Take Two by TheSouthernScribe
Summary:

 

*Repost*

 

True or False - You never get a second chance to make a first impression?

 

Lulu Marx and Dennison Lord are back in this family focused adventure leading to their second date.


Categories: Original Fiction Characters: Original Character(s)
Classification: General
Genre: None
Story Status: None
Pairings: Male/Female
Warnings: Adult Situations, Extreme Language, Fluff, Original Characters, Sexual Content , Un-betaed
Challenges: None
Series: While We're In Love
Chapters: 5 Completed: Yes Word count: 7749 Read: 14484 Published: 16/12/11 Updated: 16/12/11
Story Notes:

Lulu and Dennison are back and just as clueless as ever.

A four part follow up to assUme

1. The Cast by TheSouthernScribe

2. I. Parental Words of Wisdom and Wisecracks by TheSouthernScribe

3. II. Poetry in Motion by TheSouthernScribe

4. III. Pounding of Fists and Gnashing of Teeth by TheSouthernScribe

5. IV. Permission to Please by TheSouthernScribe

The Cast by TheSouthernScribe
Author's Notes:

A few faces to help make things clearer...

 




I. Parental Words of Wisdom and Wisecracks by TheSouthernScribe

It was his dimples; the ones that were still painfully obvious when she had tossed her plate at his head and even followed with the knife. He'd lost his cool and only spoken the truth. The same facts she had heard countless times from her older sister and the lone best friend who remained in her life even after years of uppity shenanigans.

 

Lulu Marx was a control freak who thought herself better than everyone else, even Dennison Lord.

 

It was beyond hilarious, a name fit for an attorney born and bred into his legal ease, but no the moniker belonged to a man who took her to a den of meat for dinner, paid his rent as a substitute gym teacher, and possessed the warmest set of brown eyes. She had wanted a second date when from the moment Dennison Lord sat down and babbled endlessly about Raul the janitor and his brother that ‘managed' the restaurant.

 

And now that same loser on paper was the only person that occupied her thoughts between conference calls and urgent internal memos.

 

Was she that desperate?

 

Was she that tired of rolling over and meeting the cold sheets on the left side of the bed that laughed mercilessly at the ache between her thighs?

 

No she wasn't desperate, pathetic was a better description.

 

Lulu had done her best to mask her internal debate between desperate versus pathetic but her mother had seen the difference in her eyes when she appeared on her parents' doorstep two days after her first date with Dennison. It was immediately following Sunday morning service and daughter had arrived to help mother with preparing for the influx of hungry relatives seeking a free meal.

 

Alice Marx hadn't said a word; there was no need the one eye visible from her graying swooped bangs said it all. The matriarch of the Marx family took off her good heels, slid her feet into a pair of flats, and busied herself with setting the table for the family and friends that would soon fill her home.

 

Lulu had followed her mother's lead, ignoring the elephant in the room, grabbing the platter for the slices of ham, and the serving spoons for the bounty of sides.

 

"You meet someone girl?"

 

She had nearly dropped the bowl of sweet potatoes when the question connected with her ears. The same woman who had been unable to distinguish gay from straight when she arranged a date for her daughter with the Pac - Sun clad IT guy, had hit the figurative nail on the head.

 

"No ma'am?"

 

Her mother shook her head, "Lying heifa, I just left Jesus' house, and you got me wantin' to cuss."

 

Lulu just let her mother vent and attempted to mask her smile as she strategically placed the bowls, platters, and dishes on the table; until she couldn't remain silent another moment. She had bent her mother's ears with the details.

 

The online dating profile...

 

The disastrous first date...

 

The amusing conversations occurring between her and Dennison morning, noon, and night...

 

And the only thing Alice Marx had to say, "When can I expect his feet under my table for dinner?"

 

If only it were that easy. She had tried to explain to no avail.

 

"How did I raise such a bourgeois child?" The older woman wiped her hands on her apron, "Your daddy didn't have a pot to piss in, when we met, could barely do anything other than run a football fifty yards for a touchdown, but, a good woman, a strong woman, with the patience of a saint can do a lot to steer a man in the right direction."

 

Patience was not a concept or a word that Lulu was well versed in, still she attempted to follow her mother's quasi advice. She planned to accomplish something on her second date with Dennison that she hadn't on the first, to simply have a good time.

 

~`~

 

Dennison Lord made it a point to stay away from Rockland County New York, especially West Nyack. If he had to be more than specific, he refused to travel to the four bedroom house on Stonehedge Drive. The home of his parents that acted as an erected shrine in the cozy suburb, housing memories of the outlandish sibling battles between Dennison and his younger, more attractive, perfect in every way brother, Heath. He didn't want to engage in discussions about Viking Football and the talented offensive coordinator, his brother, who was destined to take over for the soon to be retiring athletic director. He couldn't stomach a conversation about the

PTA, or the president of the organization who just so happened to be Heath's wife, who still had a supermodel - esque body after shitting out three equally obnoxious kids.

 

He was still contemplating a run for freedom, when he abandoned the heap of junk Accord he had been driving since high school, in the freshly paved drive that ran in front of his parents' home. He walked around the back of the house, crunching on the turf like grass until he found his father sifting wayward leaves out of the pool with a net.

 

"Well look what the devil dropped on my door step."

 

There was no love lost between father and son. Ellis Lord never approved of Dennison's decision to move into the city after he graduated from college and accept the cushy position at the Fortune 500 media newbie. He had reiterated that fact, almost fifteen years later, when posh and well paid, quickly turned to destitute and unemployed.

 

"Can we skip the part where you tell me I'm a loser, compare me to Heath, and practically spit in my face?"

 

Ellis shrugged and turned his attention back to the pool, "Whaddya want?"

 

His father's heavy Scottish brogue grew heavier in his irritation; Dennison ignored it and stood his ground, "I want to see Ma."

 

A growl and a, "Pfft," were the only responses he received to his request before his father shook his head to the right and spit, "She's in the kitchen, don't bother her long, she's..."

 

The man swallowed his words and Dennison didn't miss the hint of sorrow or the slouch in his father's five - ten stature. His height had been an anomaly, something blamed on his mother's genetics. At nearly six foot one, Susan Lord, was a towering figure of a woman. Deep dark eyes, prominent cheek bones, and a wicked tongue.

 

"Denny."

 

He resisted the urge to run to the open arms that greeted him. Instead he shuffled his feet, but quickly found his way to his mother's embrace.

 

"Next time, punch that short little man in the top of his head and that will shut him the fuck up."

 

She had a way with words. He tried not to allow his eyes to linger on his mother's thinning frame or pale complexion. Chemotherapy and a cabinet full of medicine had taken its toll on her outer beauty, but nothing could dim her inner light.

 

Dennison led her to a seat at the counter and occupied himself with the chore of finishing the breakfast dishes she had been washing. There were reminders of his youth all around the country styled kitchen. Photos of Dennison and Heath in their old baseballs uniforms, artwork made from their painted handprints, and markings on the frame of the door tracking their growth. It felt good to be home and guilt immediately kicked him in the ass for not visiting his parents', well, his mother sooner.

 

"How's Heath?"

 

He started with the small talk.

 

"Still a twat."

 

He snickered at his mother's colorful language.

 

"Mrs. Twat and the baby brat twats?"

 

Susan Lord raised an eyebrow as she watched her son work, "Spill it Denny, I know you didn't remove that rusted tin from garaged parking to ride all the way out to Nyack to ask about your simple minded brother and his perfect family."

 

Dennison turned off the water and faced his mother, "I...you think...does Pop's offer for that job still stand?"

 

His mother pointed at the chair next to hers and Dennison took a seat.

 

"Always...contrary to popular belief, Ellis loves you, and is proud of you for trying to make it on your own, that's a hell of a lot more than can be said for Heath, and his looking for a handout..." Susan took a breath, pausing mid sentence and the wrinkles around her eyes crinkled when she smiled, "What's her name?"

 

Relieved that the truth was slowly seeping out, Dennison answered, "Lulu."

 

He proceeded to share the details about his new friend.

 

"She's really smart Ma, you'd love her," His voice slid up the scales with every word, "She works for one of those fancy medical device dealers, she's a little snooty, but hell on heels. She threw a plate at my head on our first date."

 

Susan laughed and it was the first moment of abandonment he'd witnessed since her diagnosis, "I would love to meet this Lulu, sounds like you picked a winner."

 

A week later he was slipping his feet into a pair of new loafers that matched the belt in his pants perfectly. His mother had talked his father into an advance on his salary, and so far in the three days he had been employed at the family business, Dennison had managed not to respond to his father's taunts.

 

Gone were his days of unwilling dumpster diving and he hoped that he made a better impression on his date for the evening.

II. Poetry in Motion by TheSouthernScribe

"Do these jeans make me look fat?"

 

Lulu turned awkwardly to study her backside in the full length mirror. Her best friend and partner in crime, Gita, rolled her eyes before responding, "No your mother's banana pudding makes you look fat."

 

The nervous woman proceeded to go through the motions of shedding the pants before her moves were hampered by her friend's involvement. Date number two was rapidly approaching; as in less than two hours away, rapidly approaching. Lulu's mouth was dry, her palms were sweating, and her pudgy little stomach was threatening a malicious revolt against her jeans.

 

"Lu stop it," Gita shifted on the bed, cradling her ever expanding belly, as she waddled quickly to her friend's side, "You're gorgeous and all that sugar is going straight to your hips."

 

"Exactly," Lulu moved again to release herself from the jeans until a firm whack caused her to shriek, "What the hell G?"

 

"Your ass is now smackable," Gita pointed her finger in Lulu's face, "Change those jeans and risk four more years of celibacy."

 

It was Lulu's turn to roll her eyes, Gita was happily married to her high school sweetheart, expecting her second child at any moment, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. She meditated on the words of her friend, secured the tab of her jeans, and slid the zipper upwards. She couldn't breathe, but she had to admit, her hips and legs looked good, damn good, in the stretchy dark denim.

 

"You promised you wouldn't pull the celibacy card."

 

Gita shrugged before she shifted her body into a half moon pose right there in the middle of Lulu's bedroom, "I lied...you know I'm a compulsive liar...I took your Play - Doh in first grade and lied about it with a precious, cherubic smile on my face."

 

Lulu shook her head as she stared in awe at the eight month plus, pregnant woman, flaunting her flexibility, "He doesn't even have a real job."

 

Gita returned to a standing position and crossed her arms over her expanded middle, "And you haven't had a real date, since...wait... oh we can't count the IT guy, it's been a while Lu."

 

Lulu retrieved the thin, chest hugging tee from her bed and slipped over her head. She shoved her feet into the new, still reeking of Journeys, purple Pumas, and took one last look at herself in the mirror. She noticed Gita staring at her like a proud momma and she issued a whole hearted request.

"Please don't smack my ass again."

 

Gita beamed, "I was leaning towards pinching a nipple this time."

 

~`~

 

"The chick from the restaurant?"

 

Dennison ignored the squawky voice of his friend Raul as he checked his fly for the umpteenth time.

 

"Her name is Lulu."

 

Raul rattled off a few choice phrases in Spanish and Dennison gleaned crazy, woman, and what he thought was a reference to some primo herb from the man's ravings.

 

"Dude, you're a substitute teacher..."

 

He quickly interrupted his friend before he could finish, "Was a substitute teacher, I am now a Supply Chain Analyst."

 

Raul face fell flat, "For your Pop's business, what the hell would she want with you?"

 

"I thought you were my friend?"

 

Dennison was quickly growing agitated with Raul's intercession. Sure it had started under the guise of concerned friendship and now it was slowly making him feel like a worthless piece of shit.

 

"I am your friend," Raul stood from the black leather sofa, "I just don't want to see you sniffing around some snobby ass chick that has no intentions of even giving up..."

 

"Everything is not about sex Raul."

 

A sheer look of confusion graced Raul's features. He was dumb, still thought he was young, and wished he could find a senorita who was ready, willing, and able.

 

"Its sacrilegious to even utter that sentence Den," Raul shook his head, "Next thing I know, you'll be skipping your overgrown ass down the aisle in a penguin suit."

 

~`~

 

When Dennison sent his address by way of a jumbled series of text messages, Lulu did a double take at the screen of her phone. His conversation and gentlemanly behavior post her emotional outburst during their date had been the first clue of his upbringing, however his choice of residence said a lot about him.

 

Mr. Dennison Lord had not always been a substitute gym teacher.

 

He lived in the heart of the Village, right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of NYU, and in close proximity to her favorite restaurant to grab a grilled eggplant sandwich.

 

She was sure the building was a Co-Op, with its landscaped courtyard and recently renovated exterior, geared to attract, younger, hipper, buyers. It was cuter than her building in Chelsea and she wasn't sure she knew how she felt about that. She gave the hem of her shirt a tug before she pressed the buzzer to announce her arrival.

 

Lulu could hear the clatter that ended with a resounding thud on the other end of the intercom. A breathless, "Yeah," came a few seconds later.

 

"Hey, it's me," She kicked herself and bemoaned internally, how could he know who me was?

 

"Hey Lulu," Well obviously he did, "I'll buzz you in."

 

She heard the door click and she grabbed the handle and entered the building. The interior lobby was even more charming and she felt herself subscribing to apartment envy.

 

She decided to take the stairs for the two flight sojourn. She fluffed her hair as she climbed each level. She lined her lips with gloss before she exited the stairwell and into the hall. A brief rush of excitement tore through her, and Lulu calmed her nerves, with deep relaxing breaths. She could hear Gita voice and her mother's well meaning chastisements as she raised her hand to knock on Dennison's door.

 

Her hand had barely connected with the wood, when the door opened, and Dennison was revealed in all his vertically blessed glory. She was way under dressed. Her mouth parted, but no sound was emitted as she took in the tailored oxford shirt, flattering cut of pants, and the loafers on a very large pair of feet.

 

They both laughed nervously as they studied one another.

 

There Lulu stood in skin tight jeans and an equally form fitting tee, and Pumas. Casual shoes, she didn't know the meaning of the word. She had changed, conformed, compromised, for the sake of Dennison and his dimples.

 

She raised her hands above her head, "Surprise."

Dennison quickly countered, "I'll change."

 

Lulu slipped into his apartment, unprepared for the second shock of the evening. Her building envy morphed into deeper jealousy, when her feet met, professionally stained hardwood floors. She stood mesmerized at the openness of the space.

 

Dark leather seating encompassed the living area, along with sleek glass tables, and

conservative, yet modern plasma television hanging on the wall. Two stools and high bar table rested on the edge of the cook's kitchen.

 

"Your place is gorgeous."

 

A deep tenor responded with a, "Thanks," from behind the shelves that hid half of his sleeping alcove.

 

She resisted the urge to follow the sound of his voice and the grunts that filled the air as he shed the constricting clothing for more relaxing fare. Instead she opted to study the books on the shelf and if she caught a glimpse of bare skin, then it could honestly be construed as an accident.

 

Her fingers lingered on the volumes of poetry offered from Pablo Neruda, Frederico Garcia Lorca, Dylan Thomas, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nikki Giovanni.

 

Yes, Dennison Lord, was definitely more than the average, substitute teacher.

 

Lulu's heart skipped a beat when she found her favorite E.E. Cummings on the same row. She quickly opened the book and flipped through the pages. She didn't hear him when he joined her, "If you tell me, you're one of those converts to Cummings after seeing that wretched chick flick..."

 

She shook her head, biting down on her lip, when her fingers landed on her favorite piece. She didn't say another word to argue her case; she just began to read the lines aloud.

 

"I like my body when it is with your body."

 

It was deeper and maybe a bit too sensual to read to a virtual stranger, but it was still her favorite. Plus she had to avoid the true answer to his earlier question like comment; yes she was a Cummings convert who greedily devoured every bit of his poetry after seeing said chick flick with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette.

 

"I like your body...I like what it does...I like its hows..."

 

Dennison was hanging on every word she spoke, careful not to disturb the mood, but silently engrossed in her recitation of the literary classic.

 

"I like to feel the spine of your body and its bones..."

 

His body was closer now; height towering over her, enclosing her in a shadow of warmth.

 

"I like kissing this and that of you..."

 

He removed the book from her hands and closed it firmly. She stared up at him through mischievous eyes, "I was reading that."

 

Dennison shook his head, "No, you owe me a date," He returned the book its proper place, "First you try and kill me with a plate and a knife...next..."

 

The remainder of his sentence was left unspoken but Lulu was sure it fell in line with the obvious shift and wiggle he did with his leg, to hide the slight bulge in his pants. Was it too soon to count four years of abstinence a thing of the past...maybe.

III. Pounding of Fists and Gnashing of Teeth by TheSouthernScribe

They were headed to Nyack.

 

The constant thrum of Dennison's beating heart confirmed that fact loud and clear.

 

Lulu was a careful driver, but his nerves wouldn't let him release the handle on the passenger's side door. She made her way through the city, from Waverly where he lived, to Houston, Eleventh Avenue, and finally she joined the gridlocked cars on the George Washington Bridge. The car would venture to I-95 and from there they would head to Palisades Parkway; where the evening would culminate in a sure disaster.

 

It was Saturday night and Lucky Strike was Heath Lord's well established weekend spot where the man wasted countless hours. He would throw back beers, wreck havoc on unsuspecting amateur bowlers with his boisterous jeers and insults. His wife was no better, slinking her way to the lane, and enticing anyone who watched with erotic moves. Frame after frame they punished.

 

Then on Sunday morning they made their way, hung over, with all three kids in tow, to the brick church on the corner with the tall steeple and the stained glass windows.

 

He really wanted to puke, jump from the moving vehicle, and run kicking and screaming back to the confines of his apartment.

 

He still had residual wood from her little vixen show that accompanied her reading of a Cummings' classic. If he thought that was bad, nothing could possibly compare to a second date, in his hometown, on his brother's typical bowling night with the other well established couples of West Nyack.

 

"You okay?"

 

He pulled his attention away from the scenery flying outside of his window.

 

"Copasetic."

 

Her eyebrow shot up, "Wow...that bad?"

 

It was second nature that caused his hand to reach for hers and a part of him smiled when she didn't pull away, "Bowling is cool, just...shit...little brother...showboating all over Lucky Strike, a lot more than I can stand sober."

 

Her face dawned with understanding, "Ah, a West Nyack suburbanite."

 

Dennison groaned, "Please don't hold it against me."

 

Lulu smiled and it was definitely a site he could learn to love, "Never."

~`~

 

His hand was warm, sweaty, and shaky.

 

He was nervous.

 

Unfortunately it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with their destination and who he suspected waited there.

 

Lulu hadn't had the nerve to dig deeper into his family dynamics. Dennison had mentioned the mother he adored during their conversations. He had groaned, but acknowledged his father. Then there was the younger brother, Heath. She pictured wrestling matches on the front lawn, f -bomb tirades over Thanksgiving dinner, and two men who were probably more alike than they initially believed.

 

"We can go somewhere else."

 

She really wanted to bowl, but she was willing...

 

"No," His fingers twined with hers, "I'll stop being a little bitch and we'll bowl...you've got bail money right."

 

Lulu swerved a little when she laughed, until the realization of what he said hit her, and mingled with the facts she already knew. Her face turned from amused to serious in a split second and Dennison read her just as quickly.

 

"I was only kidding."

 

She breathed a sigh of relief and immediately felt guilty. The date was about releasing the assumptions, because she definitely didn't need to make a complete ass of herself again, but she was slipping back into her snob, elitist role so easily. She had yet to ask him about the sudden change in dress, and the non - existent scent of Thousand Island dressing had been replaced by the masculine and seductive scent of one of her favorite Armani colognes.

 

He was a substitute school teacher, how could he...curiosity killed the cat.

 

"So how is school going?"

 

She saw his body relax and his hand returned to its resting place in his lap.

 

"I quit."

 

She was two seconds away from a traffic violation when he elaborated.

 

"I took a position at my dad's company in West Nyack, supply chain stuff, maybe he'll let me delve into the marketing aspect and help him grow his territory a little."

 

She was sure her mouth was open; she closed it, picked up the cracked pieces of her face, and explored the conversation.

 

"Wait, supply chain, marketing..."

 

Dennison completed her thought, "No Lulu, I'm not some loser who sits around in his boxers scratching his balls and then sniffs his fingers."

 

Her mother was right, she was a snobby bitch, "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have assumed."

 

"I didn't give you much to go on."

 

He was too damn forgiving and a lot nicer than she deserved. He recounted his life in the remaining thirty minutes of their drive. Detailing more of his time at Syracuse and the Graduate program at NYU that he had started and stopped more times than he cared to count. Her heart sunk when he touched briefly on his mother's illness and the growing rift between him and his father. She knew he felt the heaviness in the car and he quickly changed the tone of the conversation, sharing a particularly funny story about his younger brother, Icy Hot, and a chicken track stained jock strap.

 

"Dennison, I'm sorry I misjudged you."

 

A wry grin curved his lips, "Just think you almost missed out on all of this." His hands caressed the belly hidden by his oversized t-shirt and blazer, but stopped short of the tent still residing in his pants.

 

Yes, Lulu Marx had definitely almost missed out on a whole lot of man.

 

~`~

 

Lucky Strike on a Saturday night could have easily been misconstrued for a club, catering to the elite, upper class, and filthy rich idiots from the city, stage, and screen. Heath Lord fit in perfectly with his chiseled features, deep bravado, and well defined abs. He was the golden boy of the Clarkstown Vikings. He still held all the records for interceptions, touchdowns, and tackles. The varsity football team's offense had grown under his leadership, but he was a vial, vicious, little twat.

 

"Denny."

 

Dennison and Lulu had barely made it inside when Heath's voice violated his ears.

 

"Who's your little friend big bro?"

 

A toothpick hung from Heath's lips and it was the only thing that didn't make his smile seem quite as lecherous as it was meant to be. He rolled the stick thin wood over his tongue before he extended his hand in greeting. This was usually where dating around the brother from hell, went terribly wrong. Girls got googly eyed and grown women spread their legs immediately with just one whiff of what Heath had to offer.

 

Lulu didn't budge. She remained tucked against Dennison's side and her show of loyalty gave him a much needed boost of confidence.

 

"Heath this is my friend Lulu."

 

Neither of them missed the snicker with the introduction of her name or the hazel gaze that lingered on her thighs. Never one to take no for an answer the younger Lord sibling tried again, thrusting his hand forward, as his body moved closer. Dennison wrapped his arm around Lulu and held her closer. This time she accepted the greeting, but the air remained riddled with new tension.

 

"Tahnya's here," Heath motioned for them to follow, "Why don't the two of you join us."

 

Dennison's arm moved from her waist and he took her hand in his. Lulu tugged at it a little and gestured for him to lower his ear. She poked his chest with each word she spoke, emphasizing the depth of their meaning, "I don't like your brother."

 

A few minutes passed and Dennison and Lulu traded their shoes for the fashionable offerings of Lucky Strike's bowling attire. They joined Heath and Tahnya on the lane. His brother's wife was overly friendly. Embracing him in a hug and rubbing her silicone tata-s against his chest. She mimicked the same movements with Lulu and he could tell his date was uncomfortable and quite possibly repulsed. Gone was the woman who had tried to seduce him with poetry and Dennison recognized the same fire in her eyes that had been present when the plate nearly clipped his head.

 

Disaster was imminent.

 

~`~

 

Tahnya Lord was gorgeous, if you were into perfect breasts, slim hips, blonde hair; blue eyes...fuck...why Lulu was even there, she didn't know. She was cursing again as jealousy bubbled over in her tummy. Tonight was about getting to know Dennison in a comfortable environment. She didn't know how to explain it, she liked him. She liked who she became around him. Gone was the high pressure that came with the territory of her job. Now, she was being assaulted by Barbie and Ken wannabes.

 

She needed a drink; nothing fruity and frilly, jack on the rocks, with a splash of coke.

 

Dennison read her mind, "Need a drink."

 

Lulu responded immediately, "Jack on the rocks with a splash of coke."

 

The brothers disappeared and left Lulu and Tahnya alone.

 

She knew the blonde was destined to say something stupid, she just didn't know what realm of stupid her comment would rest in.

 

"Are you from Nyack, we don't see many black people around here."

 

She silenced her inner Alice Marx and took a deep breath. They had passed no less than twenty, black people, on the way from the door to the counter to the lane. What in the hell did this twiggy mean, that they didn't see them in Nyack.

 

Lulu gave her a free pass for the first comment, "I live in the city."

 

The woman didn't look up from the screen as she continued to type in their names, "How do you spell Lulu."

 

It was official the bitch was stupid. There was no intelligence in the head filled with helium or the boobs enhanced by saline, silicone, or gummi bears.

 

"L-U-L-U," Lulu bit her tongue and just let the rest about the obvious lack of educational excellence in Clarkstown schools, because Dennison had to be a rarity.

 

"Oh that's cute."

 

Lulu looked around, silently pleading for Dennison and Heath's return. She needed a drink. She might need the entire of bottle of Jack to make it through the evening.

 

~`~

 

Dennison leaned over the bar and placed his order; one jack with a splash of coke, Black Velvet, and two Buds; the wait for his brother's taunts was short lived.

 

Dennison stood to his full height and looked down on his brother's six foot frame, "What Heath?"

 

The younger man of the two shrugged, "Nothing, it's just, if you're trying to get back in dad's good graces, I don't think revamping Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, is the way to do it Denny."

 

He downed his drink in one swallow and ordered another, "The name is Dennison and fuck off Heath."

 

The bartender had just placed the cup before him when Heath rattled off another thoughtless comment, "I guess it's true, the blacker the berry..."

 

Dennison's fist connected with the side of his brother's face before he could finish his statement.

 

His knee buckled when his brother's agile body connected with his middle. Both brothers went down to the ground in a blaze of fists and curses. He felt his shirt when it ripped under the force of his brother's grasp around his neck. It didn't matter; Dennison dug his nails into the pale skin of Heath's cheek and scratched. Heath hissed and kneed Dennison in the groin before biting down on his shoulder. Dennison howled in pain and grabbed a handful of his brother's hair and pulled. A few strands gave under the strength of his hand, but before more damage could be done, security broke the two men apart.

 

"I can't wait to tell dad."

 

Dennison lunged for his brother only to be pulled flush against a broad chest, "Sniveling, snotty nosed, brat."

 

Heath retorted, "Lanky fucking bastard." He wiggled his way out of his guard's arm and landed a few blows to Dennison's face, before the brut holding him, let him go, and allowed the brother's to go at it for an impromptu round of sibling boxing.

 

The noise escalated and drew a crowd that included Lulu and Tahnya. Both women screamed at the top of their lungs, "Enough," and the battle was paused.

 

One broken nose, a few cracked teeth, and a fractured hand later, the couples found themselves piled into Lulu's car and en route to Nyack Hospital.

 

~`~

 

"It's been like this since they were little."

 

Lulu looked up from the cup of coffee in her hands to meet Tahnya's crystal blue eyes.

 

"Now Denny comes home and Heath gets all crazy," The woman took a sip of her tea, "They're just alike, two oversized kids, trying to make daddy proud."

 

Lulu nodded and Tahnya continued talking.

 

"First date?"

 

She exhaled, allowing some of the tension riddled in her body to be released, "Second."

 

"Gosh, I remember our first date; I got pregnant with Sue that night."

 

There were a host of comments that filtered through Lulu's brain but she let them go.

 

"I know," Tahnya slipped lower in her seat, "Makes me look bad, naive, maybe a little stupid, but I knew at twelve, Heath was the guy I wanted to marry, so pregnant at nineteen didn't seem too bad, especially when the father was the star quarterback at Hofstra." She sighed, "Don't worry, you got the good brother."

 

She was about to question her waiting room companion's statement with the brothers Lord appeared. Dennison with his hand wrapped in an Ace bandage, Heath's nose taped, and a bag containing what was left of one of his two front teeth clutched tightly in his hand.

 

Lulu and Dennison delivered Heath and Tahnya back to the Lucky Strike parking lot and the deserted SUV that awaited them. The brothers said an amicable goodbye, and when Tahnya asked for Lulu's number, she quickly wrote down the ten digits, and accepted the kiss on the cheek, the blonde offered in parting.

 

"Well that was interesting."

 

Yes she was being facetious but when Dennison groaned and stalked back towards her car, she knew he hadn't taken it that way.

 

"I was kidding."

 

He shook his head a solemn look shadowing his features, "Maybe a second date was a bad idea."

 

She didn't have the words to describe the somersault her stomach did or the utter disappointment that enveloped her.

 

"Oh...maybe you're right."

 

She used the side of the car for support as she eased back into the driver's seat.

 

~`~

 

Dennison was thankful that there were no plates and knives in the car. Lulu was pissed. It was evident in the way she clicked through channels on her Sirius XM screen; he heard it, in the uncharacteristic expletives she used to berate the drivers in front, behind, and beside her.

 

He had a way of pushing people away, letting himself down, before the disappointment could come, and he had never imagined that she would want to get to know him more.

 

"Lulu," She stiffened and gripped the wheel tighter when he said her name, "I'm sorry."

 

She didn't respond. Her eyes stayed trained on the road and when they arrived in front of his building, he didn't have a plan B to rectify the damage he had done with his half witted plan A. He moved to open the door and she suddenly recovered her voice.

 

"I like you Dennison Lord, against my better judgment, and everything I've seen in two dates, I like you," She folded her arms across her chest and turned to face him, "And I never got my drink."

 

Lulu was pouting and it was almost as cute as her smile. Dennison cleared his throat, opened his door, and took a chance on salvaging their evening, "Why don't you come up and I'll fix you that drink and you can finish reading me the porn...I meant poem from earlier," He breathed a momentary sigh of relief when her fingers wrapped around her keys and tugged.

 

A fresh wave of nerves rushed over him, when she removed her key from the ignition, engaged her alarm, and hurried to grab his hand as they walked through the courtyard and into the lobby.

IV. Permission to Please by TheSouthernScribe

They didn't speak on the short journey from the car to the building.

 

Lulu wrapped her arms around her middle in attempt to gain a fraction of warmth. When Dennison saw her and realized she was cold, he shucked his blazer from his shoulders and draped it around her tiny frame. It practically hung to her knees, but it did the trick. She tried not to gorge herself on the lingering scent of his cologne that hung to the wool. She shoved her arms inside and used the garment to shield her body from the infringing cold.

 

She entered the building when he held the door open and stood to the side to allow her unbarred entry. She waited for him while he checked the box with his name and apartment number written on it for his mail. She laughed when she saw the plain brown wrapper on the magazine sized object he tucked under his arm. Lulu swallowed her snippy comment and recorded the thought to memory.

 

More silence accompanied them on the short ride on the elevator to his floor and it wasn't until he had the key in his door, that Dennison recovered his tongue, and decided to play gracious host.

 

"You want a drink?"

 

Lulu nodded as she continued to stand awkwardly in the small hallway just inside of the door. She desperately needed a drink after the long evening. Tahnya and her inappropriate comments but the strange familiarity she felt towards the woman at the end of the night. The tension between the brothers and her overwhelming need to stop playing know - it - all and relate to Dennison on a level they both could understand. Lulu fidgeted with the sleeves of his jacket, stretching them and pushing them back up to her elbows in attempt to release some of the pent up energy virtually driving her insane.

 

The apartment looked different in the somber light of the moon that filtered in through the windows. Dennison flipped switches and touched lamps to offset some of the glare before he returned to the spot where she stood and helped her out of the overwhelming garment. He folded it over his arm and directed her to the leather sofa.

 

"Get comfortable, I'll be back in a second."

 

She stepped further into the apartment, noting pieces of furniture and intricate details that she hadn't noticed earlier in the evening. She contemplated climbing the ladder into the partial loft above the main floor.

 

"You hungry," She jumped at the sound of his voice so near, "I can call the pub on the corner and place an order," His hands were comforting and firm on her shoulders as he turned her to face him, "Or I make a hell of a smoked gouda grilled cheese."

Dennison Lord was impossibly cute with his uncertain brown eyes and trembling bottom lip, "I'll take the grilled cheese and the strongest shot of liquor you have."

 

~`~

 

Dennison burned the tip of his fingers on the inside of the Calphalon pan as he attempted to flip the sandwich without disturbing his beautiful creation of cheese and apple slices on sourdough bread. He didn't hop around or scream at the top of his lungs like he wanted to, instead he maintained his cool. He was cooking, but not only was he sweating in a kitchen he rarely used, he had a job, and an appointment on Monday to discuss trading the hunk of tin that doubled as his mode of transportation. It was all her fault. She wasn't that cute...okay...yes she was, but still in one week she had him swallowing his pride, conquering his long standing fear of his father's disapproval, and forging a new path for his life. They were all good changes, but he wasn't ready to rescind his membership to the Democratic Party, yet.

 

All of his whining about the mistaken second date had been just that whining. He didn't mean it. In fact he hoped that by some miracle he got the opportunity for a third date, but sometimes sabotage was easier than rejection. He didn't want to grow attached to Lulu, her smile, or the way she cut her eyes when he said something particular stupid. He flipped the sandwich, slid it on the plate, and carried it to the table where a short glass of Jack and Coke waited.

 

"Grub time."

 

Lulu smiled graciously before she settled in the chair and tore into the food. She was starving and the only sustenance he had provided for most of the evening was misplaced testosterone. He ignored the subsequent grunts and groans that came when she took the first bite of the sandwich. He busied himself with cleaning and silent conversations to keep his body and mind in check. Two days ago, she was trying to kill him, two hours ago he was calling their association a blunder, and now she was devouring the only thing he could prepare without burning it beyond recognition.

 

"This is really good Den."

 

His ears perked with her use of what could be classified as a nickname.

 

"Den..." He prodded as her eyes widened. He swore she was blushing under the rich hues of chocolate that pigmented her skin.

 

"Sorry," She picked at the sandwich nervously until he came around the table to stand in front of her, "Dennison is so professional and Denny sounds like a pedophile."

 

She did have a sense of humor, "You can call me anything you like."

 

~`~

 

Too close...he was too close.

 

Dennison's presence was overpowering. She didn't care what her mother said or Gita swore was the law of attraction, there was no way that she was going to be crushing over some overgrown Judd Apatow extra who just decided to get a job after their first date.

 

He had a belly that hung over the waist of his jeans. He tended to snort and spit a little when he laughed. Yet when he looked at her, a chill shot down her spine and she had to concentrate twice as hard to respond in a coherent manner. She listened intently as he told stories about his mother and innocent fights with his brother. She saw a glimpse of the little boy who only wanted to make his father proud and she wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around his neck and squeeze.

 

They weren't that different.

 

Sure she could measure the success of her life, in the promotions and raises that had been tossed in her direction, but Dennison's fate could have easily been her own. She had no right to judge him as a lazy loser, who enjoyed the lack of direction his life had previously taken.

 

Plus he made a hell of a sandwich.

 

Lulu was positively addicted to Gouda and apple grilled cheese sandwiches and if he kept pouring shots of Jack like he had been for the last hour, she was well on the way to intoxicated.

 

~`~

 

Insane...Lulu Marx was driving him insane.

 

There was the smallest fraction of melted cheese on her cheek, adorned with the shimmer of fresh butter. He wanted to taste it, lick it off, and forget every lesson his parents taught him about being a gentleman. Instead, he filled her glass, and even poured a shot for himself.

 

There was no way she was interested in him, like that. No women like Lulu married guys who wore tailored suits, got weekly manicures, and had the next twenty years of their life mapped out. Women like her didn't fall for mama's boys who couldn't even work up the nerve to grab her ass and steal a kiss.

 

Drink after drink they downed, until three quarters of a bottle turned to a half, and finally they were wondering where it all went. He swallowed his final drink in one gulp, regretting it immediately when his acid reflux kicked up a notch, and his stomach began to churn with the familiar burn, generally signaling that he needed to light a match and proceed to the bathroom.

 

He needed a distraction, "Can I kiss you?"

 

~`~

 

Lulu's mouth went dry when she heard his question. She didn't chance an asinine response so she nodded her head, closed her eyes, and waited for the disaster to occur.

 

Gone was the goofiness that often accompanied his actions. He was both tender and suave when he caressed her cheek, ran his thumb across her bottom lip, and moved in for a kiss. His surprising dominance and control produced an uncharacteristic response from her body. She was breathless and aroused by the time their lips finally touched. Dennison was tentative with his exploration, allowing his lips to mold to hers briefly before they set forth on their own expedition. He pulled her closer and she went willingly, doing everything but straddling his lap and begging for more.

 

And as soon as it began...it ended...

 

Her lips parted...

 

Her head fell to the side...

 

She struggled to comprehend what had just occurred as her heart pounded a melodic tune. She brought her fingers to her lips in an effort to prolong the lingering sensation created by his kiss. The man was a riddle she would never solve.

 

Slowly Lulu's eyes opened and the blood returned to her brain, enabling her to process a series of thoughts that didn't involve nakedness and the various places his lips could land on her body, "How do you feel about Sunday dinner at my parents' house."

 

Her answer was a quiet and simple, "Yes."

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