"Oh, Lord! If Momma could see me now." She laughed, not
caring who might hear her over the din of voices and
piped–in muzak.
With James in the lead, their hands linked, she
followed him toward their seats. Someone behind her bumped
her hard. She gasped. Fell forward into James, almost
sending him forward. She struggled to right herself with
the rowdy crowd pushing all around her. Tremors of fear
raced through her mind as she started to slip toward the
floor. Panicked, she clawed at James' back.
James turned on a dime. Grabbed her, protected her from
falling. He sheltered her from the crushing crowd, and held
her steady as she caught her breath. The crowd parted
around them as though they were a large boulder in the
middle of a fast moving river. Shaken, she clung to him,
then blinked when he leaned in and kissed her.
His mouth was warm.
Heat and quivers raced all the way to her toes.
Wrapping his arm around her, he said, "Don't worry.
I'll protect you." Then he wrapped her in an embrace,
rested his hand on her hip, and guided her back to their
spot at the bar.
Shocked by the kiss, a touch so light and quick that it
appeared and disappeared so fast she could have dreamt it.
She touched a finger to her lips. They were still warm
where his lips had been.
"Who's going to protect me from you?" she whispered.
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