by Scott, D. D.
“Not even in bed?”
“That is negotiable. Two, Cam isn’t living here right now and won’t for a while. The place is my responsibility till he moves back, so what I say goes.”
“I’ve got a few rules too. You can make the rules in the rest of the house, but I’m still in charge in the bedroom, got it? And no more hiding in baggy clothes. You are gorgeous and I want to show you off. I may have to bust a few heads, but it is a small price to pay for the pleasure of seeing you walk into and, God help me, out of a room. You may have a head for business, sweet thing, but that body of yours is pure sin and I want more of it, lots more of it.
“Oh, and kids. I want them, but not right away. I understand you’re still young and you want to develop your career but in five or so years, when you are tired of being the hottest investigator on the East Coast, I want to feel your body round with my child, curl up and hold you while it kicks. I am gonna be there when you give birth and hate me for the pain of it all and then you know what?”
She could barely breathe now. “What?” came out as a whisper.
“We are gonna do it all over again.”
“Oh.”
“And one last rule, missy. We’re getting married, preferably quick but I plan on being around forever so if you want to wait, I’ll work with that.” He flipped open a box she had no idea he’d had in his hand. Inside sat the most stunning diamond she’d ever seen. It wasn’t huge but the fire in it, even in this soft lighting, was spectacular. She swallowed hard.
“Jonah, you don’t…”
“Do relationships? Guess that’s not true anymore. Delia, I need to hear you say yes, sweetheart. I need you with me like I need my next breath. I know I’m older than you but let’s face it, I’ve had a prolonged childhood and you are way more than some boy your age could handle.”
“Jonah, you know I’m only wild with you. In everything else I’m… really kind of methodical.”
He threw his head back and laughed hard. “Sweetheart, I’m counting on that!”
She yanked on his jacket to bring him down to her level and did the wildest thing she had ever done. “Yes,” she whispered before she launched herself into his arms.
About L.C. Giroux:
I think I’m like a lot of my readers, I’m married, got a kid, a house, a full-time job, I sew clothes, and I write contemporary romance novels in my (cough) spare time. Oh, you don’t do that?
It started in high school, I wrote a serial romance novel in a black and white composition book one chapter at a time. As each chapter got finished the book would get passed around to all my friends. They loved it and couldn’t get enough. Except one of them left it behind after class one day and the only name on it was mine. I ended up in the Vice-principal’s office trying to explain that it was fiction. In his defense, it was written as a journal. He couldn’t believe I could know that much about sex and relationships if I hadn’t done any of that. I told him he needed to watch more TV.
After years of stumbling around in more jobs than any other two people I know, I’m back to writing and loving it! I still have my day job in medical research but the fun starts when I get home.
I write for women looking to inject some contemporary romance into their busy lives. To that end my work tends to clock in at about 40- 50 thousand words or about 200+ pages. Short enough that you can read it in between everything else you do but long enough that I can develop the characters a little.
Reviews are crucial for a self-published writer so if you review one of my books on the site you got it from send me the link. As a thank you for taking your time I’ll send you the full cover art from that book. You can have your own collection!
Be sure to check out my website for news on upcoming books and my blog. www.lcgiroux.com
I love to hear from my readers so feel free to drop me a note. I try to write back as quickly as possible.
I hope you enjoyed this extra to my Lovers and Other Strangers series. You can read His Lady Godiva (Book One) and Pay Back (Book Two) almost anywhere e-books are sold. You can see Delia and Jonah again in His Deception (Book Three) exclusively at Amazon. Find out more about Delia’s Mom in Second Chance at Salvation (Book Four) at Amazon also. The first three books of the series will be available as a boxed set starting in July.
Hot and Bothered
by Lisa Scott
I knew something was wrong the moment I spotted Julie nibbling on her bottom lip as she waited for me in the outdoor cafe. When she saw me, she began studying the ice in her drink, turning the glass round and round as I approached the table. She looked like a wrongly convicted toddler serving a timeout in the corner.
I sat down and slung my purse over the back of my chair, a bead of sweat rolling down my back. Damn, it was hot. “He said no, didn’t he?” Julie had been scheming all week to set me up with her new co-worker, Seth. She’d shared a picture of me and her in our bathing suits downing margaritas on a cruise (suggesting I was far more laid-back than I really was) and let him know I’d been quite a flexible gymnast in high school. Very flexible. My days of doing splits were long gone, but he didn’t need to know that. Taking one look at Julie’s face, I knew it didn’t matter. She was about to deliver bad news.
She’d ordered my usual Diet Coke with lemon and pushed it toward me. I took a long sip, hoping perhaps he’d declined because he was sick. Or out of the country for the summer. Maybe he’d died?
She blew out a long breath. “You’re right. He said no.”
My heart fell. The way she’d described Seth, he sounded like my perfect guy: funny and smart, handsome and well-built, and very tidy. Yeah, that was important to me. Apparently he cleaned up the lunchroom several times a day because he liked it spotless even when he wasn’t in there heating up his organic kale soup.
A man who cleaned? Now that was sexy. We’d never have fights about him not helping around the house, or putting back the orange juice carton, or where the vegetable peeler should be stored—the silverware drawer or the utensil drawer. Clearly, it would get lost in the jumble of a utensil drawer. He’d know that. I even had some conversation starters all lined up about the best antibacterial sprays so he’d know I was a neat freak, too. I was really looking forward to meeting him. “Go on; just tell me what he said.”
Julie dropped her head in her hands. “When I asked if he wanted to go out with you, he decided to announce to the office that he’s gay.” She peeked at me through her fingers. “I should have noticed the stack of In Style magazines on his desk.”
I looked at the corners of her eyes for telltale laugh lines, tipping me off that this was all a joke. “You’re kidding, right?” I crossed my arms. “Very funny. What did he really say?”
She slowly shook her head. “I’m totally serious. He told us he’s not interested in women.”
I picked up my menu and fanned myself. “Oh my God. The prospect of going out with me forced him out of the closet. He saw my picture and thought, ‘I’m out.’” I knew that strapless bikini made me look chunky, especially next to Julie. I signaled for the waitress. This required a drink with more kick than just caffeine. I ordered a pinot grigio and slumped back in my seat. “Okay.” I sighed. “I’m done. No more setups.”
“Katrina,” she whined, “you can’t give up on love. Especially during the summer. You need a fling.” Easy for her to say. She was a six-foot-tall, svelte goddess with a smitten boyfriend and several hopeful men on stand by. “We’ll find you a man.”
I wagged my finger at her. “Oh no, you won’t. Did you forget my blind date history?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. “I went out with that guy Troy once, and he moved to L.A. the next week.”
“That wasn’t because of you. He was chasing a dream or something, right?”
“Yeah, the dream of getting away from me.” I sighed. “Then Randy got back together with his ex after going out with me twice.”
“Well, at least he was up front about it.”
I rolled my eyes.
“And your cousin, Jeff, got arrested two days after he went out with me. Jail was more appealing than the prospect of another date.”
“Jeff was bound to end up back behind bars.”
“Yet you set me up with him.”
She grimaced. “I thought probation had changed him. You gotta admit he’s hot.”
“And apparently so were most of the electronics in his apartment.” The waitress brought my glass of wine and I took a long gulp. “No more setups.”
Julie looked insulted. “Then I don’t know where you’re going to meet someone. You’ve sworn off bars. You won’t do Internet dating. Now no blind dates. I’ll never get to be your bridesmaid.”
“If I end up a single old biddy, so be it. I’m sure there will be a dozen cats grateful for the home I’m sure to provide them. Animal shelters are overcrowded. Someone’s gotta help the cause.”
Pouting, she seemed more upset than I was. I reached across the table and patted her hand. “If Mr. Right’s out there for me, I’ll find him. Setups never work.” I tossed back the rest of my wine, and went straight to the dessert menu. A brownie sundae for lunch; there’s no law against that.
“It’s the heat,” I told the surprised waitress. “And men. Both are making me crazy.” I settled my chin in my hand as she walked away. “I suppose I should just be focusing on my career. Jim is supposed to announce his pick for the new sales manager this week. I don’t want to be distracted by hot, sexy, new love. Summer is distracting enough.”
Julie nodded. “That’s right, girl.”
So why did my gut twist when I said it? I’d worked hard for that promotion, but it wasn’t leaving me with the feeling of satisfaction I had expected it would.
Julie watched me nervously during lunch, picking at her salad and making small talk about the weather and movies while I gobbled down my sundae.
Because she was my best friend, I felt perfectly fine halfheartedly grunting my thoughts on the best eyelash lengtheners without interrupting work on my sundae. As I swiped my finger along the bottom of the bowl to get the last vestiges of hot fudge, I looked up and saw a handsome blond guy stifling a laugh as he watched me from a few tables away. Lordy, I am just destined to be single.
Popping out of my chair, I hugged Julie, tossed a twenty on the table, and dashed out of the cafe without letting Mr. Hottie see my mortified face—which was now ever redder from the embarrassment rushing through me.
* * * *
Unfortunately, I had already told the gals in my cubicle about the setup, so they were eagerly waiting for an update when I got back.
“When are you going out?” Wendy asked, clasping her hands in front of her. Like she needed to make her double Ds look any bigger. But I made a mental note to try that move in the future. My Bs could use the boost.
“Come on, come on! Spill the beans,” Mimi piped in.
I flopped into my seat. “We’re not going out. He’s gay.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” Wendy said, leaning over from her seat to rub my back.
I pursed my lips like I was sharing an unpleasant medical diagnosis. “That’s okay. It’s for the best. I need to be focusing on my accounts.”
They nodded just to appease me. “Everyone knows you’re going to get the promotion,” Wendy said.
It was true. But it didn’t really make me feel better. Could I only be successful at one thing at a time? Love or career but not both?
“Gotta get right back on the horse, Katrina. I’ve got a really great ex I could set you up with,” Mimi offered.
“Don’t you dare,” I said, regretting the brownie sundae that now sat like a lump in my stomach.
“What about my neighbor, Gus?” Mimi suggested. “He’s good-looking.”
“He lost two fingers setting off fireworks last Fourth of July. While drunk. I have a feeling natural selection isn’t done with him yet,” I said, shaking my head. “Sorry girls, no more setups.”
“Then come out with us tonight,” Wendy said.
“Guys, I hate bars, unless we’re talking about the chocolate variety.”
“It’s trivia night at McGregor’s,” Mimi said. “The music will be low, the lights will be bright. It won’t be like a bar at all. We’ll even bring chocolate.”
I shrugged. “We’ll see. Maybe it’ll keep me from eating another brownie sundae.” Two in one day would be bordering on pathetic.
But I hadn’t ruled it out yet.
* * * *
However, when my cousin Greg called, begging me to let him set me up with his buddy, Nick, I knew I needed a night out—if only to avoid more phone calls from friends trying to set up their pathetic pal, Katrina.
First I screamed into the phone, then I sighed. “Sorry, Greg. I’m done with blind dates.” Since I didn’t have a brother, Greg seemed to think he was obligated to fill that role. Usually I appreciated his bear hugs and noogies and dating advice. Today he was just annoying me.
“Just give it a shot. Nick Anderson is hot. Well, not that I would know. I mean, at least that’s what all the women at the office say.” He cleared his throat. “His girlfriend dumped him last month, and he needs to get out there. The dude’s bringing me down. He needs a nice pick-me-up. He needs you.”
Excellent. I’m the go-to sympathy setup. “A pick-me-up? You make me sound like a breath mint. Or an energy drink.” I sighed. “Greg, at some point in every woman’s life she stops agreeing to be set up. For me, that day is today.”
He sighed. “He’s going to be disappointed. He sounded real interested. Man, this might send him into a funk. No one deserves to be in a funk over the summer.”
“Buy him a Red Bull. Good-bye, Greg.” I hung up and slicked on another coat of lipstick, changed into a conservative v-neck sundress that wouldn’t inadvertently send off the wrong vibes, and headed for the bar.
* * * *
For the first time in my life, my history minor paid off, and our team was in the lead. Doesn’t everyone know that Prague was the last city liberated in World War II? Geez.
The waitress dropped off the plate of nachos that Mimi had ordered, and I snatched a few chips. I needed my stamina, especially if the questions steered toward Greek history. I’d spent much of that semester hung over.
Then the trivia host announced the next category was disco music. While I knew my history, I was a disco queen. Excited, I jumped up and clapped—then choked, inhaling a jalapeno. My eyes watered as I coughed and gasped, while Wendy tapped me on the back. She’d just gotten her nails done and was probably worried about flicking off one of her fake talons.
Mimi handed me her beer and I drained the whole thing, but the jalapeno was still stuck in my throat.
Wendy got behind me like she was going to do the Heimlich. That would be way beyond embarrassing, so I scurried away from her while she circled the table trying to latch her arms around me. Finally, Mimi thumped me on the back with her fist, dislodging the nuclear pepper. It popped out of my mouth and landed on the plate.
The bar erupted in cheers.
And while I was aware the entire crowd was watching me—probably settling the bets made on whether or not this whole fiasco would end with a 911 call—I noticed a set of beautiful blue eyes staring at me. The gorgeous guy from lunch was now watching me choke on nachos.
Oh, my bad karma. I felt my cheeks flush and turned to the girls. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Why? You coughed up the pepper. You can breathe. You can talk. How many fingers am I holding up?” Wendy stuck up two fingers and I rolled my eyes. “You’re fine. And everyone’s real happy for you,” she said, gesturing to the people still glancing our way.
“Plus we’re winning!” Mimi protested, holding up her Team Dawson Associates sign, scrawled on the back of a paper placemat. “The prize is a fifty-dollar gift certificate!”
The guy had his eyes on me, while still trying to suppress his grin. I grabbed my purse. “You’ll be fine without me for the disco round. Just answer Abba if you’r
e stumped and you should be good. See you tomorrow!” I dashed for the door and hailed a cab without looking back.
Then I stopped at the store to grab brownie mix, hot fudge, and ice cream.
* * * *
The next morning, I found out what two brownie sundaes in one day can do to a girl. A giant pimple had bloomed above my lip. Kind of like Cindi Crawford’s signature mole, but not sexy in any way. I really needed a mental health day from work, but I knew if I took a sick day, I’d always remember that I’d once called in over a pimple. It would haunt me forever. Plus there was the pesky business of the promotion. Until Jim made the announcement, I’d need to be hospitalized before I could call in sick. Too bad I hadn’t really choked on that pepper. It could have earned me a day off.
I pulled myself together and hopped on the subway. I got off a few blocks from work; a walk in the morning air might clear my head, even though the air was already sultry. I needed to focus on doing a good job at work and forget that my only interaction with hot men these days was embarrassing myself in front of them.
Stopping at a juice bar, I ordered a mango smoothie, then sipping and thinking as I walked to work, I let the crowds flow around me. I wanted the promotion, right? Sales wasn’t my calling, but the new manager position would mean a thirty percent pay increase. Once upon a time, I’d wanted to be a dog trainer. I shouldn’t complain. A dog trainer certainly wouldn’t earn what a sales manager does, and living in the city isn’t cheap.
