Life in Color

[Alcide Herveaux]

The more Kimberly talked, the more attractive she became to Alcide. A woman who wasn't afraid to be a little bit like a tomboy, that was great. Having a girlfriend who was more like a male friend was a great thought. An awesome thought. Being able to watch TV and sports with no holding back--wow. Then he backtracked and remembered Debbie. Debbie... the queen. He dashed all his hopes.

When they got to the table, Kimberly really laid on the charm. Though she said she wasn't a good actress, Alcide might've believed it too had he not just spoken briefly with her. Jared looked like he just learned he was about to have a threesome with beautiful women. He was really enjoying her company now that she took the bait.

Jared even looked to Alcide, as if wondering 'is this for real?' And Alcide nodded to him, 'yes'.

"So what do you do for a living Mr. Barter. I imagine it's something terribly interesting,"

"Well nah, Ah just own a li'l construction company. We do jus' a li'l work here an' there, ya know," Barter toyed.

He took a swig of his drink before smiling again at Kimberly.

"I think what Jared means to say is he owns quite a huge construction company, no use pretending, Barter," Alcide chided with a laugh and a wink at Kimberly.

"Ah guess so, Ah guess so... to put it that way. Ah just wanted to be polite, Ah spose."

Clearly, he wasn't doing a very good job of being polite. Jared pitilessly assaulted Kimberly with flirting, over and over. That certainly wasn't the polite thing to do, but Alcide said nothing, only waiting for Kimberly's response to that.

[Kimberly Hollingsworth]

"Oh my stars, my daddy is in the construction business as well. He has a large company back in Atlanta. Maybe you've heard of him, George Hollingsworth III of Hollingsworth constructions?" Kimberly said batting her eyelashes innocently. She also groaned inwardly. She couldn't believe she was doing this again but at least if the word got back to mama, she'd think I had actually listened to her tricks in landing a rich husband. Kimberly was sure Blanche Hollingsworth would love Mr. Barter.

"You must be quite a success in life then Mr. Barter?" Kimberly said pushing another strand of golden blonde hair behind her ear as Alcide had adjusted to his role as a wingman. Honestly, she found the older man strangely disgusting but she did make a promise to Alcide and she wasn't about to let him down. She just hoped she wouldn't have to kiss him or anything.

"My my, it's getting awfully warm in here. And I was foolish enough to wear a sweater." She said and in one swift motion, removed the green sweater she had had on. Maybe that would distrack Mr. Barter long enough if he could just stare at her chest while she was busy looking Alcide over.

He sure was handsome and the thing that made him even better looking was that he didn't act as if he was good looking. He had a quiet confidence which she found extremely attractive.

[Alcide Herveaux]

If Kimberly had even a shred of being out of the this world to Jared Barter, she just became three galaxies away with her statement about her father owning a construction business. Alcide could tell by the look in Jared's eyes that he knew about this company. Thank God he did not stand a chance with Kimberly, else that'd leave Herveaux and Son's merger with Barter's company in major jeopardy.

Alcide didn't even want to think about it. He could just imagine trying to explain that away to investors and his father. 'Yeah, I was playing wingman and he found out her dad was in the business... and...' He rubbed it from his thoughts.

"You must be quite a success in life then Mr. Barter?"

"Aww yea', darlin', I guess so," Jared shrugged, with a boyish flirtation. He seemed to be adopting Kimberly's standards of fake flirting, only his was very real.

Alcide's attention was split between Barter and Kimberly. He wanted to make sure his partner was buying it, but he wanted Kimberly to feel comfortable as well. Alcide thought the conversation was building to it's climax, which he made sure wasn't very much at all. If he landed a finger on her, he'd snap to ripping it off. She was lovely, and she was doing what Alcide wanted her to do, that was a lot more than what he could say about Debbie.

When Kimberly mentioned she was warm and removed her garment, Jared's eyes were glued in a milisecond. Alcide's eyes fleeted away, with only a small glance. It wasn't his place to oggle her body, especially since he hardly knew her. Besides, when he had to go home to Debbie, he felt like she'd be able to rewind his memory and see him looking at Kimberly's breasts.

To further avoid looking, he quickly smiled at Kimberly, turned his head to their waitress, who seemed to get busier, and gave her a small twirl of his finger and pointed to Barter's drink. This was coming together well. He'd get the partier drunk, drag him out of the bar, and tell him the next morning that he'd lost Kimberly's number when in reality, Alcide had just taken it from him. Because he knew now, that he wanted to learn more about this supe and just what kind of supe she was.

A beating heart and perfectly rounded milk fed cheeks, that ruled out a vampire. No aggressive behavior, that ruled out a shifter. Not overly flirty, that ruled out a faerie. She was human in every way, except that smell and that allure. What was she?

Alcide tapped his finger against the table and was now looking at Kimberly through his peripherals. Jared had gotten a tad more into his business, and was listing off boring details about how much money his company made, his approval rating, accuracy, their lack of injuries on the job... etc etc. It went on and on until their redhead brought the beer for Jared. Barter looked precariously at Alcide's drink.

Alcide held up his own to show that he wasn't quite done yet. It would keep his words from being embarrassing to Kimberly. Alcohol didn't do well for the wolf, even though he could hold a lot. He preferred coke, not rum and coke.

"Heah's to ya dollface," he raised his glass and started drinking.

Once he had halved it, he continued, his words starting to get slower and further between, "sah... nah... ya lahk me, darlin?"

[Kimberly Hollingsworth]

"My daddy always says I shouldn't get involved with men in the construction business. He thinks every last one of them are wolves in sheeps clothing. He ain't never thought anyone was good enough for me. When I was 15, he threatened to shoot the boy who was courtin' me," Kimberly said in a bright, almost innocent smile. She hoped it would send a message that getting involved with her, would be too much of a hassle for Mr. Barter. He seemed to type to like his woman uncomplicated and simple. If she just made herself to be way too complicated to get with, maybe he'd be the one to decide that she was not worth it.

While George Hollingsworth III was an overprotective father to his only daughter and youngest child, she didn't think he would object if she found a nice young man to settle down with. Like Alcide.

When those thoughts popped into her head, she blushed slightly and focused her attention again on the older man currently rattling on and on about his business.

While trying to appear to be interested in Jared Barter's chatter, she had the opportunity to study Alcide better. He was obviously trying to suss her out, piercing her with his penetrating gaze. He was almost trying to smell her out, which seemed odd to her. While her witch senses were only in its infancy, she knew there was something off about him. Call it a hunch or suspicion, but she reckoned he was not 100% human.

With the vampires coming off the coffins a few years back, all those stories of supernatural creatures her grandmama had told her, suddenly became reality. She had met a few vamps in her time but he was definately not one. He was too vibrant for that.

"sah... nah... ya lahk me, darlin?"

Her thoughts were interrupted once more as Jared was asking her something. It took a bit of concentration to focus on him again, but she manged with with a smile.

"I think you're mighty interesting. You sorta remind me of my daddy being in the construction business and all. I miss him ever so much, being this far away from home it's nice to know that you can surround yourself with good people," Kimberly said almost childlike. She wasn't about to encourage him anymore, but she was going to be ladylike and remember her manners.

She could play dumb or as her brother Kenneth had often teased, she could manage the team so it wasn't hard to come across as childlike. She was sure he wasn't the type to go courting a girl but the kind to want an easy bimbo in his bed, but not one who was too naive and juveline.

[Alcide Herveaux]

The funny thing about drunks was that their facial expressions were just like baby facial expressions: extremely expressive and over the top. When Kimberly mentioned about her father, his eyes went diagonal on his forehead and his lips puckered into a mix between fear and confusion. Alcide cupped a hand over his mouth to hide his laughter. He wondered if Kimberly was getting a kick out of this, or if she thought it was despicable.

He didn't like drunks himself, as his father was one, but his face was so priceless!

Jared tried to nod, to show that he was listening, but Alcide could tell he was fading into a drunken la la land. This was the finale. Jared tried listening to her very last words, but his eyes slowly fluttered close and he slithered off his chair and onto the floor. Saliva trailed out of Jared's mouth as his chest inhaled and exhaled gently, lost in a delightful sleep, obviously one of beautiful southern blonds.

The bar patrons, being small town folk, all looked at Jared. Some snickered and others shook their heads, it was a typical scene to them. Their waitress even rolled her eyes and charged over to the trio.

"'Scuse me, can you pick your friend off the floor, this isn't Serta Mattress Company," she growled, her bangs shaking as she spoke.

Alcide smiled at Kimberly, and then looked up at the flame headed waitress, "yes, ma'am."

Well, this wasn't exactly his plan. He wanted Kimberly to give Jared her number (how likely that would have been) and he would have stolen it and used it for his own devices of seeing her again. Now, he might have to get it the old fashioned way. Inside, the Debbie devil was telling him not to, but he couldn't help it, he had to have it.

"I'm gonna pick him up, get him outta here... I will be pack in a few, okay?" Alcide stopped, contemplated saying something, and said it anyway, though Debbie was telling him not to, "stay put..."

The hulk of a man stood up, bent over, and with relative ease, hoisted Barter over his shoulder, his dead rock head touching his back and his wriggly legs over Alcide's chest. Thankfully, no one bothered wondering how he was so strong since it was clear that Alcide was a man of the construction profession. He stalked out of the bar, pushing the door open with one hand.

He gently set Jared on the hood of Barter's truck and dug through the drunk man's pockets to find his keys. He unlocked the car and dropped him in like a child dropping a kitten; it was that easy. After the door was shut and locked, he stood in the relative heat of the Louisiana air. Geez. He couldn't believe how he was acting. Alcide usually kept his distance from women. They were beautiful creatures, but he knew that if he was around women he was attracted to that Debbie would know... and Debbie was sure a cruel person.

For a woman's own safety, he kept his distance from women. Why was he NOW pursuing Kimberly when he knew that she might just be in danger? It was selfish. But he didn't want to garner a reputation amongst the girls as a jackass that didn't return calls or anything. That just wasn't him...

He pulled a big hand through his straggled, messy hair. He'd make sense of it later. He might never have a chance to meet a woman like Kimberly. Especially one that appeared to be interested in him, and that didn't happen often. Alcide wondered if women thought he was a scary construction man that might beat them if they got into a relationship with them. He LOOKED like the type, but Alcide knew a thing or two about judging on appearances... take Debbie for an example...

The black wolf moved back into the bar. It was now or never. He approached the table with a bit more confidence and when he got there, he leaned over it, with his arms on the table, and his face near Kimberly.

"Hey... I gotta get him home, I don't want him waking up and realizing that he didn't get lucky with you. Say... I really wanna thank you for helping me tonight. You have no idea how much this means to me. Now, in case he wonders about your number, do you think I could get your number on a napkin for him?" He was a bad liar, and it was coming through his teeth, that last line was such a big lie that even World War Two era Germans could see it was a lie.

[Kimberly Hollingsworth]

Kimberly couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Jared Barter unconcious on the floor. There was something incredibly satisfactory about it, almost poetic. He was down for the count and she was still standing.

Kimberly watched in amazement as Alcide lifted the man from the floor with ease. Like he wouldn't have weigned anything. He must be exceptionally strong, probably from all that construction work. He must also have a fantastic body, she thought to herself, this time indulging her fantasies. It wasn't often she found a man who she was both intellectually and sexually attracted to and this felt like it was too good of an opportunity to miss out on.

"I'm gonna pick him up, get him outta here... I will be pack in a few, okay?" "stay put..."

"Alright, I ain't going nowhere. Not when the evening has just started." She said with a wink and finished the last drops of her rose wine. She watched him go and came to another realization, he had a really cute butt.

As she was waiting, she quickly checked her make-up and hair, wanting to look her best when we would return. She added a coat of lipstick and then sat waiting for the man who had rocked her world tonight.

"You have no idea how much this means to me. Now, in case he wonders about your number, do you think I could get your number on a napkin for him?"

"It was my pleasure, I enjoyed tonight. I'll give you the number but with one condition. If you remember to call me back," she said with a sly smile, knowing exactly why he was asking for her number. She wanted to do a cartwheel at the thought of him being interested in her, but remained somewhat calm.

"Thank you for showing a lady a good time," She said rising from the chair and facing him head on. She was of course several inches smaller than him but it wasn't going to stop her. Without really thinking, she leaned closer to him and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

[Alcide Herveaux]

When the mysterious supernatural told him to call her back, Alcide's cheeks went a hot red. However, his cheek discoloration was hardly noticeable because of his very summer time tan. He was sure a bad liar. And that was exactly why, when he'd see Debbie again, he wasn't going to lie to her. He hadn't cheated yet, and he didn't plan too, not tonight, not anytime soon.

But again his mind went back to the battle: were they still a couple?

Now that he had her number, he removed his billfold, and put some extra money down. He then carefully placed her number into his wallet, looking at her in the eyes the whole time while doing it, essentially saying 'you'll hear from me'.

The thing was, before he would talk to her again, he wanted to so badly know what she was. But he just couldn't ask about it. It wasn't right...

"My pleasure... um... maybe we could do something without a third wheel next time?" Alcide questioned, pressing back a huge grin.

He didn't want her to think he was one of those crazy guys that clicked his heels and did a spin when he thought he was getting somewhere with a super gorgeous woman. But it was hard supressing a boyish happiness, and a semblance of a smile leaked onto his hardened features. When Kimberly kissed him on the cheek, he felt funny inside.

A feeling he hadn't felt for Debbie in a very long time.

Alcide thought that was a good ending to an evening, but he knew with that kiss and that quick closeness that her beautiful fragrance would be all over him and Debbie would know in a heart beat. He'd have to stop at the store tomorrow on the way back and pick something good up for Debbie... He'd also have to plan his conversation with her.

At least he'd get one good thing out of this, and it might just be a southern lady with an insatiable charm.

"Goodnight," Alcide paused, "Kimberly."

He gave her an awkward wave, because he didn't know what else to do. Alcide then headed out of the bar, his head completely forward, the big grin now on his face now that Kimberly couldn't see it. He saddled up into the truck and drove off into the night.

What did he just get Kimberly into?

[Kimberly Hollingsworth]

"My pleasure... um... maybe we could do something without a third wheel next time?" Alcide questioned, pressing back a huge grin

That would be nice. How about tomorrow night? I just moved in and admittedly my appartment could use a man's touch. How about I'll cook you some of my famous lasagna al forno if you could install my washing machine?" I asked hopefully. I did indeed need a hand with a few things, although daddy had promised to visit this month. Kimberly really hoped Alcide would say yes.

She was being more bold than usual. Maybe it ws because it had been awhile since she had been as smitten with a man as she was with Alcide. He was charming, handsome, intelligent and seemed to like her.

"My nanny was this old Italian woman and she teached me to cook fine Sicilian cuisine. It's food that makes you want to crawl in a fetal position and scream for me," Kimberly said with a little laugh. She did enjoy cooking, especially if she got to cook for someone.

"Goodnight,"

"Goodnight Alcide. I had such a good time with you tonight, thank you for that." she said as he waved goodbye. He seemed askward in demenor but she thought nothing of it.