A Dress for Dancin'

Part 2

Lou stretched before rolling over to lie against Kid's chest. Her eyes opened wide as she realized he wasn't in bed next to her.

"Kid?" she called out worried that he'd left her. He'd acted strange after they'd made love for a second time, but she never expected him to leave without saying goodbye. "Kid!" she called out louder in case he hadn't heard her the first time.

Kid heard Lou calling his name as he opened the door. "Good mornin'" he said smiling as he noticed the worried look on her face. "Didn't think I'd run off without you did you?"

Lou released the breath she was holding and smiled. "The thought crossed my mind," she said as Kid reached the bed and leaned down to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his trying to pull him down next to her. She became worried as she felt his hesitation and watched him sit next to her. "Kid?"

"Lou trust me, I'd like nothin' better than to spend all day in bed with you," he said blushing.

"Well we can't spend all day. We have a package to pick up and take back to Sweetwater," she said, the regret obvious in her voice.

Kid heard the disappointment in her voice. "Well that's the good thing, we don't have to. I checked the status of the pickup while I was out, and it'll be to late tonight to head back when it gets here."

Lou grinned as she started kissing his collarbone and working her way up to his ear. "Then it looks like you get your wish," she whispered huskily.

Kid groaned as he tried to find a more comfortable position to sit in. When he couldn't he stood up and Lou giggled as she saw her kisses had had the desired effect.

"As much as I'd like to, I have a better idea. I have a surprise for you so close your eyes."

Lou pouted but did as he asked. She heard the door open and packages ruffling around and she tried to sneak a peek.

"No peekin' Lou, now close them." Lou sighed and placed her hand over her eyes to resist the temptation. After a few moments, Kid spoke. "Okay you can open them now."

Lou opened her eyes to see Kid holding the dress she'd admired in town the day before. She sat there speechless.

"You don't like it?" he asked worriedly.

Lou shook her head. She took it from him and held it up in front of her admiring how it looked. Disguised as a boy for so long, she rarely indulged in such luxuries, like dresses, but the moment she saw the purple calico dress in the window, she longed to have a place to wear it.

"I love it," she said kissing his cheek. "I just wish I had somewhere to wear it."

Kid grinned. "I have something in mind, but you have to try it on first. I wasn't sure about your size and the sales lady said if it doesn't fit..."

Lou wasted no time and immediately put the dress over her head.

"You're beautiful," he said, stunned at her how her looks continued to amaze him.

Lou blushed at the compliment and turned towards the mirror to see how she looked. Kid came up behind her.

"You look even better than I imagined you would."

Lou shyly looked at him in the mirror. "How'd you know what size to get?"

"It was easy," Kid lied as he turned red. "Just answered the sales lady's questions s'all."

"Easy was it? Then why are you so red?"

Kid chuckled. "The answers were easy it was the questions that were embarrassin'."

"What kind of questions?" she asked turning around and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"How tall you are, your build, stuff like that."

"That doesn't seem too bad, so why are you so red?"

"I couldn't think of an appropriate answer when she asked about your chest," he mumbled.

Lou grinned in understanding as she stood back and looked at him in mock concern. "And what was your inappropriate answer?"

Kid pulled her back against his chest. "That like the rest of you, it's perfect."

Lou grew self conscious and turned back towards the mirror. She covered her small chest with her arms like she usually did when she was trying not to bring attention to herself. "You wouldn't rather bigger ones like Rachel?"

"You mean I could've had Rachel?" Kid joked in mock surprise. Lou playfully punched his shoulder as he turned her back around and lifted her face to look in her eyes. "Lou, you're perfect to me. I love you the way you are and always will. When I pictured you in that dress, I couldn't wait to see how you would look in it."

Lou saw the truth in his eyes and chuckled. "Or out of it I'm sure." She grinned as he turned an even deeper shade of red and kissed his cheek. "So what did you have in mind?"

"There's a dance in town tonight. I'd love to take you and be able to dance in front of everybody for once." Lou didn't think it was possible, but Kid inexplicably turned even redder still as he stumbled over his words. "I mean..."

"Kid, what's wrong with that idea? I love it and I love you for thinkin' of it."

"It's nothin' Lou, just something Jimmy said."

Lou cocked her eyebrow. "You talked to Jimmy about me?"

"I wanted his advice. I was nervous."

"About what?"

Kid explained how he'd gone to Jimmy for advice on what to do next in their relationship and how Jimmy suggested it was time to start "dancing" now that she had stopped backing off. Kid told her how he talked Rachel into switching the schedule so they could take this run together.

"I just wanted both our first time to be special," he said as he started kissing her neck and unbuttoning her dress.

Lou's smile faded as she realized what he said. He doesn't know... he couldn't tell, she thought as she fought back long ago forgotten memories. should tell him, tell him everything now. He has a right to know, she thought as she began to argue with herself. Why? You don't know where this is going. It's not like he's asking you to marry him. This could all just be a fling to him. He says he does love you, but if you tell him, what then? You were the one that said I love you first, maybe he felt like he had to say it. Why would anyone fall in love with someone like you?

Pushing her thoughts aside, she tried to concentrate only on Kid as he laid her naked body on the bed.

"It was special, Kid. And tonight will make it even more special."