Ill Take Forever

smiled. 'See you later,' she replied wondering how to take his demand. She should be flattered. And maybe she would have been had Kyle not been standing beside her. Was George showing off in front of Kyle?
    Not to be out done, Kyle moved close to Jenny, gently wrapping his hand around her upper arm. She instinctively pressed his hand against her side.
    'Not now, sweetheart,' he said, rubbing his fingers against the side of her breast. 'Why did you leave last night? And then disappear this morning. Sorry about the call, but I wasn’t on the phone that long.'
    Jenny caught her breath, her knees going weak. 'I... I didn't know how long you'd be.' she lied. His fingers rubbed gently as he surveyed the crowd. Jenny wished they hadn't come, that they had stayed home and–
    'I want you to tell me who everyone is. Point out the ones we've talked about. I'll let you know who I want to meet,' Kyle said, business back in hand.
    Jenny blinked. Of course, Kyle was on a job. It was not a social outing for him. For a brief moment, she'd forgotten.
    They wandered to the bar, Jenny greeting friends and acquaintances, giving names and thumbnail sketches on each of the various people to Kyle as they strolled along and he was introduced. Kyle had the background on almost everyone in attendance, but matching up faces with names took a little while.
    'Nate Fisher.' Jenny nodded to a dark man across the patio who raised his glass to her. She smiled saucily and turned to Kyle. 'You two almost met last February, remember?'
    He glanced at Fisher, back at Jenny. 'Not so loud. What does he do again?'
    'Nate works at the garage in town.'
    'Right. Who's the girl talking to him?'
    Jenny hadn't seen Kyle glance at Nate again. Yet, sure enough, there was a tall blonde laughing at something Nate said, moving closer to him to hear better. Did Kyle go for tall blondes? Was the girl in the picture tall? Jenny was suddenly tired, drained.
    'It's Naomi Taylor. Her father works at the mill, in the office. Naomi works in San Francisco. She must be on vacation or just up for the weekend.'
    They were on their second drink when George joined them, smoothly drawing Jenny along with him. In only a short time he and Jenny were part of a large group of friends, laughing and joking. Of Kyle she lost track.
    Susie Lewis joined them, pulling Jenny aside for a few moments of town gossip. George smiled wryly and moved on to talk to other guests.
    He had some of the men who worked on the ranch in charge of cooking the steaks and making sure the guests were taken care of.
    Once or twice as the evening progressed, Jenny caught a glimpse of Kyle. Sometimes talking with one group or another, once standing alone on the sidelines, watching what was going on around him.
    Peggy and Dan O'Neil arrived, greeted their daughter and were soon drawn in to the circle of neighbors discussing the events of the summer yet to come–the Fourth of July fireworks display, the upcoming county fair.
    'Great party, don't you think, Jenny?' her friend April asked, as the daylight faded. Patio lamps came on, giving soft illumination to the scene.
    Jenny pinned a bright smile on her face. Only moments before her parents had arrived, she’d seen Kyle and Naomi slipping away from their group. Jenny refused to admit the party had lost its sparkle for her.
    'Sure is. What's the latest on your Hawaiian vacation?'
    The topic brought forth a long narrative on April's part of the plans she had made for the long dreamed of vacation she was taking in August.
    As the night grew darker, the party bloomed. There was music for those who wanted to dance on the patio, a pool for those who had thought to bring a swimsuit. The food and drinks flowed steadily. Jenny felt her head begin to whirl.
    She moved to one of the wooden benches near the house, getting a Coke in passing.
    'Sitting this one out?' George joined her on the bench, nodding to the gyrating crowd on the patio.
    'For a while. I've had my last drink for tonight. Coke for me from now on.' She raised her glass. 'It's a great party, George, thanks for having me. I'm having fun.'
    'The way you say it almost makes you sound surprised. We're all your friends, Jenny.'
    'I know. I'd almost forgotten. I need to get out more.'
    George reached out and took her hand, gently holding it in his. 'I'd like to be a part of your getting out more.'
    She smiled and nodded, looking at her Coke. That would be fine. George was easy to be with, not like some men she knew!