SECOND TIME AROUND

    “20th floor, please.” She entered the elevator oblivious to any one else around her.

    “Sure, penny for your thoughts,” he grinned at her back.

    <That voice…he can’t be…> Eyes widening she whipped around, “What in the hell are you doing here?”

    “I could ask the same, couldn’t I, Allie?” reaching to caress her cheek.

    She stepped back as though she’d been burned. <What does he want? Who told him? > “Well?” hitting the button for the 20th floor.

    “Hitting the button over and over won’t make it go any faster,” he chuckled softly taking her hand in his to stop her.

    “Dash, why are you here now? And, don’t tell me it’s a coincidence. I haven’t seen or heard from you in over a year,” she sighed trying to pull her wrist free from his hand.

    “We need to talk,” he pulled her closer. The elevator jerked.

    “Oh great, we’re stuck,” pounding the buttons before reaching for the phone with her free hand. “DEAD!” <Why is this happening to me? > She closed her eyes, dropping her chin to her chest.

    “Allie, give me a few minutes. That’s all I’m asking for, please?” lifting her chin with his finger. Her eyes meeting his for a moment before she turned away but not before he saw the sadness in them. It was always her eyes that told him.

    “Fine, doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere,” trying to move away. He pulled her closer.

    “I tried calling you but your mother kept hanging up on me, and the letters were marked return to sender,” handing her a stack from his pocket. “I know I screwed things up between us but I---“

    “You what? Dash, I’m marrying Devon in the morning,” her knuckles whitening as she clutched his letters tightly.

    “Why?”

    “Why what?” narrowing her eyes.

    “Why are you marrying him and don’t tell me your head over heels in love with him---- you couldn’t wait to get away from him a moment ago? Tell me that you don’t love me and I’ll walk away. TELL ME!” forcing her eyes to meet his.

    “Devon’s….”

    “What? What is Devon?” he softly growled.

    “He’s not you,” her shoulders dropped. “He doesn’t go flying off the handle because someone looks at me. He loves me….”

    “But you don’t LOVE him the same, Allie, do you?” pulling her closer to him. The space between them diminishing as he wrapped his arms around her.

    “Dash, don’t do this to me? Not now…. it’s too late.” Pushing her hands against his shoulders to break away. He pulled her tighter silencing her protest as his mouth covered hers. She melted in his arms. Lost in his kiss, she moaned in response. She heard a deep growl from him, and deepened the kiss while his hands caressed her back.

    Her hands exploring his body beneath his jacket as he kissed the hollow spot of her neck and along her bare shoulders. “Tell me, Allie,” he whispered in her ear.

    “Dash, I can’t do this,” willing herself to pull away from him. “I can’t,” her hands pushing his jacket from his shoulders. <I have to stop this---- but---I can’t. > The jacket fell to the floor.

    The jolt of the elevator beginning to move pulled her out of her trance. She suddenly backed away from him raising her fingers to her swollen lips. She closed her eyes for a second.

    “Allie,” he softly whispered as the doors opened in front of her father. “Tell me!”

    “I can’t,” she choked back a sob and raced out to the safety of her room.

    “Dash, let her go for now,” Ed backed him into the elevator spotting Patricia stepping into the hall. “Her mother’s in there,” a grin spread across his face when he saw the jacket on the floor.

    “Well?” Duke looked to them as they entered the bar together.

    “I think he got to her,” Ed nodded. Flint threw himself down in a chair and starred off at a wall.

    “Dash?” Duke shook his shoulder.

    “Huh?”

    “Well, what did she say?”

    A slow grin spread across his face, “she said she can’t.”

    “And that has a you grinning like….” Duke began.

    “I have a feeling it’s what she did rather than what she said,” her father slapped Flint on the shoulder.

    “Here comes the groom,” Duke chuckled

    “Mind if I join you Edward.” Devon grabbed a chair looking past Duke and Flint.

    “Not at all, Devon, you know Conrad. This is his friend Dashiell. What has you down here with me instead of chasing Alison?” catching a murderous glare from Flint.

    “She said she’s exhausted. Did she mention anything to you about last night? My sister said something about her getting upset and leaving when the entertainment arrived for her bachlorette party. Not that I approve of the male striper Mary Ellen set up,” Devon frowned.

    “Striper,” Flint choked.

    “Yeah, Mary Ellen ordered a blonde cop and a dark haired soldier in a black beret showed up instead,” Duke whispered in his ear. “Too bad we missed that one, huh?” Duke elbowed Flint.

    “I’m sure you are CONRAD,” Devon sneered. “Is this your date for tomorrow?” nodding in Flint’s direction.

    “Nah, he’s Elizabeth Jessup’s date,” Duke shrugged. “My loss I suppose.”

    <Aunt Betty’s in on this too. > Flint stared at Duke.

    “So, where you taking her for the honeymoon?” Duke looked up from his beer.

    “Don’t know, Edward and Patricia are giving us a surprise,” signaling to a waitress. “Bring us a round, please, and make sure the mugs are frosted.”

    “Aren’t your groomsmen throwing a bachelor party for you tonight?” Flint scowled.

    “Later, I figured Edward might want to come along…. well DAD?” Devon wrapped his arm around Ed’s shoulder. Flint winced.

    “Wouldn’t miss it for the world Devon,” he grinned. “Besides, Patricia’s busy getting everything perfect for tomorrow. Alison didn’t say if she’s going back to work, did she?”

    “Not for long if I have my way,” Devon nudged him.

    “Why’s that?” Duke pressed.

    “Why should she work? I’d much rather have her spending her time relaxing and working on charity stuff like her mother and mine before we start a family.”

    “Not even married and planning to keep her barefoot and pregnant, huh?” Duke chuckled watching for Flint’s reaction.

    <Not a chance…> Flint slammed his mug down fighting images of her in bed with Devon.

    “Alison didn’t mention any of this to me,” Ed choked.

    “We’re still discussing it,” Devon looked at the time. “We really have to go DAD.”

    “Go ahead, I’ll catch up with you as soon as I settle the tab,” Ed waved him on. “Well, Dash, what’s it going to be? Are going to sit back and let him take her or what?”

    “NO!” he growled.

    “Didn’t think so especially after I saw the two of you together,” he sighed. “Now, how to get rid of him without sending Patricia on the warpath at me, she’s been planning this wedding for YEARS,” rolling his eyes heavenward.

    “Leave that to me,” Flint smiled pulling out her engagement set from his pocket. “What you didn’t think I was serious?” catching their eyes widening.

    “Well, let’s just say I’m one step ahead of you,” Duke reached inside his jacket.

    “Allie, sent me to pick up the marriage license earlier. She just didn’t tell me which one,” he chuckled as he passed it to Flint.

    “How?” looking at the license he and Allie had requested.

    “Let’s just say I know a few people who owe me big time. One way or another she’s getting married tomorrow. The question is to whom?”

***********************************************************

    “Alison, dear, is everything all right?” Patricia knocked at the door.

    *sniffle, sniffle * “Yes, mother, everything’s just FINE,” breaking down in tears. She tucked the letters he gave her beneath her pillow.

    “ALISON!” her mother charged into the room. “Why are you crying? You should be happy. You’re marrying Devon in the morning.”

    “Happy? Mother, I can’t do this,” her voice cracked. “I can’t.”

    “Now, now, it’s perfectly natural for a bride to have last minute jitters,” trying to calm her daughter. She watched her turn to cry into her pillow. “I know you’ve had a tiring day dear. You looked exhausted at the dinner and getting trapped in the elevator certainly didn’t help matters,” talking above her daughter who cried louder at the mention of the elevator.

    “Get some sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning, trust me, dear,” turning off the lights. She left the room. <She’ll calm down once she sees Devon waiting for her at the altar.>