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“You ready to go?” Jamie stood on Sarah’s front doorstep, a grin on his ruggedly handsome face. Stepping inside he kissed her cheek lingering a moment longer against her skin than he usually would.
Tonight marked their first official date and Sarah was full of jitters. Jamie had refused to give any hints about where he was taking her other than she would need to dress warmly. She had ended up choosing a pair of dark jeans, which she paired with a chunky knit sweater and knee high brown boots. Wearing her hair down she’d put a few soft curls through it so it landed just below her shoulders. A slick of lip gloss and a light coating of mascara and she was ready to go. Looking in the mirror she was pleased with what she saw; tonight she felt particularly soft and feminine.
“I think so. Am I dressed okay for where we’re going?”
“Perfect, though do you have a scarf you can wear? It can get a bit cold there.”
“And where is that again?” Sarah asked cagily hoping that he would slip up and tell her.
“Nice try. You’ll find out when we get there.”
Grabbing a scarf and her bag Sarah quickly flipped off the lights in the house and locked the house, leaving just the light over the front porch burning.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Jamie said taking Sarah’s hand as the pair walked towards his truck.
“Thank you. You don’t look too shabby yourself,” she said returning the compliment.
Jamie looked more than okay in Sarah’s opinion. His usual jeans were gone and in their place he had worn a pair of thick caramel coloured trousers paired with a cream knit sweater. His hair which was usually falling in his face had been pushed back with some sort of product. He looked different, but a good different.
“Madam,” Jamie proffered, opening Sarah’s side of the truck for her.
“Thank you kind sir,” she flashed him a smile at the kind gesture before climbing in.
Leaving Sarah’s home they wound their way through the streets of Mount Kiernon before Jamie indicated to turn on to the main highway. Choosing to turn right he edged the car out on to the black top of the road.
“Are we going to Penwick?” Sarah asked as she realised the direction he was heading in.
He nodded. “Sort of. We’re going to a place ten minutes the other side of it.”
“I didn’t think there was anything the other side except highway.”
Jamie smiled smugly sure in his belief that Sarah had no idea where they were headed to. “There’s one thing.”
As they travelled along the road they chatted away happily. At one stage Jamie had reached out and clasped Sarah’s hand in his, driving one handed for a good portion of the journey. But eventually he took his hand back when nearly forty minutes later he edged the truck down a long winding road. The single signpost that held the name of the road gave no clues as to what was down it.
“What on Earth?” Sarah marvelled as ahead of them she saw a long line of the trucks, sedans, people movers and SUV’s, barely crawling forward. “What is everyone here for?”
“The same thing as us. You’ll see when we get around the bend up ahead.” Jamie was grinning like a schoolkid at the thought of the surprise.
In a stop-start fashion the cars slowly inched ahead. As they turned the bend in the road that Jamie had told her about an enormous white screen came into view.
“You’re taking me to a drive in theatre?” Sarah sat forward in her seat craning her neck to get a better view of the screen as they continued to inch towards it.
“Yep. I figure you seem to really like movies so I thought you might like this.”
“Jamie I love it! I’ve never been to one before, this is going to be brilliant!” Sarah was enthusiastic at the idea of sitting in a vehicle watching a film instead of a cinema seat. “Do you know what they’re showing?”
“The latest James Bond.” His smile faltered for a moment. “Do you even like Bond films?”
“Absolutely, I’m a huge Bond fan. You could have told me they were playing a Disney movie and I’d still be this excited.”
Finally they reached the head of the line and Sarah saw why it had been so slow going. The road had dead ended into the drive in, but the ticketing booth was open causing each car to stop and pay entrance before moving on. As their turn arrived and the cashier told Jamie the entry price Sarah reached for her purse.
“I’ve got it,” Jamie told her digging into his pocket for his wallet.
With the entry fee paid Jamie drove his truck through the enormous parking lot before finally settling on a slot towards the back. “You okay with this spot?” he asked Sarah turning to her.
“Yep. I still can’t believe I didn’t know about this place. With all the gossip that goes through Dawning I’m surprised that no one ever mentioned it.”
“Neither can I. I thought for sure the second I told you to grab a scarf that you were going to work it out.”
“Didn’t have a clue.” Looking at the blank white screen in front of them Sarah got to thinking. “What time does the movie start?”
“Pretty soon. Stay here a second, I just need to grab something out the back.”
Leaving her alone in the truck while he rummaged around in the flat bed Sarah looked at the occupants of the other vehicles. Most were filled with younger people out on dates or carloads of friends out for something to do for the evening, but she also spotted a few families with young children.
A man who was moving between a couple of cars caught her attention as he headed towards a small building at the back of the lot. Is that Spence? Sarah wondered as she squinted at him in the dull light. Before she could work it out Jamie had opened the door and climbed back inside, his hands full.
“Here,” he said handing her a small bag, “Can you hold this for a second?”
Taking the bag from him Sarah watched as he began unfolding a fleece blanket.
“Best thing about having an older truck is the bench seats. Perfect for sharing a blanket with someone special at the drive in.” Draping it over his legs he lifted up the side closest to Sarah. “Care to join me?”
“Smooth move,” she laughed sliding across to join him in the centre of the seat slipping under the blanket. “I can just imagine you as a teenager offering to share your blanket with whatever girl you brought out here.”
“There were a few,” Jamie admitted truthfully, laughing at her suggestion. “But it’s been years since I’ve been out here with a girl other than Becca.” He stopped realising what he’d just said. “That came out bad. That’s not what I meant.”
Sarah laughed. “I think I know what you mean. I’m guessing you’ve been out here more than a few times with Becca, Cam and that lot?”
Jamie looked relieved that Sarah had understood. “Yeah.”
“So what’s in the bag?” she asked lifting up the bag he’d given her to hold.
“Open it,” he offered. Sarah did and was surprised to find it contained several different packets of candy and potato chips. “Not exactly dinner, but trust me you’re better off eating this than something from the concession stand.” Jamie told her.
“I take it the concession stand isn’t so great then?” Sarah asked with an eyebrow raised in question.
“I’ve been sick a few times the day after I’ve eaten from there. It’d be a pretty crappy end to our date if you wake up tomorrow and start throwing up.”
Sarah curled her lip at the thought. “Can’t say I want to be doing that.”
“Here we go,” Jamie said as an image came up on the large screen telling the moviegoers what frequency to tune their radio into to hear the audio for the film.
As he fiddled with the radio Sarah searched through the bag and pulled out a packet of cheese and onion chips. “Yummo,” she declared ripping the bag open and popping one into her mouth. “Lucky guess on getting my favourites.”
“With the amount of chips you bought the day we went grocery shopping I figured they’d be a pretty safe bet.”
“Want some?” she asked tilting the bag towards him. As she did the screen changed from the radio station message to upcoming feature films. Settling back against the car seat she sat close to Jamie without touching him and sighed happily. Completely normal and it feels so good.
As the previews finished and the screen segued into the Bond film they made their way through the potato chips before opening a bag of candy. As the action scenes began to fly by Sarah was barely picking at the sweet confection. Lifting the candy bag from his lap Jamie rested it on the dashboard where he and Sarah could both reach. Sitting back against the seat he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Sarah and pull her into his side.
“Is this alright?” he whispered as he did.
The fact that he asked touched Sarah. “I’ll let you know if anything is too much for me,” she assured him, resting her head on his chest and wrapping her own arm around his waist. “I’m okay, Jamie. I’m not going to break.”
They sat quietly and watched the film together, Sarah listening to Jamie’s heartbeat as she relaxed against his chest. Every now and again they murmured conversation to one another about the movie.
“I need chocolate,” Jamie announced with about twenty minutes remaining before the end of the film. Moving his arms away from Sarah he reached into the bag and pulled out a bar. Placing it on the dashboard alongside the now mostly empty bag of candy it sat uneaten.
Pulling Sarah back to his side Jamie continued to hold her, one hand resting on his lap and the other around her, but Sarah could feel his body wasn’t as relaxed as it had been. She ignored the thought as James Bond pulled a suave move with a woman. As she looked forwards out the corner of her eye she noticed Jamie’s fingers begin to tap against the steering wheel in restlessness. Not long after his right leg joined in, bouncing up and down.
“Not enjoying the movie?” Sarah asked sitting up and looking at Jamie.
“What? I love Bond films,” Jamie said surprised at the question.
“It’s just that you seem a little preoccupied with something,” Sarah suggested.
“It’s fine,” he assured her. “Come back here, I like holding you in my arms.”
Sarah curled back up against his chest, Jamie tucking her head under his chin and absently playing with her hair. They lasted like this for less than five minutes before Jamie’s restlessness became apparent again. Sarah could feel Jamie’s body tense with every minute that passed as whatever was on his mind started to gnaw at him. When he gave a long sigh Sarah sat up quickly.
“It’s okay to go, you know. We don’t have to stay.”
“Where did that come from?” Jamie looked at her perplexed.
“It’s pretty clear there’s something on your mind. So if you don’t want to be here with me and you need to deal with whatever’s eating at you, it’s okay to go.”
“Sarah, I want to be here. I want to be with you.” Jamie reached for her again, but Sarah scooted backwards from his reach.
“Then what’s going on with you? You’re wound up as tight as a jack-in-the-box that’s about to pop.”
He ran a hand through his hair causing some of the slicked back strands to fall down into his face. “I just don’t get it,” he admitted.
“What don’t you get?”
“You and Spence. The guys who flirt with you at your work. You seem okay with that. But then when it’s you and me –“
“You said you were okay to take this slowly,” Sarah’s tried to hide the stab of hurt she felt at his words.
Though she had tried to hide it her face must have revealed more than she intended for as Jamie looked at her he blanched. “I am. I meant it, Sarah. I’ll take this as slow as you need.”
“So then what’s the problem?” she asked slowly.
“I get that I said the wrong thing and screwed it up between us that first night, I do. But I just don’t understand how you can be okay with some of the things that Spence has said to you, or guys at work, but with me you ...” Jamie trailed off having stumbled over his words.
“But what? Do you think I’m being, what, some kind of tease with you? Is that it?” Sarah leaned away from Jamie even further.
“God, no! Don’t even think that for a second.” Jamie implored her.
“Then what?” Sarah eyed him warily as she waited for an explanation.
“The day we went to the pub, that day you moved into town and we all went out? Spence said stuff about the size of his, well..”
“His fry if I remember correctly,” Sarah prompted primly.
Jamied nodded. “He was flirting with you like crazy and you didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
“He was,” Sarah agreed. “But can you remember that I also put him in his place for it? That every time he tried something I shot him down? I still do.”
Jamie nodded. “But how do you handle it? I’ve seen guys come into Dawning and flirt with you. Hell, even women do sometimes and you handle it so well. But –“
“But when you touch me I freak out?” Sarah suggested sardonically.
“Yeah,” Jamie finished lamely.
“I handle it because none of it’s real. Spence, and the guys who come through Dawning some days, there’s no emotion to it, it’s all about ego.”
Jamie frowned at Sarah not quite comprehending.
“I’ve worked in hospitality for a while, remember,” she reminded him, explaining. “A lot of people are just flirty by nature – men and women – and they don’t necessarily mean anything by it. It’s harmless mostly. To be honest sometimes it’s even nice. To be told that I’m attractive or made to feel attractive because someone has flirted with me a little can be nice. But it’s just words. With you it’s different.”
“How? Why is it so different with me?” Jamie wasn’t angry or sad or frustrated. He simply just didn’t understand.
Sarah looked at Jamie, surprised that he didn’t realise the answer. “Because you matter,” was her honest reply.
Jamie’s eyes softened as he realised what she was saying. That she cared for him in a way that mattered more than others who were around her.
“Your words, your touch – it matters. You make me feel things I haven’t felt in years – if ever - and it’s scary as hell. You’ve got to remember the last man that I felt something like this for he...he...”
Jamie reached out and took Sarah’s hands in his. “I know,” he said gently, saving Sarah from saying the words. They sat silently for a moment as he rhythmically traced circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
“I’m not him, Sarah. I can’t promise that I won’t stuff up again. I can’t promise that I won’t say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing again. But I’m not him.”
“I know. And I’m so glad you’re not.” Sarah replied raising her eyes to meet his.
Jamie looked at her intently and began to lean forwards. Sarah’s pulse quickened as she wondered if he would try to kiss her. But lifting his head he instead pressed his lips to her forehead like he had done so many times since she’d met him.
Safe territory.
“Come here,” he beckoned her gathering her back into his arms. Willingly she resumed her place against Jamie’s chest as together they settled back against the car seat.
“I think we missed the good bit of the movie,” Sarah noted.
“It’s Bond. Any bit with him in it is good,” Jamie countered.
***
As he drove her home that night and walked her up to the front door of her house to say goodnight Jamie hadn’t tried to kiss Sarah. Nor had he on their second date when they went hiking along one of the many trails that Marg had mentioned to customers when she worked at Dawning.
“Are you okay that I haven’t taken you to a fancy restaurant?” he asked her as they cuddled on her couch that evening on what marked their third date since Sarah had agreed to give a relationship with Jamie a chance. Jamie had laughed when she’d laughingly referred to their evening as a non-date as it was one of the usual nights that he would come over for dinner anyway.
“No. It’s absolutely terrible and you should make it up to me immediately,” she said farcically.
“Cos I can if you want, you know. I can grab my keys and take you to somewhere in Penwick. Or Franklin. Anywhere you want to go. You choose.” He made a move to get up from the couch and reach for his keys that were sitting on the coffee table in front of them.
Laughing, she pulled him back on to the couch, the breath whooshing out of him as he landed heavily against the cushioned seat. Sarah felt his chest move rapidly as he laughed as she snuggled even more closely against his warm body to keep him in place next to her as she looked up at him. “I don’t want to be anywhere but here. I don’t need fancy restaurants or expensive meals. I like this. I like being here with you, like this.” She gave him an affectionate squeeze.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I like us like this too,” he whispered.
This is it, the perfect moment for our first kiss. All he had to do was move his head down that short stretch between them and close the gap. She sat patiently waiting for him to close the distance and make the first move.
Lifting his hand Jamie gently touched Sarah’s face. As he skimmed his thumb along her lower lip he traced its shape as he alternated his gaze between her lips and eyes. Dropping his gaze lower to where the pendant he had given her for her birthday sat, the diamonds winking up at him, Jamie slid his hand slowly from Sarah’s face down her throat, her skin tingling at his caress. Lifting the pendant away from her skin he rested it against the open palm of his hand.
Jamie stared at the pendant, transfixed, before slowly lifting his head and looking at Sarah with a wonder in his eyes that she wasn’t unable to interpret. Lowering the pendant back to its resting place he ran his hand back up the side of her neck and tangled his fingers in her hair. Sarah gave a silent prayer of thanks that she had worn it down that night. The feel of his fingers in her hair alone made her shudder slightly as her heart began to race with anticipation.
Only for disappointment to blossom.
Instead of kissing her as Sarah was sure that he had been about to Jamie took a deep breath and guided her head back down to his chest where he cradled her closely. The desire for him to kiss her had Sarah just about ready to scream in frustration as he had made the choice not to. Again.
Yet even as the disappointment stirred Sarah had also been secretly pleased. In every way Jamie was showing himself to be a man of his word. He was taking his time just as he’d promised he would and never once pressured her. With every action and every touch that had been new to the two of them he had checked with her.
He made Sarah feel wanted. He made her feel cherished.
And most importantly to her, she knew she could trust him implicitly.