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Blue Moon 4.1

by Donna Lamb

Richard opened the back left door of the big black stretch limo for Jo. "Remember, sit down backwards into the seat then lift your feet inside. And keep your knees together."

Jo balked. "Pull out to the driveway and I'll get in on the right, I w-want to ride up front with you."

"Nope," said Richard. "You're way too distracting sitting beside me. Pretty girls I'm not dating go in the back."

She stared at him. He'd said it with such a straight face. "B-b-b-b-..."

"That's right, butt first." He grinned.

Richard had a nice grin, Jo noticed, distracted. He looks so fucking sincere. But it's all an act, he's a rogue and a wolf and a -- a lothario! she told herself. Jo seldom stuttered when not talking out loud. Still, his wide, white grin in his tanned face made her nervous. Clutching her purse tight, she turned around and tried to sit in the limo backward without looking.

Richard offered a hand to steady her but she ignored him -- and missed the seat, landing with a jar on the door sill. "Ow," she complained.

"You've got some padding back there, it didn't hurt that bad." Reflexively, Richard rubbed his arm where Jo had bit him earlier. He didn't blame her for that; he'd been bitten by panicked women before. But it had made it easier to watch Jo miss the seat and land on her ass.

"How do you know?" Without really thinking about it, she put up a hand for him to help her up -- it was an awkward position for anyone and she had remembered to keep her knees together, making it more awkward.

"Let's try that again," said Richard. "Look back as you turn around so you know where the seat is; hold your purse in your right hand behind you to feel for the seat and smooth your skirt under you. You don't really need to with a tight knit dress like that, but you don't want it to ride up, either. If there's a guy holding the door for you, let him hold your other hand to brace you."

"W-why?" She scowled at him. Except to Richard it looked more like a pout.

"It's the polite thing to do, and believe me, sometimes you'll need it. Like if you're wearing heels or it's raining or both, or a long dress or all three."

Jo landed in the seat with a thump, glaring at Richard."You talk too m-m-much. You're distracting me." And he hadn't stopped grinning, his dark eyes sparkling.

"Lift your legs in," he said.

"Let go my hand!" She shook her hand loose and lifted both feet into the car.

Smiling, Richard shut the door. Then immediately opened it again, sticking out his hand.

"What are you doing? I'm in, let's just go."

He shook his head. "You need practice getting out too; we're going to do this three times, at least." He smiled, softening his expression a bit to show that he understood her reluctance. "Take my hand, brace yourself and do everything in reverse. Lift your feet out, shift your weight forward then I'll give you just a bit of help getting your feet under you while you keep your skirt from riding up with your other hand."

It went smoothly enough, though Jo felt oddly breathless to find herself standing in front of Richard still holding hands. "Let go," she whispered.

He did, nodded, pretended to swing the door closed then opened it again. He waved at the interior.

Jo sighed and tried the process again. This time, Richard kept his instructions terse. "Look back. Take my hand. Smooth your skirt. Sit back. LIft your feet. Smile at me as I let your hand go."

Jo smiled, it felt like the right thing to do, though she couldn't have said why. She also blushed.

Richard thought she looked charming, slightly flustered and oh, so vulnerable. If she wasn't Joel, he told himself.

They did it twice more and the last time, Richard said nothing except to ask, "Comfy?" before closing the door.

"Yes, thanks," Jo said, smiling.

Richard got in the driver's seat, started up and backed the big Lincoln out carefully.

Jo sat back in the seat, sighing, feeling very odd about everything. Without really thinking about it, she muttered mostly to herself, "I w-wish this all were a little easier."

Richard slammed on the brakes and shouted, "Jo!" But too late -- she'd already said it.