charmer for sure. He could have been a complete jerk and his good looks might have swayed her, but this was heady.

He was gorgeous and engaging, completely focused on her for some odd reason.

Becoming silent, she stared at his shirt in order to avoid those mesmerizing eyes and concentrated on her steps.

Red and blue check with pearl snap buttons.

Double stitching on the seams. Yup, nice shirt , she thought moving blindly as he guided her.

The dance seemed to be fairly simple and easy to follow.

A few steps forward, a few shuffles back.

A small turn and repeat. Before she was ready, the song was coming to an end.

“Think you are up to another dance?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Come here,” he invited and held out his hands.

Instead of moving into the same position, he practically hugged her causing Charlie to stiffen up at the closeness between them.

Glancing up, she saw him watching her carefully.

“This one’s a slow song. Relax, little one, and look around.

We are gonna do the same thing, if it’s okay with you? ”

Nodding, she peeked at the others and saw several women with their heads rested on the other men’s shoulders or chests.

Jack was tall, and her head reached the bottom of his chin easily.

No wonder he called her ‘little one’. She was compared to him and liked the endearment much better than him calling her Lady Luck.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped back into his arm and practically melted at the feeling.

“That’s perfect,” she heard Jack say as his throat and chest rumbled under her ear. She could hear his heartbeat and that drowned out any of the song for her. The combination of his cologne, the scent of his skin and the feeling as he held her was incredible.

His arms were wrapped around her waist and carefully rested on her lower back where it was appropriate. He seemed like a gentleman and she really liked it. They swayed for a short amount of time and, suddenly, the song was over.

She didn’t say a word when he didn’t let her go and instead continued to hold her for the next song without asking. They danced silently, and Charlie felt such peace in his arms. Hearing an uproar around them and feeling Jack’s arms loosen, she pulled back and recognized the music.

“Oh! I know this one!” she exclaimed happily, feeling like she fit in finally with the crowd.

“You didn’t know the last few?” Jack asked, laughing in surprise.

“Nope. But this one? This one, I love and have on my iPhone.”

“Show me what you got then, little one,” he teased at the upbeat music. Gaping, she stared at him.

“I told you I can’t dance.”

“Pretend you are alone, at home, and listening to your iPhone. What would you do?”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to whip out a screwdriver and sing to you!” she quipped bluntly, mortified at the idea of just cutting loose and dancing like a wild child to the quick paced country song.

His laughter rolled over her and made her grin.

Instead, he grabbed her hand and pulled her against him, where she could still hear the rumblings against her ear.

Instead of dancing slowly, he took faster steps to meet the music but didn’t leave the gap between them like there once was.

They danced the rest of the night together in much the same fashion until Beth found her.

“C’mon, Cinderella, it’s way past my bedtime and I have pumpkin ale at home screaming my name,” Beth yelled, yawning widely without a care in the world.

She didn’t even bother to cover her mouth, giving anyone nearby a glimpse of her molars complete with one filling.

Beth was always bold and relaxed. Charlie envied her and was willing to bet money that her friend had not shied away from letting loose on the dance floor.

Pulling away from Jack, Charlie smiled shyly. “I had a great time, but I drove tonight. Thank you for the dances.”

“Thank you for spending time with me and for keeping me safe today.”

“I don’t think I did, but you are welcome anyways.”

“Can I have your number?” he asked quickly. This surprised Charlie because she assumed he was travelling with the show and just enjoying the company for the night.

“Sure. What’s yours? I will call so you can just save it instead of searching for paper and a pen.”

Jack rattled off a phone number, surprising her with a nearby area code. Maybe he didn’t travel with the show after all? Dialing, she called and let it ring several times.

Hanging up, she smiled and allowed herself to be dragged by Beth off the dance floor. Waving, she smiled and knew that she was going to talk to him again – soon.