The Dance

Chapter 45 Date Night

"Bam, can I speak with you alone?" Lila walked out the front door and waited on the porch. Bam looked at Kay who shrugged her shoulders indicating she had no idea what Lila was up to. A nervous Lila paced back and forth as a very patient man stood before her with his hands in his pockets. He didn't say a word and waited for her to speak first.

"Are you free tonight?" Lila asked staring at the planks on the floor. A crooked smile began to form on Bam's lips.

"Well, Lila J., are you asking me on a date?" His voice almost growled when he asked the question.

Lila looked up from the floor and into Bam's blue eyes. Damn that blue eyed man. She swallowed hard as the silence from Bam was deafening.

Bam ducked into the house quickly and asked Kay if he was free for dinner. Kay's lips turned into a large grin. She threw a muffin at Bam and screamed yes. Bam popped back out on the porch and looked at Lila. He hesitated before he spoke. "My social secretary tells me I'm free."

Lila poked Bam in tbe chest. "Good. It's a date. 7 o'clock and don't be late." Before he could say anything else to her, she disappeared in the house. He was so elated he did a victory lap on the porch before regaining his steely composure. At this point, he didn't care what motivated her to ask him out. He was just elated that she did.

Lila stood with her back to the front door exhaling deeply and told Kay she had just asked Bam on a date. Kay lept from her seat and ran to hug Lila. "Oh my God! He's probably the happiest man in Hoonah."

Lila breathed deeply and then began to slowly panic in the way women usually do for first dates. "I don't have anything to wear."

"Leave that to me girl! I'm gonna hook you up." Kay dragged Lila to her bedroom and started digging through her closet. She didn't have occasion to keep many girlie things but she had something stashed in her closet. She'd been saving it for her anniversary with Kenny but knew in her heart the dress would be perfect for Lila. She pulled out a simple blue wrap dress. Lila told her she couldn't wear it but Kay insisted. They were about the same size and with a few adjustments and a pair of shoes, she would be set. Lila was already a wiz with hair and makeup and Kay still had the chandelier earrings Lila had loaned her for the dance when they first met.

Bam was just as anxious for his date with Lila and went to town to buy a new shirt and jeans. He wanted to bring flowers but unfortunately the nearest florist was in Juneau. He ducked into a local store and after a careful search, he found exactly what he was looking for and purchased it. He wrote a note and had the clerk gift wrap the present.

Lila and Bam purposefully avoided each other until date time neared. Both had taken great care in getting ready for their date. Kay helped press Bam's new shirt while Lila dressed and did her hair. Kay spritzed Bam with Kenny's only bottle of good cologne. While Kay finished helping Bam get ready, Lila slipped out the back door and snuck around to the front door and rang the doorbell. She fidgeted with her dress and hair until Kay answered the door. Kay cracked up laughing. "Girl, what are you doing out here?"

Lila rolled her eyes. "Don't make this harder for me. Would you shut the door and tell Bam someone's at the door for him?"

Kay winked. "Happy to oblige." She called to Bam. "Someone's at the door for you."

Bam headed towards the door in his new jeans and freshly pressed shirt. When he opened the door, he saw Lila, beautiful Lila.

Bam couldn't help but look her up and down as she was gorgeous. Her long brown hair was transformed into big loose curls that fell over the shoulders of her blue dress. Her beautiful dark eyes were complimented by her ruby red lips and she wore a smile as lovely as he had ever seen.

"You look beautiful Ms. Jenkins? And you are on time. I like timeliness in a woman."

"Are you going to invite me in?" Lila asked.

"Where are my manners, Ms. Jenkins? Please do come in." Bam extended his arm towards the living room as he caught the view of her from behind. Damn, she was a good looking woman.

"I hope you don't mind but I made dinner reservations at the lodge for us." Lila tried to remain as calm as possible.

"That sounds great. Let me tell Kay were leaving." Bam turned to let Kay know they were leaving for dinner but not before Kay took a photo of them with Bam's camera. Kay caught the perfect image of Bam smiling at Lila and Lila smiling at the camera. Kay felt good about this outing even if it was their second time on a first date.

At dinner, the two of them exchanged friendly first date questions much like they had on their first outing in Browntown. Although Bam knew much about Lila, he was a good first date and asked her lots of questions about herself. Lila did the same of Bam and learned a great many things about him. She was surprised that someone as outdoorsy as he was played the violin, had a flair for art and loved poetry. She found him to be much more complicated then his physical appearance led on.

While they waited for dessert, Bam slid his gift wrapped present across the table to Lila. "I wanted to get you flowers but Hoonah doesn't have much in the way of flower shops so I hope you like this."

Lila carefully unwrapped the gift to reveal a leather bound journal. As she opened it, she saw it was signed by Bam. The inscription read,

Lila J,

For making new memories with me,
For remembering old memories with you,
As long as I have you and you have me,
I will love you to eternity.

Joshua

Lila gasped when she read his words. She reached across the table and touched his hand. "It's lovely, Bam."

Dessert arrived and as couples usually do they each tasted the other's dessert. Lila asked, " What is it with you and chocolate cake? Your birthday cake was chocolate also."

Bam dropped his fork hitting the edge of the plate. "You remembered! You remembered my birthday cake was chocolate."

Lila stopped eating her cheesecake. She was so excited that she had remembered such a small detail. She asked the waiter for a pen and scribbled in her journal.

Joshua likes chocolate cake.

It was a breakthrough. A small breakthrough. But she remembered something about him however small it was.

Lila settled the bill for her date with Bam. After all, she had asked him out. They slowly walked around town.

Lila wanted to try something with Bam that she and Kay had discussed earlier that morning to see if it might help her remember. As they rounded the corner of a building, Lila pulled Bam to the side. "I just need you to hold still." Bam complied and before he realized what was happening, Lila put her hands to the sides of his face and kissed him. Bam was pleasantly surprised by her aggressive move. He was not even expecting her to do that.

When she finished kissing him, she said, "Nope, nothing, I don't remember anything."

"That's because you're doing it wrong." Bam pushed Lila's back against the wall of the lodge and he leaned into her kissing her neck from the front to the nape of her neck. He slowly placed a love bite on her neck and then moved his mouth to hers finding her tongue and kissing her deeply. His hands rested on her hips and he pulled her in so close he felt she would meld into his soul. When he was finished, he asked her if that helped her remember anything.

Lila thought for a moment. "No, but can we try it again?"