Passion in James County XIII
Nancy's Quest
By D.C. Roi
Chapter one
Nancy Dillon had only come to the convention alone because she had no choice. Her husband, George, was supposed to have come with her, but two days before they were supposed to leave, he came home from work and told her there was an emergency at work and he couldn't take the time off to go with her. Nancy's job required her to be at the convention, so she had no choice but to go without her husband. She was miffed at having to be there alone even though she knew it wasn't her husband's fault that he couldn't come with her.
She wanted her husband to come with her because if he was there, it would be a way of keeping things from happening that Nancy didn't want to happen. Things that happened every time she went away without her husband. Things that kept her in a constant struggle with guilt and shame.
Nancy decided to skip the conference banquet. The day had begun early and she was tired. She walked out of the main exhibition room and bumped into Mike Thomas, a man who, like Nancy, was a sales representative, but for a company that competed with hers. Their booths were next to each other and, during the day, they had introduced themselves and struck up a friendly conversation.
"Aren't you going to the banquet, Nancy?" Mike asked.
"I've heard Mel Burke talk before," Nancy replied, referring to the man who was giving a speech at the banquet. "I thought it would be better sleeping in my room than doing it sitting at a table in a smoke filled dining room."
Mike laughed. "I've heard Mel, too," he chuckled. "I know what you mean. How about having a drink with me before you go back to your room?"
Nancy accepted Mike's invitation and went with him to the hotel's cocktail lounge. The cocktail waitress came right over. He asked her what she wanted to drink, she told him, and he ordered.
Nancy in the cozy booth next to the man she'd just met, feeling very nervous. "I have to watch myself tonight," she told herself while they waited for their drinks to arrive. "Mike's a handsome guy and a smooth talker. I can't let myself act like I always do any more." When the drinks arrived, she sipped hers. "I'll finish this drink, then I'll go to my room," she thought. "That's what I have to do."
The bar had an Irish theme and a small Irish band was playing Gaelic tunes. Nancy liked the music, but the intimacy of the bar, and the fact that Mike was sitting very close to her made her feel very uneasy.
Nancy was thirty-five years old, although it was difficult to tell that by looking at her. She had honey brown hair that, when she wore it straight, hung just below her shoulders. Her pert, unlined face looked almost exactly as it did in her high school yearbook picture, and wide blue eyes that were one of her best features. Although she had three children, her body was as taut and lean as it had ever been. She was proud of the fact that her dress size was exactly what it was when she graduated from high school.
Tonight she was wearing an ivory coatdress that wrapped around her slim waist, and was held closed by a single gold button. It was cut quite low in front and was a bit more daring than the outfits she usually wore. She bought especially for the convention, thinking her husband would be coming with her, and he told her he thought it was beautiful when she modeled it for him after she bought it. She was sorry he wasn't with her now to see her wear it.
Mike sipped his drink and gazed across the table at Nancy. He had an appreciative look in his eyes. "What do you think about the convention so far?" he asked. "Make any sales?"
Nancy sipped a little more of her drink, then she nodded. "Actually, I did make a couple of sales, and I got names of a couple more people who want me to call on them later," she replied, smiling.
Mike smiled at her. "Sounds like you're doing better than I am," he said. "Of course, you have a better product to offer than I do, but don't tell my boss I told you that." He took a swallow of his drink. "You know, I kind of like this Irish music. It's a lot nicer than rock and roll."
Nancy smiled and nodded. "I know," she agreed. "Usually, in places like this, the band's been playing rock and roll. Maybe I'm getting old, but I just don't see what kids like about modern music."
Mike took another sip of his drink and nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. "Seems to me, modern rock and roll is just a lot of noise. It's a lot different than what they called rock and roll when I was a teenager, that's for sure. I've never heard much Irish music. It's nice, isn't it? It kind of makes you smile, doesn't it?"
"It does, doesn't it?" Nancy agreed. She'd been tapping her foot and humming along with the music. Along with her drink, the music did have her in a very good mood.
Mike looked across the table at Nancy, who sat there, acutely aware of his gaze, tapping her fingers on the table, keeping time with the band's beat. He took a deep breath. "Would you like to dance?" he asked.
"Tell him thank you, but don't do it," Nancy told herself. Then she had second thoughts. "Oh, heck, what's the harm in a dance or two?" she mused. She smiled at the man sitting across the table. "Thanks for asking me, Mike, I'd love to dance," she replied and slid out of the booth.
Mike stood up and they walked to the dance floor. For a minute, they stood on the edge of the small area filled with dancing couples, looking at each other, then Mike held out his arms and she stepped into them. When her body brushed against his, she was stunned when she felt a fluttering sensation in her stomach and her breath caught. "Just one dance!" she warned herself. "You're going to do something stupid if you keep this up!"
