Free Forever Kiss by Dawn Michelle Page A

star lit sky. She stayed a moment longer before turning and hiking hiking her dress up so she could walk through snow to the shoveled path along the side of the house.
    Her boots were nearly knee length, keeping the snow out of them. She let the side slit black dress fall as she stopped at the corner of the house and waited. She wore a lacy black bolero jacket over her shoulders as a fashion accessory rather than for warmth. The dress rose to a choker at her neck and left her shoulders bare. An oval cutout on her chest left enough cleavage on display she couldn't decide if it was tasteful or sexy. It looked good either way.
    She only had to wait a few minutes until a red Dodge Charger pulled up and slowed down. The turn signal began to blink, signaling her. Before her date could pull into the driveway she stepped out of the darkness and walked down the salted driveway trying to emulate the way she'd seen Penny walk through the club. Beth's heels weren't as high or sharp, but she found with enough arch in her back and sway in her hips she moved better than she'd expected.
    The car slid to a stop on the slick roadway. John all but jumped out of the driver's side and rushed around to open the passenger door for her. He grinned at her and shook his head. "You look amazing," he said as she paused to say hi.
    Beth blinked as his words sank into her. She was amazed at how she looked and she knew she had Penny's approval, but hearing it from someone else made her burst out in a grin. She leaned over and pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss. "Thank you," she murmured.
    John stiffened and stood perfectly still for a moment. He shook himself and smiled. "No, thank you! Wow, I can't believe you're the same girl. I mean, I know you are, you just look so different. You were pretty then, but you're gorgeous tonight. Elegant. Amazing."
    "Okay," Beth laughed. "You're embarrassing me now."
    "Sorry," he mumbled. "I just— oh, shit, it's freezing out and you don't have a coat. Hurry up and get in."
    Beth nodded and sat down in the car. She slid her legs in and let the hem of the dress slid up her leg and reveal a lot of her left thigh. Enough so that it was obvious she wasn't wearing any stockings. He shut the door and hurried back to his side.
    "So, I made a reservation at the Chop House, in Novi, is that cool?"
    "Um, sure. I don’t eat though. I'm a cheap date."
    "You don't eat?"
    Beth let out a nervous laugh. "It's the medication and disease. I'm on a liquid diet."
    "No way? Wow, I feel like a total jerk," he said. "I can't sit there and eat a steak in front of you!"
    "I don't mind," Beth offered.
    He shook his head. "No way. On to plan B."
    "There's a plan B?"
    "Well, it really depended on how dinner went. I'm not sure what you're up for. Or able to do, really. Are you a movie girl, or more active, like some ice skating or something?"
    Beth watched him and smiled. He was trying and that was more than any other guy had ever done for her. "Whatever," she said and shrugged her shoulders. "Not a movie, I'd rather spend the time doing something. I don't know if I'm up to ice skating though."
    "Right, okay. That rules out training for a marathon too."
    Beth laughed. "It probably does. I'm not really dressed for running either."
    "Good point," he said and then let his eyes drop to her dress and back up to her eyes. "The way you look I'm afraid of anything touching you. You're perfect."
    "You're trying hard to win points for good behavior, aren't you?"
    He smiled. "Is it working?"
    "So far you're in first place."
    John pumped his fist in victory, drawing a fresh laugh from her. "So, beautiful, you're not dressed for a walk in the park either. So—"
    "If you can find a park, that sounds nice," Beth said. "It's a side effect of the medicine they gave me, I'm practically burning up inside."
    "You are? Is that good?"
    Beth hesitated. She'd practiced the conversation in her head dozens of times, but she wasn't sure how she wanted it to come out.