Love Between the Pages: 8 Romances for Booklovers

by Bird, Peggy

  JJ moaned, resting her forehead on Kenn’s arm. “I see disaster in their future and I’m not even psychic!”

  The band began forming the capital O — well, it looked more like a U. Then they tackled H. Chaos erupted when the band members crisscrossed each other while attempting to form the I. The hat of a trombonist slipped off his head and covered his eyes. He apparently became disoriented and turned in the opposite direction of what he should have, slamming into his fellow musician. The slides of their instruments struck each other, became hopelessly entangled, and brought them both down.

  Sprawled out on the field, there was no way that poor bass drummer could avoid them. He tumbled over them landing smack dab on top of the pair. One of the trombonists was caught under the drum, only his legs showing like the witch caught under the house in The Wizard of Oz. In the process of trying to extricate himself, his trombone tore the skin of the drum.

  The drummer furiously freed himself from the ugly wreckage, and began to strangle the offending trombonist. It took two trumpet players, three clarinetists, and a flutist to separate the pair. The crowd cheered.

  “Are they cheering because the fight got broken up or for the original disaster?” JJ asked.

  “Hard to tell. Definitely hard to tell.”

  Hearing the approval of the crowd, the participants of the fight and those who intervened took a bow.

  Blake waddled out on the sidelines and took advantage of the enthusiasm of the crowd as he began to lead them in cheers while the players waited for the band to leave the field.

  “We’re definitely not OCD,” Kenn spoke into JJ’s ear.

  • • •

  “I can’t believe the Fighting Fingers are so close to winning,” JJ said as she and Kenn again jumped to their feet in reaction to the incredibly long pass the team completed.

  It was late in the fourth quarter and the score was fourteen to seven with UNO ahead.

  “Don’t get too excited,” Kenn cautioned, “game isn’t over yet! See the kid who just ran down the field?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s Justin Lambert.”

  “Justin? Our Justin from the conspiracy class?”

  “Yep. One and the same.”

  “Yea, Justin!” JJ added her personal cheer a tad later than the rest of the stadium. At the same time, she tugged at Kenn’s sweatshirt. Realizing what she had done, she quickly apologized.

  “No need.” Kenn smiled down at her, hesitantly placing his arm around her. Surprised, but by no means upset, she sidled a little closer to him, enjoying the moment.

  The buzzer signaled the end of the game rang. UNO had won its first game in five years. The final score was fourteen to seven. Alex and Blake grabbed each other, hopping around on the field like a couple of rabbits. Blake finally stopped, stripped his knucklehead cover off, and planted a long, hard kiss on Alex’s lips.

  The rest of the cheerleaders and the men’s pep squad burst into a grand chorus of “Awwww.” The pair reluctantly parted lips as their friends pointed to the big screen. The moment had been broadcast — up close and personal — to the entire stadium. A second wave of applause rocked the bleachers, this time for the pair’s open display of affection.

  The scene changed to another couple blissfully enthralled in a long and passionate kiss. Alex and Blake cheered with the crowd. The romantic couple? JJ and Kenn.

  Arms wrapped around one another, lips exploring each other, the kiss was anything but an ordinary aren’t-we-glad-UNO-won peck on the lips. Their smoldering passion ignited a long, indulgent kiss.

  “Wow! I didn’t know JJ had that in her.” Blake couldn’t keep his eyes off the love scene playing out on the screen. Alex whispered to Blake, “JJ has been holding out on us in those pages she’s written. If she has that much passion in her, so do we.” She gave Blake a long look from head to toe. “Wait till I get you home tonight.”

  • • •

  The professors slowly became aware that they had inspired another collective “Awwww.” JJ was first to open her eyes. She pushed herself away from Kenn. His grip on her was strong; he wasn’t ready to release her, and she couldn’t put much distance between them.

  Her eyes involuntarily followed what everyone else seemed to be watching on the jumbotron. There she and Ken stood in the middle of the enormous screen — entertainment for all to see. Absolutely humiliated, totally confused, and blushing a bright red, JJ wished there was a rock to crawl under. The next best thing was Kenn’s sweatshirt. She raised one side and stuck her head in it, much like an ostrich sticking his head in the sand. Kenn held her with both arms wrapped tightly around her small frame.

  The camera captured this intimate moment as well. The crowd laughed, then cheered, and then applauded.

  JJ’s small, muffled voice could be heard pleading beneath Ken’s shirt: “Take me home now … please.”

  Chapter 25

  “Did you see what I saw?! Why, of course you did. It was broadcast on TV, for crying out loud. The entire world saw it!”

  JJ slammed her purse on the dining room table, and then dragged herself to the living room where she collapsed on the couch.

  “You kissed a man,” Alex said, sitting on the arm of the chair next to her. “That’s what you did. But truthfully, I didn’t see it all. I was busy with the man of my dreams.” She released a long, deep sigh. Blake beamed with pride as he stood in the middle of the living room, still in the palm portion of his mascot’s uniform, his hair an unmanageable tangle.

  “Not just any man, but Kennedy King Cooper. How could I let myself do that?” JJ ran her hand through her hair, held it back for a moment, and then allowed it to fall to one side.

  “Perhaps you’re finally allowing yourself to recognize those feelings you have for him?” Alex ventured.

  “Even if I am, we work together!”

  “That’s just a flimsy excuse,” Blake said. “You know full well that’s not the reason you’re so flummoxed.”“

  “I am not flummoxed!” JJ was startled by her own voice. “Flummoxed? Where did you get that word?”

  “From our book. Chapter six. When Alex’s old love comes to town and her feelings are torn between him and me. She was ‘flummoxed.’”

  JJ squinted her eyes, trying to switch gears and think back to the novel.

  “I do believe you’re right, Blake. She was flummoxed, wasn’t she?”

  “People! Let’s focus on the more pressing issue,” Alex said. “Right now we’re discussing JJ’s horror at actually kissing a man! A much more interesting topic!”

  “No, it is not,” JJ said. “And it’s not a good position to be in, professionally speaking.” She kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet beneath her on the couch.

  “Bloody hell!” Blake said. “In the time we’ve been observing you from the pages of your own world, so to speak, you have not allowed yourself one moment of pure pleasure, doing something just for yourself. You had to be dragged out of the house to interact with real people. You were afraid of stepping out of your snug, secure cocoon. The truth of the matter is you’re not really living.”

  Alex bolted off the arm of the chair. “Why, Blake Teasdale! I didn’t know you had such keen powers of observation. I’m not only impressed, I’m extremely proud of you.” She walked to where he was standing, leaned over the palm of his costume, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

  Blake not only beamed, he blushed a little. “So let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What is causing you to feel flummoxed?”

  “In other words, what were you feeling when you kissed Kenn?” Alex asked.

  “Aside from an incredible urge to disrobe him right there in the stadium,” Blake suggested.

  “Blake!” The ladies shouted at him.

  “You probably were feeling it. I know I was when kissing Alex in that scene in chapter seven — ”

  “Blake!” Alex tried to refocus. “I know this sounds personal, JJ. But if you can’t talk to us, who can you talk to?�
��

  A weak smile crossed JJ’s mouth. Certainly these two were closer to her than her own sister. “Well, there was a moment when I considered dragging him behind the stadium.”

  “La … la … la … ” Blake interrupted, covering his ears. The women laughed.

  “It was an exciting feeling,” JJ said. “And quite liberating if you want to know the truth.”

  “Great! So what’s the problem?” Alex asked.

  JJ, unfolded her legs and stood. Then she began to pace. “The truth is … “ she said quietly. “The truth is I’m scared. I haven’t felt like this in ages. And, well, I’m concerned I’m setting myself up for a real heartbreak here. Unlike your love story, mine might not end happily ever after. I might never find another Geoff St. Clair. Then what do I do?”

  “You get up and try again,” said Blake. “Okay, so it sounds, well, Pollyanna-ish,” Blake admitted. “But isn’t that exactly how you go through life? You just keep going. You cherish the good and learn from the mistakes and the misfortunes. You certainly don’t cut yourself off from the world at large.”

  JJ stopped pacing. “Do you really think that’s what I’ve been doing?”

  Silence filled the room.

  “Aha!” Blake hurriedly wiggled out of his mascot costume and tossed it on the recliner. His hair flounced as he dashed into the kitchen. “Sit down on the couch; I’m sure you’ll find relevance in this analogy!”

  JJ sat next to Alex. The women heard the refrigerator door open. Then a rummaging sound. They looked at each other, shrugged, and waited.

  Blake returned with a TV tray that he set up squarely in front of the ladies. On it he set down his other props: four slices of cheese, two slices of bread, and waxed paper. He politely excused himself, trotted to the linen closet in the hallway, and returned with an iron that he plugged in and set on the TV tray. Looking much like a magician preparing for his act, he vainly attempted to smooth his hair and gave up when his fingers became stuck in tangles.

  “My dear, ladies,” he began, bowing low at the waist. “Allow me to show you why JJ Sprightly … ” He held up a piece of cheese wrapped in cellophane in his right hand. “And Professor Kennedy King Cooper … ” He flashed the second piece of cellophane-wrapped cheese in the other hand. “Are not finding true and lasting romance at this time.”

  JJ bit her lip. Alex nervously shifted her weight on the couch. It was anyone’s guess where this display of dairy products was headed.

  “The obvious problem is that each is hermetically sealed, not allowing the other inside to discern their feelings. But even if these two self-protected people were to unwrap their cellophane,” he said, carefully taking the wrapper off one slice, then the other, “we’d discover that they aren’t sincerely showing the other who they really are. Right now they’re poor imitations of real cheese.”

  JJ just stared. Blake continued, undaunted. “Let’s explore what these two persons could be experiencing. First, they could voluntarily shed the protective wrapper,” he dramatically picked up a slice of real deli cheese, “allowing the other to see them, which is the basis of any good friendship. In this situation we have two real slices of cheese — I mean people — who are starting their relationship on the right foot! But that’s not all!” Blake carefully placed the two slices of real cheese together. “Notice how much closer they are.” He picked up a slice of bread. “We place the two of them together and allow these two to spend some time alone.” Blake carefully placed the two slices together on the bread. He then placed the second slice of bread on top of the cheese. He held the sandwich high. Then he set the sandwich on the TV tray, placed a sheet of wax paper over it, and grabbed the iron.

  He licked his index finger, touched it to the hot surface of the iron, and flinched immediately. “Ouch!” Then Blake proceeded to iron the sandwich, humming the theme song from Jeopardy! as he worked.

  Alex and JJ glanced at each other.

  Blake picked up the sandwich and tore it open. Gooey, melted cheese oozed from the two halves. “And so you see, the two previously separate slices of cheese are now living happily ever after as one. That, ladies, is the ultimate secret to a successful relationship.” He ceremoniously bowed.

  Alex sprang from her seat, applauding. “Bravo! Bravo!” She dashed to his side, giving him a hug and a kiss. “You’re awesome, hon!”

  JJ sat motionless on the couch, her mouth gaping open. She stood and ran to her bedroom. “You’ve just reduced my love life to a grilled cheese sandwich!” The door slammed behind her.

  Chapter 26

  JJ took a deep breath as she climbed the stairs leading to the entrance of Mundain Hall.

  “Monday morning, a chance to put that horrendous incident of Saturday behind me,” she muttered to herself.

  As she walked down the corridor leading to her office, she noticed two coeds pointing at the door giggling. One of them looked her way.

  “Oh my God, there she is now,” one said, nudging the other. They glanced quickly at JJ, giggled again, and hurried down the hall.

  Clickclickclick. The accelerated rate of JJ’s heels indicated her growing curiosity to see what was on her door. Finally reaching it, the clear, crisp image before her made her knees wobble. Her eyes grew wide, and she nearly dropped her briefcase. This can’t be happening to me.

  Monday’s edition of the school newspaper, The Daily Digit, was taped to the door. It bore a front-page photo of the new jumbotron. It was obviously taken as part of the game’s news coverage. On the screen of the jumbotron was JJ and Ken embraced in their first kiss.

  The caption read: Professors in Love. History professors Kennedy King Cooper and J. Jordan St. Clair share an intimate moment at UNO stadium as the Fighting Fingers win their first football game in five years. (See the Sports Page for more details on the game.)

  “Me! Why me? Why me?”

  Sighing heavily, she leaned her head on the door and was about to hit it against the structure when she stopped. With my luck, I’d break the windows. Instead she removed the newspaper, unlocked the door, and entered. It was after she tossed her things down and walked around her desk that she noticed them.

  “What in blue blazes? How did these get in here?” A smile slowly crept on her lips. She couldn’t help it. The bright yellow roses in a crystal vase sat in the middle of her desk. Stuck in the arrangement was a card. She opened it — I’m sorry. Even though the card wasn’t signed, she knew.

  “I am, you know.” JJ recognized the voice even before she glanced up. She swirled around to face him. “I lost control. I was totally out of line,” he said.

  Kenn closed his eyes tightly and winced, tensing every muscle in his body. His arms quickly and instinctively protected his face, and he raised his left knee as if he expected to be kicked in the lower part of his body.

  “Go ahead,” he said. “I’m ready for it.”

  JJ moved out from behind her desk to stand directly in front of him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Preparing myself for the lashing you’re about to unleash on me.”

  “What?”

  “You know, you’re going to tell me I’m a pompous ass — no, make that an audacious pompous ass, a sexist elitist, and who knows what else. I’m ready for you to sling the verbal cow dung at me.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  Kenn answered, tottering unsteadily as he held his stance, “Because you did it when I first met you at the bookstore, then again at the café, and you were especially effective at your sister’s. And this is a much larger transgression.”

  He paused. “Have you seen the front page of The Daily Digit yet?” He tightened his muscles again, expecting an explosion. Instead, she erupted with laughter. When she gasped for air, he moved his left hand slightly and warily opened one eye. “What’s so funny?”

  “You are.” Still trying to catch her breath, she continued. “You … look … You look like a giant crane practicing tai chi.”

  Allowing
his body to relax, Kenn dropped his arms and put his leg down.

  The pieces of the puzzle of the last couple of weeks were finally falling into place for JJ. The full effects of Saturday’s incident and the time the two of them had spent teaching and visiting in each other’s offices struck her.

  But what really grabbed her attention was her uncontrollable laughter. It had felt good … extremely good.

  “Damn it,” she finally said out loud, massaging her forehead with her hand.

  “I really am sorry,” Kenn whispered. JJ had to strain to hear him.

  She looked up at him. “Well, you shouldn’t be. I just had an epiphany. And I decided I’m not sorry.”

  Kenn raised an eyebrow. “Who are you and what did you do with JJ Sprightly?” he asked.

  “I’ll admit it,” she began. “I was appalled at first. But just now, I realized I haven’t laughed like that in years. How sad is that? And that kiss we shared? If you didn’t notice, I did little to discourage you. My sister and my characters … I mean my cousins were right.” She deliberately measured her words. “I’ve been hiding in the pages of my books. And now, I’m finally beginning to live in the real world.”

  Kenn’s smile transformed his appearance and gave him a boyish-rogue look. Why hadn’t she noticed that before? “Glad I could be of assistance,” he said.

  They approached each other slowly, eyes locked. She felt his sensual energy. She wasn’t sure how any of this would end, but she was certain of one thing: Kenn was trying hard. And that was all she really needed to know.

  His lips touched hers, and she melted in his arms. She slowly moved her hands lower, pulling him nearer until their bodies met.

  JJ felt the pleasure of the kiss and his breath giving her new life, allowing her to be reborn. She savored the sensations.

  “Bwaait,” she said through the kiss. But Kenn didn’t — or couldn’t — stop. She gently maneuvered the two of them to the door. With her back facing it and using one foot, she pushed it shut.