LOVE TRIP: Romantic Adventures with CARTER DAVIS, hero of Kisses Don’t Lie…

Click here to read previous chapters:
Chapter 1 - The Meeting

And the story continues…

CHAPTER 2:  Are You Scared?

So I’m sitting at my desk one day—minding my own business, doing a bit of daydreaming and story plotting—and the phone rings. It’s—you guessed it—Security Guy. The moment I hear his voice, I can’t remember my last name. And, well, there it is…another sign I might be entering mid-life. Then again, it could be that my heart is beating so fast, the blood supply is simply by-passing my brain. And I am blond, so there’s that, too.

“What are you doing?” Security Guy’s voice, rich with sexual undertones, spills into my ear.

I immediately wonder if I’ve remembered to put on deodorant that morning. Yes, I decide, but I make a mental note to reapply first chance I get.

“Nothing,” I say. It’s the only conceivable answer…remember, my brain isn’t receiving any blood.

“I’m in town,” he claims.

Okay. “In town” for a normal man might very well mean he’s in my town. However, Security Guy is not a normal guy. He’s Security Guy. He’s larger than life. For God’s sake, he’s the hero in Kisses Don’t Lie. What few brain cells are still functioning go into overdrive. In town, in town… “Uh…what town?” I ask.

“Yours.”

Gulp. Somehow I knew this would be his answer, though I prayed it wouldn’t. Maybe. I immediately check my hair, makeup, color of underwear. It’s important for a girl to match, after all. The song “Buttons,” by the Pussycat Dolls floods my mind and I say, “Oh, really…” What the heck am I supposed to say? My brain is frozen. And, anyway, I need more information, more details—time to think. Why is he in town? Business? Doubtful. Family? No. Me? God help me.

“Really,” he says. “Can I see you?”

It could just be me, but his “really” seems somewhat like a dare. And, see me? What, exactly, does that mean? What’s the deal? Isn’t he supposed to be with Bailey? Oh, yeah—mental head slap—she’s just a figment of my imagination.

“Are you still there?” he asks.

“Uh, huh.” But pardon me while I pinch myself to make sure I’m really awake.

“Well? You wanna see me?”

My hand flies up to my head and I pull out the band holding my pony tail, releasing my hair so that it tumbles freely about my shoulders. Reflex reaction. If you’ve read Kisses Don’t Lie, then you understand.

Wow! This is for real. Security Guy is in town. My town. And he wants to see me. Probably wants to hold me close, make sparks fly…a girl can dream. But what the heck do I say? This is so sudden. So random.

“Of course, I’d like to see you,” I say with a casual air, like I’d been fully expecting his call. Deep breath. Sweat forming on my fingertips. I know I’m in trouble. “But I’m just on my way into town…to Victoria’s Secret. I can call you when I finish shopping,” I offer.

Long pause, then, “I’ll meet you there,” he counter offers.

My brain nearly explodes. Has this man really just suggested we meet in the land of bras and panties—and teensy little thongs?

“Uh,” I manage to get out, but it’s merely a stall tactic that I’ve perfected over the years to, well, stall.

“Are you scared?”

What! Scared? Me? Let it be known right now that this woman has never walked away from a dare. Or a scare.

“No.” I laugh softly at the absurdity of his question. “I’m not scared. I’ll be there at noon.”

“Okay.” And he hangs up.

@$%#! What have I done? What is this? Am I dreaming? And how the heck does he know where Victoria’s Secret in Silverdale, Washington is? Who cares? I get moving—just in case this is for real, and I’m not having a mental breakdown.

Makeup? Done. Hair? Lovely. Clothes…black silky blouse with cute little skirt and strappy sandals. Then a half mile from my house, doubt creeps in. The silky blouse is a little too low-cut, the skirt is too short, the strappy sandals too…much. @#$%! I turn my T-Bird around and go back home to put on blue jeans, a sweater, and tennis shoes.

There. Much better. No sexuality going on. Nothing that would make Security Guy want to take me to bed—gulp—or anywhere else for that matter. Though I have to wonder… Does my subconscious want to turn Security Guy off? If so, why? Hadn’t I been dreaming about this moment ever since I laid eyes on him? Isn’t he the reason I wrote Kisses Don’t Lie?

I arrive at Victoria’s Secret in one piece—a great feat, considering I don’t even remember driving there—and I’ll admit I’m slightly disappointed he’s not already there waiting for me. After all, I’m blond, I’m a romance author, I’m hot. At least that’s what I tell myself every morning when I wake up, so that I can go on living this fantasy life.

Okay, so Security Guy has stood me up…I’ll just go about my business. I stroll among all the panty bins, finally picking out three small pieces of material that just might cover my butt should I be lucky enough to lose five or ten pounds. And, wow, those soft white robes with the big pink dots, hanging on the wall, are pretty cute, too. One of them would make a great prize for the winner of my Hot Men and Cold Nights web contest. Medium, that’s the size I should get for my contest winner. It’s a compromise—halfway between skinny and zaftig. Heck, I’ll even get one for myself…and my daughter…and my BFF.

I scrunch the panties into my hand—still hoping that Security Guy will make an appearance—and then I turn to call for the girl to get down the robes. Smack! It’s him! Security Guy! Plastered against my chest.

My breath catches. Sweat immediately begins to trickle down my back. Okay, I know you’ve read about that kind of stuff happening in all those romance novels, and you’ve probably said, “What a load of crap,” but, honest to God, it’s true. When a man—the right man—presses his body to yours, the sweat thing is gonna happen. And, right at that moment, it’s happening to me. Only I don’t know it, I don’t have a clue…until Security Guy puts his hand on my back and my sweater sticks to my skin. Geez, how freaking embarrassing! But thankfully, he has the good sense to pretend he doesn’t notice. He just smiles…and then he kisses me. Full mouth, slow, tender…

Holy @#$%! Doesn’t he belong to Bailey? Oh, yeah…she’s still a figment of my imagination. Honest to God, though, even if she wasn’t, I’d be tempted to go for it with this guy. Heck, I’m ready to say “I do,” by-pass the courtship thing, the dating…I’m his girl, he’s my guy; that’s all that matters. But then reality takes hold and I can breathe again…think again.

“I need to pay for these,” I manage as I hold out my hand full of panties. Honestly, I don’t remember what I said, but I’m sure it was something like that.

And there we stand…Security Guy and I, face to face, chest to chest, lips just inches apart when, suddenly, a pair of my crushed-up panties fall to the floor. I pray for an earthquake. I want to be swallowed up. But this is Washington and we’re more likely to have a volcanic eruption. Just my luck.

We stare down at my yet-to-be-purchased panties. What does a woman do at a moment like this? Do I let him be a gentleman, pick them up for me?

Hell, no! In one quick motion, I swoop down and scoop them up. And when we’re face to face again, he’s smiling and there’s a gleam in his eye. Oh boy. Now the sweat is really rolling down my back…

Want to find out what happens next? Check back on or around March 20….