He grinned at her priceless expression of long-suffering endurance.
Phyllis Green's high-pitched voice reached him. "Oh, Coach Wilcox!"
He pretended he didn't hear her. He couldn't stand the thought of pushing the saccharine Home-Ec teacher around the dance floor. He made a straight line for Miss Harris and tapped Manchester on the shoulder.
"Hey, buddy, it isn't fair to monopolize the hottest chick at the dance."
Phineas appeared about to argue when the music changed to a rollicking American Bandstand standard geared to twists and spins that were completely out of Manchester's league.
Phineas made a little bow. "I'll get you another drink, Madeleine." He walked off in the direction of the food table, shooting Phil a look of complete disdain.
Phil and Maddie stood facing each other surrounded by energetic teenage dancers. He looked dangerous to her in his leather jacket and dark clothes. She looked damned cute to him in her cuddly fifties get up.
He took her hand. "Let's see what you're made of, Miss Harris."
An irresistible challenge, she spun into his arm and then out again and they were off. They danced in and out, up and down, moving and grooving to a fifties beat. Like Frankie and Annette incarnate, she even slid once under his legs and back again. Before long, the spotlight picked them up and everyone stopped to watch, clapping their encouragement.
She laughed, following Phil's fast-paced lead. His eyes never left her face as he enjoyed watching her toss her head back in merriment. They danced until the upbeat song mercifully ended. The circle of spectators applauded their appreciation as the couple stood panting holding hands, and they took a bow.
The lights changed, drenching the whole room in a blue tint and Randy began the strains of Blue Moon .
Phil gently tugged on her hand and brought her close to him, swaying to the haunting love song. He held her far enough away from his body to look into her face and talk. "You know how to cut a rug, Miss Harris. But you're a little idiot, you know that don't you?"
Her eyes flashed darkly and she tried to push away. "You are the most insulting person I have ever met."
He squeezed her hand and tightened his grip at her waist. "Getting between two raging bulls isn't a bright move. You could have gotten hurt by those guys, sweetheart."
She looked down. "Oh...I suppose so. I just thought they'd stop."
"Honey, never get between two males during mating season."
She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze. "I'll try to remember that. Thanks for coming to the rescue."
"Anytime, cupcake, anytime."
They continued rocking as Randy's mellow voice crooned about a blue moon and longing for someone to care for. Throbbing music. Pulsing heartbeats.
Maddie couldn't take her gaze away from Phil's face. In the shadowy light he appeared so strong, his square jaw and chiseled features supremely male. A serious, compelling expression replaced the smart aleck smirk. His intense gaze held her as firmly in place as his brawny arms. Something was happening here. She could feel it, a spinning of invisible threads twisting around them as the music played on. She imagined a blue cocoon materializing out of the notes pouring from the bandstand.
"What do your friends call you?" he asked.
"Maddie," she said softly.
Maddie. He liked it. It promised the soft underside of the hard surfaced Madeleine. The cashmere under his hand on her lower back had a sensual feel and he moved his fingers ever so slightly over the texture. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this good. For the moment the usual burden of bitterness, frustration, guilt and cynicism lifted from his shoulders and life seemed to have possibilities. Looking into the wide eyes of Maddie Harris, he felt like the man he was supposed to be.
They finished the dance locked in each other's gaze knowing something beyond words was transpiring between them. Something that transcended the mere sexual attraction of a slow dance.
Phyllis Green's high-pitched voice reached him. "Oh, Coach Wilcox!"
He pretended he didn't hear her. He couldn't stand the thought of pushing the saccharine Home-Ec teacher around the dance floor. He made a straight line for Miss Harris and tapped Manchester on the shoulder.
"Hey, buddy, it isn't fair to monopolize the hottest chick at the dance."
Phineas appeared about to argue when the music changed to a rollicking American Bandstand standard geared to twists and spins that were completely out of Manchester's league.
Phineas made a little bow. "I'll get you another drink, Madeleine." He walked off in the direction of the food table, shooting Phil a look of complete disdain.
Phil and Maddie stood facing each other surrounded by energetic teenage dancers. He looked dangerous to her in his leather jacket and dark clothes. She looked damned cute to him in her cuddly fifties get up.
He took her hand. "Let's see what you're made of, Miss Harris."
An irresistible challenge, she spun into his arm and then out again and they were off. They danced in and out, up and down, moving and grooving to a fifties beat. Like Frankie and Annette incarnate, she even slid once under his legs and back again. Before long, the spotlight picked them up and everyone stopped to watch, clapping their encouragement.
She laughed, following Phil's fast-paced lead. His eyes never left her face as he enjoyed watching her toss her head back in merriment. They danced until the upbeat song mercifully ended. The circle of spectators applauded their appreciation as the couple stood panting holding hands, and they took a bow.
The lights changed, drenching the whole room in a blue tint and Randy began the strains of Blue Moon .
Phil gently tugged on her hand and brought her close to him, swaying to the haunting love song. He held her far enough away from his body to look into her face and talk. "You know how to cut a rug, Miss Harris. But you're a little idiot, you know that don't you?"
Her eyes flashed darkly and she tried to push away. "You are the most insulting person I have ever met."
He squeezed her hand and tightened his grip at her waist. "Getting between two raging bulls isn't a bright move. You could have gotten hurt by those guys, sweetheart."
She looked down. "Oh...I suppose so. I just thought they'd stop."
"Honey, never get between two males during mating season."
She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze. "I'll try to remember that. Thanks for coming to the rescue."
"Anytime, cupcake, anytime."
They continued rocking as Randy's mellow voice crooned about a blue moon and longing for someone to care for. Throbbing music. Pulsing heartbeats.
Maddie couldn't take her gaze away from Phil's face. In the shadowy light he appeared so strong, his square jaw and chiseled features supremely male. A serious, compelling expression replaced the smart aleck smirk. His intense gaze held her as firmly in place as his brawny arms. Something was happening here. She could feel it, a spinning of invisible threads twisting around them as the music played on. She imagined a blue cocoon materializing out of the notes pouring from the bandstand.
"What do your friends call you?" he asked.
"Maddie," she said softly.
Maddie. He liked it. It promised the soft underside of the hard surfaced Madeleine. The cashmere under his hand on her lower back had a sensual feel and he moved his fingers ever so slightly over the texture. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this good. For the moment the usual burden of bitterness, frustration, guilt and cynicism lifted from his shoulders and life seemed to have possibilities. Looking into the wide eyes of Maddie Harris, he felt like the man he was supposed to be.
They finished the dance locked in each other's gaze knowing something beyond words was transpiring between them. Something that transcended the mere sexual attraction of a slow dance.
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