Marriage of Convenience

Part 18

By 'J'

NC-17

When Rosa entered the house an hour later, she found Michelle's robe crumpled behind the kitchen table and Danny's jeans on the floor in front of the sink. She stared for a few seconds, and then, grinned to herself, picked the clothes up and folded them neatly.

Michelle emerged from the bathroom minutes later, wearing her terry beach cover-up, her hair was wet from the shower. She stopped short when she saw Rosa standing in the kitchen, putting the flour back in the cabinet.

"Hello," Michelle said sheepishly.

"Well," Rosa greeted her. "IT looks like a few things have changed around here."

"Can't fool you huh?" Michelle said.

"The clothes on the floor were my first clue." Rosa said dryly.

"Oh." We forgot them."

"Obviously. And I also noticed the ingredients of...something scattered around the kitchen. Never got around to cooking it, huh?"

"I was going to make pancakes. I was...interrupted."

"I'll bet. Where's Danny?"

"Sleeping."

"I'm sure he's tired." Rosa said solicitously.

"Stop looking so superior. Rosa, this is what you wanted."

"No, it's what you wanted," Rosa replied, plugging in the coffeepot.

"Is that coffee?" Michelle said sitting down and trying to change the subject.

"No it's beer. Don't change the subject. May I ask how this miracle came about?

Michelle sighed. "It's a long story."

Rosa spread her hands. "I have nothing but time."

Michelle faced the inevitable. "Last night a friend of mine from Springfield showed up here to see me."

"A friend?"

"A man I had dated, someone I work with at the office."

"I see."

"Danny got upset."

"I would think so."

"Especially since Bill--that's the friend--announced that he wanted to marry me."

Rosa turned to look at her.

"Yeah, it was pretty bad," Michelle agreed.

"Is the friend still alive?"

"Danny....explained to him that we were already married. In a matter of speaking."

"I'm sorry I missed this," Rosa observed, removing cups from the dishwasher."

"I wish I could have missed it."

"Did this Bill think you wanted to marry him?"

"He conceded that he wasn't thinking much at all. I told him my situation with Danny and he accepted it, but his arrival sort of brought things a head between Danny and me."

"I can imagine," Rosa murmured.

"We had a big fight."

"And a bigger reconciliation."

Michelle nodded, coloring.

"And you both admitted that you had loved each other all along." Michelle nodded again.

"Well, it's about time."

Michelle ginned.

"What?"

"Danny said you would say that."

Rosa removed the incinerated remains of Danny's toast from the toaster and fed them to the disposal. "I haven't exactly made a secret of my feelings on the subject. But you two have been as obstinate as mules since you got here. I never saw such foolish behavior in my life."

"That's because you weren't here last night when Bill arrived." Michelle said wincing. "It wasn't Danny's finest hour."

"Taking my name in vain?" said the man himself, coming into the kitchen. He was wearing the sweater Michelle had removed the night before and a fresh pair of jeans.

"Good morning!" Rosa said, beaming. "My, don't you look relaxed."

Danny glanced at Michelle.

"She knows," Michelle said.

Danny flushed slightly, walking past Rosa to the coffeepot, which was bubbling to a noisy conclusion.

"Isn't that cute?" Rosa said to the air. "He's embarrassed."

Danny poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to face them.

"You're a riot, Rosa," he said darkly.

Rosa smiled and flicked her dish towel at him. "I've been waiting a long time for this," She said. "You can't blame me for enjoying it."

"I enjoyed it," Michelle piped up, and Danny choked.

Rosa slapped his back. "Take it easy there," she said.

The phone rang.

"I wonder who that is," Michelle said, reaching for it.

"Hello," Michelle said into the receiver.

"Hi, Michelle, It's Bill."

"Oh, hi, Bill."

Danny looked up, his expression guarded.

"Are you okay?" Bill asked.

"I'm fine," Michelle responded.

"More than fine," Rosa corrected.

"You said you were going to call me."

"Oh, Bill, I'm sorry. I forgot."

"I was worried."

"I'm sorry that you were worried, but I'm perfectly all right. Really."

"Is your.....husband still there?"

"Yes," Michelle answered carefully. Danny was listening to every word.

"I wanted to come over to say goodbye," Bill said.

Michelle glanced nervously at Danny. "You want to come here?"

Danny watched her.

"I don't know if that would be such a good idea," Michelle said hesitantly.

"Let him come," Danny said indulgently, draining his cup. "I'll be good."

"He'll be good." Rosa seconded.

Danny shot her a dirty look.

"I won't cause any trouble. I just want to see you before I leave." Bill said.

"All right," Michelle agreed.

"What time?"

"I can leave right now, be there in about twenty minutes."

"Okay. See you then."

"Goodbye."

Michelle hung up the phone to the heavy silence in the room.

"He'll be here soon." Michelle announced.

"I've got work to do," Danny replied. "I'll make myself scarce."

"I'd appreciate it," Michelle said gratefully.

"He doesn't threaten me anymore," Danny said, putting down his cup. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek. "I got the girl."

"Hurray!" Rosa said and threw her dish towel into the air.

"Give me that thing," Danny muttered, grabbing for it.

Rosa danced out of his reach, laughing.

"I'll be down in the barn if you need me," Danny said to Michelle.

She nodded.

"For anything," he added, grinning wickedly.

"Get out of here," Rosa said.

"I'm going," he said, holding up his hand. On the way out he grabbed two of the sweet rolls Rosa had brought with her and popped one into his mouth.

"I guess that's his breakfast," Rosa said resignedly.

"He'll make up for it at lunch," Michelle said.

"Don't you think you'd better get dressed?" Rosa said pointedly, examining Michelle's sketchy outfit.

"Right." Michelle stood and headed for her bedroom.

"I'll make you something to eat," Rosa called after her.

"Don't bother, I'll get a sandwich later," Michelle answered.

"I don't know what I'm doing here, nobody ever consumes any food in this house," Rosa muttered to herself.

Michelle dressed quickly and was waiting for Bill when he arrived. Rosa withdrew discreetly to do laundry.

"You look lovely," bill said to her as they sat in the living room.

"Thank you."

"Where's Danny?"

"Down with the horses."

"Avoiding me?"

"I don't doubt it."

"So I guess you made it up with him last night," Bill said.

"How can you tell?"

"You're glowing, just like the advertisements say. Except I don't think it's face cream, is it?"

"No."

Bill sat forward and clasped his hands. "Well, the way things are going, I figured he'd wind up either killing me of making love to you. I'm glad he chose the second alternative. Are you happy?"

"Yes, Very."

He nodded. "I could see that, but I had to ask."

"Bill, I'm sorry about the way things turned out for you."

"Dent' be. i know when I'm beaten. Even when you were furious. I could tell by the way you were looking at him that you were crazy about him."

"We've caused each other a lot of pain."

"That goes with it sometimes."

"So what are you going to do now?" Michelle asked, trying to get him to talk about himself.

"Finish my vacation. Then go back to Springfield and resign."

"Really? You've made up your mind?"

He nodded. "I've got to do something for my future, I'm just spending my wheels with Desmond."

"I hope it works out for you."

"Do you think you'll be staying here?"

"Yes."

Bill stood.

"Well, I guess that does it." He kissed Michelle's cheek. "Be happy."

"I'll try."

As Bill was turning for the door, it opened, and Danny walked into the room. The two men confronted each other, and Michelle tensed. Danny extended his hand to Bill. "I wanted to see you before you left, and I noticed your car was still here, he said. "Please accept my apology for the way I behaved last night. I was a little drunk and a lot jealous. I'm sorry."

Michelle watched in amazement as Bill took Danny's hand and shook it. It seemed that no one was immune to Danny's charm when he chose to exert it. "Forget it," bill said. "I was barging in where I didn't belong, I realize that now."

Danny nodded.

"I was just concerned about Michelle," Bill added. "I'm glad she has such good friends."

Why don't they kiss each other, Michelle thought dryly, suspecting that they were overdoing it for her sake.

"Goodbye, Michelle," Bill said, turning to her.

"Goodbye, Bill. Have a safe trip."

After Bill left, Danny said. "He isn't such a bad guy."

"Last night you wanted to vivisect him."

"that was last night," he replied moving closer and putting his arms around her. "Before you declared your undying love for me. And demonstrated it."

"Very capably."

Remember that Italian place we went to on your birthday, the night Mother and your father were at the auction?"

"How could I forget? The dinner didn't go so well, but you took me for a hamburger later that night and I started to fall in love with you."

"Because of the hamburger?" he said teasingly.

"Because you were so nice to me."

"Was I?"

"You didn't treat me like a kid, although I'm sure I was acting like one."

He shook his head. "No, I thought you were very mature. That's why it was so hard for me to remember your age sometimes." He traced her nose with a blunt fingertip.

"I thought we could go back to that restaurant tonight if you like, do it right this time."

Michelle grinned. "I still won't be able to read the menu."

"I might not be able to, either. It's been a while, my Italian is a little rusty."

"Make the reservation. It'll be fun to go back there."

"Okay."

he started to walk away, then turned back to her and kissed her. "I can't seem to stop doing that," he said.

"I'm not complaining."

"I'll make the reservation for eight. I'm going to town with Carlo, but I'll be back in plenty of time."

"Good."

He winked and left. She heard his footsteps go through the kitchen and out the door.

Michelle hugged herself, wondering if anyone deserved to be this happy.

Rosa went home at about four, and an hour later Michelle was taking a bath when she heard Danny come in and shout for her.

"In here," she called.

He opened the bathroom door and paused on the threshold. "Isn't that a picture?" he said softly.

"Care to join me?" Michelle said, raising her arm covered with suds from the bubble bath in a beckoning gesture.

He sat on the edge of the tub and embraced her. "God, you smell so good," he said, sighing.

"You always say that."

"It's always true," he murmured, running his hands, now slick with soap, over her body.

She hooked her arms around his neck and pulled him into the foaming water.

"HEY!" He was laughing, trying to keep his head above water as Michelle climbed on him, bearing him down. He gripped the edge of the tub with one hand and grabbed her with the other, wrestling her into submission.

"Uncle, Uncle!" she cried, pretending to surrender. When he released her, she splashed suds into his face, gigging maniacally.

"Oh, you're going to pay for that," he said, kneeling and hauling her upward with his hands under her arms. he flipped her over the edge of the tub and dumped her unceremoniously on the bath mat, as if he were a camp counselor bathing a five-year-old. Then he vaulted after her, pinning her before she could scramble to her feet.

"Now I have you at my mercy," he pronounced in a deep theatrical voice, twirling an imaginary moustache.

"Oh, please, sir, take pity on a poor serving girl with nary a penny to her name," Michelle whimpered in a cockney accent, batting her lashes.

"A poor serving girl?" Danny said, dropping the act.

"Isn't that a bit much?"

"I thought it was a nice touch. you can get off me now."

"Really?" he was holding her down with one hand spread flat on her abdomen. It didn't seem as though he was exerting much force, but when she tried to move, she couldn't.

"You're dripping on me," she pointed to him.

"Whose fault is that?" he asked.

"Anyway, you were wet already." he shook his head like a dog coming in from the rain and splattered her with droplets.

"And now I'd like to get dry," Michelle said.

He sprawled next to her, still holding her down, and licked a rivulet of water from her shoulder. The warmth of his skin came through his wet clothes like a steam through a damp towel.

"I'll dry you off," he murmured, lowering his head to her breasts.

"Oh, thank you," she sighed, closing her eyes. She was no longer trying to get him to release her.

"Still a little wet here----" he sucked on a nipple. "----and here." He trailed his tongue down to her navel.

"This is a lovely service you provide," Michelle whispered, holding his head against her.

"Any time." He sat up and tried to pull his shirt over his head, then subsided, frustrated. "This damn thing is stuck to me," he said. the absurdity of it struck them and they both started to laugh.

"Some Casanova I'm turning out to be," he said ruefully.

"Never mind," Michelle said, reaching for the waistband of his jeans. "I think we can make a success of this with a few minor adjustments."

She unzipped his fly and climbed into his lap. He shifted to accommodate her. "How's that?" she murmured as he settled her onto him.

"Clever girl, he said huskily, closing his eyes.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," she replied shivering with delight.

Some time later they became aware that they were lying in a puddle.

"Do you think we should move?" Michelle said dreamily.

"I guess that might be a good idea," Danny replied yawning.

"If we fall asleep here we'll both get pneumonia."

"It might be worth it," he replied.

"You won't think so when you're in an oxygen tent," Michelle replied. "Now who's going to get up first?"

"You?" he suggested.

"What an unchivalrous attitude," she chided him.

"I'm not the one who started this," he reminded her.

"Danny, we're going to miss dinner. And i, for one, am starving. I've heard it's possible to live on love, but I dont' feel like putting it to the test tonight."

Grumbling under his breath, he stood awkwardly and helped her to her feet. They both looked around them. The tile floor of the bathroom was awash, Michelle was naked, her hair in a damp tangle, and Danny was half in and half out of his sodden clothes. Drenched towels were bunched at their feel like cold lumps of mashed potatoes.

"Geez, what a mess," he observed.

"I'll get the mop," Michelle said.

She left him puttering around, and by the time she returned he had drained the tub, wrung out the towels and hung them up to dry on the racks. She mopped up the remaining water and wiped out the tub.

"I like that maid's uniform," he said, observing her.

"It's transparent, like the emperor's new clothes," Michelle said , grinning.

"Yeah, well, you'd better cover it up or we may never get out of this bathroom," he said dryly.

Michelle dashed past him and returned the mop to its bucket in the kitchen closet. When she went back to the hall, he was waiting for her.

"I have a proposition to make," he said.

"I think I've heard all of your propositions," Michelle replied, laughing.

"You haven't heard this one. When we're home alone together, I'd like you to stay like this all the time."

"Dont' you think I'd get a little chilly in the winter?" Michelle asked.

"The house has heat. We usually don't have to use it, but for you I'd turn it up full blast."

"I'll consider it," Michelle said and tried to brush past him into her room.

He caught her about the waist and held her.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To get dressed. i dont think I can go to the restaurant like this. not unless you want me to wind up in jail this time."

"Lets stay home," he said, nuzzling her. "We can send out for pizza."

"Danny, for heaven's sake. You're like an adolescent who just discovered sex."

"I just discovered sex with you."

"But you don't want to do anything else."

"Do you?" he asked smiling.

"That's beside the point," Michelle replied with mock severity. "I am not going to live on fast food for the rest of my life just because we....."

"We?" he prompted, deadpan.

"Have found each other," she finished lamely.

"Can't keep our hands off each other," he amended.

"Speak for yourself," Michelle said tartly.

He busted out laughing, not exactly the reaction she had anticipated.

"What?" she demanded.

"Who was that unzipping my pants back here in the bathroom?" he asked, his eyes widening. "Miss Sadie Thompson?"

"Well, that was just...."

"Just?"

"Unbridled, lust," she admitted, sighing heavily.

"Ah, that's what I like to hear," he said.

"It's embarrassing," Michelle said, propping her chin on his collarbone." His clothes were drying now, smelling of her bath salts.

"What is?"

"How much I want you."

"Why should that be embarrassing, baby? It's natural."

"It's not natural for me. I'm kind of a businesslike type."

He managed not to laugh again, but his smile was roguish.

"I mean," she went on. "It seems like in less than a day my whole life has changed."

"It has. Mine, too."

"But I can't believe that you're with me and I can touch you and have you any time I want."

"You certainly can. I am completely and utterly at your service," he said.

He stepped back from her and bowed.

"Stop teasing me. I'm trying to make a serious point here."

He assumed a serious face.

"Despite the fact that I am addressing you while stark naked," she added.

"Despite that," he agreed, his lips twitching.

She moved close to him again and he embraced her lightly.

"It's a little scary to get what you've always wanted, isn't it?" she asked him.

"A little," he replied, kissing her hair.

"To have that what you fear to lose," she murmured.

"What's that?"

"Shakespeare. One of the sonnets, sixty-something. I think."

"How does it go?"

"This thought is as a death, which cannot choose/But weep to have that which it fears to lose."

"Don't worry," he said soothingly.

"No weeping is on the horizon. Neither one of us is going to lose this time."

Michelle glanced at the clock on the living room wall, just visible over his shoulder. "But we are going to lose those reservations if we don't hurry."

He released her reluctantly. "You're sure you have to get dressed," he said.

"Positive."

"All right. I think it's a stupid custom, but I'll go along with it. tonight."

Michelle went into her room to dress, hurriedly selecting a blue sheath, adding a gold chain and some earrings. She applied lipstick and eye makeup and combed her hair, which was drying in flyaway strands. Finally she stepped into medium heels, snatched her bag from her dresser and slipped out to meet Danny.

As quick as she was, he was quicker, waiting for her in the living room. He was wearing a navy suit with a white shirt and a brick-red tie.

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