“I’ve already heard,” Kelsie’s mother replied.
She had? Kelsie met her mother’s gaze in the rearview mirror, surprised to find her frowning. Of all people, she would have expected her mother to be beaming with delight over the news.
“What on earth were you thinking?” he mother scolded. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about it.”
“You’re upset about it?” Kelsie said in surprise as she pulled back out onto the main street.
“Of course, I’m upset. What mother wouldn’t be?”
Who was this woman in her car and what had she done with her real mother? “I thought you wanted me to date,” she said in confusion.
“What?”
“How did you find out about Cole asking me out?”
“Cole?”
“The hunk she’s going out with Saturday night,” Nanci happily chimed in.
Her mother shot forward in her seat, her expression changing to one of surprise. “You’re going on a real date?”
As opposed to all those awful blind dates her mother and Nanci had set her up on? “You said you knew.”
“Not about that,” her mother said, easing back again in the seat. “It appears you’ve been keeping a lot of things from me lately, young lady,” she added in that perfected guilt-inducing tone all mothers knew how to use.
Then it dawned on her what her mother had actually said. She hadn’t known about her date with Cole, so what other secret was she supposed to be keeping from her mother. “What were you talking about?”
Her mother reached into her purse and pulled out a folded newspaper page, shoving it through the opening between the two front seats. “I was referring to this.”
Her gaze shifted from the road to the paper her mother was waving beside her. There on the front page of the local newspaper was the picture of her in Cole’s arms after he’d rescued her from the tree.
“LOCAL FIREMAN RESCUES DAMSEL IN DISTRESS,” Nanci read with a giggle. “And it goes on to say the unidentified female victim had gotten herself stuck in a tree after climbing out of one of the second story windows at the Touch of Spice lounge.”
“Aaaah!” Kelsie groaned, glancing down once more at the picture of her staring up all cow-eyed at Cole. “I can’t believe they actually put this in the paper.”
“Red light!” her mother shrieked.
Her gaze snapped up to see the rapidly approaching light. With a gasp, she stomped on the brake, leaving a set of tire marks behind them on the road. By some miracle, she managed to stop just behind the white line as a car passed by on the crossroad. “Shit.”
“Shit is right,” Nanci said. “I can’t be in an accident today. I wore my shopping undies instead of my thong.”
Leave it to Nanci to worry more about what her ass would look like to rescuers instead of just how bad this could have turned out.
“Maybe we should forget this whole shopping thing,” Kelsie suggested.
“After I went and had my hair done this morning just for our little outing?” her mother muttered.
“Fine, but it’s not going to be an all-day event,” Kelsie told them. “I feel like something the cat dragged in.”
“At least you don’t look like you feel today in this picture with Cole,” Nanci remarked, studying the paper more closely. “You look great, all things considered.”
Her mother gasped. “Cole? The same Cole you have a date with tomorrow?”
“Every mouthwatering inch of him,” Nanci wasted no time confirming.
Kelsie groaned. What were the odds that if she took a really sharp left turn her friend would fly out the open window and take her big mouth with her? She was seriously tempted to find out.
“And to think I worry about you choosing men who are all wrong for you,” her mother said as she reached between the seats to snatch the paper back.
Kelsie fought the urge to laugh. Most of the ‘wrong’ men in her life lately had been chosen by her mother.
“Mmm…he’s a real looker,” her mother muttered appreciatively from the backseat. “Glad you finally took the bull by the horns and asked a man out.”
“I didn’t ask him,” she told her mother, not wanting her to think she had any real interest in Cole. “He asked me out.”
“Ooh, even better,” her mother squealed in delight. “He clearly likes what he’s seen.”
“He should,” Nanci said with a smile. “The guy had a great view of her backside from that rescue box he went up after her in.”
Kelsie shot her the ‘evil eye’, something she seemed to be doing a lot more of lately.
“Honey, you really shouldn’t scrunch your eyebrows up that way,” her mother chided. “It’ll give you premature wrinkles.”
“I wasn’t scrunching.” Scowling. Maybe. Throwing eye darts. Definitely. But she had a good reason to. Her best friend had a big fat mouth!
“I don’t know what you’re so upset about,” she said, holding up the newspaper for Kelsie to see in the rearview mirror. “This is a really good picture of you.”
“Too good,” Nanci agreed. “Guess it’s safe to say you won’t remain unidentified for very long.”
“Just what I need,” Kelsie groaned. “People I know wondering what in the world I was doing in up a tree outside of a strip club.”
“Strip club?” her mother blurted out.
She nodded. “However, I didn’t know it until I was already inside.”
“What on earth were you doing there in the first place?”
“Meeting her date,” Nanci answered for her.
“The one you set me up with,” she reminded her mother. “But that’s beside the point. The issue I’m more concerned with now is what my patients are going to think when they see that picture of me in the paper?”
Nanci raised her hand, waving off her concern. “Chances are they won’t even realize it’s you with Cole’s hunky face front and center. And you can pretty much guarantee that most of the women who read this are going to be wishing they had thought of your plan to catch a tall, dark and incredibly sexy firefighter first.”
“You’re the one who called 9-1-1. Not me. And I certainly didn’t plan on having my strip club fiasco picture plastered all over Worthington.”
Her mother laughed. “I should hope not. But at least something good came from it. You’ve got a date with a really handsome firefighter. I think you should be thanking Nanci.”
She didn’t have to glance her way to know her friend was wearing an I’m-waiting-for-your gratitude smile.
“No thanks needed,” Nanci chirped. “Just be sure to name yours and Cole’s firstborn daughter after me.”
“Cole and I are not going to be having babies together,” Kelsie said determinedly.
“But you to would make such pretty babies,” Nanci carried on.
Kelsie groaned in frustration, her head starting to pound.
“What in Heaven’s name were you doing up in that tree anyway?” her mother demanded. “And behind a strip club of all places. I didn’t even know there were any of those in Worthington.”
“There aren’t. At least, there won’t be once the good citizens of our town get wind of it. And, to answer your question as to why I was in the tree in the first place, I was trying to get away from Jack the perverted jeweler.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “You mean that nice man I set you up with? The one who owns a jewelry store?”
“I guess that depends on what you consider nice,” Nanci said, glancing back between the seats. “The guy had your daughter meet him at a strip club. Then the creep went on and on about how he was looking forward to doing the nasty with a real redhead. I think I would have skipped the tree and just jumped out of the window at that point.”
“He what?” her mother shrieked. “Why that perverted little slime ball!”
A week ago, that same slime ball was on her mother’s list of possible future son-in-laws. “It’s alright, Mom. I handled it.”
�
�Even if you handled it by getting yourself stuck in a tree…” Nanci taunted.
“One more word and you’re going to be riding the rest of the way to the mall in the truck of my car.”
Her mother scooted forward to lean between the bucket seats. “You two can fight later. Right now I want to hear all about this hunky firefighter who asked my daughter out. After all, he might just end up being the father of my future grandchildren.”
Oh, God, her mother’s mental wheels were turning. Kelsie made a mental note to keep her away from the engraving store at the mall or she’d be pre-ordering wedding invitations and engraved cake servers.
“Mom, Cole asked me to go out to dinner with him, not to have his children.”
“You never know what might come from dessert afterwards,” Nanci threw in with a smile.
“I do and that would be nothing,” Kelsie said firmly, not that anyone was listening. They had already moved on to their own in-depth discussion about Cole Maxwell and his more-than-impressive physical attributes.
*
By the time they arrived at the Eastland Mall, Kelsie’s mother knew everything there was to know about her adventures with Cole Maxwell. That is, with the exception of the heated kiss she and Cole had shared the day he’d taken her home from the emergency room. That was about the only piece of information Nanci hadn’t let slip through those loose lips of hers. Even so, her dear, soon-to-be-ex best friend, had provided more than enough information as far as Cole Maxwell was concerned to start her mother’s matchmaking wheels turning.
“Okay, enough about Cole. I want to relax and enjoy this shopping trip,” Kelsie told her mother and Nanci as she drove through the busy parking lot looking for an empty space to park in. Not that she really thought they’d listen to her request, but it was worth a try.
“There’s one,” Nanci said, pointing to a minivan that was backing out of a parking place about twenty feet ahead of them.
“Put your turn signal on,” her mother said excitedly.
She did, waiting patiently while the van backed out. Only another car whipped around the end of the aisle and turned into the space the minivan had just vacated.
“Bitch,” Nanci hissed.
Kelsie sighed in frustration. The longer it took to park, the longer it would take to get this shopping trip over with. She wasn’t anywhere near the shopaholic Nanci was. “We’ll find another one.”
“We shouldn’t have to find another spot,” her friend fumed. “That bitch saw us waiting for that parking space. Let me out. I’ll kick her ass.”
You didn’t want to mess with Nanci when she was pissed. She’d grown up in foster homes and knew how to take care of herself. That included not putting up with anyone else’s crap. The woman having stolen their parking space was beyond crappy, but the need to avoid adding any more stress to her day overrode the urge to let Nanci out to ‘handle’ things.
Twenty minutes later, Kelsie followed her mother and Nanci into the mall’s entrance, wondering if her day could get any worse.
“Where do you want to start?” Nanci asked as they made their way through the shopping complex.
“How about Macy’s?” Kelsie suggested. “They’re having a big sale this weekend.”
“Uh, uh, uh,” her mother said, shaking her head. “First things first. We need to find you something special to wear on your date with your fireman.”
She looked at her mother. “He’s not my fireman. And Macy’s happens to carry some really nice clothes.”
“Pfft! Who needs clothes?” her mother replied with a wave of her manicured hand. “You’ve got a date with a really sexy firefighter. You need to be prepared.”
“Good point,” Nanci agreed. “But something tells me we won’t find any stores that carry condoms in this mall.
“Nanci,” Kelsie said, shushing her.
“Nanci’s right,” her mother said with a smile. “You should take some protection with you on your date with Cole just in case. Although I highly doubt a man whose job is making sure people stay safe is going to forget to bring protection with him.”
Please, Kelsie silently prayed, don’t let anyone be overhearing this conversation.
“She’s right,” Nanci agreed. “I think their motto is ‘safety first’. Cole will have the protection part covered.”
“Will you guys cut it out!” Kelsie hissed, keeping her voice low. “I have no intention of having sex with Cole.” Not that she hadn’t fantasized about it. But fantasy was on a whole different level from reality. It was safe.
“Honey, judging from the picture I saw of your date in the paper, your intentions might just fly out the window once you get some time alone with him.”
“Don’t count on it,” she told her mother.
Ignoring her, her mother set off down the carpeted corridor. “Come on, girls. Victoria’s Secret awaits.”
“Ooh,” Nanci cooed. “I’m liking this.”
Confused, Kelsie looked to her mother as she hurried to keep up with her. “They don’t sell clothes at Victoria’s Secret.”
“Honey, it’s not about what you wear on the outside that matters. It’s what’s under your clothes that makes a woman feel sexy.”
“And if she feels sexy, she’ll exude a certain confidence that will drive men wild,” her friend added with a knowing smile. “Therefore, it’s time to give up those granny panties you like to wear.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “I don’t wear granny panties. They’re cotton briefs!” Her eyes widened. Had she really just blurted that very personal piece of information out in the middle of a crowded mall? Looking around, the odd stares aimed her way told her she had.
It appeared her humiliation was destined to continue. And considering the way her luck had been going that week, she wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see her underwear choice broadcast on the evening news that night.
“Honey, how do you ever expect to catch a man with something as unsexy as cotton briefs?” Shaking her head, her mother made a beeline into Victoria’s Secret.
“I’m not trying to catch a man,” she called after her mother as she and Nanci followed behind.
Her friend snorted. “Come on, Kelsie. Why don’t you just admit it? You’re afraid wearing slinky lingerie will weaken your determination to control your sexual urges. Especially around a man like Cole Maxwell.”
“That’s ridiculous.” What did her underwear have to do with controlling her wants and needs? “One has nothing to do with the other.”
Nanci stopped just inside the entrance of the lingerie store and turned to her. “Oh, yeah?” she said with a widening smile. “Then prove it.”
Her mother nodded. “Yeah, prove it.”
Kelsie groaned. This wasn’t fair. They knew she was a sucker for a challenge. Always had been. They were playing downright dirty.
Her mother and Nanci stood waiting for her reply.
This was the last shopping trip she was going on with the two of them together. “Fine,” she mumbled, caving under the pressure. “I’ll buy something sexy to wear. But I’m telling you right now that Cole’s never going to see it.”
“Never say never, honey.”
“Your mom’s right.”
“She’s such a smart girl,” her mother said, sending a warm smile Nanci’s direction.
“Smart ass maybe,” Kelsie muttered under her breath.
“Time’s a wasting.” Nanci took her by the arm and set off through the store, weaving around the various display stands of lace and silk. “We’re going to sexy you up and then we’re going to sacrifice your old lady underwear to the god of fire.”
CHAPTER NINE
Six pair of low-cut lace panties and three thongs not much thicker than dental floss later, Kelsie’s underwear wardrobe had been revamped. Her mother and Nanci had also talked her into purchasing two demi-cup push-up bras which she had to admit fit her really well. Better yet, she actually had cleavage.
“All set?” her mother asked whe
n she’d finished checking out.
Grabbing her packages from the counter, Kelsie nodded. “Lead on.” Turning, she followed her fashion dictators out of Victoria’s Secret and into the mall.
“Ooh, check out those earrings,” her mother said as they passed by a jewelry store’s window front. “They’re exactly what I’ve been looking for and they’re on sale! I’ll be right back,” she called out as she disappeared inside.
“Any news on your book?” Nanci asked as we waited outside of the jewelry store.
“Nothing yet, but I just sent the partials of OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE out to the publishers who requested it.” She had sent several query letters out and had, much to her surprise, received very positive responses to her date-ditching guide concept.
“That’s great,” her friend exclaimed.
“I’d rather no one else know about it if you can manage to keep your lips sealed for real this time. Especially around my mother.”
“Hey, I didn’t tell your mother about Cole. You did.”
“You might as well have,” she said with a frown. “Nothing’s new with me. You might check with your daughter though. Sound familiar?”
“Wait a minute,” Nanci said as realization lit her eyes. “Are you telling me your mother still doesn’t know about OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE?”
“I don’t see any reason to tell her about it unless something comes of it. So keep your fingers crossed the publisher wants it.”
“They’re going to love it and someday I’ll be able to say I knew her before she became rich and famous.”
Kelsie laughed. “I hardly think one book is going to make me rich and famous.”
“It did for that lady who wrote Harry Potter.”
“Well, if it does happen I promise I won’t forget you. Maybe I’ll even hire you on as my personal assistant and you can go with me on all my book tours.”
“Sounds good to me. Lots of cities means lots of men. I’m all for that.”
Why didn’t it surprise her that Nanci would take their conversation that direction?
OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE Page 10
