"I didn't even know they did those dances still," Savannah teased as she and Dwight exited the First Mariner Arena.

"Whoa, whoa! I believe you were doing a few of those dances yourself." He held the door open for her and she stepped out onto the sidewalk. The slight wind tossed her curls and she pulled her knee length trench coat closer to her.

"I looked so much cooler than you doing it!" Savannah laughed.

They walked a few feet down Baltimore Street and he stopped at the curb of Baltimore  and Calvert. "Do you have to be home by a certain time? For your boys I mean?"

Savannah looked down at her watch. "Not really. They should be okay with my sister. Why?"

"I thought maybe we could walk around the Harbor for a little bit. If you don't mind?" He looked pleadingly into her eyes and smiled slightly.

"That sounds nice."

They strolled along the street, occasionally having to make room for a group of teenagers or a group of people. Dwight talked about his daughter and Savannah listened with open ears. She marvelled at how his eyes lit up as he recounted all the firsts he experienced as a father.

"And somehow I managed to get the poop all over the blanket and the sheet. It was rather nasty." He chuckled.

"I'm not sure what it is, but I think women are born with that natural mothering ability. Why do you think that little girls want to play "mommy" all the time? So when Jake was born, even though I was terrified, I was still able to take care of him. By the time Nicholas was born, I was better equipped. But I never became a pro. There is no such thing as a perfect parent."

"I know. One of my major fears..." he paused as they crossed onto Calvert Street. "is that there will be a void that can never really be filled  because she doesn't have her mother. I can only do so much, you know, as a father."

"I'm sure things will turn out okay. I have the same fears. Who will teach my boys to be men? I sure as heck can't do it. I mean, Kim's husband tries his best, but he has to work. I'm not sure what their father is teaching them and I can only pray that it's good things."

Dwight nodded and quietly looked around. "It's gorgeous down here at night." He tucked his hands in his pockets and looked around.

"It is beautiful. Most people miss this at night. I bring my boys down here every once in awhile and we look at the boats and the water. They love it and it gives us quiet time together." Savannah blushed when they brushed up against each other.

"I should try that with Isabella. She has a lot of energy and sometimes I don't know what to do with her." They walked past the Gallery and Savannah glanced at the clothing display. "You like fashion, huh?"

She nodded and smiled as they walked further into the Harbor. They walked past couples and groups of teenagers. Dwight protectively guided her through the throng until they were safely on the other side. They didn't speak, but just walked along, occasionally glancing at each other. He stopped in front of a large boat and looked up.

"I used to want to be a captain when I was little." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Really, I would never have thought that. Why did you change your mind?"

"Not really sure. You know when you're six years old, you believe the world to be your oyster. It's only until you grow up that you realize you don't like oysters."

Savannah laughed and bumped into his body. He looked down at her and caught her eyes. He didn't speak and neither did she. Minutes rolled by, their eyes connected, unable to break free. He grabbed her hand and they proceeded further down the path. She stared at her hand intertwined in his and could not help but to feel giggly.

She tried to remember the last time she and Mike had held hands. She mentally chastised herself when she realized that she was comparing men to him. He was her first love though and it would be crazy to expect her not to think of him. He was the father of her boys.

"You have got to tell me what you're thinking about."

She looked at Dwight who was staring down at her with an amused look on his face. "Nothing. Just thinking about how nice this feels." She squeezed his hand to indicate what she meant.

"I think they are too rough. From working with wood so much. I didn't want you to start  bleeding from the pressure." He chuckled. Savannah listened to his laugh and wondered if he did it often.

"A lot of women like rough hands."

"Do you?"

'How could I have walked right into that?' "I must admit that I do."

They walked until they came to a sitting area  near the water. He sat down first and gestured for her to take the seat next to him. She slowly sat down, keeping distance between them. Dwight closed the gap and stared  straight ahead. "I like being with you. Is is too early to say that?"

"No." Savannah blushed. "I had fun with you as well."

"I am a man who, once I know what I want, I go after it. I know it  may be too soon for you to think about this right now, but I would love to get to know you a little better. I believe you're a woman I want in my life."

"Dwight, I-,"

"Wait," he held up his finger, cutting her off. "if you are going to reject me, can you do it over the phone or through a text message so you won't have to see me jump off a building?" He grinned.

Savannah chuckled softly and rested her hand on his. "I was only going to say that I would like that. I'm not sure what would happen between us but I could try it. I just need to take things slow. For my own heart's sake."

"Sounds reasonable." He looked out across the water. "Is that a shooting star?"

"No. I think it's just pollution that caught on fire and now it's falling back to the earth." When she finished, they both laughed heartily. Savannah  rubbed her hands against her jeans.

"It gets a little cold near the water. Gimme." Dwight reached for her hands and gently blew on them. In between blows, he rubbed her fingers in his hands. She watched his lips come close to touching her skin and she hoped that they didn't make contact for fear she would blush until she looked like Rudolph. He smelled really good and she could tell he was a patient lover by the way her held her hands and blew them. He looked up unexpectedly and Savannah had not noticed how close his lips were to hers. Within seconds, his chocolate lips were wrapped around hers and she was running her fingers through his curly waves.

She felt her body heat up and her nipples stood erect, painfully rubbing against the fabric in her tee shirt. Dwight reached out for her waist and pulled her closer to him. She tried to fight what she felt when he took  control but she was too weak to ward him off and she was too starved for affection to want to. Savannah felt his hands ease slowly up her back and down again, sending electrical currents through her spine. She squeezed the fabric in his shirt between her fingers and bit his lower lip. The moan that escaped from his lips caused her to jump back.

"What are we doing?"

"I'm not sure but do we have to stop?" He looked at her hungrily.

"But we are in public," Savannah quickly looked around, trying to see who was looking.

"You're right." Dwight stood up and walked a few feet away. He thrust his hands in his pockets and stretched. Savannah could feel the tension and she immediately stood up.

"I think I should go."

Dwight looked up and quickly walked back over to her. "No. It's okay. A little while longer, please? I'll behave."

Savannah smiled and sat back down. He joined her, with a little more space in between them. She soon realized that she enjoyed his warm body close to hers. Savannah's purse vibrated and panic immediately surged through her. "Kim?" She screamed into her phone after digging it out of her bag.

"No, this ain't no Kim," Mike's voice drawled into the phone.

Savannah frowned and held the phone away from her mouth. "I'm sorry. I'll just be a few minutes, she whispered to Dwight." She stood up and walked away from the bench Dwight was on. She could feel his eyes on her.

"Where are you and my kids?" Mike slurred into the phone.

"What the hell is your problem, Mike?"

"I'm at your house and ain't nobody here and I want to see my boys." He yelled into the phone.

"None of your business! Get off my property before I call the police, Mike!" She raised her voice. She saw Dwight stand up out the corner of her eye and she held her hand out to stop him from coming any closer.

"You ain't calling no police. I wanna see my boys, Savannah. I'm not playing." She heard glass breaking in the background.

"What the hell are you doing, Mike!" The line went dead and Savannah mumbled something under her breath. She dialed the number to the police and waited for the operator.

"911." the operator stated.

"My sons' father is at my house and I think he is busting my windows out."

"Okay ma'am. What's your name?"

It felt like so much time passed whenever she had to answer a question and finally she was able to hangup the phone. "I need to go home."

"Okay." She saw sadness creep over his face and wished that she could stay. But she knew how Mike could be when he got drunk. When they pulled up in front of her house, their was a police squad car sitting near the curb. The office got out of his car when she and Dwight pulled up.

"Ma'am, do you live here?" The officer came up to Dwight's chest.

"Yes." Savannah walked over to survey the damage. Mike had busted out the front windows and one window to her room on the second floor. She sighed deeply and turned back towards the officer.

"Your neighbors called the police shortly after you did.  Your ex was apparently drunk and busted out your windows. We need to know his address if you know it. If you want to press charges we can take your statement downtown."

"Can you take it down now? I really don't have the energy to come down there."

The officer sighed looking slightly annoyed. "Okay ma'am. Step this way."

Dwight released her hand but kept his eye on her as she made her way over to the patrol car. She leaned against it as she recounted the events that lead up to her talking to the police. She held her head in her hands and closed her eyes. She could the beginnings of a headache as the officer asked a reasked questions.

"Thank you Ms White. We will be in touch once we have the assailant in custody." he said as he continued to scribble on his notepad.

Savannah turned away and stared at the broken windows. She slowly eased closer to her house until she was standing in her living room. Surveying the damage, she felt fatigue rising up inside of her. A few moments later, Dwight appeared around the corner.

"I could board that up for you, before I leave."

"Thank you." she whispered softly and showed Dwight the tool shed where she kept supplies. After she settled into the sofa in the living room, she called her sister and told her what happened. Kim threatened to 'take Mike out'. Savannah had to plead with her not to put on her Reeboks and go looking for him. Savannah asked to speak to her sons but was told they were fast asleep.

"Well, is it okay if they stay until tomorrow afternoon? I don't want them here tonight as seeing the broken windows. And I want to make sure the glass is cleaned up."

"You know I got you. You don't need to be staying there either. That negro might come back and start tripping." Kim was getting excited.

"I should be fine. If he does come back Louis is here." Savannah referenced the solid wood baseball bat Kim had given her.

"Who is going to help you clean up al-" she stopped suddenly. "Where is Dwight?"

"He's boarding the windows up. And then he'll go home. I'll be fine."

"If you were smart, you'd let that fine man spend the night. You don't have to sleep with him, but at least you can have somebody take care of you for a change." Kim paused. "I'll take care of the boys, don't worry. I'll tell them you called."

"Okay."

Savannah placed her cell phone on the coffee table and stretched out across the sofa. She watched as Dwight measured the pieces of wood. She thought what it would be like to watch him doing yard work or to fix things around the house. She watched him carefully, as he lifted and carried and tacked and wondered if he was as gentle with lovemaking as he was with repairing things.

She closed her eyes and imagined his hands running up and down her body, rubbing and caressing and squeezing and stroking. She felt her mouth go dry as she felt the electricity from those hands surge through her veins and she drifted off to a place where she was sure they could explore the confines of each other's bodies.