Part 1

"Hello," Sam spoke into the cell phone as she poured her first cup of coffee for the day.

"Sam, hey Stud. This is TC. Damn, am I glad I caught you at home." TC replied in greeting.

"And just where in hell do you think I would be at dark thirty in the morning?" Sam replied laughingly.

"Not at home. Figured you, still being free and desirable, would NOT be in your own home following a Friday night out." TC answered.

"Nope, here all by my lonesome. What can I do for you," Sam asked as she sipped her favorite brew.

"My god damn bastard bartender ran off with that redheaded waitress you were eyeballing last time you were in here. You still hot after redheads?" TC inquired.

At the mention of red heads, Sam instantly pictured Grace and shivered thinking of the last kiss they had shared. "Ummm, maybe," she answered slowly.

"Well, you won't get this one. Betty hauled that red head's ass off to Vegas where they are spending the next two weeks. She left me in a big lurch with the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the club." TC stated.

"Yes, go on." Sam urged.

"Sam, I wondered if you'd consider running my bar that night? I sure need you babe. I was counting on the money spent by the crowds to help counter the balloon payment on my club," TC explained.

As Sam listened to TC on the phone, she noted a shimmering light at the far end of the room from the corner of her eye. Turning toward the light, she watched it slowly dissipate, until the corner was once again in darkness. Sam turned back around to see if the sun was shining in the kitchen window but she saw nothing but darkness outside. She briefly shook her head thinking it was just her imagination.

Meanwhile two ghostly figures slowly moved through the huge plate glass window back out into the early dawn.

"Sounds like Sam is going to be busy, love," the younger ghost turned to her companion as they moved off through the cool morning sky.

"Yes, it does. That was brilliant of you, getting Betty to join that junket to Vegas. When we overheard Grace saying she was spending Cinqo de Mayo at the club, I wondered how in heaven we'd ever get Sam to go," the older spirit rejoined.

Meanwhile Sam was still talking with TC.

"Sure, TC. I can cover for you. I need some extra money anyway after all I spent on Teddi's wedding." Sam answered back.

"How is Teddi Graham?" TC asked with a laugh.

"She and Kristen are just fine. They're out of town on some lecture Kristen's giving up in the New England area. Guess they won't be back until late May from the sounds of it," Sam replied.

"You kinda lonely, kid?" TC asked.

"Naw, I'm keeping pretty busy. Going out on a date here and there. Nothing really serious." Sam answered quickly and then turned the conversation back to the party being planned. "Ok TC. What kind of party is this? Need to know so I can dress the part."

Sam sat her cup on the counter and concentrated on what TC was saying.

"Some leather, some straight. It's open to the public this time so we won't be too kinky. Wear your leathers, though. These ladies tip really well when they like the package they are seeing." TC reminded Sam.

"You ole goat," Sam laughed. "More like, lust after. Shit, I don't want hands all over my body again but you're right. Those dames tip really well for a quick pat on my butt.
Count me in ole buddy. Anything to help out a friend," Sam confirmed with TC before hanging up the phone.

********

In the meantime, Grace lifted the phone and replaced it several times while she debated with herself as to whether or not she should call Sam. The call finally won out. Picking up the phone, she dialed Sam's number.

"Hello," Sam answered.

"Sam, Hi this is Grace. How are you doing?"

"Fine. And you?" Sam answered. She leaned back against the kitchen counter and crossed her legs, knowing this could be a long conversation.

"I'm doing well. Finally catching up on all the papers I had to turn in for graduation this month. Are you going to come watch Teddi walk?" Grace asked.

"You know I will. Nothing would make me not see Teddi finally get her degree. It has been like pulling bad teeth to get Teddi out of school. The best thing that happened to her was meeting Kristen and getting the incentive to finally do something with her life." Sam countered.

"Yes, I know. My family is counting the minutes until I am out from under them also. Guess I need to line up a job now that I can't be a perpetual student," Grace said with a short laugh. Sam could hear the pain in Grace's words as she spoke of her family and the strained relationship between them.

"What can I do for you, Grace?" Sam asked finally.

"Oh, gee. Nothing. I wanted to know if you would like to go to a club with me this next Wednesday. A bunch of us is going out to celebrate one more time before we all split up for the summer. I thought maybe you might like to come as my guest." Grace replied.

"Well damn." Sam said disgustedly. "I just committed to working on Wednesday night. Damn it, I would much rather have been able to say yes to you."

"Well, that's the breaks sometimes. I wish you had been free. I think you would have enjoyed it." Grace said disappointedly. "Maybe another time?"

"Sure. I'll look forward to it." Sam answered. "Give me a call when you have some time between studying for finals and getting ready for graduation."

"Sure. Sounds like a deal. Well, let me let you go. I need to crack the books if I want to go out this week myself." Grace stated as she prepared to end the conversation.

"Sounds good to me, too. Later Grace," Sam replied as she hung up the phone.

Grace held the receiver a few minutes longer as she felt a blanket of disappointment flow over her body. She had been anticipating more interaction with Sam. Her body was keen to see where the attraction between them would lead. "Oh well, another time maybe," Grace said to herself as she turned to her desk to begin working.


Part 2

Both ghosts hovered over the piano as the servers rushed around setting up the tables and making sure that there were plenty of glasses stocked behind the bar. The younger one turned to the older spirit and leaned closer saying, "I hope that we can come up with some kind of plan that will bring Sam and Grace closer. I am just about out of ideas."

"Oh sugar. Something always comes up giving us the right opportunity. Don't be so impatient," the older companion answered.

"Me impatient? I have had years?no centuries? to practice patience," the young spirit responded. "However, it doesn't help me since I worry about the sparks that fly when those two get in the same room together."

"Think about this. Why not look for ways to use those sparks to bring them together instead of worrying about it driving them further apart?" her partner asked.

"Humm. Good idea. I'll have to pay closer attention to what is happening around them," she replied. "Oh look, there comes Sam." The younger ghost moved closer to lean against the bar as Sam moved behind it.

The younger ethereal being watched as Sam removed her long black duster. "Oh my goodness, what I wouldn't give to be alive one more night," she thought to herself as she stared at Sam. Sam was dressed head to toe in rich dark leather. She wore black leather pants that clung to her shapely thighs and hugged her hips snuggly, showing off their softly rounded contours. She had gleaming black boots on that added height to her already imposing stature. A midnight blue, silk shirt was tucked into her waistband. A two-inch wide black leather belt circled her waist with a gleaming sliver buckle resting at the front of her pants. Sam had pulled on a supple black leather vest, which also clung to the shape of her breasts, clearly showing their outline and ample size. Over the entire outfit, she wore a loose black leather jacket that brushed just below her hip line. She looked like a sleek panther waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting prey that would come along.

Sam's short blonde hair was a bright shining contrast to the dark of her clothing. Her eyes were clear and filled with excitement. Sam loved bartending and nothing pleased her more than when she could work in her role as "Stud."

"God, Stud. You are a lifesaver," TC stated as she stormed out of the back room, her arms filled with a box of bourbon. "Can you give me a hand?"

"Sure," Sam replied as she reached out and plucked the box effortlessly from TC's grasp.

"Damn Stud, you look hot tonight. I bet you rake in the tips. Can't tell you how much I appreciate you helping me out." TC continued as she stacked bottles behind the counter.

"Think nothing of it. I wasn't planning on doing anything at the time," Sam replied in a wistful tone.

"What's up? Is this interfering with your plans?" TC asked as she caught the distant look in Sam's dark brown eyes.

"Oh no. I was free when you called. Just happened to get an invitation afterward that I wish I had been able to take," Sam responded.

"Well, maybe we can get you out of here early and you can catch up with whom ever it is," TC continued.

"Naw, it's ok. I told her I was working tonight." Sam ended.

Both ghosts were blatantly eavesdropping on the on-going conversation. They smiled at one another with the realization that Sam would be seeing Grace a lot sooner than she expected.

"OK, Stud. That's got as much as we can stack back here. Plenty of glasses, ice, mix and snacks. Anything else you need?" TC asked as she looked over at Sam.

"Nope, you got it covered, TC." Sam replied. "Bring on the crowds, I'm ready."


Part 3

Sam turned toward the office, sliding her heavy jacket off as she did so. Restocking the bar was hot work and she didn't want to be sweating before even meeting the first patrons. She watched from the doorway as the Spanish band entered the bar and headed toward the stage. Within minutes, sultry Spanish music was filtering from the instruments of the band. The sounds were intoxicating, tempting Sam to weave and dance to the sultry beat.

The ghostly pair swayed together in the air as they recalled thoughts long forgotten, brought on by the romantic music being played around them. They swing together in a slow salsa, enjoying the feeling of being held once again in each other's arms.

Meanwhile customers began entering the bar. The volume of noise was escalating, as was the excitement of the crowds. Sam was pouring out shots as fast as she could sling over the bottles. Her face glistened slightly with sweat from the heat of the crowd and the speed at which she had to pour. The crowds were loud and enjoying themselves. The dance floor was crowd as the women swayed and danced to the music pouring out around them.

"Hey Studly, set me up a six shots of Tequila for table four. New group entered and are hollering with thirst. Be sure and set a big bowl of salted peanuts on the tray too. We want them to be good and thirsty tonight," Ellen, the server, added as she wiped the moisture off her tray before setting it down.

"You got it El. Damn what a crowd. TC has got to be raking in the cash tonight." Sam remarked as she finally looked out over the crowded room.

Sam's dark gaze zeroed in on one woman in particular. Across the room, Grace stood leaning against one of the tall bar tables. She was dressed in skintight jeans that looked like she had been poured into them. Her top was simply a supple soft brown leather vest that hugged her torso and outlined her pert breasts to full advantage. Her beautiful dark red hair swayed about her shoulders as she rocked to the beat of the salsa that was playing. Sam ran her eyes down Grace's body and noted Grace tapping her foot to the music.

"God, she looks sexy as hell." Sam thought to herself.

TC walked up behind Sam and caught her staring at the attractive woman across the bar. She smiled to herself as she realized this must be the woman Sam had been talking about earlier. Walking over to Sam, TC said, "Stud, take a break. You've been going strong for the past two hours. I'll cover for the next hour or so."

"Damn, TC. You hired me to tend bar not slack off." Sam answered.

"Hey, who's boss here? Now get your butt out from back of here and out on the dance floor." TC said, bumping Sam roughly with her hip as she reached out and took the bottle out of Sam's hand.

Sam shook her head but didn't argue any more. Instead, she headed back into the office where she quickly slipped off her vest, removed her shirt then slipped the vest back on, leaving her upper body bare and cooler. She walked confidently back out to the barroom, dodging around dancers and other women standing together talking. The beat of the music once more throbbed through her body as she walked toward Grace.

Grace looked around and noted Sam walking toward her. Before Sam could reach Grace, another woman stepped in-between them, cutting off Graces' view of Sam. The younger ghost also noted the woman making a move on Grace and she quickly swooped down beside Grace. As she hovered nearby, she heard the new woman asking Grace to dance.

"No, this can't happen," the young ghost said to herself. She swirled behind a woman standing next to Grace and jostled her arm, making her drink fling up and out onto the woman asking Grace to dance.

"God damn it. What the fuck is wrong with you?" The angry woman turned to see what had happened. "Shit, let me go wash this out before it stains." The woman stomped off toward the Lady's Room to clean up. The younger spirit smiled to her self and soared back across the room to her partner.

Meanwhile, Sam walked up to Grace and smiled into her green eyes.

"You look beautiful tonight, Grace," Sam said in a low, sultry voice. "Would you like to dance with me?"

Sam held out her hand, waiting for Grace to accept.


Part 4

Grace reached out and lay her hand into Sam's at which Sam drew her toward the dance floor. A slow tango was playing as they began dancing along with the rest of the crowd. Alone, each woman was stunning. Together, they were fantastic. Many heads turned to look at how attractive they were together. Both wore shirtless vests and snug tight pants, making many other women ache to reach out and touch either of them. Sam continued to look into Graces' face as they danced. The music was too loud to talk to each other. Sam let her actions speak for her. She thrust and parried her moves to match Grace's moves. They danced as if they were making love to one another, first standoffish, then moving in closer and brushing lightly against one another and then back away. Their bodies tingled with the desire to press firmly together but the teasing movements continued as the beat of the music became louder and filled their veins with fire.

Sam finally reached out and drew Grace's body snug against hers as they slowly swayed to the rhythmic beat of the drums. The guitars strummed around them as their hearts raced from the closeness of their bodies. Sam ran her hand up beneath Grace's hair and slid her fingers along the back of her neck. Her thumb angled around to stoke lightly beneath Grace's chin as they moved in synchronization with one another. Grace purred at the feelings running through her body. She moaned aloud as her lower body throbbed from the heat emanating from Sam's body rubbing against hers. Sam leaned down and breathed deep along the top of her head, filling her lungs with the perfume Grace was wearing. She smelled of spring flowers with a subtle spicy scent of musk. It filled Sam's senses entirely making her want to seek out all the areas where the perfume was dabbed.

The scent made Sam want nothing more than to pull Grace off the dance floor and directly into her bed. She knew that the longer they danced the more she desired her. Yet, Sam was not ready to give up the sexual excitement that was engulfing her at this time. Sam's bodied hummed with sexual tension from every move against her body that Grace was making. She could feel Grace's breath against her upper breasts as Grace's breathing also became irregular.

Sam smiled to herself, glad that she could shake Grace's normal standoff demeanor. She wanted to rattle Grace and make her feel some of the physical desire that she was having herself. Sam slid her leg between Grace's legs as she dipped her backward, following Grace's body with her own as she dipped Grace to the music. They danced a slow sexual dance as the music reached a crescendo around them. As the last of the strands of the tango faded away, Sam drew Grace up into her arms, holding her tightly against her body. She could feel Grace placing a gentle kiss along the top of her breast line.

Slowly Sam pulled back until their bodies were no longer touching. She was having trouble catching her breath and she shook with desire as she looked down once again into Grace's green eyes. Grace was breathing erratically and heat fanned from her body as she tried to get her emotions back under control. She wanted to kiss Sam but not here in front of a room full of strangers.

Sam turned and guided Grace back to her table as the band broke for intermission. Grace followed meekly, still confused over her burning desire for Sam. Sam stopped as she waited for Grace to seat herself back upon the stool at the table. Leaning against the table Sam stared at Grace as neither of them wanted to break the moment by talking.

Finally, Sam lifted Grace's hand in hers and placed a gentle kiss into her palm.

"Thank you for the wonderful dance," Sam whispered softly to her, making Grace lean forward to catch what she was saying. Sam looked down and could see the tops of Grace's breasts. Sam knew that she needed to break away now or she would not leave her alone the rest of the night.

"I've got to get back to work. I wish I could stay longer but TC hired me to work the bar." Sam stated.

"I?I understand," Grace managed to stutter as she struggled to act more normal. Looking down at her watch, Grace noted it was nearing midnight. She glanced back up at Sam and said, "It's getting late and I have class in the morning anyway. I need to be getting back."

Smiling softly at Sam, Grace continued, "Thanks for the dance. It was?well there are just no words to describe it. Please call me sometime and maybe we can finally meet when we can have time to talk with one another."

"You got a deal, Grace," Sam nodded her head in agreement. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

"Yeah?" Grace blushing said.

"Yeah," Sam stated with a soft laugh. "OK, well back to work. Thanks again Grace," Sam stated as before turning and walking away she leaned over and brushed her lips lightly against Grace's mouth. "Take care."

Sam turned and walked back to the bar before Grace could make a move. Grace watched until Sam was back at work, pouring drinks and filling beer orders. Grace stood, telling her friends that she was headed back to the dorm. As she walked out the door, Sam watched her. Sam shook her head slightly as she swore that Grace was followed by two pale glowing figures as she left the bar.

The ghosts watched over Grace as she walked back to her room. Once she was safely inside, the two ethereal beings once more rose to their bell tower where they would again plot the next meeting planned for Grace and Sam. They could see and feel the strong physical attraction between the two young women. It was up to them to make sure the relationship had a chance for both Sam and Grace. They would help set the scene for the next meeting and make sure that the young couple would finally have the opportunity to spend time alone together, to delve into how they feelings for each other could evolve.
Sitting on top of the bell, the younger ghost began thinking aloud.

"Noise, food, night, bright colors, loud noises, sparkles. Yep, D-day will be July Fourth. Come, baby, help me plan for the fireworks and sparks that are sure to explode between Grace and Sam when next they meet," the younger spirit reached out her hand, drawing her partner closer to her.

"Anything for you, darling," the older one replied as they leaned their heads together to being making plans for their own fourth of July celebration for Sam and Grace. As the moon, climbed higher, soft laughter was heard coming from the bell tower as the two ghosts laid out their plans long into the night.


Read the conclusion of this ghostly series in Ghostly Nexus.

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Copyright © May 2004 by Shadylady. All Rights Reserved.

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