In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 2

Jennifer's POV:

Letting out a long sigh, I sink into the nearest chair. My feet are killing me. So much for trying to be fashionably tall. I ease my feet out of the stiletto style shoes that had seemed like such a good idea when I bought them.

"Shall I rub them for you, my dear?" Seth asks with a little laugh as he comes up to the back of my chair.

"I'd like nothing better," I smile, knowing that he's just kidding.

"Then consider it done."

"But, we're in the hotel ballroom," I say, glancing around to see who might be watching. I didn't think he was serious.

"I believe that's correct, but all the guests at your lovely brunch have left, including the bride and groom. I don't think they're going to kick us out of here for at least a few minutes."

"I have this place booked for another twenty minutes," I state as I check my watch to be sure.

"Then let me have at them," Seth grins, as he pulls out the chair next to me and positions it so my foot can be easily placed in his lap. I feel myself blushing, but I raise my foot and Seth takes it in his gentle hands. I suddenly wish I didn't have nylons on, because a foot massage would feel so much better with skin on skin. I feel myself blush even more as the concept of skin on skin goes places it shouldn't be going in my brain … and in my body. It seems like it's been such a long time since I even thought about such things.

"Jennifer … Jennifer?"

I start, as Seth's voice finally penetrates through my thoughts. "Oh, sorry, what is it?" I feel like I'm floating away. Seth has the most miraculous hands, working on my feet and my … heart. Where the fuck did that come from?

"Is this too much pressure?" Seth asks as he continues his work on my foot.

"Absolutely not. It's just about perfect," I coo. I watch the smile spread across his handsome face. Am I falling for this wonderful man that I've known for all of two minutes? I didn't react to him this way when I was dealing with the sale of the bakery, but then I never really came face to face with him. It was just a couple of phone conversations and meetings with Seth's realtor.

But ever since Brian intervened to throw us together I feel like I have been swept off my feet. Seth is so gallant and so charming. He may be a little old fashioned, but it's the kind of old fashioned that I quite like.

I watch him massage my foot and let my mind wander some more.

Seth's POV:

Here I am rubbing the foot of the most beautiful, vivacious woman I've met in a long time. I wonder if she has any idea what effect she is having on me. She seems to be enjoying my company, but this was all arranged by outside forces. Maybe once the wedding and all the trappings are finished, I'll never see her again. I will have served my purpose.

I say her name a couple of times. She doesn't seem to be paying attention. I thought I was doing this foot thing correctly, but maybe I'm not. She's obviously somewhere else. I ask her if I'm hurting her. Her response is that it's perfect, but I don't know. I can feel her drifting away as soon as we stop talking.

I wonder what she's thinking about … or who? Maybe there's another man. Maybe Jennifer has a dream man that she's concentrating on, and I'm nobody's dream man. I know I'm presentable. Lots of women have told me that. But I'm not flashy or hip, and that seems to be what they all want. I guess I'm old fashioned … too old fashioned by today's standards. I like to treat women like ladies. I love opening car doors for them and taking them to dinner. I even like paying. I really don't understand the concept of going dutch. If I've invited a lady out then I expect to pay. It's only right.

Jennifer lets out a long sigh. Her eyes are closed. She looks like she could go to sleep. I bet she's beautiful when she's asleep.

"Jennifer," I say gently, "shall I work on your other foot?"

Her eyes flutter open. "Oh yes, that would be wonderful."

She quickly changes foot.

Jennifer's POV:

I could drift away. Seth's foot massage is absolute heaven. He asks if he should work on my other foot and I can't refuse. I change the foot in his hands to the other one and settle back in the chair. I wish I was lying down. I'd probably be asleep by now if I was.

I feel Seth pressing his knuckles along the middle of my foot and I want to purr. It's absolute bliss. I hope I'm not making the noises aloud that I really feel like making. That would be too embarrassing, but god, this feels so good.

After a couple of minutes of mindless bliss, I think of something else that makes me refocus. When Seth finishes his foot massage, what am I going to do? Do I just stand up and say, "Thank you very much for the foot massage," and then we go our separate ways? Dare I ask him back to my place for some drinks and maybe a light supper? Would that be too presumptuous?

Shit! It's been so long since I've really been interested in anyone. I don't remember how this dating thing is supposed to go.

With Tucker I never had to worry about that. He was so spontaneous, kind of a rebel. He always took the lead. I never had to think about anything. I just let him make the plans and I went along with them.

I know Seth won't be like that. He's far too solicitous. He's probably worrying about what to say to me, just like I'm worrying about what to say to him. We're a pair of old fools, I think. I let out a little chuckle of nervousness.

Seth's POV:

"Did I hit a ticklish spot?" I ask her when I hear the little giggle.

"Um … no," Jennifer says opening her eyes.

"I thought I heard you giggle."

"I think I did." I raise an eyebrow asking for further explanation. Jennifer looks at me for a minute then she says, "Your massage is making me quite giddy."

I laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment. It's been a long time since I made a woman giddy."

"I find that hard to believe. You've worked your magic on me."

I see Jennifer blush after she makes that statement. She looks even prettier when she blushes. It makes her seem like a school girl.

"You're staring at me," Jennifer says.

Now it's my turn to blush. "I … I don't think anyone's ever accused me of having magic before," I stammer.

"It wasn't an accusation. I'd call it a compliment."

"It seems like we have a lot of compliments to share," I say trying to keep my voice even, not squeaky like a scared teenager.

"Why don't we get out of here?" Jennifer says. She takes her foot from my lap and starts to put her shoes back on.

I wonder where she wants to go. For drinks? For dinner? With me? Without me? I wish I knew how this was supposed to play out.

Jennifer's POV:

I fumble with the straps on my fucking shoes. Why did I ever buy the stupid things in the first place? Finally I get them back on. Seth is looking at me quizzically. I wish he would say something. This is so awkward.

"Would you like to go to the bar downstairs for a drink?" he asks after I gather up my things.

"Yes, yes," I say, relieved that he finally makes his intentions known. At least his intentions about having a drink. I could use a long, stiff one. Oh shit! Why did I have to think that?

I'm sure my cheeks are scarlet as we make our way down to the lobby. We enter the bar and Seth steers me towards a secluded table at the back. I'm glad he does that. I wouldn't like sitting at the bar, and I'm not sure if there are still guests from the wedding in the hotel. Not that I would mind if they saw me having a drink with Seth. That would be just fine. But I don't really want to talk to anyone, anyone other than Seth. I think I've used up about all the polite conversation that I have in me. The last few days have been quite the exercise in diplomacy.

We sit down at the table and I lay my coat on the bench beside me. I'll be glad when Christmas is over. Getting ready for the wedding has really thrown a monkey wrench into the usual Christmas plans. I don't even know what I'll be doing for Christmas Day. Molly and Owen will still be away on their honeymoon, and Justin will be with Brian and Bree. I may have to push for an invitation over there.

"What would you like to drink?" Seth is asking me.

"Um…" I hesitate.

"Have whatever you'd like, my dear. I'll have a scotch neat," Seth tells the waitress.

"I'd like a margarita," I say, deciding that would really hit the spot at the moment.

"Salt?" the waitress asks me.

"Yes, but not too much." The waitress goes away to submit our order. "What's a margarita without salt?" I laughingly ask Seth.

"Indeed," he says with a smile.

"Am I making a fool of myself?" I ask, suddenly self conscious.

"Why would you think that?" Seth asks me in a soft voice.

"I'm a little out of practice with this dating thing."

"That makes two of us."

"I'm sure you could have any woman that you want," I say sincerely. I think Seth is quite a catch.

"The trouble is there aren't many women that I want."

Then the thought hits me like a thunderbolt. Seth is good looking, with a trim, slightly muscular physique. He's a good dancer. He is well spoken and charming. Somehow he knows Brian Kinney. And he gives great foot massages. "Are you gay?" I blurt out.

Seth almost chokes on the sip of scotch that he has just taken. "Good God, no! Why would you think that?"

"Oh shit!" I respond and take a much too large drink from my margarita.

"Please explain why you would think that," Seth says calmly, but I can see that he's not finding this particularly funny.

"Does homosexuality offend you?" I ask, deciding that if that is the case then it's better that we end this now.

"It most certainly does not. Brian Kinney arranged this date. I sold my bakery to Emmett Honeycutt, for God's sake," Seth retorts.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," I say, taking another big gulp of my margarita.

"I'm not offended. I just don't understand why you would think such a thing."

I decide that I better recite my list of gay attributes that apply to him. He doesn't look like I can direct him away from this topic. When I finish the list, I sit back and polish off my margarita, waiting for his reaction. I think I've ruined everything.

"Very interesting," he says as he sips his scotch. "Would you like another of those?" he asks, indicating the empty margarita glass.

"Um … yeah, sure, I could use one." Shit! I'm making matters worse. Now he'll think I'm a lush.

Seth signals the waitress. We sit in silence waiting for my drink to arrive. I'm feeling more and more uncomfortable with every second that goes by. I've made a colossal mess of this. I should just leave. I pick up my coat.

"I should go home," I say to Seth.

"Jennifer," he says gently, laying his hand on mine and stopping me from standing up. "Don't leave."

I look into his eyes. I don't want to leave, but I'm feeling so stupid and uncomfortable with what has just happened.

"Seth, I…"

"Wait for your drink, and then we can talk."

I let out a sigh, and sit back in the seat, dropping my coat to where it was before. We wait for a minute or two until the waitress brings my drink. Seth tells her he'll have another one too. I think he does that to make it look like I'm not drinking so much. He still has half his scotch in his glass. I take a drink of the new margarita and look over at him.

"I'm so embarrassed, Seth. I've gone about this all wrong, and when I drink I jump to conclusions, and…" I stop, feeling like it's useless to try to explain. I'll only make it worse anyway.

"You don't need to be embarrassed. We're just getting to know each other. We need to get all these … misconceptions out of the way."

"But I am embarrassed. Ever since my son came out, I feel like I have to defend all things gay. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, but you fit the profile of so many gay guys that I've known." I know I'm babbling but I can't stop myself.

"Are you into gender profiling?" Seth asks, looking at me so seriously.

I open my mouth to say something, but I don't know how to answer such a thing. And then I see it - the twinkle in his eye and the slight curl of his lip as he fights a smile.

"Why you! You … you … you're putting me on."

"Maybe a little," Seth says with a chuckle.

"You're not mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. I think I might even be flattered. If being gay puts me in the same category as your son and his partner, I think that would be just fine."

"They are lovely together," I agree with a soft smile. I take a small sip of my margarita. I don't need to gulp it down anymore. I don't need false courage. Seth is being really great about this whole thing.

"They're intelligent, handsome and talented. What more could anyone ask for?"

"Are you sure you're not gay?" I dare to ask, but my giggle tells him that I'm not serious.

"If I was gay, I wouldn't be thinking what I'm thinking at the moment," Seth admits.

"And what would that be?"

"That you are the most beautiful, intelligent woman I've had the good fortune to meet in a long time. And that I'd love to have dinner with you, and then we'll see…" His voice trails off at that point, but his words hold such promise.

"You mean it?" I ask, feeling tears trying to fill my eyes. Seth really is the sweetest man. "Even after all the stupid things I've said."

"Even after…" he says warmly.

I smile over at him and he reaches for my hand. I let him take it and he gives it a gentle squeeze.

"I'd love to have dinner with you. Would you like to come back to my place? I could make us an omelet or something," I suggest.

"I want to treat you to dinner. You can cook for me another time."

I smile at that. He really is very gallant. "That sounds lovely. Should we have dinner here in the hotel or should we brave the winter roads and go somewhere else?"

"It's still a little early, so let's enjoy our drinks. We can have dinner here and then I'll take you home."

"You have a deal."

"I hope I have a date," he laughs.

"You have a date," I assure him.

"I might even be persuaded to give you another foot massage if you invite me in after dinner." There's the slightest indication of a wink as I look over at him.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Seth Harris?"

"Am I succeeding?"

"You could have had me hours ago," I blurt out. "Oh my! Did I just say that?"

"I believe I heard the words. Do you want to take them back?"

"No, no, not at all." I'm slightly flustered but this is more than I ever hoped for when Brian agreed to find me an escort for the wedding. I think I could really care about this man. In fact, I think I already do

"So, what are you saying?" Seth asks with that gentle smile that I like more and more every time I see it.

"I'm saying that we should blow this pop stand, to quote Brian Kinney." I laugh nervously. I hope Seth is getting my message.

"I always thought Brian Kinney was full of … good ideas."

I laugh at the strategic pause in his words. He has a cute sense of humor.

"Then let's go," I say picking up my coat.

"Jennifer, wait. I want to take this slow and easy. I think that we … could really have something here. I want us to savor every minute and not rush into anything."

With a sigh I let my coat fall back on the bench again. Sometimes politeness can be very frustrating. However, deep down inside I know that Seth is right. I'd rather wait and have a long term relationship, than rush into a whirlwind that might be over as quickly as it started.

We spend a long time talking. I carefully space my sips of margarita. I don't want to get drunk, although several times this weekend that had seemed like an excellent idea. After a long while and some pleasant conversation, I realize that Seth and I have a lot in common. I also realize that he's a very interesting man that I want to get to know much better.

As five p.m. rolls around, I realize that I'm very hungry. I only managed a few bites at the brunch and that was a long time ago.

"Let's go to dinner," I say. "It was a long time since I ate."

"We'll go over to the main restaurant if that's okay," Seth says.

"Sounds excellent."

We walk through the lobby to the main dining room. It's elegant and warm, just like Seth, I think as we are seated. Seth, of course, pulls out the chair for me. He makes sure the maitre d' knows that I'm his girl. I couldn't be happier.

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