Apprehension tickled at Jovon as he stood outside Annie's town house,his hand hovering above the lit doorbell. Even though he saw her yesterday, he almost missed her presence. The keyword being almost, because she was just someone he wanted to help and he planned to enjoy himself while doing so. All through out his trip,all he could think of was he surprise for him tonight.

He pushed the lightened button. Cold air lapped at his coat and he wondered when it would get want again. What was the purpose of living in the west if the springs were so northern? Portland sounded better and better.

He stabbed the doorbell again and wondered is he should have brought her a box of the delicious chocolates his hotel staffs were famous for? It wasn't technically a date,because he didn't do dates,but it would have been a nice gesture. Pleasing her had suddenly become important.

The door opened and Jovon's thoughts suddenly slipped away as he was literally taken aback.

Annie was dressed in full 1923's regalia. A sparkling band of fabric circled her head with a feather jutting out. Bracelets snaked her arms and the sleeveless calf-length fringed silver dress hugged her long frame. A grin crossed her painted mouth,making the mole she dotted above her lip dance.

"Come in out of the cold. May I take your coat?"

"Annie-" he didn't know what was going on,but he wasn't ready to be a part of it.

She circles him and eased his coat from his shoulders and whispered. "Go with it,please." The urging in her voice made him nod. He'd reserve his comment for later.

She hung his coat in the closet and he turned to drink in more of her body. The dress's sparkling fringes caught the sinking sun rays that steamed in from a glass window. Her feet were encased in very high heels, bringing her almost eye level and making her legs even longer.

He'd heard how bad heels were for women's legs and sympathized, on a remote level,but today he didn't care. She looked good.

"Follow me."

Led by an enticing sway of her hips, he followed her into a part of the house he hadn't seen before. Light had been muted to near darkness except for a spotlight focused on a round table.

"Sit down." She held his chair out for him and waited for him to sit before she disappeared. She returned quickly with a bottle of wine and glasses and took a seat across from him.

Jovon loved watching her hands as she poured his glass, passed it to him,then poured one herself. She dipped commanding his attention. A small smile danced across her lips and somewhere deep in his chest,desire was born. He tried to squelch the feeling and focused on her eyes. 

"What's going on Annie?"

"After thinking so much,I thought it would be nice to transport everyone back in time. The 190's were a time where my parents were young and still struggling with life. And I thought that why not transport them back in time?"

Jovon sank into the soft tone of Annie's voice and let it lead him into her fantasy. He had to give her credit. Her research was impeccable. Not one for having to use imagination for work, Jovon sensed a hesitation building within himself, but allowed it to occupy only a corner of his mind.

She hit a button and an image of a beautiful young woman with dark hair filled the wall . "That's your mother?"

"Yes." Flipping several scenes, Annie took him through her parents childhood,filtering their highschool and college days. She included a slider of her parents holding  different infants- three to be exact- as well as their recent pictures where they now had wrinkles and graying hairs. She even added her own pictures and her brother's. She ended with pictures of everyone in the family, including the grandchildren,and he realized her idea might have potential.

The slide show ended and he waited in silence for a moment while she aimed another remote into the darkness.

Suddenly,music was everywhere. Big band music. Jovon recognized the scratchy LP album of music by Pete fountain. Bluesy tunes swirled around them and made him want to move,but he didn't know how to Jam to the old, old tunes. So he tapped his foot.

Annie stood,smiling, her eyes shinning. "Dance with me."

He considered her outstretched hand and allowed his gaze wander up her arm,over her sexy curves and land on her face.

"This is a little out of my league."

"Come on," she tugged his hand. "Just watch the screen and follow me."

As if activated by her voice, a Jack Lelane look-alike popped onto the wall instructing on how to jitterbug. He faced Annie,feeling silly but excited,for the first time in two years, as he followed the steps.

He caught on quickly and soon he and Annie were moving as one,dancing. The sparkles on her dress swirled and he couldn't take his eyes off her swaying body. The way she raised her hands and clapped them sent the fringes into a dizzy dance,drawing his attention to the swell of her breasts. The silver bracelets circling her upper arms offered a seductive peek into the past while her body moved freely thanks to the dress. Slowly her eyes drifted open. She extended her hand and offered him his seat again.

"While I prepare to bring the food,this is for your viewing pleasure." She handed him the remote and pointed toward the projector. "I'll be back in a minute with dinner."

Jovon watched her sashay away then looked at the remote and felt in control again. He pointed and pushed.

Jimmy.

Jimmy Cliff flew across the wall crooning out Reggae Night, a nineties song he recognized all to well. Soon, he began to replace the girl's face in the video with Annie's. Her mouth pouting with unabashed passion. He wanted to reach out and take her hand.

The real Annie touched his shoulder and he jumped clear out of his chair.

"You okay?"

Jovon hit the button,plunging them into silence. His heart hammered against his ribs and he stared at Annie's mouth. Every part of him wanted her flesh to meet his soul-searching,knee-buckling kiss.

She smiled and when white peaked through her dark tinted lips,he wet his own. "You've gone to a lot of trouble."

"I'm not through yet."

The words purred past her lips and he reached for the self-control he was famous for, but it evaded him. He stepped close, then closer still and she took his hand. Her skin was soft and warm to touch and she guided him back to the table. Their gazes remained locked as he sat wanting to cup her waist with his hands and bring her to him.

Jovon sensed she was in the same place as he, emotionally attuned to the fire between them. She hadn't released his hand yet,just held and stroked in a reassuring way. She squeezed lightly before letting go and broke eye contact.

A warmed plate was placed before him and he wondered where he had been when she brought all the food on the rolling  service cart. The aroma of different food filled the room making his stomach growl to be filled. Jovon apologized for it.

"I like a man with good appetite." She pulled a cloth napkin from a gold leaf ring and dragged it across his lap.

Jovon nearly bolted from his seat. An erection he hadn't planned and one he couldn't control pressed at his slacks and lifted the cloth a couple inches from his lap. But thankfully she'd turned her back and was working the remote. The silky sound of Bessie smith filled the room.

Annie served herself an array of vegetables and potatoes and refreshed their wine before sitting down.

"Anything I can get for you? Pepper? Salt?"

Jovon tilted his head and wished he could invite her into his lap for a little relieve. "Maybe later."

The food made his mouth water. He didn't know how long he could hold out before fulfilling the one thought that had been in his mind since walking in.  Jovon smiled at her and she returned his smile as the CD changed and Madonna's La Isla Bonita song came on.

"What made you choose the twenties and nineties?"

"My parents listened a lot to the oldies while we were growing up. Also, older people would be there either as a couple or single person. It would bring a lot of happy memories for everyone."

"You did an impeccable research." He studied her over his fork and slid the metal into his mouth before allowing his lips to release it. Annie shook her head and unglued her gaze from his.

"I want it to be perfect."

"How?"

"This is the meal mom and dad shared on their wedding day."

"I'm impressed.  you did a lot of work."

Jovon didn't seem the type to give compliments freely and this one made her heart thud. "Thank you."

"Do you entertain your male friends this way?"

"Only when they are helping me plan an event even though they have better things to do with their time."

"What else do you plan to happen in the party?"

"I know where I can get Oldies costume for the live bands. Also there would be gaming tables with a bit of gambling. You know how it was illegal to drink and sell liquor back then?"

"I'm familiar with that bit of history." He told her.

"We could rent cars from that period-"

"Whoa."

"We could even rent some guns-"

Jovon wiped his mouth the the cloth napkin. "Cars? Guns? That's a bit too much. It's a wedding anniversary not a rowdy carnival."

"But it's a good idea."

"And where do you intend to get all that money from considering how much you have now?"

She tried to keep the hurt from her  eyes as she pressed her mouth closed.

"A simple dinner with orchestra is okay. I love your ideas,believe me,but your money can't stand the strain,can it?"

"No." She nearly choked on the word.

"So how about I book us ticket to a orchestra this week and a caterer then you can decide which one you want,that is within your budget of course."

Finally, she made herself act civil. "Thank you for coming. I'll show you out."

The moon was out now and it casted light through the panes of stained-glass window and Annie wished she's actually come up with another idea besides a simple steak dinner. She retrieved his coat and watched him shrug it on.

He flapped the collar of his navy wool jacket before slipping his hand into the pocket of his coat. They stood so close she could feel his breath caress her cheeks.

"Thank you for a nice evening."

"Sure. I aim to please." Propping one hand on her hip, she focused one a right past his head.

"Annie?"

She took a long time meeting his gaze and when she did it felt as if the heater just turned back on. "Everything you did was wonderful. But money is very important." His hand slipped into hers and he squeezed. "See you tomorrow. Good night."

After she repacked the film to store back in the black box she brought with her and cleaned the dishes, Annie went to pick Brown eyes from Merry's and lay in bed with him curled up by her side as she replayed the entire evening in her mind.

He seemed to enjoy the meal,the entertainment and her company. They why couldn't he grasp her concept? It was true that her account couldn't stand the strain right now but she could still ask Kade or Will for money. Did that man even have an exciting bone in his body? A rebellious part of her wanted to argue as she'd done all her life when she didn't get her way. But her practical side took over.

She would check out his own ideas too. After all they were a team.

Annie turned and punched her pillow into place.

Then she'd make the final decision.