Chapter 24

On Monday morning, Stan saw Denise walk into the office. He sat back in his chair and watched as the young redhead walked up to him. Denise was wearing some tight tan-coloured trousers, a navy blue cashmere sweater with a white button-down blouse layered underneath it, traditional enough but the top two buttons of the blouse were open, and the trousers were just tight enough to enhance her figure rather than just display any bulges there were.

"I won't be needing a lift, I'll drive myself to the school tonight, Stan. I'll be going out with Tom afterwards," she told him.

"All right then, Denise," Stan replied. "You and he got on well on Friday night then?"

"Oh, yes, he's a laugh," she said. "He's not afraid of enjoying himself. We had a nice meal, then we went to a club and danced for a while."

Denise turned and looked over her shoulder at Stan in a move that was almost a carbon copy of the look that Anne had given Stan that night of their own first date. It had a similar effect, and it was a good job Stan was sitting.

She grinned at him and sauntered off. Stan paused a moment, then got on with his work.

Elizabeth had had a nice weekend, too. She was at the table near their desks, sorting out some filing, when she turned to Stan.

"James came over to see me on Sunday," she told him.

"Mmm?" replied Stan, who was deep into a failure analysis.

"I said, James came over to see me on Sunday!" she said, with some asperity.

"Ah. All's well there, then? You and James getting along famously? Let's see the ring? When's the wedding?"

"Oh, You! Nothing like that. He's a very good friend, and he came over to help in my garden, that's all. We tidied up in the borders, he mowed my lawn, that sort of thing. Then we sat outside for a while in the sunshine and had a drink."

"What made you bring it up, Elizabeth?"

"I don't know, really," she said, slightly wistful. "I was just thinking of the weekend, and so on, and it came into my head."

Before Stan could think of a comment, Elizabeth picked up some filing and got on with her work.

That evening, it was Yves' turn to 'meet and greet' the students as they entered the dance class. He looked up as Anne came through the door and smiled warmly at the blonde.

Anne was wearing black and gold again, this time a dress that stopped just above her knee but flared widely allowing her to move, and with a high collar but fitted across the bust. Stan had described it as 'form following', which was exactly the effect desired. She had her gold shoes on again, they went well with her dress, and of course her hair colour matched as well. Anne'soutfit was completed by a pair of small gold dangly earrings. It was a head-turning combination and it certainly worked with Yves.

Stan entered behind her and shut the door — it was a chilly early September night — in time to hear Yves say "Welcome Anne, Welcome! You are well, I trust? Ah, Stan, good to see you as well, of course!"

Turning from the door back towards Yves, Stan grinned at the older man. "Yes, and you really mean that, don't you?" he told him as he gripped the other's hand in a warm greeting as the other stepped back from giving Anne a peck on the cheek.

"Go straight in, we're almost all here and will start in about five minutes," Yves told them, so they walked together into the main hall.

There, Stan saw Denise standing by the wall next to Tom, chatting away animatedly. She turned, as if to see who had just walked in, and waved before continuing her non-stop chatter.

This was their second Waltz lesson, and it went smoothly enough at first. Stan partnered Pamela again, while Anne was asked to partner a newcomer, a young (and nervous) man named Paul. Both successfully went through the practice, being shown various moves and generally soaking up 'how to Waltz.'

At the break, Pamela and Tom were in front of Stan and Anne as they waited to get their refreshments.

Stan watched as Tom put his hand on Pamela's ass. Pamela swatted it away and Tom did it again.

A second time Pamela slapped the hand away, and this time she turned to him and muttered something in his ear. Stan saw Tom smirk.

Stan seethed. He didn't really know why, even, but he could feel his hackles rising.

They got their drinks. Stan and Anne stood against the wall, sipping. Anne was chatting to Belinda, standing next to her, while Stan, on her other side, watched everyone.

Pamela had moved away from Tom, looking annoyed. Denise obviously hadn't seen anything as she emerged from the Ladies' room just at that moment. Tom saw her and smiled, going to her, putting his arm around her waist and talking.

Stan's attention was drawn back to Yves and Belinda as they called for the evening to restart. This time Stan partnered Carol.

"Did you see that Tom just now?" murmured Carol into Stan's ear. "I swear if it was me I'd slap his face. The nerve! Then he has the barefaced cheek to make all goody-goody with that nice new lady, what's her name..."

"Denise!" muttered Stan. "Yes, I saw it."

The dance continued, and then Belinda took over from Carol, who was swept up into the arms of an exuberant Yves.

"Yves is on top form tonight. Wait until you see our demonstration — he loves the Waltz, it's such a romantic dance."

Stan was only too pleased to take his mind off Tom.

"Yes, Yves has been enjoying himself all night, hasn't he? Carol's pretty good at this, too."

"Oh, you're coming along fine Stan, yourself. Don't disparage your abilities."

Somehow Belinda brought the gallant out of Stan.

"It's dancing with you that makes me able to do so well, Belinda!" he told her. Belinda's head went back as she gaily laughed, telling him a moment later, "Oh, if you were around when I met Yves he'd have had a rival, I think! Flatterer!"

Too soon, Yves called a halt and told the class that Belinda and he would do their demonstration now. Stan had been really enjoying himself for the first time that night, and was disappointed that it had come to an end, but it did mean that he was able to put his arm around Anne again.

Pamela stood next to him on his other side. She leaned across and said, "You were enjoying that dance, weren't you Stan? I watched. It's a good job for you that Anne didn't!"

Stan grinned. "Oh, I think Anne knows that Belinda's no rival for my affections!"

Yves cued up the music, and the two instructors began. Belinda was right, this was passionate yet romantic, with a sweetness to the sensuousness of the dancing.

Tom and Denise were next to Pamela.

Suddenly Pamela turned and smacked Tom's arm. "Leave me alone!" she hissed.

Stan turned and told Tom, "Yes, leave the lady alone, Tom. She's too good for the likes of you." Stan himself was taken by surprise at his reaction.

"Mind your own business, old man. You've got yourself sorted, leave me alone!" Tom snarled at him.

"You leave Anne out of this! Actually, while we're at it, you leave Denise out of this as well! You're not good enough for her — you're only going to hurt her!"

People were turning to stare.

One of them was Denise.

"Stan, you stay out if it. Don't interfere in my life," she told him.

Tom smirked again. Stan was getting very tired of seeing that expression.

"Denise, this, this person isn't fit to wipe your shoes, yet you're virtually throwing yourself at him! Don't do it!" he told her. Tom's smirk faded, but it was replaced by anger. Out of the corner of his eye, Stan saw movement — a tall blonde in black was shifting to his side.

"You think you're good enough for her, do you? Well, if that's the case, stop interfering, like the lady said," Tom growled threateningly at him.

"Stan?" he heard from the figure to his right. He ignored it.

"You bloody wolf, all you're after is one thing. I hope to God she doesn't give it to you!" he told Tom, now really upset.

He was astonished to feel a slap to his face — from Denise!

"Stop interfering in my life, Stan!" she shouted at him. "I'm trying to enjoy myself, have some fun, and you're pushing your nose in. You've found someone else, when you told me you weren't ready for a relationship!" She shook her head as she nearly spat the words at him. "Well, who the hell do you think you are? You're old enough to be my father, but you're NOT — so stay the HELL out of my life!"

Denise turned and stormed off. Stan was stunned. Tom looked insufferably pleased, and turned to follow Denise. Stan was then jerked to his right.

"Stanley Hinch, I'm not going to forgive you for this!" Anne hissed at him. "I thought you didn't feel for her — well it's obvious you do!"

Stan couldn't hold her eye. He looked away, and saw Belinda and Yves looking upset, displeased and shocked in various measures.