Sheila looked warily at Christian as the mischievous grin began to grow across his lips. "Christian, what are you up to?" Sheila asked nervously. Whatever it was it couldn't be good.

Christian's smile widened. He could hardly contain his excitement, grabbing her hand, he said, "Sheila, I just had the most brilliant idea!"

Sheila shook her head. "Whatever it is you're concocting in that brain of yours if it involves me, the answer is No, N-O, No."

Christian pouted slightly, " Awe come on. I haven't even told you what it is yet. At least hear me out. For old time sake?"

Sheila sighed. Feeling slightly unnerved about the casual way he held her hand, she pulled away. "Fine, I'll listen but that's it."

"Okay. Good. Great." Christian fumbled as he tried to think of the perfect words to convince her. "As it turns out I am James' best man and that gives me the very important task of arranging his "entertainment" for the bachelor party, which by the way is tonight."

Christian watched as Sheila's eyes narrowed. She focused intently on him, searching for the catch that she knew would undoubtedly be found somewhere in his brilliant plan. Christian knew his chances were slim of convincing her what he had planned was a good idea, but feeling as though he had only her best interest at heart, he pressed forward.

"Here's my dilemma. The party is tonight and I just arrived about three hours ago. I haven't even seen James yet. I called him at work about what he wanted to do and he said he has only one rule. He swore to Lanie, that's his fiancé, no strippers," Christian said leaning forward towards the table. Sheila, on the other hand, leaned back. Trying it seemed to physically pull away from whatever scheme Christian was brewing.

"So, basically that means I have about..." Christian looked briefly at his watch, "four hours to plan this whole thing and James has just put a major crimp in my plans because his promise negated every club I had planned to take him to."

Christian's smile widened further still. He reminded her of the Cheshire Cat and Sheila thought any minute now he is going to disappear.

"Anyway, what I was thinking was...how do you feel about getting a little payback from our old friend James?" Christian felt proud that he managed to spit out the question.

"I don't follow." Sheila appeared to be completely confused.

"You," Christian told her in a tone that said she was missing the obvious, "you could be the entertainment for tonight's party."

Sheila gasped. "This is your brilliant idea? Have you completely lost your mind? We are talking about James and I am no exhibitionist!" 

"You're looking at this all wrong," Christian soothed. "I'm not asking you to strip for James and his friends. What I need is a dancer."

Sheila still looked at him as if he were mad. "What would make you think I'm a dancer let alone that kind of dancer?" Sheila was thoroughly shocked by the idea.

He could tell he was losing her fast and so his explanation came even quicker. "When I arrived in town I knew there'd be precious little time to rest between now and when I would need to meet James. I needed a pick me up and thought a work out would do the trick. My hotel recommended this place. When I got here I began researching what classes were currently taking place when I came across your name. I am correct in thinking I saw your name listed as the instructor for 'Belly Dance Your Way to Fitness' ?"

Sheila nodded her head in agreement although she still wasn't sure where all this was leading.

"Well, I never actually expected to find you here, but here you are and that got me to thinking. What was the one thing you always wanted in college?" Christian asked.

Sheila looked at Christian convinced he was a lunatic and just shrugged at his question.

"You had told me time and time again that you'd give anything for James to look at you the way he did all those other girls. That one day, you were determined to make him pay for stringing you along all four years at school," Christian reminded her.

"Christian, that was a long time ago. We're adults now."

Ignoring her statement Christian continued, "Wouldn't you like to just once have the chance to make his jaw drop? To walk away knowing you will forever be a permanent part of his most erotic fantasies?"

A flicker of acknowledgment flashed briefly in her eyes before she sensibly chose to deny his offer again. "No,...no,...I couldn't possibly. I mean...no, it's totally out of the question. And would you stop smiling at me like that!" Sheila said obviously flustered by his request.

"Come on," he said grinning at her in that cute way he had. "You know it's a great idea."

"I know no such thing," Sheila told him. "Besides, even if I were to consider it, which I'm not. What if he recognizes me? I wouldn't be able to stand the humiliation." 

"Look at you," Christian said waving his hand to encompass the length of her form. "He would never recognize you."

Sheila scowled before saying, "You recognized me."

Christian sighed and rolled his eyes, "Of course, I recognized you. I would know you..." Christian stopped what he was about to say thinking it a bit too revealing a statement for comfort. "What I mean is... I was already thinking about you." Christian shook his head and sighed that didn't come out right either.

He pulled out the piece of paper that listed the health club's classes from his duffel bag, as if he was presenting exhibit A. "What I'm trying to say is that seeing your name already had me curious if you were really here, and then when I saw you, it was easy to put the name to the face."

"Oh," Sheila said trying not to sound disappointed. "So you think that because I would be the last person James would ever  think of entertaining  him at his own bachelor party my identity would be safe?"

Christian didn't particularly care for how she put it but it was the general idea. "Yeah, pretty much," he said reluctantly.

He was grinning at her again. Sheila always worried about that grin. Christian had a way of talking her into the most ridiculous circumstances and although she couldn't recall any of the stupid things he talked her into when they were in college she was certain that it was always previewed by that grin.

Seeing Sheila's hesitation, Christian thought some reverse psychology may be in order. "Never mind, you're right. What was I thinking? I mean, what would we do dress you up in a belly dancing outfit and hide your face behind a veil?" Christian asked slyly, letting his eyes glance at her briefly before adding, "What would be the point? He'd never know it was you that he was lusting for."

He saw her bite her bottom lip in deep concentration. Her sign, which he knew all too well, meant that she was close to the breaking point. "Maybe I should just think of something else...I could just rent some dirty movies." Christian went on as if he had given up on convincing her.

"All Right. I'll do it," she told him.

"Yes, I knew it... you won't regret this. I swear to you," Christian told her.

"Just give me the details before I change my mind, okay?" Sheila said, still in a state of disbelief about what she was agreeing to do.

"You got it. The party will be held at my suite. The hotel I'm staying at is only about two blocks from here. The suite number is 312. I'll arrange for there to be a spare key left at the desk and let them know you'll be by to pick it up."

Christian rattled the directions off as if he had this planned all along. Of course, that was impossible seeing that he didn't even know who she was twenty minutes ago. He handed her a piece of note paper with all the details she would need, written down.

"We'll need an outfit for you," Christian said disappointed, finding the first flaw to his brilliant plan.

"Don't worry. I already have one," Sheila supplied. Earning her one of Christian's famous one raised eyebrow looks.

"I teach belly dancing, remember? I have also been in several competitions," Sheila tried to explain but it was no use, his eyebrow only arched higher. "Never mind. Just finish what you were about to say." 

Christian completely blanked. His next thought completely overridden by the image of Sheila in her belly-dancing outfit. The image was so vivid. Her chestnut hair would be flipping enticingly over her bare shoulders, as she absorbed him with her jade eyes, all while her hips swayed in an exotic fashion. Christian physically gave himself a mental shake to clear his head so he could focus.

"Okay. The party will not be arranged until ten o'clock. I'll need you there by nine thirty. You can dress in my room. The bedroom is a completely separate room from the rest of the suite. Then when the time is right, I'll come and check on you. When you're ready, you do your little dance and then go home," Christian said, summing everything up quite nicely.

"Sounds easy enough. Now, I have to get back to work so...I'll see you at nine thirty," she told him. As she slid from the booth to take her leave, she stopped momentarily, looking rather perplexed. She knew she just had to ask. "Out of curiosity, what do you do for a living?"

Sitting up a little straighter Christian said, "I'm a motivational speaker."

Sheila's eyes widened and she couldn't help the grin. "Wow, that wasn't even on my list."

Curious Christian had to ask. "What was on your list?"

Sheila couldn't control the giggle that was bubbling up inside of her. "I was thinking used car salesman," she said laughingly, "but then when you started pleading your case and waving that piece of paper around I thought definitely lawyer."

Christian made a motion to cover his heart. "You wound me. You know that?"

Sheila laughed. "Don't worry, I wrote off you being a lawyer the moment you smiled at me again. You're not ruthless enough. Persistent, but not ruthless," she told him.

"Gee thanks," Christian said acting as if he were still offended. "So, what was the final verdict?" he asked.

Sheila's smile widened. "Politics. Something definitely to do with politics."

Christian joined her in laughter. "I sure know how to give a girl the wrong impression, huh?"

"Yeah," Sheila told him, " but if you do ever decide to run for office, I promise to vote for you."