| They walked back out and to the table. Brian looked like he had the world on his shoulders and when he saw them he was on his feet in a second. He fussed over Sue, making sure she was okay before helping her to sit back in the booth. He felt mortified that this had happened which only made him feel more uptight and uneasy. He had always been shy around new people and when it was a girl he liked he was worse. Especially when he liked a girl as much as he seemed to like her. How he wished he had AJ or Howie's charm with the women. That he could talk to them about anything and not feel ill at ease. He sat back and didn't speak, listening to the other three talk. He knew he should say something, but he couldn't. When Jac and Kevin excused themselves to go and dance together, he knew he would have to say something. "Sue, I'm really sorry about before. I never meant for that to happen." He started awkwardly. Sue put her hand on his arm and that was almost his undoing. "It's okay Brian, honest. It will dry and I am sure it will clean out okay. Don't worry about it, It isn't the end of the world," she told him and again he was stuck for something to say. He watched her looking at the couples on the dance floor and he felt she would like to join them. He didn't know if he could do it. Could he hold her in his arms and dance with her without making a fool of himself? But as time wore on and they sat there silent, he knew he had to ask. They were at a dance club after all. "Sue, would you like to dance?" She smiled. "You want to? I'd love to." "Okay, lets dance then." He stood up and held his hand out to her. The moment her fingers touched his he knew he was gone. Totally. He wanted this woman in his life and he wanted her there for a long time. Forever sounded good to him. As they got to the dance floor a fast track was being played by the DJ, the music thumping through the room. Brian led Sue to the side of the dance floor and watched as she started to move. As much as he danced on stage for every concert they did, he always felt uncomfortable just dancing for the sake of it. He knew he couldn't just stand there so he started to move along to the music, starting to enjoy himself. As if on queue, a slow number began to play and Brian wondered what he should do. Sue looked up shyly at Brian, and he knew she felt a little uncomfortable too. He wanted to hold her in his arms, and his whole body was tingling at the thought of holding her close, but he also felt it was a bit inappropriate seeing they had just met. He looked over and saw Kevin holding Jac close to his body, her head leaning on his chest, her arms around his waist. Their bodies fit so well together, it was as if they were a matching pair, and Brian wanted that feeling more than anything. He looked at Sue and wondered if she was the one. Would he ever have the love that was so obvious between Kevin and Jac? He hoped he would. Finally, Brian stepped a little closer to Sue and silently asked her if it was okay to move closer. She made no attempt to move away, so he lifted his arms to her waist and moved in as close as he dared. She smiled at him softly and he marvelled at the way her smile lit up her face. He was falling fast and he knew it. Without conscious thought he pulled he closer till their bodies were just touching and his whole body felt on fire. He wanted to stay here all night, just moving in her arms. When Brian pulled Sue into his arms, she felt wary to begin with. The moment their bodies touched, a current sizzled through her body and she liked it. Normally very shy around men, this was something she didn't often do. Her closest friends knew how she felt, but now she wasn't with those friends, and she was feeling a little adventurous. She wanted Brian to hold her like this. Even closer maybe. She lifted her arms up to place them around his neck, liking the way the curls on the back of his neck fell about her fingers. She wanted to play with those curls in a sudden longing of intimacy, but it didn't feel proper yet. They danced like this for quite a few numbers and Brian wondered when they would move on to the faster songs again. As nice as it felt to hold Sue close in his arms, he still felt uncomfortable, especially for this long. What he didn't know though, was that Howie had teed it up with the DJ, that if he ever saw Brian and Sue on the dance floor, he was to play the slower tracks. Brian stepped back a little to look at Sue. "Feel like a break?" He asked. He saw the sudden flash of disappointment in her eyes, which she quickly hid and nodded. "Just for a little while. We can come back if you like," he added and was again rewarded with that smile. He moved away, but his arm was stuck. Well, his hand more to the point. "Um, hold still, I think the button on my shirt is stuck on your top. Sue went to move. "No! don't move, you might rip it." Brian didn't even think what he was doing and reached around behind Sue, pulling her in closer than they had the entire time they had danced and tried to loosen the offending piece of material from the. When he realised what he had done, he pulled away as if burnt. "I'm sorry Sue, I never meant to…" he started and Sue laughed. "What?" "Will you stop apologising to me please. Here try this way." She whirled around so her back was to Brian and he could see what he was doing and use both hands to free the button. Sue looked over her shoulder at him with mischievous eyes. "Besides. It felt good." Brian sucked in his breath when she said that to him. He knew he felt it, but did she really mean it. He wished he was more forthright with women, but he wasn't, especially ones he liked. Finally he freed the button and took her hand nearly dragging her back to their table. He sat down and pushed the fresh round of drinks waiting for them to the middle of the table before he could do more damage. He felt so stupid and clumsy tonight. They sat silently while this song finished. Brian was astonished to hear a faster number on next and groaned to himself. He watched Kevin and Jac moving to the beat to this song and one other before they came back to the table laughing. They stopped short when they saw the two of them at the table, sitting awkwardly sipping their drinks. Looked like trouble in paradise, or paradise needed a kick along. Their own romantic time would be put on hold while they tried to help Brian. That was a sacrifice both of them decided was worth it. And so the night went on. Every time Brian thought it was safe to head out on the dance floor, while the fast tracks were playing, the slow numbers would take over. He liked holding Sue in his arms, and each time it felt a little more comfortable, but in the back of his mind something stopped him from letting go. Well into the night Brian had finally had enough of everything. His mind was going crazy with longing for this woman, and wanting to keep his distance. "Sue, do you mind if I call it a night?" he asked her. "That's fine by me." She looked over at Kevin and Jac again in each other's arms on the dance floor. Brian noticed Sue looking, and realised she had no way home, other than the lovebirds out there dancing. "Could I give you a lift home?" he asked her out of the blue. "That'd be nice. Thanks Brian." Sue said to him. She felt relieved and he could tell. "Wait here, I'll just have to let Kevin know we are leaving." Brian got up and walked over to Kevin. Sue watched Brian talking to him and thought about her evening. When she had said yes to Kevin's invitation, she had no inclination that it would turn out like this. It had been a better evening than she had hoped for. She realised she had told Kevin never to set her up with any of the other Backstreet Boys, but seeing Howie never did return, she had a feeling that was exactly what had happened. But she could hardly complain. She felt there was something going on between her and Brian, but she wasn't sure what yet. He was so shy and really nervous, but Jac had told her on another trip to the bathroom that was an indicator that Brian liked her. He was always like this when he found a girl he liked, and Jac had never seen him so nervous or so shy before. She liked the sound of that. Brian walked back and she stood up, ready to leave. "Kevin said to say goodnight to you. Jac too." She looked over Brian's shoulder and waved to the couple dancing on the dance floor. They waved back then Brian guided her out of the club with a hand on the small of her back. Sue enjoyed that little bit of contact, if that was all she was going to get. They walked to a black sporty looking car. She was impressed. She knew Brian was well off, with the success he had achieved, but this was one nice car. He opened the passenger door and helped her in the car. She sunk into the leather seat and closed her eyes, loving the feel of it. Brian closed the door and she moved to get her seatbelt and she heard it….. Even from outside the car, Brian heard the rip. He groaned out loud and covered his face with one hand while opening the car door again. "Please don't tell me that was what I think it was." Sue giggled. She felt for Brian so much. It seemed like everything he was doing tonight was going wrong. He looked so distraught and her heart went out to him. It was almost as if he was trying too hard, and that, she found endearing. Rather than be upset at him by the rip in her top, she could only feel herself falling further for him. "You think this is funny? Oh Sue, I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." "Brian," Sue said, to get his attention. "Don't worry about it. It's okay, it was an accident. Now come and get in the car and drive." Brian walked around the front of the car and hopped into his seat. He looked over at Sue not knowing what to say, so he turned back and started the car. "Okay, where to?" Sue gave him her address and he realised it was close to his place. That was a bonus. As he drove, they talked quietly to each other. Brian reached for the radio and found a station with easy listening music on it. It set the mood for the drive. Ten minutes into the drive, and almost at Sue's house, the car began to splutter. "What's going on?" Brian said aloud as the car continued to splutter and he moved it to the side of the road, just in time before the car stopped completely. Brian looked stunned. He didn't know what the problem was. "Don't say it Brian." Sue said hiding the humour she felt. "Don't say what?" "You're sorry." Sue told him and laughed. He had to laugh along with her. "This has to be the date from Hell hey?" Brian said to her. "Date? Was this a date?" Sue asked, eyebrow raised questioningly. "That's what I was told by Kevin. Didn't you know?" "Hmm. No, I didn't know. Kevin just asked me to join him at the club tonight. I needed the time out, so I said yes." "I think we've been played with tonight. Can you imagine what they would be like now?" Sue laughed. "Brian, every time they came to the table tonight, they acted as if they had to baby sit us along. I would say right about now they would be making up for lost time in the romantic stakes." Brian chuckled at the thought. "Well, if I can't get this car to start, I am going to interrupt them and get Kevin here to help us. Payback for what he has done." "Is what he did necessarily a bad thing?" Sue asked. She had to know how he felt, if her hoping things would go further would be a waste of time. Brian looked at her. She loved his eyes and when he looked at her as sweetly as he was now, she wanted to throw herself into his arms. "No, its not a bad thing at all." He admitted. They sat looking at one another, neither of them willing to break eye contact. Sue's insides were doing funny things, but she liked it. It had been a long time since anyone had made her feel like this. Then a car went by, it's headlights snapping them out of their daze. "I better go see what's wrong hey?" he said softly. "Can you pop the hood while I get out?" Brian opened the door and got out of the car, walking around the front to wait for the hood to be popped. Sue looked about the car's dashboard to see if she could find the lever to do as she was asked when she noticed the gas indicator and started to laugh. She was laughing so hard Brian came back to see what the problem was. "Sue? What's so funny?" "Look." She said pointing at the indicator. Brian groaned, smacking his hand to his head. "Oh I don't believe it. I have never run out of gas in my life. I'm sor…. No I won't say it. I hope you don't think I have done this on purpose." Brian said, his face turning red yet again. There it goes again, that feeling of Brian digging his way deeper into her heart. Brian got in the car and picked up his cell phone. "No Brian, I don't think you did this on purpose." Sue said to him as he dialled Kevin's number. "Kevin?" Brian asked when he heard someone answer the phone. He heard kissing sounds and laughed, looking at Sue who could also hear them in the enclosed space. "Kevin, leave Jac alone for a minute and listen to me. I need your help." At the word help the kissing stopped and Kevin's voice came on the other end. "Brian? What's wrong?" Brian took a breath and prepared himself for the ridicule he knew would come. "I'm out of gas Kevin. I need you to get me some." Sure enough, laughter erupted and Brian waited for Kevin to stop before giving him instructions to where they were. Kevin said he would be on his way immediately. While they waited, Sue and Brian talked more. Brian told Sue all about life on the road, how lonely it could sometimes be. Sue told Brian you didn't need to be on the road to be lonely. That worried Brian. He didn't like to think of Sue as lonely. In his heart, he wanted to be the one who would always make sure she was never lonely again. But with the way they travelled, how could he possibly do that. Finally, Kevin arrived with a can of gas for him to put in his car. He still couldn't believe he had run out of gas. They filled the car again, as Sue sat inside the car waiting. Kevin pulled Brian aside. "You've had some evening Brian. You know how to treat the ladies. Did you rip the top too?" he laughed at him. He had hoped Kevin hadn't noticed that little detail. "As a matter of fact, I did." Brian looked away. "If I haven't scared her away from me for life I will be surprised. But I hope I haven't." Kevin looked seriously at Brian. "You really like her don't you?" "Yeah. Yeah I do." Brian said with a far away look in his eyes. "Trust me Brian. She likes you too. I know her. She enjoyed tonight. It's not something she does too often." Kevin told him and he remembered back to her saying she was lonely. He would have to ask him more about her later. Right now he had to get her home, and let Kevin get back to Jac, who was probably still laughing about the whole situation he had gotten himself into. "Thanks Kevin. I better get her home." "Yeah. Just one word of advice Brian. Relax. Don't try so hard and don't be nervous. It will all work out, you'll see." They parted and Brian got back in the car. Sue was sitting side on, watching Brian as he got in. "What?" he asked. 'Oh nothing. Just enjoying the view." She smiled at him. Brian smiled back. He didn't know what to say to her. He started the car and it purred to life as if there had never been a problem, making Brian laugh. He steered the car back onto the road and drove the remaining few miles to Sue's house. He climbed out of the car, opening the door for her. He watched every move he made, making sure he didn't jam any fingers or get into any more trouble. Sue got her key out and Brian took it from her, unlocking the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then?" He said to her. "Yep. See you tomorrow." They stood in uneasy silence for what seemed an eternity. Finally Sue broke the silence. " Thank you Brian. I had a lovely time tonight." "You did?" "Yes, I did. It's the best time I have had in a long time." "Yeah. Me too." Brian answered her. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew he couldn't. Not yet. It was too soon for him. But a kiss on the cheek would be okay, he thought. He leaned over quickly and kissed her cheek, turning just as quickly when he did. "See you tomorrow," he called over his shoulder. Before Sue knew what had happened he was in his car and starting the engine, pulling away as soon as it started. She frowned. He really was shy she thought. Her hand reached up to her cheek where he had kissed her and lingered. It wasn't much, but it was something from him. Did she want more? That was something she had to work out in her heart, and soon. He was coming back tomorrow! |