Those Golden Eyes

By J.W. Smith

Chapter 20

Dave untied the bow that held the six journals and opened the first one dated 1938-1941. Joe, who had tired of bending over Dave's shoulder to read the letter, stretched and suggested they all see what the rest of the mansion looked like.

"Dave?" Joe called out softly to Dave, who had is nose in the journal.

"Hmm?"

"Close that book and come on."

"Mmm 'kay." Dave said without looking up. He read:

[ This shall be the beginning of my thoughts on what will happen in my life. ]

Aug. 21, 1938

I turned 17 two days ago. I start my last year of upper school in 2 ½ weeks. I have one year to go before I start getting a regular monthly installment from Grandfather's will. It will be good not to have to ask for money from Father. One would think he was a poor man the way he doles out my meager allowance of $35.00 a week.(Dave did a quick calculation in his head and figured that $35.00 was equal to around $300.00 today) I think that Father will begrudge me being independent from his pocketbook.

My birthday party was quite the success. Caroline came. What a beauty. She is so sweet, too. Several of my friends were swooning over her. She is mine though. She really likes me, I think.

There was another beauty at the party. Cold and haughty she is. Beautiful like an ice sculpture. Someone said her dad has more money than even God. But they are nouveau riche. Her name is Edith Upton. She ignored me though the whole afternoon and evening. She's got her eye on Buddy. The Man is crazy about her. Well, he is welcome to her. I've got my sweet Caroline. That all I nee--]

Dave's reading was interrupted as a strong breeze swept over the books, blowing the opened one off of the desk. Dave grabbed for it as it slid across the desk, but missed. He leaned down to pick it up. The rest of them slid to the edge and toppled off on Dave's head. Dave scrambled to gather them up. He stacked them back on the desk top and stood up, keeping his hand on top of them. He looked to see if either of the other two men had seen what had happened. Joe was outside the door, and Clyde was sitting on the couch reading. Neither had seen the strange occurrence.

"Dave you can read those later. Come on, let's go explore." Joe said, sticking his head back into the room.

Clyde put down the book that had grabbed his attention the moment he had pulled it from the shelf, laid it down on the big old leather couch and stood up. Both men looked at Dave.

Dave carefully tied the cords back around the stack. He picked up the bundle, clutching it to his chest and followed Clyde and Joe out of the study. He set the tied stack in the middle of the huge round table that sat half way between the staircase and the front door.

"Let's see what Edith's study looks like, first." Joe suggested.

"Certainly." Dave responded.

Clyde led the way through the dining room to Edith's study. The door wasn't locked, so the three men trooped in.

Dave stopped inside the door and looked around. He shivered; the room felt chilly compared to the rest of the house. Neither Clyde nor Joe seemed to notice the change in temperature. The room was decorated like a young girls bedroom would have been all in white and pink. The cases of dark-bound books stood out harshly against the soft pastel colors, as did the Corinthian leather blotter and black utilitarian telephone on the top of the desk.

Dave moved cautiously into the room. He looked at the items on the desk more closely. What caught his eye was the photograph of a young man in military dress. He looked vaguely familiar. The man in the photo reminded him of him of someone, Dave couldn't quite figure out who. He walked over and picked it up to read the inscription. "To Edith, the love of my life. I will always be with you in spirit, Buddy." Dave wondered if the Buddy mentioned on the first page of the journal was one and the same. He wondered if the cold beauty that was also mentioned in the journal was Mrs. Way. He felt there was a tragic story to be discovered here. Joe looked over his shoulder at the photo.

"Dave, is that a photo of Bill? It looks just like him except he's dressed oddly."

"No, the man's name is Buddy and that," he pointed at the woman in the photo, "is Edith Way, Bill's mother."

"So this guy isn't William, Bill's dad?"

"You saw the painting of William in his study. This is definitely not him."

"Hmm." Joe kept his thoughts to himself as he turned to look at more of the room.

There was a painting of a beautiful young woman on the wall behind the desk. Dave knew from the brief description on the first page of the journal and the inscription on the photo that it was of Edith. He couldn't see how the harridan that had screeched obscenities at him each time he'd seen Edith Way could have ever been that beautiful. Joe stepped up and tugged on the right edge of the frame. It came off the wall and he almost dropped it in surprise.

"No hidden safe here." He said, as he hung it back on its nail.

"No Edith's safe is in her bedroom." Clyde said.

"Well, shall we head upstairs?" Dave asked.

Dave laid the stack of journals on the big table in the center of the foyer at the foot of the grand stair case. He tightened the bow and turned to follow the other two men up the stairs.

At the top of the staircase Clyde stopped.

"To the right is Edith's wing and to the left was William's."

Dave wondered at the difference in tenses as he mentioned their names. Maybe he felt that Edith's spirit hadn't quite let go of her worldly possessions.

"Shall we toss a coin?" Joe asked.

A sudden cold breeze blew down Dave's neck. He shuddered. "Did you feel that?" he asked.

"Feel what, Dave?"

"That cold breeze."

"I think your imagination is getting to you, Babe.

"Anyway, I would like to explore Bill's dad's rooms first and Bill's too." Dave said glancing toward the other wing to make sure Edith really wasn't watching.

"Let's do it." Joe said like and eager kid.

Clyde caught Dave's eye and grinned in amusement as he nodded toward the hall down which Joe had disappeared. Dave scurried after Joe as Clyde followed. "I've never been in this wing. So it is all new to me as it is to you. I would assume that the rooms at the end were William's as it is in the Edith's wing."

Before they got to the heavy oak double doors leading into the master suite they heard Joe in the room adjacent to it.

"Dave come in here. It's a memorial to Bill."

Dave stepped into the room and gasped. It was a young boy's room. A single bed in the corner next to the window, a chest of drawers and a student desk with a chair were the only pieces of furniture in the room, except for a big club chair. They were all of an earlier period, but looked like they were brand new. 'This would have been Bill's room if he'd been allowed to live with his dad,' Dave thought. The well used club chair looked out of place. Dave could see that William had spent many hours in this room sitting in this chair. What was amazing was that the walls were cover in framed photographs of Bill from babyhood to soon before William's death.

As Dave studied the ones of Bill's later life he realized that all the shots were taken covertly. He recognized the backgrounds of many of them. Some were taken in the bookstore, others around the campus and some even around their home.

And many of them were shots of Bill and Dave together; some in moments of light intimacy. There was one blow-up of Bill and himself holding hands and looking into each other's eyes that sat on the desk. It looked like it had been posed for. He wondered what the moment had been about, and how the shot could have been taken without them being conscious of it. The background was blurred so Dave couldn't identify the location of the shot.

"The man really loved his son." Joe commented in a quiet reverent voice filled with awe.

"I wonder if Edith ever ventured into the room." Dave said.

"I seriously doubt it." Clyde ventured. "She lived in her own little contained world and seldom ventured out. If you will notice the key that opened this door was on the small ring that was attached to the large ring, and there is not a matching key on the large ring. Those were William's personal keys. I attached them into the large ring which had been Edith's before handing them over today. I removed them from a sealed envelope that contained his personal effects apparently sealed at the time of his death. Edith had given it to my care to be given to Bill at the time of her death. She said that the coroner had given it to her already sealed and that she wasn't interested in its contents. It will all be handed over to you, Dave, along with several other items."

Dave only nodded as he continued to study the photos.

"Are you ready to go into the master suite, Dave?"

"Sure." Dave said, coming out of his revery. As he turned to leave the framed photos on the wall clattered as though a wave had washed around the room. Dave's hair stood on end as he glanced around the room. Had he imagined that? Shaking his head, he hurried out and closed the door.

Joe and Clyde had already entered the master suite that had been Bill's father's refuge from the world. As Dave stepped into the mammoth room, Joe swept open one of the many heavy drapes that closed out the light. The entire room was covered in magnificent exotic hardwoods. Sixteen feet above their heads the coffered ceiling drew Dave eye to its magnificence. The amount of mahogany and walnut used in it could have built a normal house.

Clyde's cell phone chimed. He turned toward the door as he answered it. "Excuse me a moment" he said into it and turned to Dave and Joe. "Please forgive me, I must take this call. I'll catch up with you when I've finished."

"No problem." Dave said as he walked toward the big king sized sleigh bed made of very rare curly teak. The bed alone screamed money. He looked for Joe who had wandered to the far end of the room. He was running a hand over the black marble mantle. Dave felt the need to be close to him and walked briskly over to Joe. Joe picked up on the need and enveloped him in his arms.

"How does it feel knowing that all of this is yours, Babe?" Joe asked as he gently rocked Dave back and forth.

"Unreal. Not true. I feel like an interloper. This place is haunted, Joe." Dave clung to Joe's waist. He turned his face up to Joe who lowered his lips to meet his. For more than a minute they kissed. Joe finally broke it and pulled Dave over to one of the large high backed chairs. He sat down and Dave automatically sat on his lap and laid his head on Joe's shoulder.

"Well, all of this is yours, Dave. Have you thought about what you will do with it? You don't want to live here do you?"

"Good God! No! The vibes in this place give me the shitters. Damn! I mean shivers." Dave jumped up and paced to the fireplace and turned. He hardly ever cursed and then it was only when he was very upset.

Joe was laughing at Dave's combining the two words. "I think shitters fits." He said.

"Joe let's get out of here. I've had enough of this for today."

"Sure, Babe. If that's what you want to do. We haven't gone through Edith's end yet."

"Not today. I've just got to get out of here." He took Joe's hand and headed for the door.

Joe stopped long enough to lock the door and then turned to lock the door to Bill's room. Dave didn't wait. Joe with his long legs quickly strode down the hall to the staircase and caught up with him. Both of them hesitated at the top looking down the hall in Edith's wing. Neither man said anything to the other as they turned and hurried down the stairs as quickly as their feet could move.

Dave was nearly running when he got to the front door. He suddenly stopped and Joe ran into him and nearly took both of them to the ground. Only by grabbing Dave and whirling around did he manage to keep them both on their feet.

"What'd you stop for?"

"I forgot the Journals." He broke away from Joe and ran back through the big room to the table at the base of the stair. The journals were not where he had set them. Dave turned, looking around the room. He wondered if Clyde or Joe had picked them up. And then he noticed that they were strewn under the table. He dropped to his knees, crawled under and started gathering them up. Something icy grazed his cheek. He reared up, his shoulder hit the table skirt. He heard the huge heavy cut crystal vase in the middle of the table wobble. With the journals clutched to his chest, he started scooting out from under the table. Joe who stood in the doorway watching, saw the cylindrical vase topple over and roll as though it had been pushed toward Dave. He yelled out and ran toward him. The vase hit Dave on the back of the head, and then shattered when it hit the floor.

Clyde heard the shattering glass ,rushed back in and saw Dave laying partially under the table with his head in Joe's lap. Clyde gathered the journals into a stack as Joe gently felt Dave's head. There was a large bump forming, but other than that there seemed no other harm was done to him. Dave moaned.

"He must of risen up under the edge of the table and knocked himself out," Clyde said.

"The vase would be on the other side of the table if that were the case. No, the vase fell over and rolled, fast, like it had been pushed. It hit him on the back of the head."

Sitting back on his heels, Clyde studied the glass shards and Dave's position. He shook his head not wanting to believe what Joe had said of what it implied.

Before Joe could say anything else, Dave's eye lids fluttered and he groaned again. and then they opened. Slowly, he focused on Joe's face.

"Edith got me a good one," he uttered.

Clyde let out a sharp bark of nervous laughter. "Edith? Are you gentlemen alright? You both look like you have seen a ghost."

They both looked at each other and then back at Clyde.

"You didn't see her?" Dave asked.

"See who?"

"Edith Way. She was standing in front of her bedroom door."

"So you saw her, too?" Joe asked. "I thought my imagination was working overtime.

Clyde gave out with another short bark. "Really! You are both grown men. There is no such thing as a real ghost."

Dave looked at Joe.

"What exactly did you see?"

"I saw an old woman dressed in black. Her arms were folded under her bosom. She was standing with her feet wide apart as though guarding the door to her bedroom."

"Clyde," Dave said. He sat up and turned to him. "That is exactly what I saw. If it wasn't a ghost, then it had to have been her in person. He rubbed the bump on the back of his head. "But she wasn't screaming at me so it wouldn't have been her, would it?"

"I had the unpleasant duty of having to identify her body. So I know for a fact that she is dead and buried, Dave. And I don't believe in ghosts."

"Well, there is no point in arguing about it right now. Let's get out of here," Joe said.

He helped Dave to his feet and held onto his arm as they moved toward the door. Clyde picked up the journals hurried to open the door. He allowed the two men to exit and then followed them. When he turned to close the door, it slammed right in his face.

He muttered something about strange damned winds as he hurried to lock the door and gave the keys back to Dave.

~~~~

The Journals were stacked on the coffee table in the den. Dave stared at them from the doorway, his arms folded tightly against his chest. He couldn't get the image of Edith's ghost out of his head. Joe was in the kitchen preparing dinner, the occasional clatter of pots and pans audible in the background. He was torn between wanting to be with Joe and wanting to sit down and find out what secrets the six books held. He heard his name called softly and turned to see Joe standing in the kitchen door with a pot in his hand.

"Come keep me company, Babe, while I cook."

Dave smiled, relieved that the decision was made. He wrapped his arms around Joe's waist as he peered around him to see what he was concocting on the stove. Joe kissed him on the forehead.

"Umm, that smells good. I didn't realize I am starving."

Joe served up poached chicken breasts dressed with a light garlicky sauce, spaghetti carbonara, coarsely shredded carrots that had been lightly sauteed in butter with a touch of brown sugar to enhance their natural sweetness, and a salad of baby field greens with a lemon vinaigrette.

Dave sat down grinning at his lover and attacked the food with gusto. Joe couldn't have been more satisfied with his culinary efforts.

~

After cleaning up the kitchen they settled on the sleek leather sofa with steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee. They both stared at the stack of journals.

"I feel kind of voyeurish just thinking of reading those books." Joe muttered.

Nonsense you saw in the letter that William gave Bill permission to publish them if he saw fit."

"I know, but this is a little different from reading a printed book."

Dave reached over and picked up the top journal that he had started reading earlier.

"You want to read together?" He asked.

"No, I want to peruse the last volume I think." Joe said slipping the bottom book out from under the other four. He snuggled into the corner of sofa making himself a cozy nest. Having shucked his shoes, he plopped his feet on the coffee table. Dave swivelled around and laid his head on Joe's thigh as he stretched out on the length of the sofa. Both became absorbed in what they were reading.

Sometime later, Dave interrupted Joe's reading.

"Listen to this.

May 7, 1939.

I think that something has gone awry with dad's investments. He is very preoccupied these days. He hardly pays any attention to me. And then last night he was asking many questions about my social life. One question stuck me as very odd. He asked me how I felt towards Edith Upton. I told him I thought she was beautiful but cold as an ice burg, and that I have hardly been around her even though she is dating my best friend.

His questions stopped with that answer. He became very preoccupied again.

Dave scanned into the next page.

May 10, 1939

Last night I ran into Buddy and Edith Upton at Wharton's Café. I was with Elizabeth Complin. He asked us to join them at their table. Edith was visibly disturbed by this. Throughout the hour or so that we were there she kept studying me. Very strange. I felt like a bug under a microscope. Afterwards Elizabeth asked me if Edith had a crush on me. I responded that I hoped not, for I really don't like her. She strikes me as a status seeker.

Dave flipped the page. Scanned down the page through numerous entries.

June 16, 1939

School is out for the summer. Our bunch is going to take the train up to New York to see the World's Fair. There is a festive mood in the air. I find it rather macabre with England and France fighting for their very existence while we party.

If the United States doesn't soon enter the war to save Europe from that mad man Hitler, I shall sail to England and join their fight. Dad is very much against such a thing, but I feel it is immoral to stay out of it. He must be stopped.

Edith has turned her eyes on me. Something is up. She and Buddy are still very thick. I would think he would be a fine feather in her cap. So why is she trying to get my attention?

August 14, 1939

Finally looks like something may happen. President Roosevelt has gone over to have a conference with Mr. Churchill.

Edith continues to make overtures. I don't understand her gig. She is always with Buddy. It's easy to see the fellow is smitten with her. She is all he talks about.

I'm 18 on the 19^th.

October 26, 1940

Damn the Separatists. Can't they see that if Hitler wins we will be his next victim? So we have a big ocean to protect us. He'll find a way to do it if we don't stop him now.

Buddy proposed to Edith. She is considering it. I know it is her parents looking for someone of higher social standing. Buddy is so smitten. I wish he could convince her to run away and get married.

"This is like getting a glimpse of history first hand. Go to November of Forty-one," Joe suggested. He laid down the volume that he had been perusing.

Dave skipped several pages. "Ah, here it is," he said, and started reading aloud again.

November 19, 1941

Dad's in big financial trouble. His European investments are nil at this point. He is seeking someone one to pull him out.

November 27, 1941

The curtain has been raised. Now I understand it all. Mr. Upton wants Social status. Edith is being pushed to get me.

Dad is urging me to pay attention to her. Mr. Upton has big money.

December 1, 1941

Well, the parents have struck a deal. I am the bargaining piece. If I marry Edith my father is saved. At least I'm not emotionally involved. Poor Buddy where does this leave him? I don't like this one bit. He is my best friend. We grew up together.

I must give Edith credit. She doesn't like this one bit more than I do. She told me that her father has threatened to disinherit her and send her back to Texas to live with her poor relatives if she doesn't go through with this marriage. Buddy's dad has threatened him with dire consequences if he doesn't step aside and let Edith go. I wonder how Upton entangled him.

I know that if I don't marry her, Dad's financial collapse would kill him. And where would that leave my dear sweet mother? It would probably end up killing her, too. I can't let that happen.

I will marry Edith.

Dec. 7, 1941

My God! We've been attacked. The Japanese hit Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. We have to get into the war now.

Dec. 8, 1941

Yes! War has been declared. Now we can get Hitler out of Europe. I shall enlist as soon as this marriage debacle is completed.

Dec 9, 1941

Buddy did it. He's gone. He is now a soldier. Damn, we were going to enlist together. I guess this damned marriage is why. Who could blame the poor boy? It makes me feel like a genuine heel. But I've got to save my dad.

The date is set. 12/20. I shall enlist on the 21^st.

Dec. 17, '41

Am so glad that I am the Groom. All this flurry for a fancy wedding. It's all a sham. Just a big show to impress with his wealth. He told me to call him Dan. I will not. The ass shall stay Mr. Upton. I cringe when he tries to be friendly. It is so hokey.

Neither Dad nor Mom has smiled for days. Dad won't raise his eyes to meet mine. God, I feel like the lamb to the slaughter.

December 20,1941

Well, I am now a married man. At least in name. Edith marched into the suite and locked the bedroom door behind her. I shall spend the night on that miserable looking sofa. So much for married life.

Dec.22,1941

My life is a snafu. I stood in line for an hour and half this morning to enlist in the army. When I finally got to the table I was told that I was already signed up and I am to report to Fort Sheridan for officer's training on the 26^th. It seems I will be groomed to be a General's aide.

I went straight to my father to have it out with him for doing this to me. It turns out Dad didn't have anything to do with it. Upton did it. Edith is already packing to move to Washington D.C. My General is a paper pusher.

I went back to the recruiting station to see if I couldn't just be a common soldier. No luck. The die is cast.

Dec. 25, '41

This has been the most horrible day of my life. Having to act like a loving husband to that cold witch. What on earth did Buddy ever see in her? In front of her father she is clingy and cloying and soon as we leave his presence she is again cold and distant.

Both families got together for Xmas dinner at the Upton's. What a couple of pretentious asses. I can see why Edith is what she is. I have never seen my father like he is today. He was almost groveling at Upton's feet.

Hopefully, as soon as Edith and I are gone from here Dad won't have to associate with him so much.

I leave for Fort Sheridan tomorrow morning. I can't wait.]

Dave turned forward several pages until he came to a letter attached to a page. Joe was leaning against him reading right along with him.

Jan.16, 1942

I received a letter from Buddy today. I had thought I would probably never hear from him again. I wish that things had gone the way we had planned. He really is my closest friend. I think I miss him more than I do Mom and Dad.]

Joe unfolded the letter and held it where Dave could read it, too.

Jan. 3, 1941

Dear Will,

Happy New Year.

I suppose you thought I was a coward running away without even saying good-bye. Maybe I am.

The night before I left Mr. Upton called me and told me to come over to see him. I thought that he was going to ask me about my intentions toward Edith. WRONG!

He was very straight forward in telling me what was going to happen (you marrying Edith). And then he told me he had enough dirt on my dad to ruin him for life. I didn't believe him. He pulled out a folder and passed it across his desk to me, not saying a word.

Will, I could never reveal what the photos in that folder revealed. I love my dad, but I couldn't spend another night under his roof after seeing those pictures. Thank God my mother is dead.

I closed the folder and handed it back to Upton. I was wordless. Not him though. He told me that I was to join the army the next morning. I was not to see Edith again. And that as long as I complied he would not use the contents of the folder.

Of course I did exactly what he told me to do. I went home and packed a duffel and was first in line at the recruiting station the next morning. I left a note for Dad telling him I was joining up and where he could find my car. I feel bad about not saying more but I was in shock. I didn't think I could stand seeing him then. I wish I had now. No matter what, he is my Dad and he was always there for me. I wrote to him, apologizing for leaving as I did. I made it sound like I was broken up about Edith. I couldn't reveal that I knew about him. I just couldn't.

I've had several letters from Edith. I don't know what I should feel about her at this point. I look at this from where I am now and I can see that you had little or no choice in saving your dad from financial ruin. But I am still hurt that Edith didn't even try to resist her father. She obviously loves the money, power and prestige more than me.

I know that she is now your wife, Will, but I also know you have no love for her. And knowing the both of you, I know there will never be a consummation of your marriage. You are too much the kind, considerate gentleman and she is cold, and conniving.

How can I say that about her and still be in love with her? Well, I saw a side of her once in a while that is a lovable little girl. I think that given the chance that side of her could come to the fore. But, I guess that as long as her father is alive it will never happen.

My first week here I was pulled for officer training. I will be given three days leave before being shipped overseas. I wish that we were going together like we had once planned. We've been best friends since we were in nursery school. Now life has torn us apart. There is this dim dread in the back of my subconscious. I don't really believe I'll be coming back from over there. And if I do survive I will certainly not go back home. So one way or another I doubt that we will ever reconnect. But always remember I am you best Buddy.]

Joe finished reading the letter before Dave and raised his eyes to his face. Dave had tears running down his cheeks. He folded the letter, wiped his face and continued scanning through the entries. He turned the page and found another letter attached to the page.

April 3, 1941

I found this letter opened and laying on my study desk this morning. I do not understand why Edith would open my private mail and hold on to it for nearly a month before giving it to me. Maybe she does have a little human kindness in her. She hasn't spoken to me but twice since I arrived in Washington. I attempted to speak to her about the letter but she totally ignored me. We sit at the same table for meals, but I might as well not be there. She doesn't acknowledge my existence at all.]

Dave unfolded the letter and read it aloud to Joe.

March 10,'41

Dear Will,

I finagled a three-day leave. And went home to see my dad. I feel so much better for having done it.

I told him what had transpired with Upton. Man, it was so difficult. He cried like a child and begged my forgiveness. I told him there was nothing to forgive and that he had always been a good father to me. When I told him that I loved him he broke down and cried again. Damn it, Will, his private life is his own and it should be no one else's business. Upton is a vile evil man.

I was so upset and angry seeing my dad like that, that I went to see Upton before I left. I told him I wanted the folder and the negatives. I had complied with his wishes. He hedged. I told him that the only way that I would stay away from Edith, even though she is now your wife, was if he gave them to me. I also promised that I would kill him if he ever uttered a word about my dad. I think I probably could do that to him in cold blood. I truly hate the man. He must have believed me. He handed over the folder and negatives and swore there were no other copies. I told him that he would die if any surfaced.

I took them home and gave them all to my dad. He acted like I had given him his life back to him. Well, maybe I did. All I know is that no one deserves to be ruined because of their consensual bedroom activities.

The night before I left for the ship Dad invited his "friend" to dinner to meet me. I had seen him around all my life and never knew. I will not reveal to you who he is, but you, too, have known him all your life. He is a fine upstanding pillar of the community.

Congratulations on your appointment, even if Upton did finagle it. It will be so fantastic for you to be right in on the planning stages of the war effort.

I will write you again from the trenches.

Your best

Buddy

"Wow! I wonder what happened to them all." Joe said as he watched Dave refold the letter.

Dave closed the journal and stretched his arms over his head and arched his back.

"Let's find out tomorrow, I am bushed.

Joe got up as Dave leaned forward and placed the book on the coffee table. He held out his hands to Dave and pulled him up and into his arms. His eyes were burnished gold as he stared into his lover's.

"You know how lucky we are to have been born into this time period? I'd hate to have to hide my love for you." Joe asked as his lips sought Dave's.

"Mmmm." Was all that Dave managed to get out as his passion for Joe took over and he became totally involved in the kiss.

End of chapter 20