Chasing Rainbows (5 page)

Never in a million years had he seen such a transformation.

Olivia was like a chameleon and could change to suit whichever situation she was in.

“
Do you like it?” she chirped as she grinned up at him, with an almost embarrassed look and a flushing of the cheeks. Too dazed to say anything much he replied, “What?” Olivia continued. “ The dress? Carol lent it to me. I think she wanted to wear it, she said it wouldn't suit me when I chose it off the rail.”

Olivia did a twirl and smiled up at him, “I think it's great don't you?”

Doug stood before her , dazzled by her and quite speechless. The only way he knew this was Olivia was the chirping and the fact that she did not stop for breath.

She did not wait for his answer
.
She was gone, running across the dance floor to great her mum and other friends.

Suddenly Doug began to sweat and was finding it hard to concentrate.

After checking with Chris, Doug left the stage and took himself across to the bar for a drink. As the iced alcohol hit the back of his throat he coughed and began to laugh.

The little minx! She had hidden herself under that pink sweater for all those weeks and tonight she came out in all her glory.

He liked a challenge. She would be a challenge. He was ready for the chase.

“
OK madam”, he spoke to himself as he returned to the stage, “I am ready if you are”.

The evening went very well, the only glitch was when Carol began to introduce her fashions.

She was terrible and Doug could not get the mike off her. It was all so embarrassing and eventually he told her that there was some champagne behind the bar. That got rid of her for a while.

The girls were a hit and when Susan stumbled and nearly fell, Doug raised his eyes knowing that Susan had drunk too much wine. The singers were brilliant, especially the George Michael look alike. He sang like George, looked like George.  It was very hard to believe that it was not George.

Olivia was having the time of her life, flirting with Warren and Bob.

Doug spotted her talking very intently to Warren in a corner, he was laughing and could not take his eyes off her.

Doug felt a pang of jealousy. He was really confused.

One moment he felt Olivia was not for him and then the next he found himself wanting her.

She talked too much, he preferred quieter women, so why had he married another chatter box? Mary. Perhaps it wasn't the chattering but more the content of the speech.

Mary was boring, Olivia was fascinating.

Doug made his mind up. He was determined that he would get a dance with Olivia if only to put his arms round that gorgeous body.

The show ended and Doug's job was done, he handed the stage over to the regular DJ for the disco.

Doug left Chris to load up the van. The club was beginning to empty a little, as some of the older people had only come to see the fashions.

Mum's and aunties were leaving for the warmth of an early bed.

They would be side by side with snoring husbands who had lost their passion, not lusting after their wives for many a year.

The stirring in their loins long gone. The erection of youth only a distant memory now to some.

Doug could never imagine himself not looking at a woman without desire, until he thought of Mary.

With Mary he performed a duty, that was when he could get an erection. He serviced her when he had to, with the image of another woman in his mind.

Age was just a number, he hoped that he might die an old man with the ability to still get an erection. He knew a lot of older men found it hard to get erections and when they did found it harder to maintain them

The physical side of a relationship was very important to him, but more important was the compatibility, the companionship and the laughter, something now lacking in his relationships with both Mary and Gerry.

The evening was very successful for Carol, who sold all her fashions back stage, making a good profit.

She promptly left after counting up the money as Doug made it quite clear to her that he would be busy with either Susan or red dress later.

Doug scouted the room for red dress, where was she again?

He walked over to Anne at the bar.

“
Hi” he said as he slipped his arm around her waist. He just could not control his actions at times.

Anne smiled, “Hi Doug , it has been a great night so far. Do you want a drink?”

Doug reached for his wallet, “ No let me please.” Anne asked for pink champagne and Doug reminded himself not to ask her again.

He should have known she was not a 'half a lager' girl.

In a not interested kind of way as though it was just an enquiry in passing, he asked Anne where Olivia was, as he had not seen her in a while.

Anne replied, “ Carol wanted the red dress back, she made Olivia take it off. Carol is a right cow, you would have thought she would let her wear it for the night, wouldn't you?”

Doug knew why Olivia had to give the dress back.  Anne was right, Carol was a 'right cow'.

Doug scoured the room and saw a blond head bent down listening to Chris. Whatever it was he was saying to her was keeping her interested.

Doug continued to make polite conversation with Anne and found himself asking questions about Olivia.

Eventually he bid a hasty retreat and after visiting the toilets he made his way towards Chris and Olivia. She was now wearing a loud green and purple trouser suit.

No one could have got away with that fashion statement except Olivia, it summed her up precisely.

Doug wondered what Chris talked about as he had this habit of warning the women off. Chris had so many times before, scuppered Doug's plans.

Doug knew Chris meant well but wished that he would mind his own business.

Chris did not like the way Doug picked women up and then dropped them; Doug's disloyalty to his marriage and his mistress always on display.

Doug gave Chris a knowing look as he asked, “Olivia have you been avoiding me and is it not time for that dance?”

Olivia smiled up at him. She should not have done that as it sent a shiver down his spine and he knew he would have her, however long it took.

Olivia declined, saying “ Look Doug, half my village are here and it would not be the right thing to do, to be seen dancing with you, you know how people can get the wrong idea and tongues will wag, sorry”.

Disappointment showing in his face he continued, “ Come on , we have worked hard for weeks and what harm can one dance do?”

There was a silence that seemed to last forever as Olivia, began to wistfully look around.

“
Oh what the hell!!” she said as a mischievous grin lit up her face, she grabbed his hand and pulled him on to the dance floor.

“
Oh my”, Doug sighed feeling as though he was dead and in heaven now.

This woman could dance. Not only could she move her body in disturbing ways, but she could talk at the same time.

He asked himself, “Did she ever stop talking?”.

Without warning the music slowed and as the words “We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow” slowly wafted towards them, Doug impulsively drew Olivia to him.

She stiffened, only for a moment and stopped talking. This moment of first bodily contact would stay with him forever.

Doug held her tightly, not too tightly as to scare her off. His fingers spread across the small of her back pulling her pelvis towards him.

He could feel her breathing gently into his neck, he could smell the heady aroma of her perfume as she began to get warmer.

Lost in time and music he felt her breasts firm against his chest, gently rising as she moved in time to the music, allowing his body to lead her.

There were no words to describe the feeling now crushing his maleness.

Only a satisfaction accompanied by a “wow!” which wasn't really a word but more of a sound.

Doug whispered to her, “Can I see you sometime?” not expecting the sharp “No” that followed.

Stung by the retort, Doug pulled her closer and as they continued to dance he became more and more hooked into the rhythm that was her body, her sensuality. He began to feel something unknown, he was not sure what it was.

One thing he was sure about, he was living in the moment. She was that moment. Olivia made it clear by the 'No', there would be no other moments.

As 'love is love, by Culture Club ended, Doug thanked Olivia for the dance and walked her to the bar where he ordered some drinks.

He wondered if a few drinks might break her resistance. He remembered that she was driving so probably was not the best idea he ever had.

A few moments later Olivia excused herself as there was an incident at the main door and she was needed.

Olivia returned, she was rather shaken and looking distressed. Seemingly an admirer of hers was trying to get in to the club.

He was inappropriately dressed for the occasion and the bouncers were not letting him in.

Olivia took a drink and said, “I don't know what to do, it's Simon Arthur, someone from the charity that has sort of been in love with me for while. He has driven up from Sheffield and will not go away. I have had terrible problems and the family think it is really funny. He will me up at home and he sings Bob Dylan songs down the phone to me,”

Doug turned away to hide a smile. Doug asked her how she knew Simon.

She told him, he was someone who needed support and the charity helped him. “Well actually it was me who helped him and now he seems to have some sort of fixation on me” she said taking another drink.

Olivia went on to explain that Simon was suicidal and she went to his home after a call from his girlfriend. It seemed that as his life was coming back on line again, he wanted to show his appreciation.

Doug smiled again, he could see why men might fall in love with Olivia.

He thought back to the rehearsals in the previous weeks and the capable woman who was present at them, all be it looking like a demented teenager most of that time.

Earlier that night he saw a sexy woman in stiletto's wearing a second skin which did nothing to hide her womanly figure and perfect breasts.

Now he was looking down at a frightened little girl who did not know what to do. “What are you going to do?” he asked.

Shrugging her shoulders she replied, “ No idea to be honest, what if he tries to follow me home?”

Doug felt he might have the solution and secretly thanked Simon Arthur for turning up.

This could be to his advantage and what he said next might just work.

He looked at Olivia sympathetically, “ I might be able to help you there,” he said,

“
Chris went home ages ago and I was thinking of calling a cab or asking for a lift from anyone going my way. I live in the opposite direction to you and if he sees you leaving with a man he might just go home. If you wouldn't mind giving me a lift home then perhaps if he does follow we could lose him together?”

The look on Olivia's face told him to back off.

She whispered, “ I don't know, it is very late and maybe it is not a good idea taking you home?”

In the next moment A wide grin lit her face up. She agreed the idea was not so bad after all and yes perhaps that should happen.

Doug saw another side to Olivia via the sparkle in her eye.

He was beginning to know this woman and she had a reckless streak, that he wanted to see more of.

She was a very complex person and perhaps he should set himself the goal of unravelling that complexity?

Half an hour later Olivia and Doug were sitting in her car down the road from his house. They were talking and laughing, as long time friends would.

God, she looked so beautiful as she chattered away about the show, her hopes and dreams.

Her eyes catching the lamplight that shone through into the car.

She suddenly went quiet and serious, looked as though she was going to make an announcement.

Doug couldn't help himself and leaned towards her.

She stopped and looked at his face, she studied it and he watched her as he saw in her eyes that she was questioning herself, trying to make her mind up.

What to do next?

He saw a shyness in her that he had not seen before. When he moved closer he noticed a slight movement in her mouth, as her lips began to quiver in anticipation.

He pulled her closer to him and he felt the flowery smell of her hair; felt the softness as he ran his fingers up the nape of her neck, pulling her closer and closer until their lips met and he became lost in the sweetness of her breath.

The first kiss is always so special.

Doug's lips brushed lightly against Olivia's as they said, “Hello”.

He pulled her nearer as he opened his mouth moving the tip of his tongue gently into the moist cave he was about to explore.