The Dance

Chapter 23 Misunderstandings

Lila couldn't wait to introduce Bam to Jack and Becky. They were the closest things she had to parents on this earth and she wanted to share her joy with them. After her brief encounter with Bradley, Bam was a welcome and unexpected diversion.

Jack and Becky could see the visible change in Lila's demeanor upon introducing him and it was evident that she cared for him. Becky quickly made Bam feel at home. She snatched his hat from his head and made Jack grab his pack. Becky didn't wait for Lila to extend him a room at the house. She did that for Lila of her own accord.

"You must be tired." Becky said with the soothing voice of a mother. "Let Jack show you to the guestroom. You get settled and later we'll have some dinner and get to know one another better." Becky patted Bam on the chest and he obeyed, following Jack up the stairs to his room.

"That's a good looking bush man, Lila. I trust he's also a good man." Becky looked at Lila waiting for a reaction only mother's knew but Lila didn't reveal any secrets.

"Yes, he is a good man and you have nothing to worry about Beck." Lila kissed Becky on her forehead and went to check on Bam. She passed Jack on the stairs and he just nodded as if giving his blessing to Bam's arrival.

Lila knocked softly on the door to Bam's room and entered it slowly. "Are you decent?" She asked.

Bam answered enthusiastically, "Only if you want me to be." He reached out for her pulling her into his chest. He smelled like pine, like the forest from which he came and Lila breathed him in deeply.

"I missed you." She whispered.

"That's good to hear. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me." Bam exhaled and was relieved to get that off his chest. He missed Lila more than he ever expected. He missed just being still with her. He missed  watching her interact with his family but what he missed the most was the dance of their relationship. It was an unconsumated desire that flowed between them from the first time he pulled Lila's shoe from the decking at the dance to his rejection of her midnight visit. He had fallen hard for Lila but being protective of his heart and remembering Kay's words to him, he would wait until he felt the time was right to be together.

Lila slipped her hands into the back pockets of Bam's jeans and pulled him especially close. Lila knew exactly what she was doing and she wasn't in any hurry to let him go.  Bam secretly liked this game of cat and mouse of sexual tensions between he and Lila but he could never quite decide who was the hunter and who was the hunted.

Bam growled in Lila's ear, "Girl, if you don't stop, we're going to be late for dinner."

"And that's a problem, why?" It was hard to take Lila seriously with that silly grin on her face and her raised eyebrow.

"Woman, I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat." Bam grabbed her arm and shuttled her out of the bedroom. He thought he heard her whisper something under her breath about being hungry herself but not for food. He smirked and pointed her back down the stairs and into the dining room where Jack and Becky were seated for dinner.

Dinner was a lively affair. Jack and Becky told stories about Lila's youth and Bam shared the adventures of his large and somewhat unconventional family. Bam felt comfortable, more comfortable than he had known. It was like he had found his place in the world and he knew it was with Lila.

Lila reveled in the fact that Jack and Becky had taken a liking to Bam and so quickly. Part of it may have been because he was Alaska, strong, fearless, and untamed. Their interactions were so different with Bam than Bradley. With Bradley, she saw them restrained and more perfunctory.

After a second helping of Becky's chocolate cake, Bam professed he couldn't eat another bite. Becky and Jack cleared the table leaving the couple to spend the rest of their evening alone.

Lila and Bam moved to the back porch for some fresh air and conversation. "You know it was Noah who gave me the kick in the pants I needed to come here."

Lila grinned. She could count on Noah to facilitate a love connection. "I will have to thank him for that push."

"You were coming back, weren't you?" Bam asked almost hesitantly.

"I would have walked through fire to return to you. Besides, you made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Bam looked at her somewhat confused. "I found your note and yes, I would love to dwell in possibilities with you." Lila snuggled closer to Bam's shoulder laying her head on his chest.

"Bam, there's something I need to tell you." Lila took a deep breathe and explained to him that Bradley had come to see here earlier in the day and he would be back tomorrow to try and persuade her to go back to New York. Bam sat stoically never interrupting her. He was processing everything she said. She reassured him as best as she could but she sensed the twinge of jealously in him.

Bam never considered Lila's involvement with another man. As far as he was concerned, she didn't have a past and she never loved anyone except him. It was just easier to handle that thought without letting insecurities and jealously rule his emotions. At least that was his plan.

"You're awfully quiet, Bam." Lila fretted over telling him about Bradley but it was better that he know now than be blindsided by Bradley's visit the next day. Lila wanted no misunderstandings between she and Bam.