The song changed to Rod Stewart’s raspy voice crooning a classic Billy Holiday love song, but before Milo could swing Rena into another dance, Owen tapped him on the shoulder.
“May I cut in?” he asked.
Milo grimaced slightly at Rena, but relinquished his hold on her. Rena almost laughed at his expression, but before she could, Owen’s warm hand encompassed hers.
Rena braced herself for an agonizing three minutes and was thoroughly surprised when Owen guided her into a nice slow dance. Not a standard two-foot shuffle, but a dance that moved them around the dance floor.
Rena glanced up through her lashes at his face.
“I’ve surprised you, haven’t I?” He questioned.
Rena thought of denying it, but that wouldn’t be very fair. Plus, she was a terrible liar.
“Yes,” she said simply.
Owen chuckled. ” I think you underestimate me too much.”
When Rena colored slightly at his truthful statement, he chuckled again.
“I don’t mean to make you blush, however you do it so beautifully, I won’t say I’m sorry.”
Rena cleared her throat. “Where did you learn to dance?”
“My grandma. She thought it would e a good thing for me to know. Ya never know when It’ll come in handy. ‘Specially when you are impressing a woman.” Owen spun her around and when she landed against his chest, she was breathless. She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled past her lips.
“Very true,” she said, the lame statement making her wince inwardly. She had suddenly lost her composure, viewing Owen as a potential, even though she wasn’t quite sure why. All she knew was she wanted to impress him a little. Which meant her mind had left her.
She stared at the open neck of his plaid shirt and tried to come up with something witty. Impossible. Her mind was blank, and the more she tried, the worse it got. Instead, she started noticing how Owen’s palm rested on her waist; how he smelled of laundry soap and a hint of gasoline; and she also noticed how small she felt in his arms. He was so tall. Lanky. Lean.
He was everything Milo was not. He was not sophisticated. He didn’t have all the smooth social graces that usually attracted Rena. However, he was charming in his own way. Quiet, gentle, and just a little bit different. He wasn’t classically good looking. His face was long and lean, somewhat rugged. But he had amazing blue eyes. And his voice was deep and raspy. He was sort of a contradiction.
And Rena had no clue what to think.
Owen. Well Owen is modeled after a guy who is interested in me in town. He’s a logger. He’s charming in his own way, but his life isn’t quite what I need. However, it does make for good fiction. And this little piece I may
or
- Image via Wikipedia
may not use at some point, but I was listening to Rod Stewart’s The Great American Songbook cd, and I flashed to this. ( I really love this cd, even though it got a lot of flak, and my father makes fun of it. Sure, it’s not Buble, but it has some of my favorite old tunes on it) It was fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it.
Signing off
~Kate
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