Guarding Light (38 page)

   Jack slowly began to back her towards the bed. Before laying her down he looked into her eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her look sad, she spoke with the same sadness that was in her eyes. "I've no doubts at all that you could make me want you. I love you. Your body and your sex drive me crazy. So, yes, you could probably take me right now and have me screaming your name and coming like rain inside a few minutes." Her dark sad eyes bore into his. "Is that what you want, someone writhing under you, willing in body but not in mind and heart?"

   Slammed with the truth, Jack stepped back. He picked up her duffle and waved a hand for her to precede him out the door. He walked her to the car, placing her duffle on the backseat.

   He leaned in the open window after she started the engine. Catching her eyes in a deep, soul touching gaze he spoke softly. "Catlyn Lee Lyte, this is not the end. I will make this right between us again."

   Feeling extremely doubtful, Catlyn gave him a solemn smile. "I will see you later, chief." With those final words she put her car in motion. Looking in the rearview mirror she saw that he watched her until she could no longer see him.

Chapter 14

   The Newburgh Landing was hopping. The upper parking lots, high on the hill, were filled to capacity and all the street parking was being used. Teeming crowds overflowed the businesses and walkway. Brightly decorated vendors hawked their wares with joyous noise. Music, from several different locations, played as a continuous background, all melding to create a festive cacophony. Patrolmen intermingled with the crowds, keeping the peace and watchful eyes on the happily running and roaming children.

   Rainbows on the Hudson had an uproariously gleeful crowd. There were people sitting at a row of tables near the DJ's setup. The judges were signing in couples, assigning them their numbers, collecting tickets. Spectators sat at the available tables surrounding the temporary dance floor. The floor shined with the afternoon sun.

   "Hey, girl, what cha' doing over here? Shouldn't you be in that humongous line getting a number assigned."

   Catlyn turned to see Mackenzie. They stood on the outskirts of the main crowd lining up to be assigned their number for the dance off. She had underestimated how big the crowd was going to be. She also miscalculated the age of the participants. Catlyn had expected most of the participants to be in their 20s but it seemed the majority of the crowd was in their 30s or older. With the exception of Mackenzie Catlyn didn't catch sight of any of the other agents or Rider and Anderson, who she knew were also somewhere in the crowd.

   "Hey, Mack, are you ok?" Catlyn remembered her friend's outburst at Jack's. She seemed to take Jason's ignorance of his twin's actions as a personal affront.

   Without looking at Catlyn, Mackenzie answered stiffly, "I am fine. I just can't deal with stupid people."

   Deciding to leave it alone, Catlyn changed the subject by asking, "Mack, have you seen any of the others?"

   "I saw Sanchez and that cute black detective earlier. But, that was before this crowd turned into the Blob."

   Catlyn's brow furrowed. Both Rider and Anderson were black. "Which black detective?" Both could also be described as 'cute'.

   "The taller, darker one with the muscles," Mackenzie answered without taking her observant eyes from the people surrounding them. Anderson.

   Catlyn felt better knowing there was proven back-up in place. As she took another encompassing glance of the mass of people, looking for one particular set of broad shoulders, hands braced her hips from behind, a muscular chest pressed to her back and a gravelly voice whispered in her ear. "Looking for me sweetheart?"

   Shuddering in reaction, Catlyn steeled her bones not to turn to water. Her nipples already peaked due to his whispery baritone against her neck. "I can't believe you found me in this crowd. Did you expect it to be this huge?"

   Jack turned her in his arms. Staring deeply into her eyes he said, "I will
always fi
nd you, Kitten."

   Blushing, Catlyn looked away.

   Clearing his throat Jack continued, "I don't think anyone expected this craziness. I had dispatch put in a call for all hands on deck."

   Catlyn nodded, "Great idea."

   "You guys should get in that line. I am gonna go grab a table in the spectator's section." Mackenzie was off.

   "I'd kill for her energy." Catlyn sighed tiredly.

   Jack smiled as he took her hand and got in line. "I don't know what you're talking about. You've been going practically non-stop since you walked in my office. Waitressing, walking home after being on your feet for hours, getting attacked and injured, studying files and reports endlessly, and not to mention very energetic and fantastic sex, hell, she should kill for your energy."

   Before Catlyn could answer a loud exclamation sounded from behind them. "Oh, my, God, I didn't think to see the stoic C of D's here, doing something fun and with a date."

   Catlyn turned at the slightly familiar voice. Sara Dolson or rather Sara Mint stood there with her huge Colgate smile. She was stunning. Her hair glowed healthy golden blonde and cascade down her back nearly to her waist. Her bright blue eyes flashed with merriment and good humor. Her body was still very well built and curved in all the right places. She wore a black skirt with a cream colored top and high-heeled strappy sandals, she looked hot.

   Catlyn felt herself stiffen as Jack released her hand to shake hands with Sara's companion. "Hello Sara, Dan, how goes it?"

   Daniel Mint shook Jack's hand before looking at Catlyn. "Holy shit, is this Catlyn Lyte?"

   Smiling and taking Dan's offered hand, Catlyn confirmed, "Indeed it is, how are you, Dan?" She had always liked Daniel Mint. He was another boy next door type who believed in defending God and country.

   "Well, pretty lady, I've been doing real well. I am the editor of the Newburgh Times Herald Record, married to my best friend and have my health, so no complaints here, how have you been?"

   Catlyn laughed, feeling a little reluctant to give her cover story in return for such genuine honesty. "I decided to move back to town and try to make a go in the town I was born. I work here on the waterfront. Very shortly after I got here, Jack looked me up and we've been dating ever since."

   Daniel laughingly gave Jack a very male wink. "I bet he did look you up. He and every other guy at that school were dying for you to turn 18. Man, you were one hot mama."

   Sara poked Dan in the ribs. "Watch it mister, the couch is free tonight."

   They all laughed. "All kidding aside, Catlyn you were a beautiful kid and I see you are now a beautiful woman." He gave Jack a thumbs up sign, "Good going, Jack."

   Pulling her into his arms, Jack smiled with pride. "She's always had my heart. Now she's old enough to do something about it."

   "Yeah, me myself, I'd have gone after you on your eighteenth birthday, not wait 25 years." Dan then frowned as he remembered something. "But, that's right you disappeared our senior year after—"

   Suddenly Dan turned fire engine red and started to stutter. "I-I-I am so s-sorry. I-I—"

   Sara talked over her husband's stumbling words. "So Catlyn, I remember you being a really good dancer but if I remember correctly, Jack was hopeless and he was going to be taking lessons from Tasha. Do you think he learned enough to keep up with us?"

   Following Sara's cue to draw attention from the other uncomfortable pair, Jack smirked. "Yeah, right, as I recall Mint couldn't keep his left and right straight unless he was on a football field. This ain't no football field it's a dance floor."

   Recovering his good nature Dan countered, "Oh is that right, well, it's on Gard. Be prepared to lose."

   Sara laughed, including Catlyn, "Uh, oh, Catlyn, I think we might need our umbrellas to keep us from being drenched with so much testosterone."

   Quirking an eyebrow Catlyn joined in the good mood. "There isn't an umbrella big enough."

****

"She's still the prettiest girl in the place." Catlyn admitted.

   Jack followed Catlyn's gaze across the crowd to one of the tables on the edge of the dance floor. "Sara is pretty." He shrugged his big shoulders. "But, I am partial to brown. Brown eyes, brown hair, brown skin." With smoldering jade eyes and wagging eyebrows, he leaned in and whispered, "And, I am very partial to yummy brown pussy that resembles a chocolate covered strawberry."

   She couldn't hide how good his words made her feel. Smiling softly she took his hand in hers, kissing it gently. "Jack Gard, what you do to me."

   He winked. "It's more like what Jack Gard wants to do
with
you."

   Shaking her head, she said, "Such a guy", she tugged him towards a table near the Mints.

****

   The dance off was in full swing. The dance floor was over crowded. But, Catlyn didn't think it would stay that way for long. The rules were simple. Only couples could be in the contest. Each couple must dance. Each had to be doing the dance named in the song playing. There would be 15 minute intervals, 5 of the minutes would be free style. Free style was only allowed as the DJ called for it, then the couples could dance how they chose but dance they must. There were judges throughout the dance floor and if one tapped you, you and your partner were gone and must immediately vacate the dance floor.

   Catlyn and Jack were number 17. There was a paper number affixed to both their backs. Catlyn realized the DJ's strategy almost immediately. He would call for a dance from the 40s, 50s and 60s and then jump to a current one and dip into the 70s 80s and 90s then switch to a current one. He also switched up the genres in rapid succession. So far they had done The Stroll, The Tush Push, The Electric Slide and now they were doing a more current one the, WOP. Many couples were cleared off the dance floor very quickly due to the fact they didn't know how to do a certain dance.

   At first, Catlyn thought she and Jack would be among the first to be tapped off the dance floor. However, she was proven wrong when Jack smoothly transition from one dance to another, expertly taking Catlyn with him. His moves were incredible. Catlyn was able to easily follow him and they flowed together like they had been doing it for years. His hands at her waist perfectly guided her out of the spin in The Electric Slide to the first step of the WOP as the DJ seamlessly changed the songs. Jack kept their bodies close. His comfortingly behind her, keeping just enough space for him to do the moves required. He also touched her whenever possible, a hand at her waist, on her shoulder, the small of her back. When the DJ called the first free style, Jack crowded his front to Catlyn's back, anchoring his hand to her hips as he joined her in rhythmic gyrations to the beat of the music.

   She turned in his arms. Jack leaned in, speaking loudly over the music into her ear. "Kitten, you are going to forgive me, aren't you?"

   Catlyn looked into his eyes. He was smiling and nodding. Arrogant cuss! He knew she loved him and couldn't stay mad at him. But, she had to hold her ground a little longer than a few hours or she'd never win another argument with him.

   He twirled her around, laughing, "Come on, admit it, you forgive me for doing stupid guy things." Catlyn just laughed, shaking her head no, refusing to admit anything. Jack laughed and pulled her close for a quick kiss on the cheek.

   In her peripheral vision Catlyn saw Jabaria tap out two couples close to them. She glanced over to the DJs setup and saw Mack in deep, animated conversation with the DJ. And as Jack turned her again she saw Sanchez and Tasha tearing up the dance floor. Catlyn even saw Sharonda delivering drinks to several tables. Who she didn't see were the police she knew to be undercover here on the waterfront.

   "Jack, have you seen Rider or Anderson yet?" Catlyn put her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to lead her into a few spins around the dance floor.

   "No, but I know they are here. Why?" Jack asked as the DJ called for the Macarena. Catlyn could only shake her head as he put her to his side and began the moves for the song.

****

   Hours later, the incredibly, unseasonably warm weather was still holding. Many of the dancers were now spectators as there were only 5 couples left. Sanchez and Tasha, Sara and Daniel, a Hispanic couple that were amazing and outshined everyone on the salsa dances and rumba numbers and an African American couple who were also very good and Catlyn and Jack.

   The DJ's voice suddenly cut into the salsa number the couples were doing and announced, "Now I see we have very diverse couples left. Let see if I can get some of them out with these dances, everybody chicken dance!"

   Jack laughed along with the others as they all went into a circle and began the elementary dance. And from there went the Two-Step and the Hustle to Stanky Leg. "Now I know I will get someone out with this one. Everybody 'Move Your Body' and don't miss any of the missions!" Catlyn looked to Jack to see if he knew the dance and was gratified to see him stand beside her and start a light jog to the beat of the music.

   At this point Sara and Daniel were tapped out. They seemed almost thankful as they wiped at the sweat on their brows as they made their way to their table in the spectator's section. The remaining couples finished the dance in sync. The DJ then called for the 5 minute break they received at the top of each hour.

   Jack excused himself to go to the bathroom. Catlyn accepted the bottle of water Jabaria handed her and went to the DJ's area. She wanted to speak with Mackenzie. However, Mackenzie was nowhere in sight.

   "Excuse me, where is the woman who was working with you?"

   The DJ looked at Catlyn, "Sorry, babe. She took off a bit ago." The DJ gave Catlyn a wink. "Ya know good help is hard to find. But she did real good until she looked like she seen a ghost and took off."