Chapter 04: First Kiss Trouble
"Excuse me miss, " I said.
I had approached a beautiful lady, a tall redhead, slim, with freckles, and green eyes. Exactly the type of woman my dad warned me against. We were at a political reception for our Senator.
"I was wondering and hoping if I could have a kiss?"
"What?"
"A kiss. Nothing out of the ordinary, I seem to need one from you very badly."
"Why do you want a kiss from me?"
"I am assuming witchcraft on your part."
"So now you are calling me a witch and want a kiss"?
She was grinning as she allowed herself to be drawn into the conversation.
"Yes, I guess that sums it up."
"You most be a lunatic."
"But it could be a lunatic you're looking for."
"Oh, send in the clowns."
"Don't be cruel."
"Damn. Mama told me not to come."
Our trip through the song catalogue was interrupted when an MC announced dinner would be delayed ten minutes. The caterers were trapped in a traffic jam.
"I would like my kiss now please."
"Why should I kiss a weirdo?"
"Because he really, really wants your kiss. Also because the kiss would throw the congregation into disarray and confusion," I said as I brought the crowd of rich and famous to her attention.
I saw a mischievous smile. I thought I might get my kiss.
"Just one quick kiss, right?"
"No, a kiss that says we remember Paris."
Her two-inch heels put her nose to nose to me. We leaned towards each other and kissed.
I knew immediately I had made a horrible mistake. My eyes flew open as did hers. Our kiss showed no sign of ending. Slowly she closed her eyes then I closed mine. Our kiss lasted twenty seconds tops but I was sure everybody sensed it all the way to Morocco.
"Holy crap, don't ever do that again," she shouted softly.
"I would never dream of it," I said as I kissed her again.
The second kiss was half as long and twice as intense as the first. We were holding hands when we broke the kiss and began to stroll around the perimeter of the reception hall.
"My name is Jack. Thanks for the best kisses of my life."
"My name is Rhonda and thanks for the best kisses of my life, so far."
"Aahh. A challenge."
I led us to the curtain partition and once we were on the other side I scooped her into my arms and gave her my best effort ever, full of caring with just a hint of passion. She returned the kiss as given until her hand moved to the back of my neck and she increased the passion level. The next six or seven kisses were in the "we can't help ourselves" category.
We were in the dining area of the hall and suddenly the world around us burst into activity. The caterers had arrived.
We saw the usual chicken smothered in something and overcooked vegetables. I told Rhonda, "There is a Japanese restaurant downstairs."
She giggled and said. "Wait for me at the back. I have to make sure everybody sees me then we'll sneak out."
A kiss to seal the conspiracy as the curtains parted and the guests moved in. Rhonda led the Senator and her honored guest to the head table. As soon as they were seated Rhonda smooched her way through the crowd until she was by my side.
We quickly exited and laughed our way to the restaurant. We knew we did not have a long time so we shared a calamari appetizer and spring rolls as we each had an Asahi. Rhonda figured we would need to bribe the Senator when we returned so we ordered a couple of rolls and an Asahi in a cup to go. We kissed through our elevator ride.
The speeches and the invitation to enjoy the meal had just concluded when we returned to the conference room. As soon as Rhonda saw the guests at the head table begin to eat she led us to the Senator. She was playing with her food, acting like she was enjoying it but the only thing she had actually consumed was water.
Rhonda whispered in her ear as I knelt below her and opened a small bag in my coat pocket. She was speechless for a second but broke into a wide grin when I showed her that my other coat pocket had a drink with foam on top.
She excused herself saying she had to take care of a minor matter. Rhonda led us to the deserted VIP area and as soon as the senator sat for her treat she told us to watch her back. It took the senator five minutes to finish the rolls and the beer. Rhonda and I kissed behind her back for four minutes and fifty seconds.
As we walked her back to the banquet room she asked us if we had met before tonight. We each told her no.
"I'll be damned. It does happen. It really does exist."
It took being discovered in mid kiss thirty minutes later to realize that the Senator was talking about love at first sight. The senator, the mayor and her partner, the two most prominent business people in the city and their wives, all walked into the area much sooner than we expected.
The senator said to her guests, "Don't mind them, they just learned they were in love just a few minutes ago. All of you know Rhonda, this is Jack, my education advisor."
The men and the ladies shook my hand as they introduced themselves, and the mayor asked if I was the one writing the incendiary lines about education in her speeches.
I admitted to be partly to blame but added my lines are even more incendiary. "The Senator filters out the good stuff."
The Senator made sure everyone understood the tone of our relationship by swatting my butt. A good laugh and nods of understanding later I managed to drift next to Rhonda. She grasped my hand and held it tightly.
Rhonda and I never got around to asking what each of us was doing there that night. I had figured out that she was an assistant to the Senator. She seemed to be stunned by the revelations about me, and in particular the swat I got from the Senator.
"So you're Mr. John Cook," she said.
"To you I'm Jack." Then for no reason at all I kissed her. A few moments later for no reason I could tell she kissed me.
"Still corrupting young women I see."
I recognized Jay's drawl immediately. "Please, please," I said, "the last time we met you made me throw up."
"You deserved it and you know it after what you did to my daughters." Rhonda may have been on the way to being alarmed until she noticed the grin and strong handshake between us.
"What did he do to your daughters?" asked Rhonda.
"He condemned them to a life of strife and poverty, he conned them into being school teachers."
"I told them there was no money in teaching, I told them to mooch off you."