RP: Some Salsa Dancing

[ericks_folly]

Date: April 3rd, 2011
Characters: Erick Gardner, Charisma Gibbon
Location: Carmen's Cuban Cafe
Status:  Private
Summary: Put your dancing shoes on
Completion: Complete

Comments

[charisma79]

Charisma was very much looking forward to this date. She loved the dress she'd bought at the Affair yesterday, and she couldn't deny that she hoped it would knock Erick off his feet, figuratively speaking, of course. She'd left her hair down in loose waves and pinned back just a little on one side. She wore only a small amount of makeup.

She opened the door herself (she'd reminded Maureen that she'd made sure her and Layla were out of the way for her first date with Piers and wouldn't it be nice to have the favor returned?) and smiled at Erick. He was dressed casually, and she hoped he wouldn't think her overdressed, but he was still incredibly handsome.

"Hello, Erick," she said as she moved through the door, closing it behind her. "I'm ready," she told him. She had a small purse with her ID, some cash (enough for cab fare should the need arise), and her phone. Just the basics.

[ericks_folly]

Erick thought Charisma looked like a vision in blue and he told her so as she answered the door. There didn't seem to be anyone else in the apartment which either meant that Layla and her mother was hiding or they had gone out. Following her down the path to the car, he opened the door of his BMW to let her in.

"It's good to see you again Charisma, I hope you're hungry tonight because there are a lot of Sunday specials at Carmen's" He told her as he started the car.

[charisma79]

"Thank you," Charisma said, giving a little shimmy in her dress. She didn't dress up in dresses and skirts very often, but it was always fun to. She raised an eyebrow at his car. It was very attractive, as most foreign cars were, but her Ford had never let her down. She was most impressed, though, by the way he opened the door for her. Apparently gentlemen still exist in this part of the country, she thought with a smile.

She slid into the car, making sure to keep the skirt of her dress in a position of modesty. She crossed her ankles and pulled on her seat belt as he went around the car. "I am a little hungry," she said, grinning at him.

Since their phone call had been cut short by work, there were things about him he'd mentioned that she was curious about but hadn't had a chance to ask. No time like the present, she thought. "So, you're a pediatrician. What made you choose that rather than a different type of practice?" she asked.

[ericks_folly]

Once they were settled into the car, they headed out to the restaurant, "Hungry is a good thing, this is Texas, don't know a restaurant around that skimps on servings."

Charisma's question caught Erick by surprised. Not many people asked why he picked the specialty that he had and the few dates he had, had since the divorce. "Well, I guess it started in my last couple of years in high school, I was working at camps for the summer as a life guard and counselor. There was an accident and I got to use my skills to save a kid. From then on I was hooked. Broke my grand-dad's heart when I didn't go into the family business, but I'm happy. What about you? What made you go into architecture?"

[charisma79]

Charisma could imagine Erick, the youngest in his family, trying to keep up with his big brothers. She grinned at the thought, even as she brought her glass to her lips again. She probably shouldn't be drinking so much of the Sangria, but it was so good, and she was enjoying herself. It was really the first time she'd felt free to really enjoy herself since Layla moved in with her.

"Mmm, well, as good as this is," she said, raising her glass slightly, "you did promise me dancing." She been looking forward to dancing with him since he'd told her what he had planned.

[ericks_folly]

Setting down his glass, Erick smiled. "You are so right I did promise you some dancing and it sounds like the band is warmed up." Standing up he moved to pull out Charisma's chair before offering her a hand up.

"Why don't we shake a tail feather and show folks how its done." He teased.

[charisma79]

Charisma thanked him softly as she took his hand and stood. She took one more sip of her Sangria before setting the glass on the table. "Lead the way," she said, giving her hips a little shimmy.

The band really was good, and the Sangria had definitely made her feel loose and not a little light-headed, but in a good way. She kept her hand in his, her stomach giving a little flip as they reached the dance floor and she moved in close. "Hmm, is this how it's done?" she asked teasingly.

[ericks_folly]

On the dance floor, Erick felt her move close and placed at hand on her hip to pull her closer. "It's a good start, but I think we can do better don't you?" He spun her out in time with the music and they joined the crowd of dancers on the floor.

"Have you done this before? You're pretty good there, have the shimmy down."

[charisma79]

"Sounds like a plan," Charisma said, relieved and so thrilled that he did still want to see her again, even though she'd been far more open than she'd intended tonight. She normally didn't put it all out there right away. But she should probably count it as a good thing that he knew she was looking for long-term and hadn't gone running.

"We bought it already, actually. Just waiting on some final paperwork to go through. It was a foreclosure, and we got an unbelievable deal on it." She didn't want to brag, to throw out the numbers, it just wasn't her way, but she was thrilled with their luck. "It's a nice four bedroom in a suburban neighborhood. A big enough back yard if Maureen gives in and gets Layla a dog. And three bathrooms, so us girls don't have to fight for it."

[ericks_folly]

"Congratulations then, buying a house is a big step, sound like you've got a good start in the area then." Erick laughed at the three women fighting and then realize he had actually only lived with his ex and his mother and the two of them could have never shared a space together. "Probably for the best, growing up Mother didn't think it was safe keeping 3 boys in the same room. I'm still not sure if she was worried about what they would do to me or what they would talk me into doing." He said with a laugh.

"Well why don't I let you get moved and we'll do something once you're more settled.?" He suggested.

[charisma79]

"It is a big step, but a good one," Charisma agreed. And she felt that they were most lucky in that it wasn't too heavy an investment that if one of them wanted to move, the other would have no probably keeping up with it. And they would make a great profit off it if they decided to sell at some point.

"Boys will be boys," she said with a laugh. "Though I didn't have any brothers, so I'm not sure what kind of trouble you guys would have got into as kids." She'd heard stories, of course, but doubted it came close to first hand experience.

"That would probably work out for the best. Busy work schedules and all," Charisma agreed.

[ericks_folly]

"You'll be Texans in no time." Erick teased and shook his head. It would be better if Charisma knew as little as possible about the antics he and his brothers got into and sometimes still got into. That last trip to Mexico had been a doozy and his ears had rung for days.

"Don't worry you'll hear from me, I promise, busy schedule or not."