"Chad." When Jo lifted her head to talk, Chad bent at the same time and surprised her with a kiss. It was a light, searching, testing kiss at first and yet it struck a long suppressed chord in her. Her eyes slid shut as they both sought to deepen the kiss. Chad's warm lips coaxed hers to open to him. Before Jo even had a chance to know what she was going to do, she was kissing him back, responding fully to his gentle persuasion. This was how it should be between a man and a woman, two spirits communing, sharing. Musingly, she wondered if it was a timeless kiss, one that would go on forever. Jo didn't know how it was possible for one kiss to make her feel so much, want so much.
She was brought back to awareness abruptly when she heard a deep groan of satisfaction come from Chad's throat. What on earth did she think she was doing? She was acting like an affection-starved puppy, and to top it off to be kissing in public for all the world to see! They weren't even moving or pretending to dance. Mortified, she was mortified.
Jo broke out of his arms and practically ran back to their table ignoring the glances from the other dancers. How could she have forgotten herself like that? Another prolonged minute and they would have been providing the entertainment for the night. She felt like hiding under the table, or better yet the women's room; then she wouldn't have to face Chad with her behavior. Sooner or later he would get the message and give up, wouldn't he?
"I am sorry," he apologized. "Did I scare you, Jo?" God, he didn't want to do that. He couldn't really understand any other reason for her pulling away from him so abruptly.
Jo groaned inwardly. Leave it to Chad to bring it out in the open and confront it instead of letting it pass. "No." She tried to assure him. "It is just that...just that we shouldn't be doing that." She waved her hand towards the dance floor ineffectually. She was embarrassed, couldn't he tell.
Chad took a hold of her floundering hand and held it while he scooted his chair next to hers. That was all she needed, for him to move closer. His voice was low and husky, just loud enough only she could hear it.
"Why not?" He was serious and urgent. "I've wanted to kiss you since the first moment I laid eyes on you, Jo. I would have too if you hadn't looked so much like a scared little girl. Furthermore, I want to kiss you still. I didn't get nearly enough." Chad watched her eyes grow large and there was a troubled depth to them he hadn't seen before.
Well, if Chad could be so bluntly honest, then so could she. Jo looked at him with eyes that pleaded for his understanding. He needed to realize it wasn't because she didn't want to kiss him, she did, and she was all too aware of the fact.
"Because, you are David's brother." Chad was her brother in law.
Chad picked up his drink and stared in to it as he swirled the liquid around absently. So it was David that was bothering her. He should have known. He would just have to show her it didn't matter to him.
"So?" He paused fractionally. "David is not here and I am." He corrected himself quickly. "We are here." He stated those three words clearly and firmly. They had every right.
"It is just not right, that's all." How could she make him understand?
Chad returned her stare bewilderedly. "What's so wrong about it? Men and women kiss all the time. It is an old accepted custom, whether it is in the middle of a dance floor or anywhere else."
Jo stared at him wondering how to answer him. What were her objections? Surely she hadn't forgotten them already? Should she mention it was the way he kissed her that upset her so? With fire and passion. He leaned back in his seat as if he had all night to wait on her answer, and yet drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.
His eyes pressed her for the answer, compelling her to talk to him. Could she find the courage to confide in him her most intimate thoughts? "I am not so sure it is not morally wrong," Jo admitted quietly. "We are related by marriage, even if not by blood."
Chad shot her a sharp startled glance and then frowned. His eyes skittered down to stare at his drink again and then returned to her soft green ones. She was a good woman and had strong convictions.
"David is gone." He sized it up the way he saw it. "Dead. You did not die with him, you are still among the living."
