Wash

She rolled her eyes and then leaned close to his ear. As she spoke her lips brushed against his skin and it took everything not to start nibbling on his neck. “You show me your hidden talent and maybe I’ll dance just for you.”

Elijah stopped moving and his eyes grew bright. “You are seriously killing me here.”

She grinned and slipped her fingers through his. “Come on, I could use that drink about now.”

“I could use a couple.” They walked back to Julie and Simon. Charity let go of Elijah’s hand until they got to the table.

“Where the heck did you learn to dance like that?” Simon asked.

Charity reached for her drink and took a long gulp. She shrugged. “I always loved dancing. My mother danced ballet and signed me up for every kind of dance class as a kid. It was awesome. I had no dreams to become a professional dancer, nor would I have ever made it, but I do like it.”

Simon laughed. “Does Dr. Thompson know you’ve got those moves?”

A large pitcher appeared and someone set it on their table. “Jug of spiced rum and Coke for my favorite lady,” a deep voice boomed. “When Charity was in med school, Dr. Thompson had no idea what kind of trouble this little peanut got into!”

“Kyle!” Charity swung around and hugged her friend. “I wasn’t sure if you were here.” A waitress brought four glasses.

“I was upstairs till I saw you start cutting it up on the dance floor. The pitcher is for taking care of the dickhead.”

She laughed. Kyle was still fit like a dancer, but now in his late forties, his jet black hair had started to turn grey and a few laugh lines had etched characteristically into his face. “Kyle, these are my friends: Julie, Simon, and Elijah.”

Kyle shook their hands. A crackling erupted from the walkie-talkie on his hip. “Trouble at the back door. Couple of kids trying to sneak in.” He pounded the table. “Let the bartender know if you need anything else. Great seeing you.” He hugged her again and then left.

Elijah’s stared at her, his head slightly tilted. “You went to med school?”

Charity poured each of them a drink. She didn’t want to get into this conversation at a bar. “Yup.” She pressed the glass to her lips, refusing to say more.

Julie leaned forward. “That’s where we became best buds. University roommates and then did med school.”

“How come you never told me Charity can dance? Wait a minute – can you pole dance?” Simon glanced back and forth between the two girls. Julie elbowed him, but he winked at Charity when no one else would notice. He must have understood she didn’t want to talk about it. He turned to his wife. “Julie, do you want to try pole dancing for me? Maybe Charity will teach you… maybe you girls could videotape it.”

Charity tossed an ice cube at him. “I was the maid of honor at your wedding! You’re like a brother!”

As Simon and Julie continued to tease each other, Elijah moved closer to Charity and slipped an around her waist. He pulled her close against him. His lips teased her neck and ear as he spoke. “Where to next, gorgeous?”

Chapter 15

“Home.” Julie squeezed between Charity and Elijah. “I’m drunk. I can’t drive. We need to get a taxi.”

Simon grinned from the other side of the table. He had the pitcher of spiced rum and was pouring three glasses. “Ignore my wife. She just needs a girlie drink with a load of sugar to pick her up.”

Julie pouted.

Charity leaned over and grabbed one of the glasses Simon offered. “Juls, put the lip away. I’ll go get you a pretty drink.” She patted her friend’s shoulder. “We’re just getting started. I want to dance some more.”

As she turned to head to the bar, Elijah grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers in hers. “Every guy in this bar wants to hit on you after watching you dance. No way I’m letting you out of my sight.”

She laughed and set her glass down on a table as they passed it. She wanted one free hand and wasn’t about to let go of Elijah’s. “No one noticed me and Julie until that jerk fell over.”

Simon came up behind them. “Sorry, guys, but Julie isn’t feeling so hot. She’s headed outside. I gotta go after her.”

Charity stood on her toes to get a better view of the exit. Julie stood leaning against the wall, her hand over her eyes, trying to find Simon.

“We’re coming, too,” Elijah said. “She should get some fresh air.”

They moved through the crowd and found Julie drinking a bottle of water. “The bouncer gave it to me.” She wiped her mouth with a shaky hand. “Kind of embarrassing. The guy knows I’m a doctor because I treated his niece. Can we go?”