After that dance, she went to another spot and stood waiting, fighting off that sinking feeling that this event would mirror some of the ones she'd attended in Chicago, where she went the entire night without once being asked to dance. About a half-hour later, she approached another man, tall about 6 feet 3 inches, thin, brown-skinned and rather attractive.
"Want to dance?" she said a little dryly, expecting to be turned down.
He looked at her as though sizing up her intentions. "Sure I'll dance with you sister," he said.
"I guess I passed the test," she said, under her breath, as they made their way to the dance floor.
"No test," he said.
Kahara blushed embarrassed that he had heard what she said. She stopped short. "I didn't mean––it's just you were lookin' so––oh forget it," she said, shaking her head in frustration. He smiled, took her hand, and led her onto the floor. Kahara smiled to herself as she followed him, admiring the way he gently took control. She drank in his lean body as they began dancing.
After a few records, they headed upstairs where another DJ was spinning old-school cuts. Kahara felt more at home up there listening to Earth Wind and Fire, and the Commodores. She was finally beginning to have some fun that evening. They found seats at the bar, he ordered drinks and they continued to get to know each other. As they chatted, Kahara felt herself becoming attracted to him. His unassuming manner appealed to her. He was very polite, hadn't danced too close, and didn't come on too strong.
His name was Gary Mount, a native of Virginia. He worked at a Fortune 500 company for years before being downsized. It was then that he decided to pursue his dream of owning a video production company. The generous severance he received enabled him to return to school and stay on his feet financially during a rocky first year. As Kahara listened to him describe the slow process of building his customer base, she could tell that, after struggling for years, this man would let little stand in the way of his success. Through word of mouth, he built a network of regular customers in Norfolk, Chicago, and Los Angeles. She sensed a fierce determination lay underneath his cool, almost aloof, exterior. He had a quiet intensity about him, a sureness of purpose. That intensity unnerved her a little. His eyes followed her every move, and she felt at times as though she were being sized up...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
"You like to scrutinize people don't you?" she asked.
His gaze softened a little. "Depends on who it is. Why?"
"The way you look at me. Especially when I asked you to dance. It's like you're trying to figure out my motive or something."
He rubbed his chin a little and looked at her. "Did you have a motive?"
"Yeah," she said, leaning forward a bit. "I want you to support me financially for the rest of my life."
"Is that right?" he said, laughing softly. "And just how do you intend to do that?"
"I have my ways," she said. "I don't know. You seem like the conservative type, so throwing my body at you would probably be a turn-off."
"Yeah," he nodded. "I'm not real into sisters that put themselves out there like that."
Kahara smiled to herself. She wondered what Gary would have thought about her dashed plans to jump into bed with Julius.
"So what do you do?" he asked.
"Take a guess," she said.
"I don't know, what are you––a stunt woman? Porn actress?"
"Try financial analyst."
"Damn, and I was going to guess that next," he said.
Kahara told him a little about her background, and about the film she would be shooting when she returned to Chicago.
"So, it's a film about a stormy relationship," he said, grinning at her a little. "You seem like you've been in a few of those."
"What?"
"You seem high-maintenance. Yeah," he said, "I'd bet money you're high-maintenance."
"Why would you say that?"
"What's the longest relationship you've ever been in?"
Kahara frowned. "I've had a lot of long-term relationships," she said lying, trying not to look as uncomfortable as she felt. He had read her right. Her hot temper had driven away many of the men in her life. She could count on her hand the number of relationships she had that lasted over a year. "Anyway, know it all, we were talking about my film––not my love life." Non-existent as it is, she thought.
"Do they make it? Are they still together at the end of the film?" he asked.
She looked at him and smiled. "You'll have to see it when it's finished to find out."
He looked at her and nodded. "Is that an invitation?"
"You're good at reading people. I'll let you figure that one out," she said a little coyly. She enjoyed the subtle dance they were doing.
Gary smiled. "I've shot for a number of independent filmmakers," he said, "so I know how much work is involved, especially when you're trying to hold down a full-time job. Must put a strain on your love life."
"Love life! Yeah, right. There's a joke. Please. I can't even get a dance here. I mean like tonight. I came out here thinking things would be different, you know, and––" Kahara stopped short, realizing she was maybe letting off a little bit too much steam. She decided to lighten up a bit, afraid she might scare him off.
"Come out here and what?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Nothing. It's not important. Never mind."